Daily Mail article today

kentishlady

Hi All. Has anyone else read article in 'Daily Mail' today about back pain? If so, are you feeling extremely angry, like me. The article is entitled 'Is back pain all in the mind?' It refers to a book written by a physiotherapist, Nick Sinfield, who believes that is the case. I feel like screaming at him and I guess many of you do too? If he ever suffers from OA affecting his back, like I do, he might change his views?!! When the pain level goes 'sky-high' with walking so that all you can do is sit down to relieve it, I can assure him that it is NOT in the mind. I should love to be able to do what I used to do but I no longer can, and neither can most of us on these forums. I think he is treading on very dangerous ground. I agree that 'ordinary' back pain, if there is such a thing, can be very difficult for GP's to diagnose and is obviously open to people 'trying it on' for varying reasons, but to lump all of us together has really and truly made me mad. Am sorry for moaning, but at least I feel better for stating my views. Hope you are all having as good a day as possible. Beryl.

dreamdaisy

There is nothing worse than a 'healthy' expert. I haven't read it, I usually buy the Mail on a Tuesday for the health pages as they can be interesting but I won't bother today. Ignore the twerp because he is not worth the upset, and I shall secretly hope that he puts his back out whilst trying to life his massive ego and so has a proper taste of what you 'backies' have to endure on a daily basis. ((())) DD

elnafinn

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2218216/Back-pain--mind-A-provocative-new-book-suggest-physical-problems-cause-backache--emotional-tension.html

elnafinn

The compression on my spinal cord which finally affected my walking with other symptoms thrown in, big time, was all in my mind then? I am so grateful my lovely surgeon did not think so, but truthfully told me my options and it was up to me to decide what I felt was best for me.

Elna x

ShulaArcher

Well, I've read the article and, as usual with the Daily Mail, the headline bears only a little resemblance to most of the article. There is some good stuff in there but a lot that could be used to the detriment of people who are in daily agony with back pain.

salamander

I agree with you Shula. There is some good stuff in there but it is badly presented. To say people are referred to psychiatrists instead of psychologists for relaxation courses for starters.

The theory about chronic pain (as I learnt on a course) is that often there is an injury or damage that causes the pain but that the nerves don't 'switch off' after 12 weeks as they are supposed to do. The trick is to learn all those techniques which help you to manage it. In pain management courses they tell you the pain will probably not go but you learn to live with it. I went for really bad neck pain which I knew was muscular but couldn't treat with just physio. Mine did go completely. Ironically, I then got RA. Life can be tough!

kentishlady

Hi DD. Liked your comments. My feelings exactly! Am imagining it am I when pain gets so bad I don't know how to put one foot in front of the other!!!? How are you getting on, are you feeling any better? Do hope so. Have managed to do a few things today on my 'to do' list. Sat on chair in kitchen and had a clear out of one of the cupboards below work surface (which had been meaning to do for ages), and then did one of the drawers as well, so am feeling quite pleased with myself. Hope you are taking care of yourself. Beryl

tjt6768

I would love to meet this so called expert :x
So, my deformed spine and growing osteophytes are all in my head eh? Lol
Maybe I should just wish them away with happy thoughts, concentrating on lovely things like unicorns and the like.. Maybe some naked chanting in the woods, calling out to mother Earth.. I could call on the animal spirits too... Drink some herbal tea made from the roots of a sycamore tree with added cats hair...?

frogmella

I think there are some grains of truth there - I know my pain is worse or seems worse when I am stressed, but I have tried to "gnore "emotional" pain before. Turned out my back pain wasn't caused by me grieving for my mom but by a spinal infection! I am better at telling the difference now. I know when something isn't right in there!

It gets on my nerves when these "normals" lecture us about how we could cure our own pain. Do they really think we haven't tried everything?

My pain in both back and legs was massively relieved by injections into the facet joint and epidural space, surely that is proof positive that it is physical too? Not sure it can all be placebo effect. Maybe if it was then all the tablets I take would be doing a wonderful job!

In a bad mood today so this has just wound me up! Haha! :x

Soretoe2

I've just had a read and quite frankly I feel sad that people will read this rubbish and believe it.
Our journalists sometimes have a lot to answer for. They take an eyecatching headline, write a few bits and bobs that sound good with an occasional true bit thrown in, publish and that's it.
This then leaves people like us who actually have to live with relentless chronic pain to deal with ridiculous comments and side glances, as if we are making it all up after all... because the Daily Mail said so.
Loved your comment Dreamdaisy...
Ignore them, we have enough to put up with.
My poor hubby will now get me twittering in his ear about it when he comes in, he'll retreat to a DVD and I'll lay on the bed and eat a huge bar of chocolate..lovely.. Joy.

dreamdaisy

Hello Beryl, are your ruffled feathers lying a little flatter today? I hope so! Well done on doing the cupboard and the drawer - gold star for you! I am now going to go and stuff some more in mine - I hope they close. DD

creakyowl

Don't get me started on the subject of physios....

