Insanity in AARP, the magazine
Published Friday, June 12, 2009 6:07 pm by Mitchell Yass, PT | Permalink

In the July/August 2009 issue of AARP, the magazine, a story called "the back story" was presented. It discusses the writer's quandary in dealing with their lower back pain. It is mentioned that in bending to tie his shoes, this created severe lower back pain. A discussion ensued about the extensive research that was performed to understand how such a simply act could create such severe pain. The result of the writer's research concluded that the cause of their pain was due to a degenerative disc. In fact, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons stated that 90 percent of herniated discs can be effectively treated with conservative therapies such as limited bed rest, exercise, and anti-inflammatory medications.

This conclusion that the cause of pain was a degenerative disc or herniated disc is promoted in the same article where it is discussed that variations to the integrity of veterbral discs has very little correlation to complaints of pain experienced by those with the findings of abnormal discs on MRIs. Dr. Rao, director of spine surgery in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin states that he sees this all the time. He states, "You can look at the MRIs of two people, both showing degenerative discs, but in one case there is little to no pain, while in the other, extreme pain".

The writer goes on to say "The doctor's first job, then, is not to find the cause of your pain, but to alleviate it".

This presentation should completely and fully scare anybody who is planning on being treated for lower back pain. An article in one of the most influential magazines representing the largest portion of the population, the baby boomers, describes that the cause of lower back pain is degenerative discs or herniated discs while also providing information that there is little to know correlation between MRIs findings and experienced pain. This is followed up by the notion that the doctor's first job is to alleviate the pain before identifying the cause. Is it just me, or is anyone recognizing the unbelievable flaw in this story. A cause of lower back pain is surmised while proof is presented that the cause of pain is most likely not the cause or at least can't be proven to be the cause. This is then followed up by the idea that you should forget about identifying the cause and just treat the symptom.

Just about anyone being treated for lower back pain has experienced this absurd thought process that the medical establishment deems viable. Patients being put on medication after medication. Surgeries being performed because "nothing else worked". Going from one type of treatment to another to address pain without ever fully understanding the cause of the pain describes millions of peoples experience in dealing with pain. The rest of those people with pain are just left on the sidelines with the answer that everything has been done that can be and so you will just have to live with your pain.

I am tired of seeing this played out in media outlet after media outlet. Please help me stop this insanity. Stop the use of medical procedures and medications for pain when the true cause has not been established. I am providing an alternative to this system. I have proven that the cause of pain is muscle weakness or imbalance. I have stopped people from getting surgeries they never needed and stopped people from taking medications that could never resolve the cause of their pain. Take responsibility for yourself and get off this train to nowhere.