If you are reading this you can probably relate to that sentence and you know just how debilitating back pain can be. You know how back pain can affect your work, your energy levels, and decrease your ability to do the things you love. It can even influence your moods and emotions. It is little wonder that when people have back pain they just want it gone. But, before you reach for that bottle of Tylenol or Aspirin to numb the pain, let’s dig a little deeper to help you find a healthy solution, one that is going to address the cause of your pain, not just the symptoms, so that you can have your health long term too.
So what exactly is back pain? “Well Dr. Norm it is a nuisance! I don’t like it. It hurts!” Yes, yes and yes. And what else is pain? Would it make sense if I said it is one of your body’s messages? That back pain is a way that your body speaks to you? Your body is grabbing your attention, and you may have noticed that if you don’t listen to your body’s whispers, it starts talking even louder. “Hello, hello, are you listening to me, help, I need help!” Soon, it becomes evenlouder demands, “Would you smarten up and listen to me, I am dying in here!”
Is pain a signal that we are running low on Tylenol or Aspirin?
Or would you say that if we looked deeper,and we address the cause,
that pain is a message? A signal for help?
that pain is a message? A signal for help?
Your body’s signals are similar to the signals that a car uses to speak to its driver. Like the low oil light for instance. When the light comes on you know that the car is speaking to you, saying “Help, I need some attention”. Now imagine that I was driving your car, and we went north to Parksville and the low oil light went on, and I said to you, “Ah, I have just the solution, could you hand me my backpack?” I reached inside and pulled out a roll of duct tape, pulled off a piece of it and placed it across the dash. “Great, fixed it. Can’t see the light, problem gone”, and kept driving your car. How much further would you let me drive before you demanded that we pull over immediately and find a solution to the problem, not just mask the symptom? The truth is many of us take better care of our cars than our bodies. The only difference is you can buy a new car, while your body is your vehicle that you travel in for the rest of your life.
Your back pain is a signal, a message from within. The first thing to do is to honour it. Your body is not stupid, it is not bad, it is doing the best it can for the life you have given it. It is constantly working towards health, balance, healing and repair despite the late nights, inadequate diets, too much or too little movement, that fall when we were younger, or that chronic unresolved anger, grief or dissatisfaction that we push through. Your body is on your team, it wants to help you be better. Your job is to listen, to honour, and then to take action. Action can come in two different ways. To stop doing things that you know are bad for it, and to start doing the things you know can help it.
What is one change that you know you could make to help your back pain right now? If you don’t know, ask. Yes, it is ok to ask your body! This may sound weird at first, but which is weirder - asking and listening to your body or ignoring it and telling it to shut up? “Body what is it that you are trying to tell me, I want you to know I am here now, I am listening what do you need?”
Body, what are you trying to tell me?
Did you know in Latin the word Doctor means teacher? I see my role as a chiropractor not so much as a fixer, but as a liaison between you and your body to help you create a healthier, more whole relationship between you and your body. Turning up your vitality with each adjustment, so you can hear and respond more clearly to your own messages and discover what your body and life are asking of you, and of course, this will lead to less pain. The chiropractic adjustment is an ideal support for your body to help release unwanted stress, to create better alignment and flexibility and get to the cause of what is really going on. If you have never been to a chiropractor before or if you have been and haven’t stopped in for a while, see the message of pain as an instructive message, tune in and listen… is your body asking for help? If so, your job is to listen, honour and take action.
Are you looking to address the cause of what is going on rather than having back pain stop you from enjoying your hobbies, create tension in your relationships, cause you stress in your career or confusion in discovering what you are meant to be doing in your life?
Would you like to learn how you can release, unwind and
find more ease in your body at a moment’s notice?
find more ease in your body at a moment’s notice?
I would like to share with you a special place in Nanaimo, where the staff is caring and knowledgeable. Where you will feel your body and mind relax, knowing you are in the hands of a gentle andgifted healer.
Enjoy being greeted, known by name and having that extra attention whether it be some supportive health information or a message of warm encouragement. We will help you get well and will teach you tools for how to stay well. Welcome to the Lifehouse Chiropractic Studio.
For more information about my office you can visit my website at www.thelifehouse.ca and to learn more about the style of chiropractic that I use visit Network Spinal Analysis. When you are ready to take action and address the cause, not merely the symptoms and to honour your body’s cry for help, give our office a call at 250-740-0333. Our staff would love to reserve time for a private first visit, getting you started or continuing you on your path of healing.
