often such a discrepancy between what one “expert” says has caused your back pain and what another seemingly equally-qualified expert says is the root cause of your pain?
..... Easy: there is no definitive test for the great majority of cases of back pain, not Xrays (in fact, Xrays are notoriously unreliable in diagnosing back pain, and someone “reading” a set of back Xrays can, I believe, say pretty much anything and make a case for it), not CT scans, not even MRIs.
..... In fact, studies have shown that up to 40 % of “normal” people, that is, 40 % of people who have never complained of back pain, have bulging discs when an MRI is done of their backs.
..... So, finally, the most important question: how should you treat an acute bad back?
..... Well, I must say right at the top that this is really pretty much a matter of opinion, so in my opinion, in the vast majority of cases of acute back pain, the best treatment is getting back to regular activity ASAP (the more you sit around, the worse it will get), and usually, nothing more, that is, with some notable exceptions such as those requiring emergency surgery (acute pressure on the sciatic nerve, for example), the less treatment you endure with your back pain, the better you will do, I feel, and the quicker you will get back to normal.
..... This is not true for everyone, of course, because often, a lot depends on what you believe, and if you believe in the benefits of massage therapy, for example, then you will probably get a bit of benefit from that modality of treatment.
..... By the way, truth in writing forces me to point out that my wife says that the reason so many people come up to me in public is not because I have such an easy manner (I don’t, says she) but rather because I so obviously and desperately crave attention from anyone who will give it to me, and you know, if I ever find enough time to stop waving at all my fans (OK, at my one fan), I will think of a good answer to give her.
Dr. Art Hister can be heard on CKNW and other Corus Radio Network stations on House Calls on Saturdays at 10 AM, as well as seen on Global TV news on Saturday mornings at 9:20. |
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