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Jun 9
1h 12m

The Truth About Back Pain and Sciatica: ...

SHAWN STEVENSON
About this episode

Your back is an integral part of your body’s structure, and it plays an important role in a wide variety of movements. Dealing with back pain can make every day difficult, affecting your ability to walk, drive, or tie your shoes. If you’ve ever dealt with low back pain, you know that the health of your back can impact your quality of life in every way.

On this episode of The Model Health Show, our guest is chiropractor and the founder and CEO of RehabFix, Dr. Grant Elliot. He is passionate about helping people resolve their low back pain so they can live a healthy, full, and functional life. On today’s show he’s sharing his best tips for eliminating sciatica, low back pain, and symptoms stemming from disc herniation. We’re going to talk about how rest and movement impact musculoskeletal issues, how imaging can actually increase your risk for surgery, and how your lifestyle impacts your pain levels.

You’re going to hear the truth about what back pain is and why it occurs, and realistic tips you can use to improve your symptoms. You’re also going to learn about why the traditional model for treating back pain is misguided. Dr. Elliot is going to dispel some of the biggest myths around low back pain, stretching and exercise, imaging, and so much more. If you or someone you love struggles with low back pain, you’re going to get a ton of value out of this conversation. Enjoy!   

In this episode you’ll discover: 

  • What percentage of American adults struggle with back pain. (4:48)
  • Why Dr. Elliot decided to become a chiropractor. (6:02)
  • The #1 reason why we develop musculoskeletal pain. (13:43)
  • What percentage of back pain is labeled non-specific low back pain. (14:37)
  • How your lifestyle impacts the health of your back. (15:07)
  • Why so many people are misdiagnosed with muscle strain. (15:33)
  • An important reason why rest is not advised for back pain. (17:03)
  • The role that movement plays in joint health. (17:49)
  • How common disc bulges are. (19:20)
  • The anatomy of a disc. (21:41)
  • Why imaging is often overused in modern medicine. (25:03)
  • The various types of disc issues, and how size and severity differ. (25:39)
  • Why your primary provider is unqualified to treat lower back pain. (26:26)
  • The shocking connection between MRIs and surgeries. (29:51)
  • What sciatica is and its root cause. (32:21)
  • Why hamstring stretches can worsen sciatic pain. (35:07)
  • The best exercises for sciatica. (38:04)
  • How to determine how much movement is safe if you’re in pain. (45:47)
  • The biggest myths about back pain. (51:19)
  • How stress can manifest as pain and discomfort. (1:02:11) 

Items mentioned in this episode include: 

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