Back Pain Myths

Back pain is so common, almost everyone without exception will experience at least one episode of back pain during their life time.

How we approach it, and how we manage it matters.

This starts with what we understand and believe about our back and the cause of the pain.

There are unfortunately a lot of unhelpful beliefs out there, which all seem to get louder when we are in pain.

Myth 1: I Need an MRI to Understand What’s Going On with My Back

In most cases, no, you don’t. There are only a few specific indications for an MRI, and in many cases, a scan is unlikely to be helpful. Why? Because MRIs often reveal “abnormal findings” that may have little to do with your pain. These same findings can be seen in pain-free individuals as well. When people see these results, they can become fearful and fixate on the “diagnosis”—for example, being told they have a “slipped disc.” This can actually make recovery more difficult.

Myth 2: My Spine Is Out of Alignment or My L5/S1 Is Out of Place

Unless you’ve experienced significant trauma, it’s very unlikely that your spine is “out of place”. Most people don’t realize just how strong the spine is. It can handle hundreds of kilos of load before it breaks. The spine doesn’t just go “out of alignment” under normal circumstances.

Myth 3: My back hurts because I’m getting older (said by anyone older than 30…)

Generally, no. In fact, the prevalence of back pain decreases after the age of 50. Back pain is most common between the ages of 30 and 50. However, if you’ve experienced back pain in the past, you’re more likely to experience it again.

Understanding how to manage flare-ups when they occur can have a significant impact on several key factors related to your injury. It not only empowers you to take control of the pain but also helps boost your self-efficacy, making you feel more confident in your ability to manage your condition. By learning effective strategies to address flare-ups, you can reduce the overall disability associated with the pain, shorten its duration, and lessen its severity. This proactive approach can also improve your quality of life, enabling you to remain more active and engaged in daily activities despite the setback.

Got back pain that you’re having trouble solving? I can help you with that.