Surgery and Medication Are Not the Solution to Your Pain Lessons I Learned from Dr. Michael Rubenstein
- Sandro Torres
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
Surgery and Medication Are Not the Solution to Your Pain. Lessons I Learned from Dr. Michael Rubenstein
If you have been following my articles, you already know that I love interviewing professionals who dedicate their lives to helping people improve their health. Every interview teaches me something new that I can use to better serve our members at Custom Body Fitness.
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Michael Rubenstein, and I learned several valuable lessons about pain, movement, and long-term health that I want to share with you.
Dr. Michael Rubenstein is a passionate chiropractor, healthcare innovator, and co-founder of ReliefNow Laser Therapy. Throughout his career, he has helped thousands of people reduce pain, improve movement, and, in many cases, avoid unnecessary surgery or dependence on pain medication.
One thing I appreciated about Dr. Rubenstein is that he encourages people to look for the cause of their pain instead of simply covering up the symptoms.
Surgery Shouldn't Always Be Your First Option
One of the biggest points Dr. Rubenstein made during our interview was that surgery should usually be considered only after conservative treatments have been exhausted.
Once surgery is performed, there is often no way to reverse it. Just like removing an organ, many surgical procedures permanently change the body.
In many situations, surgery is absolutely necessary and can dramatically improve someone's quality of life. Severe fractures, complete tendon or ligament ruptures, advanced arthritis, and joint replacements are examples where surgery may be the best option.
However, many painful conditions can improve without surgery when the underlying problem is identified and treated correctly.
That is why getting the proper evaluation before making a major decision is so important.
Pain Medication Doesn't Solve the Problem
Another important lesson Dr. Rubenstein shared is that pain medication can be helpful for managing symptoms, especially after injuries or surgery, but medication does not usually correct the underlying cause of pain.
Use of certain pain medications carry risks, including dependence and side effects hurting the digestive system, kidneys, liver, or other organs. The goal should always be to discover why the pain exists.
Find the Cause, Not Just the Pain
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was Dr. Rubenstein's explanation of pain. Many people assume the location of the pain is the location of the problem. That isn't always true.
For example, lower back pain may result from poor hip mobility, weak core muscles, tight hamstrings, poor movement patterns, or even issues elsewhere in the body. Instead of simply treating the painful area, it's important to discover what is causing the pain in the first place.
Movement Is Medicine
As a personal trainer, this part of the interview really resonated with me.
Dr. Rubenstein emphasized that many people wait until they are sick, injured, or in severe pain before taking care of themselves.
His advice was simple:
Don't wait. Start moving before your body forces you to. Regular exercise helps improve strength, mobility, circulation, joint function, and overall quality of life.
The sooner you develop healthy habits, the easier it becomes to stay active as you age.
Dr. Rubenstein's Advice for Better Health and Weight Loss
Toward the end of our interview, we talked about fitness and weight loss. His recommendations were straightforward:
Move your body every day.
Focus on eating healthy foods.
Control the things you can control.
Surround yourself with people who support healthy habits.
Be careful about the information you consume.
Develop better time management so you can prioritize your health.
Accept that becoming healthy requires consistent hard work.
Stay disciplined until healthy habits become automatic.
Remember that calories still matter when your goal is weight loss.
I appreciate advice that is practical instead of complicated, and Dr. Rubenstein's message was exactly that.
My Final Thoughts
One reason I enjoy interviewing experts is because every professional brings a different perspective.
Dr. Michael Rubenstein reminded me that our bodies are designed to move and heal whenever possible. Before jumping immediately to surgery or relying on medication, it may be worth discussing conservative treatment options with qualified healthcare professionals who can identify the true source of your pain.
If you're struggling with pain, don't ignore it. Find a qualified professional who looks beyond the symptoms and helps you understand what's really causing the problem.
Your body—and your future self—will thank you.
Surgery and Medication Are Not the Solution to Your Pain. Lessons I Learned from Dr. Michael Rubenstein
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