Ten Common Myths of Low Back Pain

Learn about ten common myths of low back pain.

1) Rest helps: While it is generally a good idea not to overdo, there is no evidence that rest helps and there is good evidence that outcomes are better when activity is encouraged.

2) Degenerative Disk Disease: While degenerative disk disease does suggest wear and tear, it is present it virtually everyone beyond 35 years of age. Its mere presence does not in and of itself mean that it is the source of your pain. Ten Common Myths of Low Back Pain

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3) Strengthening helps: Obtaining or maintaining a strong “core” does help prevent and treat low back pain, but before you strengthen what is weak you must reeducate what is inhibited and then stretch what is tight.

4) Numbness means I have a pinched nerve: Unless there is a true lack of sensation to pin prick, other structures such as muscle or ligament can make you feel as if you are numb and should not be confused for nerve.

5) Weather sensitive pain is an old wives tale: Weather sensitive pain is quite real. Its presence suggests that the sympathetic nerve (a special nerve type) is involved.

6) I need surgery since I have a herniated disc: The vast majority of people do not need surgery, even in the presence of a herniated disc. Unless there is loss of bowel or bladder control, or if progressive neurologic deficit is present, predicting outcomes with surgery is controversial.

7) I have an irritated nerve, so there must be something pressing on it: A nerve can be irritated due to inflammation, lack of oxygen, because it was stretched or if there are other medical conditions that do not let it heal. There does not have to be anything pressing on it for it to be irritated.

8) Bending is bad for your back: simply bending below the knee level in and of it self is no where as bad for your back and combining bending with twisting.

9) I’m feeling better now so my problem is resolved: It is quite possible to get relief from low back pain and still be an accident waiting to happen. An ounce of prevention is defiantly worth a pound of cure when it comes to LBP.

10) As long as I take my medicine, I feel fine: Most often medicine can help you feel better, but that does not mean that you are better. You should still go out of your way to improve function and increase strength in order to help prevent reoccurrence.