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The $100B per year back pain industry is mostly a hoax

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Re: The $100B per year back pain industry is mostly a hoax

#2
> The author is often asked for her thoughts on certain forms of exercise, such as yoga or pilates, which she also covers on her website. What she tells people, repeatedly, is that “movement is essential.”

The exercise economy is the real back pain industry.

Re: The $100B per year back pain industry is mostly a hoax

#3
>Also consider this: In a poll at a 2009 conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, 99 out of 100 surgeons who were asked whether they’d elect to have lumbar fusion surgery if it were recommended to them said “absolutely not.”

Wow. They charge $80k for a surgery they wouldn't even use themselves for the very condition they recommend it for?

To reverse the famous quote: "you know what they call ineffective procedures that persist solely on inertia and avarice? Medicine."

Re: The $100B per year back pain industry is mostly a hoax

#4

> The author is often asked for her thoughts on certain forms of exercise, such as yoga or pilates, which she also covers on her website. What she tells people, repeatedly, is that “movement is essential.” The exercise economy is the real back pain industry.

But please don't use this argument to justify avoiding a little home exercise.

Re: The $100B per year back pain industry is mostly a hoax

#5

> The author is often asked for her thoughts on certain forms of exercise, such as yoga or pilates, which she also covers on her website. What she tells people, repeatedly, is that “movement is essential.” The exercise economy is the real back pain industry.

Exercise fixed all of my back pain issues.

I do heavy deadlifts. I can't tell you how many people told me that it would hurt my back. But it turns out having a muscular back to support my spine was exactly what I needed.

Re: The $100B per year back pain industry is mostly a hoax

#6
On the flip side, I had lower back pain of varying intensity for about two years before it got really bad really suddenly and I went to someone recommended by someone knowledgeable in the subject who fixed it in about 30 minutes of some serious stretching and twisting and turning [1].

Two months with not a hint of pain and I'm pretty sure this is yet another example of the medical industry being incentivized into ignoring existing solutions. MD I went to prescribed 4 meds (pain killer, muscle relaxant, topical gel, something else), did and xray before telling me I have arthritis at 30, and referring me to a list of acupuncturists. If there's a lot of profit to be made in treating back pain, why would anyone ever fix it in a for-profit system?

1. https://www.yelp.com/biz/tri-valley-bodyworks-dublin

Re: The $100B per year back pain industry is mostly a hoax

#7
post #5

> The author is often asked for her thoughts on certain forms of exercise, such as yoga or pilates, which she also covers on her website. What she tells people, repeatedly, is that “movement is essential.” The exercise economy is the real back pain industry.

Exercise fixed all of my back pain issues. I do heavy deadlifts. I can't tell you how many people told me that it would hurt my back. But it turns out having a muscular back to support my spine was exactly what I needed.

Seems like this advice could hurt a lot of people if they have a different issue with identical systems.

Re: The $100B per year back pain industry is mostly a hoax

#8
post #3

>Also consider this: In a poll at a 2009 conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, 99 out of 100 surgeons who were asked whether they’d elect to have lumbar fusion surgery if it were recommended to them said “absolutely not.” Wow. They charge $80k for a surgery they wouldn't even use themselves for the very condition they recommend it for? To reverse the famous quote: "you know what they call ineffective procedures that…

Similarly I fractured my foot out here in the US and a podiatrist told me it absolutely needed surgery. I flew home to have an orthopaedic surgeon look at it in the UK, they gave me one of those plastic ankle boots, and told me to slowly ease back into walking over the course of a month.

Re: The $100B per year back pain industry is mostly a hoax

#10
post #5

> The author is often asked for her thoughts on certain forms of exercise, such as yoga or pilates, which she also covers on her website. What she tells people, repeatedly, is that “movement is essential.” The exercise economy is the real back pain industry.

Exercise fixed all of my back pain issues. I do heavy deadlifts. I can't tell you how many people told me that it would hurt my back. But it turns out having a muscular back to support my spine was exactly what I needed.

I've fixed my bouts of lower back muscle spasms by strengthening my abs.
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