|
Iatrogenic Back Pain
Iatrogenic Back Pain BeginningsWe, as a society, have already suffered from iatrogenesis from an early age. The vilification of many completely normal spinal conditions has given the average person an unrealistic view of the human anatomy. Instead of seeing the spine as a rugged and durable structure, it is commonly perceived as a troublesome body part full of problematic conditions which cause long term pain syndromes. Medical science has shown that many back pain scapegoat conditions rarely cause chronic pain, although they are often blamed for the symptoms. This societal acceptance of medical propaganda has directly led to pain conditions due to psychological conditioning and suggestion. A famous study of whiplash patients in Europe showed a direct correlation between the anticipation of symptoms and the actual experience of symptoms. If we hear all day that a particular condition or structure is supposed to cause pain, it is simply normal that we will eventually experience pain related to that perception.Iatrogenic Back Pain NoceboMany patients discover they have an abnormal spinal condition when being examined for an unrelated health issue. The way in which the diagnosis is presented to the patient is often a prime cause of a pain syndrome’s beginning. If the patient is made to feel like they will experience eventual pain from the diagnosed discovery, there is little doubt that pain is indeed on the way in the near future. This diagnostic nocebo effect has been scientifically documented for an endless variety of illnesses and injuries. Patients who go to a doctor with minor pain are often diagnosed with some condition which is presented to them as a progressive degenerative problem. The patient is frightened for their future since the prognosis predicts a worsening symptomatic condition. It is no surprise that most patients do indeed get worse, even if the diagnosed condition has nothing at all to do with their actual pain syndrome.Iatrogenic Back Pain Diagnostic ErrorThe main problem faced by the majority of chronic back pain patients is misdiagnosis of the true causative condition of their suffering. While medical negligence makes it possible to get a physical diagnosis wrong, it is far more common for cases of psychosomatic back pain to be misidentified as a physically induced condition. This can not be classified as negligence, since doctors are simply not prepared or educated to deal with psychosomatic pain syndromes. This problem can only be corrected by enacting a paradigm shift in the medical acceptance of psychogenic pain and the medical education system. Don’t hold your breath for either of these events to occur…Other Forms of Iatrogenic Back PainThere are many other specific examples of iatrogenesis in the back pain industry:* Unnecessary and unsuccessful surgeries. * Prolonged and unnecessary treatment regimens. * Over prescription of pain killers leading to addiction, disease and possibly death. * Disability caused by surgery * Creation of a very real physical disorder when treating a minor or even mistakenly identified condition with drastic surgery. (Example – A spinal fusion which creates real pain and stress on surrounding spinal levels, especially when the original fusion was not even medically warranted.) My Experience with Iatrogenic Back PainI was diagnosed at age 16 with a variety of spinal conditions thought to be the cause of my back pain. My pain immediately got worse after diagnosis and my life fell into a downward spiral based upon one negative diagnosis after another by literally dozens of doctors and therapists. I thought I was doomed to a life of progressive pain and disability as a direct result of the information given to me by my doctors. It took years of independent study on my part to realize that I had been grossly misinformed about the nature of my spinal conditions. I eventually was able to learn the true nature of my pain, repudiate the previous diagnoses, and recover 100%, despite 18 years of previously unsuccessful medical and complementary treatments. I cured my own pain using the proven techniques of knowledge therapy. The best facet of knowledge therapy is that there is no room for any iatrogenic error in the program. The patient is in control of their own therapy and the knowledge itself works to cancel any diagnostic nocebo effect. Life is much better being pain free. If you need help to cure your pain, I highly recommend giving knowledge therapy a chance.
|
