There's a whole bunch of myths out there surrounding Lower Back Pain. Here are the top myths that I try to bust on a daily basis. Each myth is busted by an evidence-based truth.
❌Lower Back Pain is only caused by injury or damage.
✔️Lower Back Pain can occur gradually and the severity of pain very rarely matches the extent of any structural damage.
❌Lower Back Pain does not relate to genetics.
✔️Disc height, hydration and degenerative changes can be related to your genetics.
❌Finding no structural cause means that the pain is psychological.
✔️Lower Back Pain can occur from various tissues many of which do not need to be damaged to initiate a pain experience.
❌Discs can't heal without surgery or medical intervention.
✔️Disc bulges, protrusions and prolapses can heal spontaneously without the need for intervention. Rehab and treatment can manage the associated pain.
❌Sciatic pain only comes from spinal damage.
✔️The sciatic nerve can become sensitised in various ways without nerve damage. Sciatic symptoms can also reduce without intervention.
❌Environmental factors can not influence Lower Back Pain.
✔️Surroundings can influence Lower Back Pain experience. This includes people, living environment, lifestyle, occupation, diet, exercise, and much more.
REFERENCE LIST
- Chiu, C., Chuang, T., Chang, K., Wu, C., Lin, P. and Hsu, W., 2014. The probability of spontaneous regression of lumbar herniated disc: a systematic review. Clinical Rehabilitation.
- Gugliotta M, da Costa BR, Dabis E, et al Surgical versus conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation: a. British Medical Journal.
- Handa, R., 2019. Low back pain- myths and facts. Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma.
- Karjalainen, U., Paananen, M., Okuloff, A., Taimela, S., Auvinen, J., Männikkö, M. and Karppinen, J., 2013. Role of Environmental Factors and History of Low Back Pain in Sciatica Symptoms Among Finnish Adolescents. Spine.
