A physiotherapy professional explains the underlying reasons for persistent lower back discomfort
Feeling like that nagging back pain just won't go away? You're not alone. After all, back pain is as old as humanity itself. As physical therapist Jen Uschold explained to DailyMail.com, "Back pain has been a part of human experience for hundreds of years."
However, it's our modern understanding and management of this ailment that's developed over time. Uschold emphasized that "our disability from back pain is what is changing and increasing."
When we experience back pain, our instinct often points to the specific area that hurts: the lower back, the shoulders, and so forth. But Uschold clarifies that this might not always be the source. Pain, she explains, is "complex and involves almost every system in our body and brain."
Uschold's approach to diagnosing her clients' pain centers around asking about the onset of the pain, its duration, the symptoms observed, and the activities or positions that either aggravate or alleviate the pain. She also queries about any recent changes or stressors in her patients' lives.
The unpredictable and non-standard nature of what's known as nociplastic pain or Central Sensitization can make treatment especially challenging. Healing this type of pain isn't straightforward, as it's primarily driven by changes within the nervous system and not necessarily by peripheral injury or disease. Common symptoms of nociplastic pain include allodynia (pain from non-painful stimuli) and hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to painful stimuli) without a clear source of tissue damage.
The big picture is that back pain is intricate, involving biopsychosocial factors. Uschold said, "It is easy if someone falls and lands on their hip or back to understand that there is tissue injury. However, we know that about 30 percent of people with chronic pain have never had an injury or a surgery." In fact, 40 percent of people with no back pain have bulging discs on scans.
"Forty percent of people who have no back pain have bulging discs on scans," Uschold pointed out. "This is why we need to keep disseminating the information on current science of pain and how it works so that individuals can decide the best treatments for themselves and truly shift from pain to gain."
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- Despite back pain being an ancient issue, our understanding and management of it have evolved significantly over time.
- Physical therapist Jen Uschold clarifies that pain, particularly back pain, is complex and can involve almost every system in the body and brain.
- Uschold's diagnosis of her clients' pain involves understanding the onset, duration, symptoms, activities that aggravate or alleviate the pain, and any recent changes or stressors in their lives.
- Nociplastic pain or Central Sensitization, characterized by allodynia and hyperalgesia without a clear source of tissue damage, can make treatment challenging due to its unpredictable and non-standard nature.
- Uschold emphasizes that biopsychosocial factors play a significant role in back pain, noting that about 30% of people with chronic pain have never had an injury or surgery.
- Interestingly, 40% of people with no back pain have bulging discs on scans, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of the science of pain to aid in self-treatment decisions.
- For those seeking to fit more reading into their busy schedules, Audible offers a special deal: three months of access to their extensive library, exclusive audio titles, and even podcasts for just £0.99 for new subscribers.
- As we navigate the complexities of health, lifestyle, and mental health, it's essential to stay informed about the latest news, medical conditions, chronic diseases, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and sports-related updates, just as we might tune into a podcast to better understand our physical health.
