Some Physicians Say M.R.I. Scanning Or Other Image Scanning for Back Pain Ineffective

By: Bill Achey

Patients with very bad lower back pain often undergo X-rays or an M.R.I. to see the source of the problem. But new studies
show scanning to find the source of back pain may be more harmful than helpful.
Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University in Portland studied 6 clinical trials made up of nearly two thousand individuals with lower back pain. They proved that back pain patients who underwent scans didn’t get better any faster or have less pain, depression or anxiety than individuals who weren’t scanned. More important, the data suggested that patients who get scanned for back pain may end up with more pain than those who are left alone, according to the report published this week in the medical journal Lancet.
About two thirds of adults end up with low back pain at some time in their lives, and low back pain is the
second most recognized symptom that sends people to the doctor (upper respiratory problems are first).
Studies suggest that more than half the
individuals who see a doctor for back pain undergo X-rays or another imaging study as a result.
The problem, say researchers, is that back scans can highlite physical changes in the back that aren’t really causing any problem. One well known study from The New England Journal of Medicine put 98 individuals with no back pain into a magnetic resonance imaging scan. Even though all of them had healthy backs, two out of three of them came back with magnetic resonance imaging reports that
showed disk problems.
You can locate lots of stuff on X-rays and M.R.I.’s like degenerative disks and arthritis, but these things are very weakly correlated with low back pain, said study author Dr. Roger Chou, associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health. We think we’re helping patients by doing a test, but we’re increasing cost, exposing people to radiation and people may be getting unnecessary surgery. They start to think of themselves as having a horrible back problem and they stop doing exercise and things that are good for them, when in reality, a lot of individuals have degenerative disks and arthritis and have no pain at all.
Dr. Chou said patients should ask their physicians why a scan or X-ray is necessary rather than using pain relief and exercise to cope while a back mends on its own. Most back pain gets better within 30 days if an individual takes normal precautions after a pain episode. If back pain persists for more than a month, or if symptoms suggest a more serious problem like an infection or tumor, then an X-ray or CT scan may be needed, Dr. Chou said.
I think people should ask themselves whether they actually need it, Dr. Chou said. From society's view, it’s important because we’re wasting a lot of money that could be used for better things. But from an individual patient’s perspective, doing X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging can lead you down a road that you don’t want to go down.
Some Different Ways To Reduce The Pain
One of the most effective natural methods is acupuncture. A recent study conducted in the UK showed that people who underwent
the acupuncture therapy not only experienced a notible reduction in pain, they also were less likely to use pain killers. But, you need to check with your doctor to make sure that you are physically ready to recieve acupuncture. Capsaicin cream is another
popular back pain remedy- it is really an analgesic, which means that it depletes the neuro-chemicals that transmit pain. Be careful when using this
as it can cause stinging or burning if you get it on wounded skin or your eyes.
Proper vitamin intake can also help beat a injured back. Studies have shown that chronic muscle pain is often caused due to a
vitamin D deficiency. You can easily supplement this by eating more cereals and drinking fortified milk. It's also interesting to note that music is
an effective form of back relief. How? Most back-related problems are related to stress. This often causes the muscles to get tense and bunch up, thus causing pain.
Listening to soothing music can soothe you and cause those tense muscles to loosen up.
You can also treat a bad back with yoga. This method will also increase your body's overall strength and flexibility. Those who have opted for yoga have experienced a reduction in pain, more mobility and a reduced dependancy on pain medication. So the next time
your back starts acting up, don't just reach out for the medication. Instead, meet with your doctor and find out what's actually wrong. Then you can easily find a spine relief method that would really work for you.

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