[originally published in KCN, May 2009]
As I read the recent press release of the survey on back pain conducted by Consumer Reports from 14,000+ of its subscriber base, I flashed back to the Richard Dawson-version of the Family Feud from the 1970’s. This was a TV game show in which two families were pit against one another to come up with the most popular responses to “survey-type” questions. Richard would start the battle by shouting, “Let’s play the Feud!”
[originally published in KCN, November 1998]
It is not uncommon for low back pain sufferers to be told by their medical doctors not to worry, the pain will go away on its own. Unfortunately, words like these bear little comfort to someone down for the count with lumbago. Like it or not, it’s a common “truth” in the medical arena. An article published in the medical journal Spine, just over ten years ago, stated, “80-90% of attacks of low back pain recover in about six weeks, irrespective of administration or type of treatment.” More recently, back pain guidelines published out of Australia touted similar verbiage: back pain patients should be “given the assurance that they will recover naturally.” In a way, I guess this line of thinking sort of fits with our human nature and is somewhat comforting. It’s much easier to ignore the gigantic gray elephant sitting in your living room, than to face the fact that something might actually be wrong. “Maybe it will just ‘go away.’”
[originally published in KCN, February 2009]
It’s not uncommon — when I query someone who has come to my office, if they have any neck pain, headaches, or lower back pain —for them to say, “Yes but….”
“Yes, but… my neck pain is because I have a bad pillow.”
“Yes, but… my headaches are brought on by stress.”
“Yes, but… my lower back pain is because I drive a lot.”
And my response is, “That may be so, but….” (more…)
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