Whether you have just been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis or you have been diagnosed years ago, these tips will help you in your search for finding relief.
Tip #1: Don't Be Afraid To Get A Second (Or Third, Or Fourth......) Opinion
Once diagnosed with a spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis keep in mind that you do have options. One option often overlooked is to get a second opinion.
Getting a second opinion or seeing another doctor does not mean you don’t like the original doctor or disagree with him/her, it only means you are maximizing your options.
With an injury like a spondy, you owe it to yourself to get advice and direction from someone you are completely comfortable with.
Doctors share different opinions for each and every case. Some doctors might recommend a back brace and lots of rest, some doctors might say skip the brace and start therapy right away.
Since there is no one way to cure spondy’s, often times doctors will prescribe different paths of recovery.
Getting multiple opinions helps you match the care you need to your personality and beliefs. Having a doctor and therapy team that is on the same page as you will go a long way in making your recovery smoother.
Tip #2: Don't Get Discouraged With Setbacks
One thing I learned about having a spondy is that at some point during your therapy/recovery process you will experience some kind of setback.
The setback might involve having a day or a few days of discomfort or it might be some excruciating pain that forces you to stay in bed.
No matter how bad the pain, try and remember that it is only a setback.
Maybe you tried an exercise that didn’t feel good or maybe you performed a stretch that caused more pain than relief. Explain your pain and discomfort to your medical professional and hopefully they will make the necessary adjustments to your program.
As hard as it may be, try to learn from what caused the set back. Over the years I have learned exactly what movements and exercises cause me pain. I had to learn the hard way, but I now know not to do them again.
Over time your knowledge will increase and your pain will decrease.
Tip #3: Keep A Journal Or Activity Log
If you have yet to read our post on keeping a journal, do yourself a favor and check it out HERE.
I cannot stress enough how important keeping a journal is. It doesn’t have to be exact, just a quick log of your activities for the day.
Keeping an activity journal is one of the best tools you can use. A journal will allow you to back track and find what might have lead to your pain.
Using an activity journal allowed me to discover that one of my main triggers for flair ups was extended times of inactivity.
I then adjusted my routine to reduce the amount of time of inactivity and avoid flair ups.
By keeping a journal you will discover exactly what leads to your pain. From there you can make the adjustments necessary to help you live a pain free life.
Hopefully these tips will help you in the process of recovery. As always, shoot us any questions, comments or concerns.
Check out our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SpondySolution to stay up to date with articles, stretches and news!
Tip #1: Don't Be Afraid To Get A Second (Or Third, Or Fourth......) Opinion
Once diagnosed with a spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis keep in mind that you do have options. One option often overlooked is to get a second opinion.
Getting a second opinion or seeing another doctor does not mean you don’t like the original doctor or disagree with him/her, it only means you are maximizing your options.
With an injury like a spondy, you owe it to yourself to get advice and direction from someone you are completely comfortable with.
Doctors share different opinions for each and every case. Some doctors might recommend a back brace and lots of rest, some doctors might say skip the brace and start therapy right away.
Since there is no one way to cure spondy’s, often times doctors will prescribe different paths of recovery.
Getting multiple opinions helps you match the care you need to your personality and beliefs. Having a doctor and therapy team that is on the same page as you will go a long way in making your recovery smoother.
Tip #2: Don't Get Discouraged With Setbacks
One thing I learned about having a spondy is that at some point during your therapy/recovery process you will experience some kind of setback.
The setback might involve having a day or a few days of discomfort or it might be some excruciating pain that forces you to stay in bed.
No matter how bad the pain, try and remember that it is only a setback.
Maybe you tried an exercise that didn’t feel good or maybe you performed a stretch that caused more pain than relief. Explain your pain and discomfort to your medical professional and hopefully they will make the necessary adjustments to your program.
As hard as it may be, try to learn from what caused the set back. Over the years I have learned exactly what movements and exercises cause me pain. I had to learn the hard way, but I now know not to do them again.
Over time your knowledge will increase and your pain will decrease.
Tip #3: Keep A Journal Or Activity Log
If you have yet to read our post on keeping a journal, do yourself a favor and check it out HERE.
I cannot stress enough how important keeping a journal is. It doesn’t have to be exact, just a quick log of your activities for the day.
Keeping an activity journal is one of the best tools you can use. A journal will allow you to back track and find what might have lead to your pain.
Using an activity journal allowed me to discover that one of my main triggers for flair ups was extended times of inactivity.
I then adjusted my routine to reduce the amount of time of inactivity and avoid flair ups.
By keeping a journal you will discover exactly what leads to your pain. From there you can make the adjustments necessary to help you live a pain free life.
Hopefully these tips will help you in the process of recovery. As always, shoot us any questions, comments or concerns.
Check out our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SpondySolution to stay up to date with articles, stretches and news!
