Numerous myths about back pain are not helpful in managing this common and persistent problem, which often involves complex treatments with various risks and complications.
Preconceived notions about the causes, diagnosis and treatment can be aggravating factors in the continuity of symptoms, as complete and correct information helps to treat back pain more easily.
Medical statistics show that 8 out of 10 people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. In the US, this medical problem is:
- The main cause of disabilities of people over 45 years;
- The second frequent reason to visit the general practitioner;
- The third common cause of surgical procedures;
- The fifth common cause of hospitalization;
Therefore, most people end up experiencing annoying back pain at some point in their lives. The way they are kept under control can be affected by the many myths passed down from generation to generation about this widespread medical problem. Some of the most important myths are below.
CONTENT:
- Chronic back pain is treated with surgery
- Severe back pain can lead to paralysis
- Back pain worsens with age
- Active people are not at risk of developing chronic back pain
- Traditional medicine does not recommend acupuncture to treat back pain
- Rest helps relieve back pain
- The chiropractor can permanently treat the back pain
- Eliminating excess weight prevents back pain
- People with chronic back pain need narcotics
- Chronic back pain is treated by surgery
1. Chronic back pain is treated with surgery
In most cases, chronic back pain is treated with other non-invasive therapies, including minor lifestyle changes. Only in very severe cases, which cannot be managed by medication, are surgical interventions taken into account.
2. Severe back pain can lead to paralysis
The spine ends in the lumbar region of the body, where there are nerve roots with a robust structure. In most cases, the appearance of back pain does not indicate a medical problem that can lead to paralysis.
Examples of rare cases where paralysis is a real risk in the presence of low back pain are spinal tumors, spinal infections or unstable spinal fractures.
3. Back pain worsens with age
On the contrary, medical statistics say. The incidence of back pain is usually higher between 35 and 55. After this age, the pain tends to be less severe.
4. Active people are not at risk of developing chronic back pain
While it is true that active people have a lower predisposition to back pain, this problem can occur regardless of the level of physical activity. Some sports increase susceptibility to lumbar discomfort, such as volleyball, golf, or gymnastics.
5. Traditional medicine does not recommend acupuncture to treat back pain
More recently, the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians have unanimously recommended the use of acupuncture to treat chronic back pain.
Traditional medicine has embraced this complementary treatment, particularly following field studies demonstrating its potential to be even more effective than conventional treatments for this medical condition.
6. Rest helps relieve back pain
Doctors once recommended that people with chronic back pain (lasting at least 6 weeks) get more rest. Currently, experts have found that prolonged rest (over 1-2 days) rarely helps to relieve symptoms. Recent studies have found that bed rest can even aggravate back pain, while exercise can have the opposite effect.
In most cases, stretching exercises, swimming or walking contribute to the removal of discomfort and a better physiological condition.
7. The chiropractor can permanently treat the back pain
Chiropractic massage can temporarily relieve back pain by stimulating endorphins that alleviate discomfort, but its effects are not valid in the long run. Since 96% -99% of back pain goes away on its own in a few days, a visit to a chiropractor is not a must for everyone.
Research into the benefits of chiropractic massage has found that this type of therapy offers a slight improvement in fitness, but is recommended only after other methods of pain relief have failed or failed after a few days of treatment.
8. Eliminating excess weight prevents back pain
This is one of the most common myths. People who are overweight may have a higher risk of developing back pain, but there are also many patients with this condition who are normal and even underweight.
Back pain occurs in women and men alike, usually between the ages of 30 and 50. Among the factors that predispose to this problem are aging, trauma, sedentary lifestyle, incorrect body posture, poor sleeping position, smoking and stress.
Being overweight is just one of the risk factors that contribute to back pain.
9. People with chronic back pain need narcotics
This is one of the myths completely false, experts say. As a rule, anti-inflammatory drugs and those with a relaxing effect on the muscles give the best results in the prophylaxis of back pain. Narcotics, although they have a stronger analgesic effect, can aggressively stimulate pain receptors in the brain.
Eventually, the patient becomes tempted to increase the dose due to the increased discomfort, entering a vicious circle. For this reason, narcotics are not a good option for controlling back pain.
10. Chronic back pain is treated by surgery
Most cases of chronic back pain receive treatment through non-invasive therapies, often involving minor lifestyle changes. Surgical interventions are only considered in very severe cases that cannot be managed by medication.