If you’ve been told that back surgery is your only option—pause. You might not have been given the full story.
I’m Dr. Chris Garcia, CEO and founder of Sports Performance Physical Therapy. Every day, I help people just like you conquer back pain and avoid unnecessary surgeries—not with magic, but with smarter strategies, better movement, and personalized plans.
The Truth About Imaging and Back Pain
Many people come to me feeling stuck, scared, and confused. They’ve seen their MRI or X-ray, heard medical jargon, and have often been told by a surgeon that surgery is their “best shot.”
Here’s the truth: Back surgery isn’t always the enemy—but it’s also not always the answer.
Your imaging might show a bulging disc, a herniated disc, or some arthritis. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. In fact, studies show that many people with “bad” scans have zero pain, while others with “clean” scans struggle to get out of bed.
Pain isn’t always about what the scan shows—it’s often about how your body moves.
Three Signs You Might Not Need Surgery
Before you agree to surgery, ask yourself these three questions:
1. Does Your Pain Come and Go?
If your pain varies depending on your position, activity, or even time of day, it’s a strong sign that your pain is mechanical—not structural. And mechanical pain can often be corrected, not cut out.
2. Has Anyone Evaluated How You Move?
I’m not just talking about your spine. I mean your hips, your posture, how you bend, lift your kids, or sleep. If you’ve never had a full-body movement evaluation, you haven’t seen the full picture.
3. Have You Only Tried Insurance-Based Physical Therapy?
If your sessions felt rushed, repetitive, or impersonal—you’re not alone. That’s not a customized plan. That’s a template. You deserve more than that.
When Surgery Is the Right Call
Let’s be honest—there are rare cases where surgery is absolutely necessary. If you’re losing bladder control, experiencing progressive numbness, or suffering from worsening muscle weakness, surgery may be the right choice.
But in most cases, surgery is offered too soon because no one took the time to understand your full picture.
What You Actually Need
At Sports Performance, we don’t chase pain—we chase clarity.
We look at your entire body, your daily habits, your recovery process, and build a plan that fits your life—not what insurance approves. We ask better questions, perform better evaluations, and offer better outcomes.
So if you’ve been wondering:
- Do I really need surgery?
- Have I actually tried everything?
Ask yourself one more question: Has anyone ever built a plan specifically around you?
If not, you haven’t tried everything—you’ve just been given limited options.
Ready for Real Answers?
You don’t need a surgeon—you need a guide. If you’re ready to get clarity on your back pain and take the next best steps, book a free phone consultation today.
With the right guidance, back pain doesn’t stand a chance.
– Dr. Chris Garcia
As always, we hope this helps! For any questions and all suggestions, please email us at TeamSP@SportsPerformancePT.com
If you want to know more information about how we can help, get started with a FREE discovery phone call.
Click the following link -> DISCOVERY PHONE CALL.
If you’re interested in doing Physical Therapy at Sports Performance -> CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & INQUIRE
If you would like to see more from us at Sports Performance… Watch our Podcast episode 141 about How to Improve your Long Term Health and Wellness -> CLICK HERE
– Dr. Chris
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