So many times, as a clinician you see a patient with persistent pain displaying a lot of the below beliefs. It’s not always the case. On-going persistent pain is very frustrating and can cause you to feel fearful about your pain, which can limit what you do day-day. See below the common myths. We came across a great post that stats the myth below, credit to Movement for Health; World Confederation for Physical Therapy.
“A Scan Will Give Me a Diagnosis”
Yes, scan can provide helpful information that
can occasionally help to work towards a diagnosis. However, a scan doesn’t
always provide you with answers you may assume it will. Degeneration is natural
and occurs in everyone as we age, this doesn’t mean this necessarily causes
your pain. There are many other factors that need to be incorporated to
understand your pain.
“I Am Causing Damage If It
Hurts”
Pain is a protector not a reflector
of tissue damage. Pain isn’t necessarily a good measurement of tissue damage.
The body may produce pain in anticipation before there is any physical damage
in order to protect the body from harm. Your body also remembers when something
has hurt in the past, our bodies are very clever and will produce pain when a
similar or the same thing is occurring to prevent damage from happening again.
Seek help through a professional to provide you with a program to manage your
symptoms and promote movement. Remember motion is lotion.
“Bending & Lifting Will
Make My Lower Back Pain Worse”
Bending and lifting doesn’t necessarily lead to
increased pain. There are a variety of exercises that can be used to load
areas, such as the lower back, in a safe, pain free, way. Our bodies want to be
loaded, just in the right manner. We shouldn’t avoid movements; we just need to
understand how to do these movements properly. Having this mobility and
building the strength to protect your back when bending and lifting is
important. If you are experiencing pain in these movements seek advice. There
are always ways to improve your pain.
“I Should Stay in Bed &
Rest”
Bed rest can in fact increase
immobility, which can prolong recovery. Many studies have shown early rehab
leads to a better recovery outcome and better quality of life. “Rest” doesn’t
mean no movement/complete rest, majority of the time it means adapting your
lifestyle for a short period by removing aggravating factors. We understand
pain can be debilitating, but it shouldn’t have to leave your bed bound.
Encourage your body to move in a comfortable range is key. Remember, seeking
advice can make a big difference, especially if you are unsure on how to do so.
“Strong Pain Killers Will Help Manage My Pain”
Strong pain killers/opioids can be
used to manage pain. However, they may be masking potential physical damage and
will not cure your pain. Pain can be frustrating at times, but it is a
protector, it provides us with a warning that there could be potential risk of
damage. Yes, pain doesn’t always show a true correlation with physical damage,
but it shouldn’t be masked. When pain persists this pain threshold lowers and
becomes easily triggered, movement and exercise is the answer, not having opioids
as a standalone treatment. This can in fact lead to a slower recovery, and in
fact can be dangerous.
“Surgery is My Only Chance of
Improvement”
Recent research has been
investigating conventional treatment as a replacement to surgery. People can
manage many injuries solely with conventional treatment. Also, surgery alone
may not irradiate your pain. For example, only around 1-5% of lower back
pain is caused from a serious disease or injury, which would require surgery. A
lot of other avenues should be considered before surgery, such as physical
therapy, pain management and cognitive therapy. Surgery should be the last
resort. Professionals can help you with a programme to help manage and treat
your symptoms.
“My Pain & Limited Function Mean There’s Nothing I Can Do”
Pain and limited function doesn’t mean you are
off limits to everything. Activity can be adapted. When your experiencing pain
persistently it can lead to viscous cycle of fear avoiding behaviour,
immobility and pain. Seeking the right help makes a big difference and ca help
you break this cycle. Your pain doesn’t need to rule your life.