Persistent back pain can be scary, distressing, and disabling, but it is rarely dangerous and life-threatening.
There is an abundance of misinformation regarding low back pain. Lets delve into what the current research infoms us about back pain.
Persistent back pain is rarely associated with serious tissue damage
Backs are robust, resilient, and strong. If you have sustained a back injury, you can be assured that proper healing occurs within three months. So, if back pain persists beyond this time, there are other contributing factors that need to be considered. Often low back starts with simple, everyday movement. Other common triggers are things like poor sleep, stress, tension, worries, low mood, inactivity, and unaccustomed activity. These triggers can cause backs to be sensitive to touch and movement.
Back pain with movement and exercise
When pain persists, it is common for the spine and surrounding muscles to become stiff and sore during movement. This does not indicate that your back is damaged, but how sensitive your back has become. So, it is safe and normal to feel some pain when you start to move and exercise. This usually settles down with time as you get more active. In fact, exercise and movement are one of the most effective ways to help treat low back pain.
Back pain is not caused by 'weak core muscles'
Weak core muscles do not cause back pain. People with back pain will often tense their core muscles in an attempt to protect their back. While having a strong back is important, keeping your core muscles tense all the time only serves to make back pain worse. It is helpful to relax core muscles during everyday tasks such as lifting, bending, and twisting.
Back pain is not caused by poor posture
How we sit, stand, and bend does not cause low back pain even though these activities may be painful. A variety of postures are healthy for your back. It is safe to relax during everyday tasks such as sitting, bending, and lifting.
Getting older is not a cause of low back pain
There is a widespread belief and concern that low back pain gets worse as we get older. While x-rays may reveal findings such as degenerative discs and arthritis, these are common findings in older people with and without back pain. These findings do not predict how much pain you feel and how disabled you are. Current research does not support a relationship between getting older and having back pain.
Whether you are a younger or older person experiencing back pain, Dr. Gelley has the knowledge and experience to provide you with safe and effective treatment for your back pain. Book an appointment today to see how he can help.
