Rethinking back pain. Do you really need surgery?
What can cut, burn and double you over?
Back pain.
Have you experienced it? Felt that debilitating tightness and spasm that stops you in your tracks? Perhaps you’re battling back pain right now.
If so, you’re not alone – 85% of the Australian population can say the same. The good news is, this article will help you find a solution.
In honour of World Spine Day, we’re going deeper than ever before into back pain: why ‘treating back pain’ is a red herring, how the everyday language you use to describe your back pain could be making it worse, why it’s imperative to move even if you’re experiencing discomfort, and how the benefits of surgery and cortisone injections are seriously overrated.
What causes back pain?
Let’s be clear. ‘Back pain’ is a symptom of a deeper problem, not a condition in itself. Sometimes it can feel random – hitting you out of the blue – but more often than not, it’s a sign the spine itself is not working properly.
That twinge, pop, snap or oweeeee! that comes on so suddenly could be the result of years of pressure and degeneration, taking place silently behind the scenes.
With this in mind, ‘treating back pain’ is a little like giving a coeliac pills to stop bloating, while making them a sandwich. The problem isn’t the digestive symptoms; it’s their allergy to gluten.
When it comes to back pain, relieving symptoms can be an important first step, but it’s vital to understand what’s behind the pain, removing the interference that’s perpetuating the problem. This is the only way to heal back pain for good.
As chiropractors, we know that back pain often points to subluxation; a spinal misalignment that interferes with the function of the nervous system and surrounding tissues. By gently addressing these subluxations, we start to relieve the pressure which underpins the pain.
Conventional treatments
When you’re at your wits end with persistent back pain, it’s common to reach out to friends, family or your doctor for advice (and sympathy!). Many people have stories about surgery or cortisone shots, while your GP may offer pain medication and specialist referrals.
However well-intentioned, none of these options truly address the root cause of your pain, and all come with significant risks.
Surgery can be effective for trauma, growths or tumours, and certain neurological conditions, but when it comes to lower back pain, disrupting the integrity of your spine is a big, irreversible decision. There’s very little evidence to support the benefits of surgery at all, and procedures like lumbar fusion – despite being on the rise – are remarkably ineffective according to research.
What about cortisone injections? They’re a sure-thing for getting rid of pain, aren’t they? Not so says the literature. In fact, corticosteroid injections for sciatica (leg pain associated with back pain), reduced pain by only 5 points out of 100, whole offering no long-term benefit.
Painkillers are one of the first things people reach for, and anti-inflammatories can offer temporary respite – useful for planning your next move. But ‘the strong stuff’ like opioids are highly addictive, and you can easily find yourself dependent on them. This is not only tough (and potentially damaging) for your system, but can also dampen your enthusiasm for finding real, lasting solutions.
Getting to the bottom of your back pain is the real answer, and luckily there are simple ways to start the process, right now.
Holistic alternatives
Forge a new relationship with pain
It’s easy to paint pain as the villain; a nasty, knife-wielding nemesis, making your days miserable. Even our language around pain is warlike: we fight it, battle it and beat it – it ‘stabs’, ‘cuts’ and ‘burns’.
But what if we flipped our perspective on pain? What if we treated it as a friend?
The truth is: pain is protective – a messenger saying ‘Hey! We’ve got a problem over here!’. By changing our relationship with pain and acknowledging its usefulness, we can start to interpret what it’s trying to tell us.
Move, even if it feels like you can’t
Sometimes, overprotective pain can get in the way of healthy, healing movement. There’s understandable fear attached to pain, making us feel like we’ll ‘break’ or make it worse if we decide to push through. But there’s a point at which you must move to get better, in whatever way you’re able.
First, get the all-clear from a professional – then start a conversation with your pain that goes like this: I know you’re trying to help me here, but this walk/swim/ride/yoga class is safe – and just the thing to help me feel better.
If you don’t fancy talking to yourself, consider moving through your pain and incorporating gentle exercise – even if your first preference is to lie on the couch.
We can help you make a movement and exercise plan that takes your individual needs into account. Simply ask during your next Spinecare visit.
Find a practitioner you trust
If you’re looking for ways to treat your back pain, find a practitioner who just might refuse.
What we mean is, look for a qualified holistic practitioner who sees you as a whole person, eager to address the root cause of your pain rather than simply treat the symptoms.
The great thing is, chiropractic starts to alleviate symptoms and address the underlying problem simultaneously, making it one of the few methods of treating back pain that will lead to lasting results.