Musculoskeletal · Patient education from the Pegasus Peak physiotherapy team.
Reviewed by the Pegasus Peak physiotherapy team — AHPRA-registered physiotherapists led by principal physiotherapist Kosta Logothetis. Last reviewed 2024-05-22.
Chronic low back pain is a widespread issue that affects millions of people worldwide, yet it is often surrounded by misconceptions and myths. Understanding the truth about this condition is crucial for effective management and treatment. In this post, we’ll uncover five essential facts about chronic low back pain to help you separate fact from fiction and empower you with accurate information.Facts:1. Back Pain Does Not Equal Damage:Contrary to popular belief, the human back is remarkably stron
Chronic back pain is surrounded by myths. Here are five evidence-based facts that change the picture.
Chronic low back pain is a widespread issue that affects millions of people worldwide, yet it is often surrounded by misconceptions and myths. Understanding the truth about this condition is crucial for effective management and treatment. In this post, we’ll uncover five essential facts about chronic low back pain to help you separate fact from fiction and empower you with accurate information.
Facts:
Contrary to popular belief, the human back is remarkably strong and resilient. While injuries can occur, the tissues in the back typically heal within three months. Therefore, pain that persists beyond this period is usually not indicative of ongoing damage.
2. Scans Don't Find The Cause:
Surprisingly, most scans of the back don't provide a clear diagnosis of back pain. In fact, a 2015 study found that conditions like slipped discs were actually more common in people without back pain than in those with it. This highlights that imaging results often don't correlate with pain levels, suggesting that other factors might play a larger role in chronic low back pain than previously thought.
3. Bending is OK!:
Most people believe that bending forward or in any other direction is bad for the spine. However, the spine is very robust and capable of safely moving in multiple ways. If the back was not meant to bend, it wouldn’t! This flexibility is essential for our daily activities, and avoiding movement can sometimes do more harm than good.
4. Flare-ups not by damage:
As scary and devastating as flare-ups can be, they are often caused by factors like poor mood, bad sleep, stress, anxiety, and even inactivity. Understanding these triggers can help manage and reduce the frequency and intensity of flare-ups, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to managing chronic low back pain.
5. Brain and Pain (The Pain Neuromatrix):
When our brain receives a signal to process pain, it activates multiple areas, including those for touch, emotion, memory, and fear. This interconnected response is why negative beliefs can actually make pain worse. Understanding the brain's role in pain can help in developing strategies to manage and alleviate chronic low back pain.
References:
Back pain ≠ damage:
Garland E. L. (2012). Pain processing in the human nervous system: a selective review of nociceptive and biobehavioral pathways. Primary care, 39(3), 561–571.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2012.06.013
Scans:
Brinjikji, W., Luetmer, P. H., Comstock, B., Bresnahan, B. W., Chen, L. E., Deyo, R. A., Halabi, S., Turner, J. A., Avins, A. L., James, K., Wald, J. T., Kallmes, D. F., & Jarvik, J. G. (2015). Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology, 36(4), 811–816.https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A4173
Bending and Flare-ups:
O'Sullivan, P. B., Caneiro, J. P., O'Keeffe, M., Smith, A., Dankaerts, W., Fersum, K., & O'Sullivan, K. (2018). Cognitive Functional Therapy: An Integrated Behavioral Approach for the Targeted Management of Disabling Low Back Pain. Physical therapy, 98(5), 408–423.https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzy022
How the brain processes pain:
Bushnell, M. C., Ceko, M., & Low, L. A. (2013). Cognitive and emotional control of pain and its disruption in chronic pain. Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 14(7), 502–511.https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3516
Questions about 5 facts about chronic back pain? Our physiotherapists in Horningsea Park and Gregory Hills can assess and treat you — no referral needed.
Pegasus Peak Physiotherapy provides hands-on, evidence-based care across South West Sydney from two clinics.
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