| Questions
and Answers: The Psychology of Back Pain |
Just as psychological factors can contribute to problems, attitude and patient compliance are critical factors in beating chronic pain.
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| The Psychology of Back Pain |
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| 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. |
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