Written By: Andrew Millett

Intense back pain can feel like a scary situation to be in! Often, it hurts to move around, there’s pain shooting down your leg, and the activities you once enjoyed seem like they were very far away from possible. 

There are plenty of different myths circling the internet, your doctor's office, and your friends/family that sound awful and make the situation worse. Below, we are going to go through 3 big myths about lower back pain associated with herniated discs that could not be further from the truth! 

MYTH 1: I NEED SURGERY TO FIX A HERNIATED DISC

Surgery is a really common thought among people with intense back pain, but, it could not be further from the truth. Depending on symptoms, surgery may lead to faster improvements in pain, however, research shows that after three months there seems to be no difference between those that get surgery and those that decide to have conservative care to help manage their symptoms. 

The surgery typically recommended in situations like this is called a microdiscectomy. In this surgery, part of the damaged disc is removed, helping relieve pressure on the nerve root involved, which can help decrease neurological symptoms like numbness/tingling and shooting pain. 

This can be very convenient at times, but current research suggests that discs can actually heal on their own and resorb without intervention via surgery. Therefore if your symptoms are manageable and improving, you may want to rethink the need for surgery as you may be able to heal on your own! 

MYTH 2: I NEED TO ARCH/EXTEND MY BACK TO KEEP IT SAFE AND AVOID FUTURE BACK PAIN

The idea that you need to arch and extend your back to make it feel better is a long-standing tradition in physical therapy; however, it is not always the solution to your back pain. If arching your back actively makes the pain in your back worse or sends shooting pain down your leg, it is not the answer to improving how your back is feeling. 

In fact, doing the opposite may be much more helpful in improving how your back feels. Flexing your spine and allowing it to round may be a better solution, as this allows you to take pressure off of your back. 

MYTH 3: I CAN NEVER LIFT HEAVY AGAIN 

Many of our patients come in concerned that they will not be able to resume the same level of activity before injuring their back. Among these activities, our people are often concerned about their ability to resume heavy strength training. Although this usually needs to be a graded process, strength training may help your disc adapt positively and become more resilient to future stress. 

Research shows that loading your spine can result in positive adaptations to make your disc more resilient to stress. It is very helpful to add strength training back into your routine to protect your spine in the future.

Wrapping Up: Back Pain From Herniated Discs

While intense back pain can feel like a scary situation, it can be managed with proper non-surgical treatment. If you have any further questions about herniated discs and lower back pain, please get in touch with the staff at Move Strong Physical Therapy. Visit our physical therapy clinic in Hudson, MA, or call us at (774) 421-9031.