Pain
If you are trying to get control of your back pain the Back Fitness Programme™ outlines five important things to consider . Much of it is about increasing movement and fitness. But the fifth point is:
Ensure that you have no fear of movement or worries about the nature of the problem
I think this is probably the most important part of the Back Fitness Programme™ - in order for this to happen you need to understand a little about pain and some of the factors that affect it.
The first thing to know is that it is not straightforward - even experienced medical professions don't understand everything about it. We are learning new things all the time. Over the years our understanding of what causes and makes uncomfortable sensations last has changed a lot. Many of the things we thought we knew are not true.
Up to date thinking challenges some of the things we may take for granted . I think its really important that you read this section - if you don't understand how uncomfortable sensations are felt it will be hard to follow the important sections on how your thoughts and feelings can affect you.
Recent research tells us that the experience of discomfort is a combination of biomedical (tissue based), social and psychological factors. This is known as the biopsychosocial model. Anyone wanting to understand their back problem needs to know what this model is.
I read postings in the forums from people who are upset and angry because they have been told that their discomfort is all in their minds. Hopefully, the biopsychosocial model may help explain why this misunderstanding may have happened.
Over the last decade, as our understanding of the biopsychosocial model has deepened, a lot of effort and research has looked at the effects of how we think and feel on our back problems. A number of thoughts, beliefs and behaviours have been identified that increase your chances of becoming distressed and disabled by chronic lower back problems. These are called yellow flags.
These pages explain what yellow flags are and outline some of the features of a few of them, in particular fear avoidance, catastrophising or fear of the future, and beliefs about diagnosis and causes of lower back problems . If these 'yellow flags' are not addressed then treatment for lower back symptoms is often unsuccessful.
It is complex but I would recommend that you try and read all the pages linked to this section so that you have a good overview of up to date thinking and research about the science of pain.
Also visit Chronic Pain Alternatives which is a very useful website. Written by a clinical psychologist with 25 years of experience it contains lots of useful information.
Next - Pain Redefined.
You must read this book - I am delighted to see it for sale at Amazon at long last. In my opinion It is the best book you can get if you want to learn more about your back problem.
27-Jun-2008
