Today’s episode is entitled “Who should I see for lower back pain / sciatica?” and you will learn the people you should see include:

• People you can see for lower back pain / sciatica
• A specialist in lower back pain / sciatica
• Positive and empowering
• Doesn’t focus on scary-sounding labels
• Helps you to set a big goal

People you can see for lower back pain / sciatica

You could see an osteopath, a chiropractor, a manipulative physiotherapist. You could see your doctor, but those guidelines are very much focused on short term. In the short term, physical therapists are helpful at relieving your back pain / sciatica. In the long term, the solution is lifestyle. You may need help changing your habits, so you could see a fitness instructor, a movement professional or a counselor. You could see a clinical psychologist or a clinical hypnotherapist. We’re not talking here just about treatment and relief. To get as far back from the edge of the cliff of pain as possible, you have to do the prevention piece.

A specialist in lower back pain / sciatica

Someone who specializes in exactly that. If you want the best possible solutions to your lower back pain / sciatica, choose someone who specializes in that field. Your best chance of a long-term resolution to your problem is not to go for the Jack of all trades, but to choose the master.

Positive and empowering

Don’t choose someone who makes you dependent on their treatment. If all they do is do things to you, they’re not empowering you. It’s vitally important that you understand what got you into this mess so that you can ensure you’re reducing the risk that it happens again. Consult someone who educates you and supports you in behavioral change, someone who really empowers you.

Doesn’t focus on scary-sounding labels

It’s very easy in our industry to blind you with science, to tell you things that you just don’t have the backdrop of knowledge to understand. That’s stress-inducing and causes more anxiety, and anxiety just turns the volume up on your pain. See someone who demystifies and makes it as simple as possible, so that you understand what’s wrong with you and how that came about. It’s very important that whoever you consult doesn’t use scary labels and breaks it down for you and makes it simple so that you understand how you can help yourself.

Helps you to set a big goal

When you have lower back pain / sciatica and you’re recovering, you’re very good at doing their exercises and following the advice. But as soon as you start to feel a little better, many people revert to their old habits. If you’re seeking a long-term prevention of the recurrence of your pain, you need to stay motivated. You need to keep following the path, doing all the small steps that will get you where you want to get to, which is way back from the edge of that cliff of pain. You want to radically reduce the risk that this happens again. Then you have to stay motivated, and the way of doing that is to have a big goal.

That’s related to all the risk factors that pushed you closer to the age in the first place. The fitter, healthier and stronger your back is, the less risk that this is going to happen again. Make sure they encourage you to set big, motivating goals that are also smart, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. That gives you the chance to stick to it and see it through all the way to get to that healthier version of you. Personal trainers are very good at helping you to articulate a smart, big goal. Fitness professionals could play a huge role in helping to keep you on track and make sure you’re reducing that risk.