By Arthur Wayne Baker Jr.
Considerations for Non-Specific Low Back Pain
Low back pain is the most common cause of disability effecting an estimated 577 million people worldwide with 50-80% of adults experiencing this at some point throughout their lives. The myth that this pain is always caused by an injury to the person’s disc and a medical imaging technique such as an MRI will provide them a reason for their pain is simply not true. While medical imaging can be an extremely valuable tool in certain situations, it can often result in incidental abnormal findings that are not causing symptoms and are normal age related changes unrelated to the low back pain. Approximately 8 out of every 10 people over the age of 40 years old have been found to have some sort of disc injury that is not causing them pain or effecting their quality of life. Considering the fact that low back pain can be very frustrating, it is understandable to look for concrete answers for the cause of the pain.
However it has been shown that imaging does not improve clinical outcomes and leaves you at a higher risk for undergoing back surgery for a benign injury unrelated to the back pain. This is why it is so important to work with your trusted healthcare providers to develop a plan to manage your low back pain!
Citations:
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