Back pain is one of the most common ailments that adults all over the world suffer from. In fact, one in three people will experience back pain at some point or the other in a single year. Some people experience back pain on and off, often due to some external factor such as uncomfortable sleeping positions, carrying too much weight on your back, prolonged sitting or lying down, and working out or lifting weights beyond a reasonable amount. For others, back pain can be a chronic condition that hinders the quality of their life.
Whichever category you may fall into, rest assured that there are plenty of things you can do to alleviate back pain. And while back pain is an extremely common medical problem, there is a lot of misinformation circling around about it. According to John Taylor, the Lead Physiotherapist at Nuffield Health, here are 4 common myths about back pain that just aren’t true:
You Need an MRI to Diagnose Back Pain
If you have back pain, that doesn’t automatically mean that you need a scan or MRI. Instead, you should consult a physiotherapist, who will carry out a thorough assessment to identify the cause of the back pain. This includes tests performed on the muscles, joints, and nerves, as well as a review of your detailed medical history. Given that most people experience back pain as a result of simple strains and sprains, this should be enough to form a diagnosis and treatment plan.
If, after all of that, your physiotherapist feels like there needs to be further investigation, either through an MRI scan or review by a consultant, they will help you schedule the needed appointments.
Lower Back Pain = Slipped Disc
John Taylor says that he often hears patients referring to lower back pain as a slipped disc, but that that just isn’t accurate – in most cases. Your discs, which sit between the bones of your spine, are really strong; and like the rest of the joints in your spine, and don’t really “slip” that easily, he says.
However, back pain can often be attributed to disc-related issues, and can be extremely painful and complex. Just like the rest of your body, your discs can also be affected by age. Particularly, your discs tend to lose some of their flexibility and shock-absorbing properties as they age, and less cushioning between the bones in your spine can cause pain. Another disc-related issue occurs when it becomes inflamed and bulged, causing it to come into contact with a nerve root, leading to pain and discomfort.
However, none of these is a “slipped disc”. While most disc-related back pain issues can be made better with treatment, they can be quite difficult to manage. Thankfully, most back pain issues are caused by simple strains or sprains of the muscles and joints, which are often much easier to deal with.
You Shouldn’t Exercise with Back Pain
Back pain is, no doubt, painful. As a result, it may feel like resting and putting as little pressure on it as possible is the best thing to do. But in reality, becoming physically inactive will do the exact opposite, prolonging the recovery treatment.
In fact, exercise-based treatments have been proven to help alleviate symptoms of back pain quite effectively. Gentle exercise is great for getting your blood flowing, which helps produce endorphins, aiding in the recovery of both body and mind.
However, it is important not to overdo it. And John Taylor says that there are no “absolute truths” in regards to pain management and back care, which is why you should consult your physiotherapist, who will be able to guide you on the best practices for your specific issues.
Pain Always Means Injury
Pain is an indication that your body is feeling some sort of discomfort, but the level of pain doesn’t always equate to the amount of damage that has occurred. For instance, stubbing your toe isn’t really all that harmful beyond a few minutes, but it can sure feel like your foot got run over by a truck!
When you equate pain to injury or damage, you can become extremely cautious of doing anything that causes pain. But oftentimes, a little pain is required in the process of recovery. In terms of back pain, being afraid of pain and thinking it might increase the injury can encourage inactivity. But as we learned, exercises and physiotherapy are often great aids for recovery – and these can be painful to go through. Good days and bad days are part of recovery from back pain, so having adequate guidance and being confident about your body can help you get to the finish line.
