Something you did at one time caused the pain

6 myths about lower back pain, busted

Leading experts weigh in on the myths about lower back pain, what’s really going on and the best approaches to help your aching back heal

By Jane Langille

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Myth 1: Something you did at one time caused the pain

While lifting something too heavy or a slip-and-fall accident could be the culprit, disk degeneration from small micro-tears that go unnoticed over time could be the real cause. Spinal disks are like small jelly donuts – cushions of collagen and water sandwiched between the vertebrae of your spine to help it move.

A herniated disk or ‘slipped’ disk causes pain and inflammation when it bulges out and presses on a nearby nerve root. When a disk ruptures, fluid leaks out, putting pressure on nerve endings in the lower back. Click the link to watch a video of Dr. Mark Kubert, a chiropractor in Guelph, Ontario explaining how disk damage happens.