Back pain is almost entirely at your control

All the time I hear patients say, "I was born with a bad back"  or "I go to the chiropractor and it helps but it comes back". 

Studies of 2000 twins have determined that rarely is back pain genetic.  The findings indicate what largely determines whether we are likely to suffer from back pain relies heavily on what stresses we expose our spines to and how we choose to treat injuries should they occur.

The truth is that your spine is under constant wear and tear type stress.   It is the miracle of the spinal column's construction that keeps most people from constant pain and allows us the thousands of different movements we do every day.   Regular "spinal hygiene"(including  proper sitting and lifting techiniques, exercise and weight control) is the true key to  decreasing back pain.  

Finally, it is essential when you are injured that you treat the injury until it is completely healed and you continue to rehabilitate that injury.  Most patients feel if the pain is gone, the injury is healed.  That is far from the truth.  The muscles, ligaments and cartilage need weeks to heal.   Dropping out of your care before the healing is complete or not performing your daily back exercises will set you up for re-injury.    After as few as three poorly treated minor injuries or one poorly treated major injury, your chances for experiencing pain for the rest of your life is dramatically increased.

Although I can advise you, I cannot force you to follow my directions.  In the end, YOU and the choices you make in life are ultimately responsible for the amount of back pain you suffer.