Are you experiencing pain in your back/neck? Has it interrupted your daily routine? Are you wondering what might be the cause? Back/neck pain can vary from a mild, dull, or annoying ache, to persistent, severe, and disabling pain. 

It can be caused due to the following reasons:

  • Straining your muscles.

  • Injury to the back/neck.

  • Poor muscle tone.

  • Infections around the back and neck area.

  • Obesity, leading to pressure on your back.

  • Abnormal bony growths (spurs) or tumours.

You might have heard a lot of things about why you have pain or what needs to be done. Let us bust some myths regarding back/neck pain. 

Myths And Facts About Back/Neck Pain

Myth 1: My Back Pain or Neck Pain is “Normal”.

Fact: Any kind of pain experienced by the body is not normal. 1/2 to 1/3 of us are likely to experience back pain at some point in life. So back pain is not normal but it is very common. 

Myth 2: My Back Pain is Due to an Injury.

Fact: It is not necessary that the pain can only be caused by physical damage to a structure in the spine (bone, joint, muscle, etc). 

In most cases, it is caused by carrying out routine activities in wrong postures or being in the same posture for long durations.

Myth 3: I Will be Fine Once the Pain Subsides.

Fact: Back or neck pains do not work in the same manner as malaria or jaundice. Most of the time they are episodic, which means that the pain lasts for a few days and then disappears completely only to reappear after some time. There is more than a 50% chance of reoccurrence of back/neck pain.

You must be aware of which specific postures or daily activities can cause the pain again and take precautions.

Myth 4: My Back/Neck Pain Maybe Psychological.

Fact: Sometimes there may be no particular reason for your pain, but it does not mean that your pain is not real. The pain can be caused by the complex nature of the spine and specifying/determining a single cause can be difficult. 

This does not mean that your pain is psychological, it might just be a little complex. Your doctor may need to run a combination of tests to come to a diagnosis.

Myth 5: I Must Wear a Belt or a Collar to Relieve The Pain.

Fact: Cervical collar for the neck and belt for the back is usually given to limit mobility and reduce further damage in case of injury. These might not help you in reducing the pain but can improve your posture.

Wearing a belt or a collar can actually alter your posture and make muscles weak when used for a long period.

Myth 6: Exercises Will Increase My Pain.

Fact: Specific exercises done following proper evaluation can give pain relief. 

This is a more effective method as it makes you independent in case of future recurrence. 

Myth 7: I Must Have Pain Only in my Back or Neck Area.

Fact: Back and neck regions are the origin site for nerves on legs and arms respectively. Pain in the ankle may originate from the back and pain in the elbow may similarly originate from the neck.

Sometimes your back and neck pain can be a referred pain (pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus/origin).

To conclude, it is important to change one's perspective toward back pain and neck pain. Being active, maintaining correct posture, and doing the right exercises are more effective ways of having a healthy and pain-free spine. 

Do not believe all you read or hear about back/neck pain and consult your doctor immediately if you feel your symptoms are aggravating.


Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.