Negative beliefs about low back pain (LBP) are common. Fifty percent of the general population believe pain in the back means that the back is damaged. Around ninety percent believe that ignoring pain can damage the back; and seventy believe there is ongoing weakness in the back following an episode of LBP.
It follows then, that the experience of LBP can feel threatening and scary for many people. If the spine is the central structure of the body, protecting the precious spinal cord, what happens when the spine is ‘damaged’, ‘weak’ or ‘worn’? Could it mean ending up in a wheelchair?
Contrary to popular beliefs, the spine is a strong structure and serious underlying structural causes of LBP are rare. The association between common MRI findings such as disc degeneration and disc bulges and LBP disability is weak. In contrast, what people believe and do about their LBP has a strong influence on how long the pain will last and how disabled they will be by it.
Speak to us to help relieve your fears surrounding your lower back pain
