Prevention

Once people are improved or healed, they may never experience the pain again. The amount of improvement that is experienced is the portion of the pain that was from inflammation. If there are any residual symptoms it is from the underlying degenerated structure. Many people get complete relief of pain and there are no symptoms from the underlying structure.

THESE DON’T WEAR OFF. There will never be recurrent pain unless there is a new episode of inflammation, which may not happen for years or for life, but could happen at any time, and most importantly is preventable.

Often if there is recurrent pain there was some change in activities, often something physical or strenuous. Typically, something out the ordinary routine and traveling is a common story. There are no specific restrictions in activities but when doing things new or physical be careful of body posture and mechanics and take breaks, so you are not doing prolonged activities.

The main prevention strategy is a Home Exercise Program. When the muscles are flexible and limber it takes the stress off the spine and people are much less likely to have a recurrence, this is something we talk about every day. Individualized home exercise programs can be obtained from physical therapy. You can also find some extensive programs online, but for low back and leg pain “our favorite” is the lumbar rotation stretch which can be done in bed each morning and only takes a few minutes.