Four Common Preconceptions about Back and Neck Pain Unveiled and Explained.
Most people at some stage in their lives will experience back or neck pain to a degree. It’s really quite common. Some of us will initially seek appropriate treatment, however, let’s face it, at one point or another we’ve all asked Google to diagnose us or perhaps even taken on treatment suggestions from sites that are barely credible.
While research is encouraged by most health professionals as a first step to recognising your pain, there are many commonly claimed ‘facts’ that are quite simply false perceptions.
“Rest is the best way to treat my pain”
While this may be true to some extent for short-term relief from acute pain, physiotherapists are aware that any longer than a two-day period can be quite damaging and in fact make the pain you’re experiencing worse, resulting in stiffness and atrophy. The reality of this myth is that a personalised exercise plan and daily stretching are both recommended ways to prevent and treat both neck and back pain. Professional treatment will include a rehabilitation plan informing you on the exercises that are best for managing your injury.
“The doctor didn’t find anything wrong, so it must all be in my head”
This is simply not true, pain is real. If your practitioner isn’t able to find anything wrong then a different pathway or method needs to be explored. It is also important to stay aware of the types of pain we experience. For example, some patients when suffering from chronic physical pain can experience additional pain as a result of anxiety and depression. This is often due to the debilitating effects of their pain. It is very important to be proactive in finding the source of the pain to ensure that treatment is administered correctly.
“My parents had a back or neck condition, so I will as well”
There is not usually a genetic predisposition for musculoskeletal conditions that cause pain. Despite this being the case, poor lifestyle choices are very commonly passed down from generation to generation often resulting in very similar conditions to the generation before them. Focusing on healthy amounts of exercise and daily stretching is imperative to preventing “passed down” conditions.
For more information, please contact one of the health professionals here at Leap Health.