Getting a practical gift for a holiday like Mother’s Day can be a total drag drag (Hello, blender you’re still mad about 10 years after it was gifted to you on your anniversary!). But when it comes to your back pain, what could be better than the gift of hope for a pain-free life? After all, nothing says love like, “Here’s a trip to the spine specialist because it hurts me to see you hurting. Plus, I really want to take you to that great new restaurant, but only if you can actually sit comfortably in the chair through four courses.”

This Mother’s Day, think beyond the vase and ask for something that will really make you smile: An end to the spine pain you’ve been dealing with. Beyond that obvious reason to go, there are a few other important rationales:

• You can finally find out what’s wrong

If you’ve been suffering with back pain and/or popping over-the-counter pain relievers to get through the day, you’re probably way overdue for an appointment with a top spine specialist. Maybe you’ve been thinking, “Oh, the pain will go away after a while.” Or maybe you think it’s just a tweak and not something major. That kind of self-diagnosis can be dangerous. Several back ailments like herniated discs and sciatica can masquerade as other issues and you may have no idea what the severity of your condition is.

• It can keep you from developing other more serious issues

One of the dangers of not getting treatment for your spine pain is the possibility that your condition will worsen and become more serious than it already is. A bulging disc can pinch a nerve, which is not only extremely painful, but can lead to spinal stenosis. If the disc ruptures, it can lead to “a serious but rare complication called cauda equina syndrome,” said the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. “It occurs when disc material is pushed into the spinal canal and compresses the bundle of lumbar and sacral nerve roots, causing loss of bladder and bowel control. Permanent neurological damage may result if this syndrome is left untreated.”

• You can get the right treatment

If you don’t know what’s wrong, you’re probably not treating your condition right, and that means a continuation of your discomfort. Today’s spine specialists are better able to pinpoint and treat specific back issues than ever before thanks to new techniques and advancements in minimally invasive spine procedures. A quick diagnosis and treatment plan is what’s needed to put an end to your pain for good.

• New techniques and procedures make treating back pain easier than ever

No matter how your back pain manifests, there is a new technique or procedure that can give you relief thanks to the growth of minimally invasive spine treatments. When you’re looking for the right spine specialist, seek out someone who is specially trained in the most advanced techniques and minimally invasive procedures available today. Only 10% of today’s spine specialists have received advanced training and are qualified to perform these complicated surgeries that can give you relief faster and with far fewer complications.

• You can finally get back to your life 

Has chronic back pain changed the way you live day to day? Are you finding yourself backing away from social activities or recreation because of the pain, or fear that the pain will become unbearable when you’re not at home and within easy reach of your heating pad? You don’t need to live like that, on Mother’s Day or any other day. Find the right spine specialist, and you won’t have to.

If you’re ready to find the right spine specialist, contact DISC Spine Institute, experts in minimally invasive treatments, the most effective medical procedures to treat and eliminate spine pain.