Four common mistakes in treating back pain
Due to the intense nature of back pain, the most common reaction is to test and diagnose until the source of the pain is discovered and eliminated. X-rays, CT scans and MRIs are costly treatments that are usually unnecessary and quite often lead to misdiagnosis.
Patients who experience back pain are quite often so overcome by its intensity that they hastily source aggressive treatment, which often leads to worsening or additional symptoms.
Mistake 1: Lying down
For years the most common solution recommended by doctors has been to lie down and rest, however a study conducted in 2010 found that patients who remained active reported less pain and a faster recovery. One of the most common mistakes when treating short-term back pain is to stop all physical activity. In order to recover, the spine requires the correct nutrients from the body, which can only be administered by regular movement. By becoming completely immobile, the spine does not get the nutrients it needs, and therefore takes longer to heal.
Mistake 2: Ingesting the wrong medication
It is not uncommon for doctors to prescribe potentially addictive pain-relief medication for sufferers of back pain. Prolonged use of any opioid can result in increased pain, and a dependency on the drug at increasingly high doses.
Mistake 3: Unnecessary Surgery
Back expert and Director of the Pacific Northwest Evidence-Based Practice Centre at Oregon Health & Science University, Roger Chou, says there is a common misconception that back surgery must work due to its expense and extensive recover time. In a study conducted by Medicare in 2013, researchers discovered a 214 percent increase in back surgeries between 2000 and 2010, however the majority of back problems cannot be fixed by surgery. More often than not, back pain occurs as a result of arthritis, poor posture, weak muscles or other extraneous factors such as a slipped disc or sciatica.
Mistake 4: Waiting too long for treatment
Although 70% of adults will experience back pain at some stage in their lifetime, prolonged or increasingly intense back pain should be treated by a professional if symptoms don’t ease within the expected time frame. Although diet, stress and lack of sleep are all common triggers for back pain, they can often be alleviated through simple lifestyle change or natural treatments. Prolonged periods of back pain or pain that continues to worsen should always be treated by a medical professional, particularly if the individual is unable to work or perform regular daily tasks.
Sources:
http://www.physiotherapylinks.com.au/acute-low-back-pain/
http://mdcurebackpain.com/common-mistakes-back-pain-sufferers-make/
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2014/08/four-common-mistakes-in-treating-back-pain/index.htm
