Acute and chronic back and neck pain: common misconceptions

Back and neck pain can be the result of trauma, degenerative disease, spinal disc displacement, etc. Understanding the nature and cause of pain is very important for making the correct diagnosis, prescribing the appropriate treatment for the doctor and the fastest possible recovery. Unfortunately, patients do not always have complete and reliable information about back and neck pain, as a result of which they tend to draw wrong conclusions, seek help from a doctor too late, and incorrectly assess the severity of the situation. Therefore, estet-portal.com presents to your attention the most common misconceptions about back and neck pain.

Misconception: rest is the best remedy for back and neck pain

Actually: short rest periods can relieve acute neck or back pain, but doctors generally discourage more than 1 to 2 days of bed rest, as too long can lead to more pain.

Lack of activity leads to muscle wasting and other negative effects that can lead to increased neck or back pain and an unhealthy pain/inactivity/increased pain/inactivity cycle. For most diseases, doctors recommend a long-term rehabilitation program consisting of physical therapy and exercise.

Misconception: the spine is fragile and easily damaged by careless movement

Actually: the spine is a well thought out anatomical structure. The surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons provide strength, flexibility and support to the spine. Apart from some exceptions (such as a spinal fracture), proper stretching, spinal strengthening, and aerobic exercise are required to keep the spine healthy. Poor posture and body mechanics (such as poor lifting technique) and other factors such as smoking, poor diet, or sleep disturbances can harm the spine.

Misconception: if the doctor did not find the problem, the cause of the pain is psychological

In fact: pain is always real. A doctor may not always be able to find an anatomical cause for back or neck pain, but there is always a cause for pain. In the case of chronic pain (for example, if it lasts more than 2 - 3 months), proactive treatment is the number one task. While psychological factors (such as depression and insomnia) may also be included in a comprehensive treatment program, it is also important to look at non-surgical treatments that can help relieve pain.

Misconception: the more pain in the back and neck, the more serious the problems

Really: In chronic pain, the level or degree of pain is not related to the level and degree of damage or injury to the back or neck. For example, with severe osteochondrosis, pain may be minimal, and mild osteochondrosis may be accompanied by severe pain.

However, unlike chronic (long-term) pain, acute pain is indeed directly related to the severity of the injury. For example, a deep skin cut is more painful and has a higher level of injury than a bruise, and the pain disappears as it heals. Thus, acute pain is a protective reflex that helps us avoid events or objects that can cause tissue damage (for example, when we reflexively withdraw our hand from a hot stove).

Estet-portal.com reminds that back and neck pain can be caused by various factors, including dangerous diseases, the success of which treatment directly depends on timely seeking medical help. Therefore, be careful and do not ignore back pain, especially chronic pain.