Common Back Pain Myths

By Jon Mader, MD

United Spine Center

. https://www.unitedspinecenter.com/

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Common Back Pain Myths

Back pain is an unfortunate side effect of being human. Current estimates are that about 80% of the general population will experience back pain at some point in their life. Myths about the causes of back pain are just as ubiquitous. Here is some current scientific evidence related to many common myths about back pain.

1. Bed Rest Is Best

While a day or two of bed rest may reduce aggravation of the pain after the initial injury, there is strong evidence to suggest that a gradual return to routine activities is the most effective way to shorten recovery time, reduce pain levels, and get back to work.

In fact, research has found that prolonged bed rest can slow recovery time, result in longer absenteeism from work, and is associated with higher levels of both pain and disability.

Get out of bed as soon as you can and slowly get back to doing the things you love!

2. If I Have Pain, I Must Have Damage

Believe it or not, much of the current research is changing how we understand this idea. In that, when it comes to the spine, pain does not necessarily correlate with damage.

We often see people that have similar back problems with very different pain intensity. For instance, if we have two people with very similar anatomy as compared on imaging studies, why does one have no pain while the other has severe pain? Research has been pointing towards a complex interaction within the nervous system related to how pain messages are sent, processed, and interpreted. This may result in a person feeling pain with movement despite no damage being done.

3. Surgery Is My Only Option

Generally speaking, a very small number of individuals require surgical intervention for spine related pain. Most people will get better with time, exercise, and staying active with their daily routine.

In the small proportion of people that do not improve, the next step is to visit an interventional spine physician who can offer a wide variety of non-surgical treatment options. These options may include physical therapy, spinal injections, and medications.

In fact, the majority of individuals with back pain respond to non-surgical treatments. However, for the small number that don't, the next reasonable step would be to have a discussion with a spine surgeon.