Did you know?
If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, you should consult a spine specialist:- Has your low back pain extended down your leg?
- Does your leg pain increase if you lift your knee to your chest or bend over?
- Have you had severe back pain following a recent fall?
- Have you had significant back pain lasting for more than 3 weeks?
- Have you had back pain that becomes worse when you rest, or wakes you up at night?
- Do you have persistent bladder or bowel problems?
The Psychology of Back Pain
| Q: | What is medical psychology? |
| A: | Medical psychology involves dealing with the mental and emotional problems associated with back pain, together with physical therapy and rehabilitation. When a patient's fears are dealt with -- the fear of pain, the fear of movement, the fear of re-injury -- recovery is facilitated and long-term prognosis is brighter. |
Q: |
How do back injuries affect the workplace? |
| A: | Statistically, the rate of disability from back injury continues to rise. People are staying out of work longer, or not going back at all. The cost to business is in the billions annually. We have found that if a patient is out of work for two years, his/her chances of ever going back are practically nil. Interestingly, the severity of an injury does not predict the length of time out of work. Nor does the type of work performed. While workers who put stress on their back from sitting for long periods of time are highly prone to problems, stress levels and job dissatisfaction are also contributing factors. These facts illustrate the complexity of the problem of chronic back pain. |
Q: |
What is the role of patient attitude in the treatment of and recover from back pain? |
| A: | Just as psychological factors can contribute to problems,
attitude and patient compliance are critical factors in beating
chronic pain. Together with physical therapy, the patient should
receive counseling and psychological therapy to help improve
their outlook. Developing a positive attitude about recovery
increases the chances of recovery, in both the short and long
term. Studies demonstrate that the old unilateral medical approach does not produce the results of a structured, multi-disciplinary rehabilitation program of 3-5 days a week, 2-3 hours a day, for 6-12 weeks, with three specific goals: to increase function, to get off pain medication, and to get back to work. |
Latest news
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The Spine Institute is often in the news pioneering new treatments to help the reported 34 million Americans 18 years and older who suffer lower back pain, and another 9 million who suffer neck pain. Watch the news coverage here.
Dr. Hyun Bae is the first U.S. surgeon to test a new synthetic gel called the NuCore injectable nucleus. It's injected directly into the natural cushion of the disc.