For Your Information :: Fact vs. Fiction
Fact vs. Fiction
- Myth 1 – If you have a slipped disk (also known as a herniated or ruptured disk) you must have surgery. Surgeons agree about exactly who should have surgery.
- Fact – 90% of all herniated disks heal without surgery. Surgeons often disagree about who should have surgery.
- Myth 2 – X-ray and newer imaging tests (CT and MRI scans) can always identify the cause of pain.
- Fact – For 85% of people with back pain, doctors are unable to determine a precise cause of the pain, even with scans and/or x-rays.
- Myth 3 – If your back hurts, you should take it easy until the pain goes away.
- Fact – People who stay active after a back injury (even in the face of discomfort) do significantly better than those who stop all activity.
- Myth 4 – Back pain is usually disabling.
- Fact – Although the pain can sometimes be severe, it is rarely disabling.
- Myth 5 – Most back pain is caused by injuries or heavy lifting.
- Fact – Over half of the people with back pain develop it gradually without a specific injury.
- Myth 6 – Everyone with back pain should have a spine x-ray.
- Fact – X-rays rarely help a doctor treat a patient with back pain more effectively. In fact, only one time in 2,500 will an x-ray change a doctor’s treatment decision. Further, undue exposure to x-rays can be harmful.
- Myth 7 – Bed rest is the mainstay of therapy.
- Fact – Bed rest causes rapid deconditioning which can make a person more susceptible to developing a chronic problem. Scientific research demonstrates that those who remain at least somewhat active after an injury do better than those who rest in bed.