Getting Health Back to Normalcy
As we move forward in Ontario’s pandemic recovery and with COVID-19 cases now falling, many patients have unfortunately not yet visited their doctors during this pandemic. As a result, people may have either an undiagnosed condition that they actually don’t yet know about, or have been delaying treatment for existing condition, or have an underdiagnosed chronic condition. In fact, the successive lockdowns and waves of infection in Ontario have all created a serious backlog of screenings and referrals in the community including at family medicine practices not to mention surgeries such as knee replacements. At present, the Ontario Medical Association (“OMA”) now estimates that there are many backlogged procedures in Ontario including: knee replacements (38,263), hip replacements (16,506) and MRIs (477,301). See: https://www.oma.org/newsroom/news/2021/jun/oma-estimates-pandemic-backlog-of-almost-16-million-health-care-services.
In short, it’s time to reach out to your primary health provider or family doctor.
In particular, if you are experiencing new back pain or the pain and inflammation in your back are getting worse, it is important to get a diagnosis and treatment, as required, including OHIP physiotherapy for seniors. For example, if your pain is limiting sleep or repositioning during sleep causes pain, then this is a clear indication that you need to be checked out. Likewise, if you are feeling numbness, burning, tingling or radiating pain (e.g. down your leg), then this is also a clear indication that you need to get checked out.
When it comes to certain back pain conditions, you may require treatment in order to fully recover and to relieve pain while trying to avoid surgery and the over use of narcotics.
What is the Next Step?
Treating an ongoing or chronic back condition should start with a comprehensive exam. After evaluation, a treatment plan should be prescribed. As always, a correct diagnosis is essential for the exact treatment of an injury. You should always try to avoid back or neck surgery and the over use of narcotics not to mention anxiety.
It’s very important to know the signs and symptoms of more serious back issues (e.g. herniated disc or spinal stenosis) which requires a full diagnosis and treatment.
To book an appointment, please call us at 905-850-SPINE.
