Common myths about low back pain

Most low back pain is not serious, and most of it settles without surgery. Many scary ideas about scans, discs and rest simply are not true. These are the eight myths I correct most often in clinic.

Reviewed by Dr. Kshitij Chaudhary, Last reviewed October 2026

🩻 Myth 1: "My MRI will show exactly why my back hurts"

A scan is a tool, not a verdict. MRI is excellent at finding infection, tumours, fractures and serious nerve pressure. It is poor at explaining ordinary back pain. Many people with no back pain at all have bulging discs and age-related wear on their scans, while many people in real pain have scans that look almost normal. Words like "bulge" can sound frightening and often mean very little. What hurts, what eases it and what I find on examination usually tell me more, especially in the first few weeks.

🦴 Myth 2: "I have a slipped disc"

Your spine is strong and built to move. Discs are firmly anchored between the bones and don't slide out of place. What can happen is a small tear in the tough outer wall, letting some of the soft gel inside push out. That is a lumbar disc herniation. The disc stays where it was. Nothing has slipped, so there is no need to fear bending or sitting. Worried about nerve damage? Read Will my slipped disc cause paralysis?

🛏️ Myth 3: "I should stay in bed until it stops hurting"

A week in bed is a setback, not a treatment. Long rest weakens muscles and stiffens joints, and it makes you more afraid to move. Rest for a day or two if you need to, then keep moving. Lie with your hips and knees bent for a few hours to ease the pain. Take short walks, change position often and hold off on heavy lifting. If the pain isn't settling, see a doctor. For day-to-day advice, read The Back Pain Guide.

🤕 Myth 4: "If it hurts, I must be damaging my back"

In ordinary back pain, hurt does not mean harm. Irritated tissues stay sensitive for a while, even when healing is well under way. Expect some discomfort as you get back to normal activity. Treat it as background noise, not a stop sign. Avoiding every bend "just in case" weakens your back and can prolong the pain.

⚠️ The exceptions are severe pain that never eases, new weakness in a leg, numbness around the saddle area, or loss of bladder or bowel control. See a doctor straight away. Read more about cauda equina syndrome.

🕰️ Myth 5: "Degenerative disc disease means my spine is falling apart"

The name sounds worse than the finding. Discs lose water and plumpness with age, much like skin and hair. A worn disc is closer to a wrinkle than a wound. Many people with clear degenerative disc disease on a scan have no pain, and some with minimal changes have a lot. The scan alone can't tell you how much of your pain the disc explains, so ask your doctor. Pain linked to a worn disc often settles within months, even though the disc itself stays as it is.

🔁 Myth 6: "Once you've had back pain, you'll always have it"

Back pain often comes back, but it doesn't have to stay. Most episodes settle within days to a few months. A new flare-up is a new episode, not proof that the last one never ended. You can lower the chance of recurrence, though not remove it. Stay fit and strong, and pace heavy or repeated tasks. Don't over-rest during a flare. If you smoke, read about smoking and low back pain.

💼 Myth 7: "I'll go back to work once the pain is completely gone"

Waiting for zero pain often means waiting too long. Back pain fades gradually, with good days and bad days. Time away weakens muscles and dents your confidence in your back, while normal activity, including work, helps recovery. Return to normal life in stages. Start with lighter duties or shorter hours and build up as you cope. Some discomfort along the way is fine.

🏥 Myth 8: "Back pain always ends in surgery"

As a spine surgeon, I can tell you surgery is the exception. Most people recover without it, including many with a confirmed disc herniation. Most slipped discs settle in 6 to 12 weeks with medicines, physiotherapy and a gradual return to activity. When pain is mostly in the back and your nerves are healthy, surgery is not needed. It is considered when leg weakness isn't improving, when severe pain continues despite proper non-surgical treatment, or in emergencies such as loss of bladder or bowel control. When it is the right choice, keyhole options like tubular microdiscectomy are gentler. Unsure about the advice you have been given? Get a second opinion on your MRI.

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About Dr. Kshitij Chaudhary

This page was written by Dr. Kshitij Chaudhary, a fellowship-trained spine surgeon at P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, trained in complex spine surgery at Harvard Medical School (Beth Israel Deaconess) and the Twin Cities Spine Center, Minneapolis. 🏃🏾About Dr. Chaudhary

This page is for general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Please see a doctor for advice about your own symptoms.