Are you struggling with chronic back pain? Relief is here for you, and I’ve got some great tips to share that could help you finally get the relief you’ve been searching for! In this blog, I’ll walk you through some key insights and strategies from my recent YouTube video that could make all the difference in your pain journey.
Why Pain Education Matters
When dealing with chronic pain, there’s growing evidence that traditional physiotherapy combined with pain education significantly improves symptoms. This means that understanding how pain works is just as important as physically addressing the issue. One of the most common patterns I’ve seen in my work is something called fear avoidance.
Here’s how it works: when you’re in pain, you tend to avoid moving because you fear it will make things worse. But here’s the catch—not moving leads to weakness, and that weakness can increase your pain, which then leads to even less movement. It’s a negative spiral that can be hard to break. This is why understanding the mental aspect of pain is crucial. Fear is actually the number one risk factor for pain, and learning to trust your body again is the first step toward recovery.
The Power of Trusting Your Body
The first solution I offer in the video is this: you’ve got to learn to trust your body. It doesn’t matter if it’s small movements or larger ones—start wherever you are and build up your confidence. Feeling safe and supported in your body is key to making any kind of progress.
Once you’ve addressed the psychological component, it’s time to focus on physical movement. Moving regularly is essential, but the type of movement is equally important. This is where a fantastic method called the McKenzie Technique comes in. It’s incredibly simple and works off of what’s called your directional preference. If bending forward causes you pain, try to keep your back in extension (arched back). Conversely, if extending your back is painful, you’ll want to work on flexion (rounding your spine). The idea is to find what feels good and use that as your guide.
Pain Isn’t Always About Damage
Now, this next part might surprise you—pain isn’t always about physical damage. Pain is a communication tool that your brain uses to alert you, but often the root cause of the pain is far from where you feel it. This is why I stress the importance of pain education in the video. Knowing that your pain doesn’t necessarily mean you’re injured or that something is wrong can be incredibly empowering. It helps you feel more comfortable exploring movements in your body, and this is key to finding relief.
Other Factors that Influence Pain
It’s also important to recognize that there are many variables that can influence your pain. Things like job satisfaction, relationship stress, your general health, and even childhood experiences can play a significant role in how much pain you feel. By addressing these factors, you can reduce the intensity of your pain and improve your overall well-being.
If you want to dive deeper into this topic, I’ve linked some additional videos in the description of my YouTube video. These resources will give you even more tools and knowledge to tackle your pain effectively. The more you understand how pain works, the better your chances are of feeling better.
So if you’re ready to take control of your pain, head over to my YouTube channel, check out the video, and don’t forget to leave a comment letting me know how you’re getting on. Let’s work together to get you moving and feeling good again!