Chronic Pain
About Chronic Pain
Excerpt from ‘The Better Back Book’, written by Tanya Bell-Jenje, a Director of BRH Physios
Low back pain is very common and it the leading cause of disability worldwide. (Buchbinder et al 2018; Hartvigsen et al, 2018; Saraceni et al, 2020)
Approximately 50% to 60% of people in Africa will develop low back pain at least once during their lifetime (Morris et al, 2018) and most of these will experience recurrences of back pain from time to time (Da Silva et al, 2017)
Fortunately, serious injury or permanent damage is very rare, and most people get better. In fact, in 90% of cases, back injuries are not related to any specific abnormal changes found in the structures of the spine (Kjaer, 2018).
BRH Physios aims to:
- Give you guidance on "what to do" or "what not to do" to help you to help yourself adapt and get back on the road to recovery
- Educate you about back pain
- Guide you on ways to prevent and mange futher injury or pain
Most people do recover from their low back injury, with the help of their Physiotherapist and other medical professionals. However, the most important person in this recovery process is YOU. The more you understand about your condition, and take an active role in managing your condition, the quicker and better you can recover.
Current research supports a ‘Positive Health’ approach to low back pain. This approach encourages you to adapt and learn to self-manage your condition. It puts you in charge! (Huber et al, 2016).
Positive Health aims to encourage high-quality, meaningful lives for people with chronic or persistent low back pain. It aims to give you the ability to cope. Research shows that staying in bed, cancelling social activities or staying away from work are unhelpful and can cause a worsening of your condition.
There may not be a cure for your condition but, with the right support, a way to manage it so that life continues normally and successfully.
to be less protective.
Awful pain does not mean
you are in awful danger.