Around 80 percent of Germans are plagued by pulling, pressing and pain in the spine – and more and more younger people are also affected. Orthopedist Dr. Reinhard Schneiderhan clarifies the ten biggest misconceptions about back pain.
With back pain you should not move
Misconception. For many ailments, it may be true that rest helps with pain. Not so with discomfort in the back. As one of the main reasons, specialists repeatedly cite lack of exercise. “Intervertebral discs need water and nutrients. Loading and unloading, as in physical activity, cause a pumping motion. Thus they suck themselves up like sponges with liquid fully”, know the spinal specialist from Munich. It advises to begin again in moderation with back-friendly sport. That promotes the supply of the volume disks and strengthens the muscles at the back, which strengthen additionally the spinal column. Persistent complaints should be examined by an orthopedist to determine causes and further action.
Reason for back pain: worn vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
False. Beginning slight pain indicates rather tense muscles, little movement or incorrect movement sequences. Vertebrae and intervertebral discs are considered stable elements of the body and do not wear out until very old age. Other causes of pain: displaced intervertebral discs, pinched nerves as well as incorrect posture.
Standing strains and sitting relaxes the back and intervertebral discs
Misconception. Although many people find sitting to be beneficial compared to standing, it is not relaxing for the intervertebral discs. Standing upright exerts a pressure of about 100 percent on the sensitive shock absorbers, while sitting up straight increases it to 140. Most people consider a sitting position slightly bent forward to be particularly comfortable. Here, the load doubles to almost 200 percent. What supposedly does good, achieves exactly the opposite in the long run: damage to the back.
A lumbago is a slipped disc
For many people, lumbago equals herniated disc. What the vernacular sees as identical, the specialist distinguishes exactly. A lumbago simply refers to a stabbing pain in the back, triggered by nerve irritation and pronounced muscle tension. Causes include diseases such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis or wear and tear on the intervertebral discs. In the case of a herniated disc, the outer shell of the disc tears. As a result, the soft core emerges and presses on the posterior spinal canal. Persistent, severe pain follows, as well as numbness in the arms and legs.
Hard mattresses are good for the back
No. Too hard sleeping pads lead to hollow areas in the lumbar region and tension in the muscles. Chronic pain conditions as well as sleep disturbances follow. In turn, mattresses that are too soft do not stabilize the back well enough. Medium firmness levels are best. They protect against tension and support the sensitive back. “In addition, I advise sufferers to insist on individual advice when buying a bed, but also on test lying. Special neck pillows between the head and shoulders promote a healthy lying position,” explains Dr. med. Schneiderhan.
Physical stress damages the back
This is only true to a certain extent. For example, anyone who engages in sports with one-sided movement sequences over a long period of time will damage their spine in the long run. Tennis, golfing or rowing are among them. However, lack of exercise remains the main cause of back pain. Sporting activity prevents complaints. Of course, high-performance athletes as well as physically stressed professional workers are considered to be at risk. Here, the cause is insufficient compensatory exercise. However, studies have shown that only five percent of wear and tear is caused by physical stress. In addition, anyone who sits lazily on the couch all winter and carries 50 boxes during a move in the spring need not be surprised about pain caused by tension
Minor back pain disappears all by itself
True, not every back pain needs to be treated by a doctor, nevertheless, they do not disappear by themselves. If pain sufferers pay attention to more sporting activity and correct movement patterns, such as sitting correctly, complaints often go away after a short time. Nevertheless, a visit to a specialist can not hurt to rule out worse.
Only surgery helps with a herniated disc
In the past, this was true.Today, more than 80 percent of herniated discs are treated with new minimally invasive methods. Specialists use, for example, spinal catheter therapy and the intervertebral disc laser for bulging discs and herniations. In a few cases, specialists resort to modern, neurosurgical interventions instead of conventional surgery.
Cold weather in winter makes back vulnerable to pain
It is true that many people suffer from pain in the backbone in winter. Not true: cold weather always causes discomfort. Often, cold wet weather and shorter days ensure that many use the car even for short distances, spend as little time as possible outside and prefer to spend their free time on the cozy sofa. This results in acute lack of exercise and associated back pain develops.
Back pain only occurs in old age
Wrong, because back pain affects about 60 percent of Germans between 14 and 29 years, according to a survey by the company health insurance funds. Reasons for this are obvious. Due to changes in our culture, we now sit far more at work and in our leisure time than we did 50 years ago. Added to this are incorrect posture and lack of exercise. “A slipped disc in your early 30s is no longer a rarity,” emphasizes spine specialist Schneiderhan.
