Myths & Misconceptions
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There are various causes of back pain. Some back pain problems can be treated with proper home exercise program and some require other treatments like surgery, acupuncture and others. However there are some myths related to the treatment of back pain in the minds of the people. These are:
Myth 1- There exists a standard cure for the most causes of back pain.
Fact- The reality is that there are few standardized approaches for diagnosing and treating back problems. Various spine specialists show discontent on an appropriate treatment for back pain. Different treatments are available according to the type of causes.
Myth 2- Rest is the only factor behind back pain recovery or relief.
Fact- Rest is mainly recommended to the patients just for one or two days as it helps in reducing pressure on the spine discs and stops the mechanical stresses which are irritating the pain receptors. However, increase in rest period would adversely affect the back pain leading to increased pain and other complicated problems like:
1. De-conditioning of cardiopulmonary with 15% loss in 10 days
2. Muscle atrophy with 1 % to 1.5 % per day.
3. Loss of bone mineral density.
4. Loss of wages.
5. Creation of emotional limitations.
Myth 3- The effects of heat and massage help in back pain and back problems.
Fact- There is no doubt that these therapies are helpful in back pain but the effects are visible mostly in cases of acute pain and are short lived. These do not provide long term solutions to the problems of back. These are mainly used for managing pain during the recovery period. These allow the patients to complete their rehabilitation program enabling them to participate in the day-to-day activities.
Myth 4- Long term pain is an indication towards the need of back surgery.
Fact- If your back pain stays for a longer period or reaches the chronic stages, then the spine or back surgery have less chances of being successful. It is really beneficial if the symptoms suggesting the back surgery are known in the early course of pain to get proper cure.
Myth 5- Spine is delicate and can be easily injured.
Fact- Spine is not delicate instead, spine and the muscles, tendons and ligaments around it are a well designed structure that is immensely strong, supportive and flexible. Proper conditioning like strengthening and aerobic conditioning are required for a strong back and spine.
Myth 6- The back pain or back problem at a younger age gets worse as the person grows older.
Fact- The back pain is at its peak between the ages of 35 and 55. After 55 it gets less in the form of discogenic pain. One thing to know is that disc degeneration is a natural phenomenon of the aging process which is not always associated with some pain.
Myth 7- If your father or mother has a back problem, you are also likely to have it.
Fact- There is no genetic predisposition in the problems related to back and neck which means back problems of your parents would not pass on to you.
Myth 8- Diagnostic tests like MRI or others are needed to diagnose the back problem.
Fact- Most of the time the causes of back problem are diagnosed by a thorough analysis of medical history and physical examination of the patient. Only in some specific cases there arises a need of diagnostic tests when the patient does not respond to an appropriate treatment.
Myth 9- The abnormality shown in MRI scan needs to be cured.
Fact- It is not necessary that the abnormality shown in MRI scan is the sure cause of your back pain as large number of people having no back problems are suffering from abnormalities like herniated disc or degenerative disc.