4 New Year's Resolutions for Managing Chronic Back Pain

As a new year approaches, people start to contemplate changes that they’d like to make, such as losing weight, exercising more, or spending more time with friends and family. If the change you want involves being released from chronic and debilitating back pain, you’re in the right place.

Back pain affects millions of Americans — about 65 million people in the United States report a recent bout of back pain. More alarming is the fact that more than 8% of adults in the US struggle with severe and chronic back pain.

At South Coast Sports and Spine Medicine, board-certified sports and spine physician Tariq Hilal, DO, MS, helps patients who are struggling with ongoing discomfort. Dr. Hilal has helped scores of patients to get back to an active and happy life that’s free from debilitating and limiting pain, including chronic and severe back pain.

As you look ahead to a new year, here’s what we suggest for tackling tough back pain issues.

1. Get the right back pain team working for you

Back pain is an awfully broad term that encompasses issues that range from sciatica to spinal stenosis. One of the most important steps you can take to relieve the pain is determining what’s driving it in the first place. 

As specialists in back pain, Dr. Hilal is adept at identifying what’s causing discomfort in his patients. This correct identification is important because it tells him which direction to go in order to bring you relief. Using the conditions mentioned above as an example, how we address stenosis can be different from how we treat sciatica.

We get you on the right track with the right diagnosis.

2. Explore your back pain treatment options

With the correct diagnosis in hand, you can start exploring your treatment options. At South Coast Sports and Spine Medicine, we understand that no two patients are alike, so we provide a wide range of back pain treatments that we often use in combination.

For instance, if you have degenerative changes in your spine that are causing low back pain, we can start with a facet block for temporary pain relief while we work on longer-term strategies, such as physical therapy.

Our point is that it’s a great idea to keep an open mind and to try different combinations until we find the right one for your needs. Rest assured, Dr. Hilal will keep working until you find meaningful relief.

3. Strengthen your back

While there’s much we can do to make you more comfortable in the face of chronic back pain, you can enhance our efforts through strengthening exercises. 

Your spine shouldn't work alone to support your back — that’s what your core muscles are for. When you strengthen these core muscles, including the muscles in your back and in your abdomen, your spine can benefit from 360-degree support that can help keep pain at bay.

For this new year and beyond, it’s a great idea to put core exercises on your resolution list.

4. Stay strong mentally

Some people are fond of saying that the pain is “in your head.” Well, they’re right — all pain involves your brain, which serves as the core of your central nervous system.

This is why your pain is so tied to your moods; pain can flare when you’re in a bad mood, and a pain flare-up can dampen your mood. It’s all happening in your brain.

Given this two-way street between chronic pain and your mood regulation, it pays to take steps to address your mental health at the same time as you address the physical pain.

Whether through formalized psychotherapy or some great daily habits like meditation or connecting with friends, keeping your moods out of a pain spiral can go a long way toward lessening your overall discomfort.

We have several additional strategies that can help alleviate chronic back pain, and we’re happy to sit down with you to develop a personalized plan for the coming year. To move forward into a new year that isn’t overshadowed by back pain, we invite you to contact South Coast Sports and Spine Medicine in Los Alamitos, CA, to schedule a consultation. Call our office or book an appointment online today.