5 Things You Should Know About Back Pain | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter | TED

Back pain is as common as it is complicated, and easy fixes are hard to find. Shedding light on this universal ailment, Dr. Jen Gunter shares five things we should all know about back pain, including possible causes, over-hyped treatments to avoid as well as research-backed therapies to talk to your doctor about in order to find some relief. For more on how your body works, tune in weekly to her podcast Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, from the TED Audio Collective.

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[SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks for your help!
One of the worst injuries I ever had came from a chiropractor. Wish more people were careful with choosing therapy for their back.

[bravebluechickadee]

A Chiropractor properly diagnosed the cause of a pinched nerve in my neck when traditional medicine only offered muscle relaxants or surgery. He took x-rays (in different head positions than the MDs had x-rayed) that showed where my Atlas joint had 'frozen' and the area of my neck just below that had hyperextended to adapt to the issue. The Chiropractor released the pinch and taught me neck exercises that have provided relief for nearly 3 decades. Chiropractors definitely have a place in relieving at least some sources of back pain.

[evelynnbrattin]

I think the major cause of back pain is working a 9-5. Stressing alot and overworking yourself out. An action is earning money and working less more at your convenience. Money management is a behaviour. Increasing wealth is learning. This is the principle to longlife n good health.

[ShiningEyeBrigade]

What great communicator! Really love this doctor. Have been on a 10-year pain journey and my experience matches this exactly.

[piano]

Who never went to a chiropractor should never say it doesn't work. Normal Medicine didn't do anything to me and I was laying in bed. Chiropractor got me outhere again. I do believe that it doesn't work for all the problems... but as she said, backpain can come from so many places that people should just be open to different therapies until they find the one that works... and pain killers are not a cure!!!

[skydivekrazy]

Thanks for this! I suffer chronic back pain. I appreciate the reality check... I better get moving if it's gonna take time and effort. Can't complain, the pain is just a reminder of all the fun I've had getting here!

[KiaranScath]

I have to disagree with Dr. Gunter on the second point. I would have liked to read the paper that she quoted, but since there is no citation, I had to look for similar studies. I believe I found the one that she is referring to: "Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials" by Sidney Rubinstein et al. Although this study reviews 47 other papers, not 45 like mentioned in the video. The conclusion of this review states: "[Spinal Manipulation Therapy] produces similar effects to recommended therapies for chronic low back pain, whereas SMT seems to be better than non-recommended interventions for improvement in function in the short term."

This is a far cry from "Chiropractic treatment is not backed by science." Additionally, large reviews like this can ignore nuance. If you try to treat all conditions that could cause lower back pain with any single treatment, you are going to have cases where that treatment is not the best option.

As a personal antidote, I have minor back problems from poor posture. Occasionally, I'll have a message therapist, which is similar to a chiropractor, work on my back. Afterwards, it's much easier for me to sit and stand up straight for a few weeks or even months. It doesn't completely alleviate the issue by any means, but it does help.

[discgolfgage]

I've been through a year long recovery process for my back pain that an MRI showed was a herniated disc in my l5 s1. This is the most helpful video I have watched on the topic. I will definitely share this video with friends that experience back pain in the future.

[gixellia]

LoLoL ... darn it, some viewers appear disappointed. Disciplining yourself to a daily exercise plan is hard work.

[troubleclef]

I have severe scoliosis (50 degree thoracic curve and 57 lumbar) and have been working for a chiropractor as an assistant for about 4 years now because he literally saved my quality of life and ability to function. I have seen hundreds and hundreds of people whose lives were improved by chiropractic, including many cases where they no longer had to get surgery.
Yes, you should NEVER let a chiropractor who doesn't insist on x-rays and doesn't treat the muscles as well touch you. There are “bad” chiropractors out there, but the ones who do it right have mind blowing success stories.

[eqxgboq]

Dr. Jen Gunter's summary is beneficial as it corrects many misunderstandings and exaggerated treatments for back pain. In particular, the point that pointed out the limitations of chiropractic treatment and imaging technology is important information that many people are likely to miss. It is also impressive to highlight the importance of physical therapy. It offers practical advice to help people who are struggling with back pain choose the right treatment. Personally, this information gives them a better understanding and approach to back pain.

[matrickwurse]

The only “thumbs down” will we be from chiropractors. I ALWAYS enjoy your videos, thanks

[StankaKordic]

“A multi- pronged approach “ which for me, includes a chiropractor to get me started and aligned, and then doing all the work myself to maintain good back health.

[redbeard]

Why do they always send me to physical therapy before doing any test to confirm an issue? I tore my meniscus did 3 months of physical therapy only to be told I need surgery after

[accello]

Loved this. I've come across a lot of this research before, but it was great to hear it all in one place in such a mainstream setting. I've tried to look, but I can't seem to find anywhere a place where the research sources are cited for Body Stuff series. I'd love to take a look at the specific studies she's referencing. Anyone know where I could find this?

[TerryBarker]

The last two years of my life from chronic back pain have been awful. I had an injury at work and was off for about 4 months. If it wasn't for physiotherapy and daily exercise I wouldn't be mobile. That being said everyday is still painful some days are better than others. Core strength is very important and physio that I unfortunately can't afford to go to anymore helped so much in recovery. Moving is better than not moving when your body is able to do so. But before you do anything go to a sports medicine doctor to get assessed and find a good physiotherapist.

[haikuoflife]

Being hit by a semi when young caused a disc to explode into the spinal cord, it tooks 10 yrs for a doctor to take it seriously after I started being unable to walk. The surgery was needed to remove bone fragments. I did a lot of compensation sitting which caused the fascia to start building in an unusual pattern. I think that's a pretty important thing to learn; how to release and treat for long term back pain management. =)

[stevie-ray]

Apart from what she says about chiropractors being true, downplaying the work of neurosurgeons & the use diagnostic scans such as MRIs can be extremely harmful to patients like myself who aren't aware of the extent of previous damage to their spines!
There are many specialists who are doing much needed corrective surgery, & my praise couldn't be high enough for my neurosurgeon! After barely being able to walk for over 18 mths due to agonising sciatic pain & a 12 mth waiting-list, I was finally able to pack away the walking-stick, plus sleep without the pain continuously waking me up!
The only regret I have is not having my back looked at when I injured it lifting chairs up onto a truck after a Christmas Carols event in the mid 1980s (was too busy working at the time)!

[margaretpypher]

Unfortunately, I found no help from the physical therapist who wouldn't touch my back and neither the doctors nor hospitals in the area would help me while I was suffering from severe back pain. Finally, I gave in and went to a chiropractor who did proper imaging and treated me, and I am almost healed. I guess I am the exception. I understand that not all chiropractors are beneficial, but neither are physiotherapists or doctors who blame back pain on PTSD. There is just so much going on with people, mind, body and soul but I stand by the help my chiropractor did to alleviate most of the physical pain I was suffering from so I could finish dealing with the trauma. They go hand in hand, just like healing!

[nihalhathaway]

thank you! - citing the references would be helpful!