Back Pain
Myths
Pain is good for you.
It builds strength
and character.
False: In some
cases, pain serves a
good purpose. It
warns you that
something is wrong —
for instance, you've
burned your hand.
Pain also keeps you
from causing
additional harm or
injury — by causing
you to quickly take
your hand off the
stove. However,
persistent pain
ceases to provide a
useful warning. It
can keep you from
your daily activities
and exercise, leading
to health problems
and depression. So
"toughing it out" can
actually build
serious problems,
rather than strength
and character.
In addition, "no
pain, no gain" may
not be the best
mantra for your
exercise routine.
This phrase usually
refers to the normal
aches that occur
after muscles are
stimulated to grow,
so, in some cases,
soreness might be a
reasonable indicator
of effective
exercise. But pain
during exercise is a
sign of possible
injury. If you
experience pain
during exercise,
check your form,
reduce your exertion
level and rest.
Pain doesn't
necessarily mean that
some part of your
body is physically
damaged.
True: Not all
pain is associated
with a detectable
injury or disease.
Many people are quick
to assume that if
they have a pain,
some specific
abnormality must be
causing it. And
they're almost
equally quick to
assume that if an
abnormality is
present, it can be
cured with an easy
intervention. But
this isn't always the
case.
This is particularly
true of chronic pain.
There may be no
evidence of disease
or damage to body
tissues that doctors
can directly link to
the pain.
Infants can feel
pain.
True: The part
of the brain and
nervous system that
allows you to feel
pain is fully
developed at birth,
although it may not
be fully functional
in premature infants.
That doesn't mean
that every crying
baby is in pain,
though.
Babies fuss and wail
for all kinds of
reasons, and their
tears are often more
painful for their
parents. However, if
you suspect that your
baby is hurting, see
your doctor right
away. And be sure to
request appropriate
pain relief for
infants undergoing
painful procedures,
such as a
circumcision.
Pain is an inevitable
part of aging and
serious illness, such
as cancer.
False: Pain is
more common as you
age. And pain is
common in some
illnesses. But pain
isn't inevitable. If
you have cancer pain
or pains associated
with aging, ask your
doctor about
treatment options.
Increasing pain is a
sign that your
illness is getting
worse.
False: Pain
can wax or wane for
many reasons, so it's
not a reliable
indicator of failing
health or advancing
disease. On the other
hand, it's important
to seek medical
attention for any new
or worsening pain.
If your pain goes
away when you take an
over-the-counter
medication, the pain
isn't related to a
serious condition.
False:
Over-the-counter pain
medications can be
quite effective, so
they may provide
relief from all kinds
of conditions. If
you're taking
over-the-counter pain
pills on a regular
basis, you may be
ignoring symptoms of
a serious ailment.
You may also be
contributing to your
pain. Taking pain
medications every day
can lead to rebound
headaches. These
headaches are
actually a symptom of
medication
withdrawal, caused by
taking pain relievers
too often.
Besides, if you're
popping pills every
day — often more than
the number
recommended on the
product label — you
may be at risk of
serious
complications.
Nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) such
as aspirin, ibuprofen
(Advil, Motrin IB,
others) and naproxen
(Aleve) can cause
stomach bleeding and
kidney or liver
problems. When taken
long-term at high
doses, acetaminophen
(Tylenol) also can
cause liver damage.
Addiction to opioid
medications — such as
oxycodone or morphine
— is very common.
False: When
used correctly,
opioid medications —
also known as
narcotics — can be
very effective. And
most people who use
them never become
addicted. Over time,
people who take
opioids can develop
tolerance and even
physical dependence.
However, this isn't
the same as
addiction.
In most cases, your
risk of becoming
addicted to opioids
is small, especially
if you're being
carefully monitored
by your doctor. Some
people, including
those who have a
history of drug
abuse, may have a
greater risk of
addiction.
If you start taking
pain medications,
you'll continually
have to take higher
and higher doses.
False: It's
common to develop a
tolerance to pain
medication, which
means you'll need
higher doses to
achieve the same
level of pain relief.
In some cases,
tolerance proves to
be helpful, as many
of a drug's side
effects may disappear
once your body
becomes more used to
the medicine.
Still, most people
eventually find the
"right" dose and
don't need to
continually take
more. In fact, once
pain is under
control, doses can
sometimes be
gradually lowered.
With the help of your
doctor, it's possible
to taper off opioid
medications without
withdrawal.
Morphine is only
given to people who
are about to die.
False: Many
people mistakenly
associate morphine
with a terminal
condition. This is
partly because of the
widely believed — but
incorrect — idea that
a "lethal dose" of
morphine is the only
way to stop serious
pain just before
death.
Morphine can be
helpful for people in
hospice care at the
end of life, but it's
also effective for
painful conditions
that aren't
life-threatening. For
example, morphine is
commonly used to
control pain after
surgery.
Doctors can't treat
disease and pain at
the same time. If
pain control is an
important part of
your treatment, your
doctor has given up
on curing or
controlling your
disease.
False: If this
were true, it would
be an awful dilemma
for doctors. Luckily,
this notion is
nonsense. Doctors
aren't forced to
choose between
treating disease and
controlling pain. In
fact, in some cases,
treating pain
actually leads to
better, faster
healing.
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