We’ve all heard the phrase, “My back went out.” Maybe you’ve even used the expression yourself. I’m here to tell you, that’s not a real thing. Sorry. There is no real “out” or “in” when it comes to backs. And, without a better understanding of back pain people will persist seeking quick fixes for symptoms rather than do what it takes to heal and even prevent more back problems in the future.

Everything in life has a breaking point. A position that is too close to the edge of disruption. Usually, it’s been busting at the seams for a while, or it’s been a slow creep. Think of a balloon that bursts. It has a capacity or limit to its construction and basic building materials.  Perhaps, somone gains an extra 15 pounds slowly over the winter and the extra load changes their blood pressure, pant size and energy level. What about a tire that blows?

Even relationships can slowly begin to breakdown in communication and direction and the distance between partners increases as people get closer to their edges of discomfort and dis-ease. There are breaking points in many parts of life and most have been coming on for a while. Somewhere, a weakness was present and destruction occurred. It’s time we recognize the weakness before the breakup or blowout. Let’s understand and address the cause of why backs “give out.”

So, what’s the real cause of back pain?

My bag of tricks has evolved. It feels unnatural to not apply my unique and diverse skillset and stay in the box of chiropractic manipulation. I know how powerful a single chiropractic manipulation is in and of itself. A chiropractor must know more than what to adjust, but also how and when to treat and, maybe more importantly, when not to treat. These decisions come from valuable experience.

On the Mend at The Bend (My Personal 10 Tips for Healing After Surgery)

I spent 5 days in the hospital and have been sitting around doing practically nothing for more than 4 weeks. Here’s what I’ve learned about being a patient, a doctor and a human.

As a doctor I can’t help but share my reflections on healing. I hope these tips might reach someone struggling with pain, recovery or living with physical discomfort.