One of the questions we will ask during an initial consultation is if the patient has any history of trauma. Since trauma can cause problems to the spine, it seems like an obvious question. The answers are nearly always the same, “Nope, no trauma.”

Most of us think of trauma as falling down, car accidents, … stuff like that. So if you didn’t fall down, how’d you get this way?

Patients either had trauma they don’t remember, or they have trauma that they don’t consider trauma.

Trauma You Don’t Remember

While falls and injuries you had when you were younger may have technically healed, that doesn’t mean that they play no part in how you feel today.

None of us learned how to walk the first time, or even learn how to ride a bike without some trauma. We just don’t remember it. Not every fall will lead to a future spine problem, but it’s just one thing to consider when you wonder “how you got this way.”

Did you play sports? Then you’ve had a trauma. Football? Multiple traumas — per game. You just were able to bounce back and felt fine so you assume that you are fine.

Trauma You Don’t Consider Trauma

The rest of us have what we refer to as micro-trauma or repetitive trauma. Little things done in a less than ideal way, over and over again. Like typing on your laptop while you lay sideways on the couch. Like having your computer monitor off to the side of your desk instead of straight in front of you.

Things like exercising, but never stretching properly. Or doing exercises in an unbalanced way (more front movements, nothing for the back).

These are all traumas and chances are you’ve had at least one of them.