1. If my back hurts, should I limit my mobility?

“I think this is the greatest myth of all, and is propagated by our culture – ‘my back hurts because something is broken inside me’,” shares Dr. Allan. “These people deeply believe they did something to compromise their spine structurally, and they shouldn’t move until it’s fixed. This is rarely the case.”

Dr. Allan believes the key to alleviating back pain is to show patients that they can safely exercise in between pain episodes and even while they are experiencing pain. He works with patients to strengthen their hidden core, and specifically trains them using kettlebells, a round type of dumbbell with a flat base and arced handle.

“A lot of patients think, ‘I’m fragile, I have a bad back, therefore I’m going to avoid doing this or doing that,’ and that is not the solution. Invariably, you can’t keep avoiding things throughout your life; your focus should be to make yourself less fragile,” he adds.

2. How do I know if I need back surgery?

“Every patient is different, however my first approach will always be to look for a non-surgical solution, like core strengthening, to address spinal problems,” says Dr. Allan.

“We don’t want to over-treat our patients – they are looking to avoid extensive treatments, like surgery or medicine, what they really want is their health. It is important for patients to understand that their back pain can usually be managed by building their strength.”

“If the patient choses to move forward with surgery, perhaps they have a neurological deficit or severe pain, we’ll use minimally-invasive techniques for a safer approach that also has a shorter recovery time."

3. If I need back surgery, what is the risk of paralysis?

“The vast majority of surgeries focus on the lower spine, which doesn’t involve the spinal cord at all, so the risk of paralysis of the legs is almost zero. You can injure individual nerve roots, but the risk is relatively low with the advanced technology and techniques available,” explains Dr. Allan.

"The risk of paralysis, however, is extremely low, especially with surgery on the lower back."

All surgery has risks, and Dr Allan recommends that you discuss them during your consultation.