Richmond Back Pain Patients Tips for Waiting on Relief: Walking, Breathing, Walking

December 07, 2021

Liminality. Waiting. Transitioning. The holidays have many of us waiting and transitioning to holiday get-togethers and a new year. Back pain has some of us Richmond back pain and neck pain sufferers waiting and transitioning on the arrival of pain relief as well. The waiting is sometimes the hardest part. Waiting for the big holiday and waiting for the relief of back pain or neck pain are accompanied by anticipation. Exercising, breathing, and walking are good ways to deal with the liminality. Johnson Chiropractic is right there with our Richmond chiropractic patients as they wait.

HOW TO HELP YOURSELF THROUGH BACK PAIN’S LIMINALITY

Back pain specialists will frequently suggest ice/heat/exercise for home care. New reports are describing how deep breathing exercises (especially the pursed-lips version which patients reported as more calming and pleasant with a more sense of control) (1), diaphragmatic deep breathing (6 breaths a minute for 10 minutes twice a day for a month effectively generated positive outcomes to improve autonomic function by reducing sympathetic activity) (2), and long-distance walking (which created time to be in a ‘liminal space’ to reflect on one’s struggles, relish some calmness, and embrace current feelings) (3) are useful. Johnson Chiropractic supports any of these ideas to enhance the healing, pain-relieving process with Richmond chiropractic services.

LIMINALITY IN BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA CARE

An interesting outcome from a study done in the UK - SCOPiC (SCiatica Outcomes in Primary Care) – described the thoughtful state of ‘liminality’ many sciatica or sciatic leg pain sufferers employ to manage their pain and its recovery path. The study has researchers interview sciatic low back pain sufferers. Sciatica arrives with its own distinctive group of issues in terms of its persistence and severity of symptoms. Researchers explained the concept of “biographical suspension” as it related to sciatica patients who tend to put life on hold while expecting an eventual return to their previous, pain-free selves, holding onto hope while also handling worry. This is a form of ‘liminality’, the time between pre- and post-pain, bolstered by a belief that sciatica is a passing problem that is fixable, not a long-term illness. Even those who experienced sciatic leg pain for a while maintained this belief. (4) Johnson Chiropractic is often awestruck by the persistence of back pain and leg pain sufferers to discover something that works for them. They frequently consult a variety of healthcare providers and try a variety of approaches as they are confident that there is help. Richmond back pain and Richmond leg pain patients often find that relief when they finally arrive at Johnson Chiropractic as we take the time to clearly explain the spinal condition, its treatment, its anticipated outcome, and its treatment plan including the frequency of visits and the expected timeframe for relief. The 50% Rule directs both: 50% subjective relief (how you feel) along with 50% objective relief (via specific test findings) reduce the treatment plan frequency by 50% (ex: daily visits change to every other day). Johnson Chiropractic constantly monitors the back and leg pain sufferer’s progress toward pain relief with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Robert Patterson on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the role of patient expectations in their pain relief via The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Set up your next Richmond chiropractic appointment soon. Waiting while transitioning from pain to pain-relief is a time of hope mingled with a little worry. Johnson Chiropractic understands this and has the wisdom to walk this path with our low back pain and sciatica patients. Liminality need not be endured alone!

Johnson Chiropractic shares how chiropractic back pain patients can endure the waiting – the liminality of back pain treatment – for relief with breathing and walking.