In my ten years as a physical therapist, I have treated literally hundreds of patients for a variety of back pain issues.
Overcoming back pain in the low back.
Conditions related to years of poor back posture.
Pinched nerves.
Chronic pain due to injury.
The list goes on and on.
But there is one key thing that I have found in overcoming back pain.
It consistently separates patients who will improve their back health and reduce back pain over the long-term, from those who do not.
And I can sum it up in three words.
Choose your attitude.
Think about all the challenges we all face in life -- problems with a child or loved one, issues at work, financial pressures at home, trouble in a cherished friendship.
In every one of these situations, we are forced, whether we realize it or not, to choose our attitude.
Will we give in and just accept things the way they are? Or will we take the attitude that, "I cannot control everything in my life.
And I may not be able to control my back problem at this very moment.
But I am going to give it everything I have in my power to make it better.
" It's not always easy to choose the right attitude.
But let me offer you some words of support that I hope will help you start down the right path -- mentally and emotionally -- in overcoming back pain.
Accept that for whatever reasons, back pain is part of your life for now.
Accept that you are going to have to take action and make some deliberate changes, for sure physically, and perhaps mentally -- and you can -- that will set you on a path to improved back health.
Embrace the idea that your commitment to better back health will come with many wonderful benefits -- more self-confidence, a better outlook, and a sense of personal control and empowerment.
And embrace the notion that the ultimate goal -- and this is the one we all strive for -- is to live a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.
I share all of this with you because dealing with back problems it is often easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.
The pain can, understandably, take over our thoughts and affect our emotions.
And our attitudes.
There is a wonderful passage written by pastor Charles Swindoll that I believe is relevant to back pain sufferers.
Swindoll writes, "I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you...
we are in charge of our attitudes.
" I hope you will consider these words of advice.
I shared them with you because they can make a big difference overcoming back pain -- I've seen them work for many of my patients over the years.
And I believe people with back problems who do will have a significant advantage as they travel down the road to better health and happiness.
Overcoming back pain in the low back.
Conditions related to years of poor back posture.
Pinched nerves.
Chronic pain due to injury.
The list goes on and on.
But there is one key thing that I have found in overcoming back pain.
It consistently separates patients who will improve their back health and reduce back pain over the long-term, from those who do not.
And I can sum it up in three words.
Choose your attitude.
Think about all the challenges we all face in life -- problems with a child or loved one, issues at work, financial pressures at home, trouble in a cherished friendship.
In every one of these situations, we are forced, whether we realize it or not, to choose our attitude.
Will we give in and just accept things the way they are? Or will we take the attitude that, "I cannot control everything in my life.
And I may not be able to control my back problem at this very moment.
But I am going to give it everything I have in my power to make it better.
" It's not always easy to choose the right attitude.
But let me offer you some words of support that I hope will help you start down the right path -- mentally and emotionally -- in overcoming back pain.
Accept that for whatever reasons, back pain is part of your life for now.
Accept that you are going to have to take action and make some deliberate changes, for sure physically, and perhaps mentally -- and you can -- that will set you on a path to improved back health.
Embrace the idea that your commitment to better back health will come with many wonderful benefits -- more self-confidence, a better outlook, and a sense of personal control and empowerment.
And embrace the notion that the ultimate goal -- and this is the one we all strive for -- is to live a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.
I share all of this with you because dealing with back problems it is often easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.
The pain can, understandably, take over our thoughts and affect our emotions.
And our attitudes.
There is a wonderful passage written by pastor Charles Swindoll that I believe is relevant to back pain sufferers.
Swindoll writes, "I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you...
we are in charge of our attitudes.
" I hope you will consider these words of advice.
I shared them with you because they can make a big difference overcoming back pain -- I've seen them work for many of my patients over the years.
And I believe people with back problems who do will have a significant advantage as they travel down the road to better health and happiness.