Back Pain: Myth or Fact?

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Myth: Most back pain is caused by a slipped disc.

Fact: Only 1 to 3 percent of low back pain results from herniated, or slipped, discs.

Myth: Most back problems eventually require surgery.

Fact: Fewer than one person in 1,000 with low back pain will need surgery.

Myth: Everyone with back pain will need an MRI.

Fact: In certain cases, MRI is very useful in diagnosing back pain. However, not everyone with back pain needs this test. Also, MRI is not a treatment for back pain.

Myth: Everyone has low back pain. It's something that has to be endured until it becomes disabling.

Fact: Some 6.5 million Americans are treated for low back pain each day. Getting help early is very important to successful treatment because it can reduce the number of times back pain recurs.

Myth: Only people who do heavy labor or much lifting suffer intense low back pain.

Fact: Up to 90 percent of adults experience low back pain at some time in their lives. In addition to heavy lifting, other factors that increase the risks of developing low back pain include being overweight, sitting for long periods, driving and smoking.

Posted on: October 2nd, 2002
Last Updated on: December 10th, 2009

Peer Reviews by Leading Specialists

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Christopher P. Silveri, MD

The authors at the Cleveland Clinic capture a very important concept in this article. Back pain is ubiquitous but in many cases very treatable with the proper guidance and rehab program. In cases (which are few in overall percentage) that fail conservative treatment over six-weeks duration can then be evaluated by other x-ray techniques such as MRI. In few instances should an MRI be the first intervention contemplated.