I have yet to meet one who wasn't a patronising know-all!

I know that is a generalisation but give me an OT any day. I have never met one of those I haven't wanted to sneak in my handbag and take home.

I have a new, absolute doll of a rheumy I am off to see tomorrow too. I had to fight the PCT, (with my GP's help) to be allowed to go out of area and retain them paying for my humira and so a lot of research was required so as not to make a horrible mistake. My new one is at least an 11/10! This is a shocking admission after 12 years of RA but now (on this my second visit), I am actually looking forward to going to clinic!

creaky

kentishlady

Hi DD. Good job I did all the cupboard clear out the other day! Have managed to hurt my right wrist very badly and cannot even move it. Had to pay avisit to A & E ear ly this morning after a totally sleepless night and now hve it strapped up. Dont think the fall has done my poor back much good either. What a fun life! Take care. beryl

NickSinfield

Following the release of the article in the Daily Mail I would like to take this chance to add further explanation into the mind/body interaction of back pain, which was not explained within the article.

Tension Related Pain (TRP) is very common with back pain sufferers, but not all and is not the only cause for back pain. Injury and structural issues cause acute back pain, such as disc issues or a simple strained muscle, but in the vast majority of people this should settle in time as the healing process takes place.

TRP will effect people differently, for some it will be 80% of the cause to their pain, to some 20% and for some not at all.

If people feel some back pain and it does not subside and they are not given an answer to its cause, they may become worried, confused, anxious about the pain. This in turn may cause more tightness in the soft tissues around the back and neck, especially as people concentrate on the pain, which is commonly TRP, soft tissue tightness to the muscles and connective tissue surrounding our soft tissues. Which as you state can cause lingering pain or chronic back pain.

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jenzie06

I almost passed out in M&S the other day due to my back pain. After scans and such nothing definitive can be found which makes me feel like a right malingerer.

arfaitis

frogmella wrote:

I think there are some grains of truth there - I know my pain is worse or seems worse when I am stressed, but I have tried to "gnore "emotional" pain before. Turned out my back pain wasn't caused by me grieving for my mom but by a spinal infection! I am better at telling the difference now. I know when something isn't right in there!

It gets on my nerves when these "normals" lecture us about how we could cure our own pain. Do they really think we haven't tried everything?

My pain in both back and legs was massively relieved by injections into the facet joint and epidural space, surely that is proof positive that it is physical too? Not sure it can all be placebo effect. Maybe if it was then all the tablets I take would be doing a wonderful job!

In a bad mood today so this has just wound me up! Haha! :x

I tend to agree with you, any bad pain I have is when I let my mind feel it.
Might sound daft but having RA for 40 years, you do seem to be able to ride the pain, It is still there but you learn to turn your mind off to it.

Arfa

kentishlady

Hi Jenzie. I know exactly how u feel. My back pain usually decides to go sky high when am in shops too. Nearly always have to give up browsing or queueing to pay and just come out. At present have got right wrist in splint - so typing left-handed - as result of a fall last week. Have also been coping with a frozen left shoulder for almost a year (which was almost better). However, my fall seems to have started it up again
and hasn't done much for my poor back either. Am feeling very fed up today. Need to rest back, can't do any knitting, sewing etc to alleviate boredom because of wrist and am gradually going up the wall (if that were possible)!!!! Hope you are having a better day. Beryl

kentishlady

The reply from Nick Sinfield is quite interesting but still does not admit that although TRP may occur in some people, that is probably not the case with most of us on this forum. Over the years I have had 2 slipped discs, bulging discs and trapped sciatic nerve problem. I have OA, which was diagnosed after x-ray over 4 years ago with 3 discs affected and a more recent x-ray showed degeneration and osteophytes adding to my problem which is causing the extreme pain and mobility problems which I suffer with most of the time. I have tried ignoring the pain, no doubt as many of us have done, but when the pain level goes 'off the richter scale' and it is almost impossible to walk, then it is just impossible to ignore it!!! I guess lots of others on this forum understand exactly what I mean. Like another forum user who 'posted' earlier, I sincerely hope the author of the book never has the misfortune to suffer the problems that most of us do, otherwise I believe he might change his views on the subject.

nonaproxin

Just had a read of the "Article" ...typical journalise twists and ommissions.
They never let the truth get in the way of a "Good Story".

Whilst containing some grains of truth and facts, the article is also sprinkled with lashings of Bull*it (*=s )...

The mind is indeed a powerful thing and can cause problems with tension and muscle tightening...but slipped discs and OA of the spine also have there parts to play...that Physio is an opinionated *rsehole...and probably a very healthy one at that....Just remember folks opinions are like *rseholes...everyone has one and they are all different.....