Chronic low back pain (LBP)has a lot of hype and myths around it. Many of those outdated ideas create issues for those of us struggling with chronic LBP. So, I’ve compiled a list of 10 things I think are the most important pieces of information people experiencing pain need in order to begin to heal.
- While it sure feels like it. Chronic low back pain is not a life-threatening condition. You can improve your condition.
- Back pain does not get worse as we age.
- Scans and imaging do not determine the prognosis of the current episode of LBP, the likelihood of future disability, and do not improve clinical outcomes.
- Exercise and movement in all directions are safe and healthy for the spine. It’s best to take it slow when you start moving again.
- Sitting, lying, and lifting do not have a right or wrong way to do them. Prolonged positioning of any kind is more often than not the cause. We are made to move.
- A weak core does NOT cause low back pain.
- Flare-ups are more related to changes in activity, stress, and mood rather than structural damage.
- It’s safe to move, chronic pain is a terrible indicator of tissue damage.
- Or thoughts, feelings, and behaviors around our pain are a better indicator of whether it will be chronic than tissue damage.
- Learning to self-manage with the support of a medical team is the most effective way to heal yourself.
Do these statements make you want to know more? I hope so and I invite you to take my free course to learn more and how to fix it.
If you would like a long highly documented read on low back pain, I encourage you to check out Paul Ingraham’s blog painscience.com This monster post is full of amazing information!
