Description
Millions of patients have low back pain, and billions of dollars are spent treating low back pain. Numerous forms of tests are advocated to discover the cause of a particular low back pain. Many types of treat- ment, performed by many different types of physicians, therapists, or specialists, are claimed to be effective. Hundreds of terms bandied about by physicians and therapists are poorly understood, not understood at all, or thoroughly misunderstood.
Patients are labeled, branded, and classified, and they frequently be- come confused. Treatments are recommended but not explained. Other treatments are criticized. Symptoms are felt by patients and described to unhearing physicians. Doctors explain, but often in vague terms not clear to themselves and certainly less clear to the patients.
There must be an answer or answers. Certainly, there are numerous questions. Although much information regarding low back pain remains unknown, many aspects of low back pain are understood.
The person suffering from low back pain is entitled to know why he or she is suffering: where the pain originates, what causes it, and why a specific treatment is recommended for it.
Many books have been and will be written regarding low back pain. Most are biased by the physician's or therapist's training or personal experience and thus advocate that opinion and that approach. Surgeons are trained to operate and thus recommend surgery. Orthopedists claim that the back consists of bone and joints and therefore an orthopedic surgeon must operate. Neurosurgeons claim nerves are involved in the production of pain, so a neurosurgeon must diagnose and operate.
Tests are frequently the basis of diagnosis and treatment, but it must be remembered that it is the patient who hurts and must be treated, not the test.
ISBN: 9971909685
