Common misconceptions about health #1

Have you noticed how once we have had a thought – it can stick with us and we believe it to be the truth? This is how health misconceptions often arise.

Our beliefs shape our thinking too – so if they are inaccurate, by adding to them, we move ourselves further from the truth.

This happens often, and quite naturally for humans as our brains are constantly churning out thoughts! There is no fact checker though – even if there may be reasoning behind it!

Do you have any of these misconceptions currently running in your life?

“A scan will give me a diagnosis.”

Although an X-ray, CT or MRI scan may occasionally be helpful and assist in a possible diagnosis and treatment plan they are not the whole solution. Findings such as disc degeneration, arthritis, disc bulges, fissures, fractures etc are common in the pain-free population as well as the pain-experiencing population. Further, they may not be the reason for the pain either. Lastly, much pain is psychologically induced or maintained so physical treatment may not resolve the problem.

“I should stay in bed and rest.”

Returning to movement and work is much better for recovery and preventing recurrence than bed rest. Immobility and bed rest for more than TWO days has never been shown to be beneficial! The motto is – get up and pick up your bed (somewhat modified from the Bible) and walk!

“Stronger painkillers (opioids) will help me to manage my pain.”

Solutions that focus on opioids for managing pain at best mask people’s physical problems and delay or impede recovery. At worst, they may prove to be dangerous and even deadly when taken longer term. Hence GP’s are encouraged to NOT prescribe them. Often a course of Osteopathy can make the same or more difference without the negative side effects, this can be supported with mind therapy eg NLP to re-programme the associations to pain and function.

“Surgery is my ONLY chance of improvement.”

Surgery and other interventional procedures eg steroid injections, nerve blocking etc have a very limited role, if any, in the management of low back pain!

Only about 1-5% of low back pain is caused by serious disease or injury. All the more reason for careful diagnosis and not jumping on the first possibility that comes along. See the point about scanning above.

I know that I come from a holistic point of view where treatment is concerned. My advice though is: try alternative and the least invasive options first, as some you cannot reverse e.g. surgery. You can always increase the intervention level, and there is much that you can do for yourself.

Osteopathy is a great solution for many and varied clients of mine.

There is no right or wrong way to manage pain – but some options are better for some people than others. We are all different.

If you wish to have a brief chat with Gayle Palmer, or to make a full consultation appointment then you can BOOK HERE.

Don’t chide yourself when your convictions and beliefs are wrong – just accept that they probably had a purpose in the past, but times, knowledge and obsolesence are built in to life, but human sometimes struggle to update!

Remember: Health is NOT an accident.

Blessed be.

© Gayle Palmer Living Elements Clinic