Back Pain and Your Brain: William S. Marras at TEDxOhioStateUniversity

Im 20 plus years with back pain . 3 disc removed . And a neuro stimulater implant. Constant pain does mess with your mind . It’s affects your life

Great to see this data behind the emotional state and it's affects on one's physical health. Movement is medicine.

I got injured years ago doing a job that required much heavy lifting at difficult angles. The fractures I endured I like to think are healing. But other issues have occurred as a result of the trauma. Pain flares are still a reality.

Dr. John Sarno has been on to this since the '70s, so really nothing new here. If you have persistent back pain, I suggest reading some of his books, for example 'Healing Back Pain'. Other good books include 'Back Sense' and 'Back in Control'. They're all relatively cheap on Amazon; you won't regret it. I was once bedridden with severe back pain, and I'm back running and biking now thanks to Dr. Sarno. :)

Thanks for confirming what every introvert knows in their bones

Balance my life? My life is a symptom of back pain. Headed the wrong way on a one way. Fell for everyone

20 years old with two years back pain sad can’t work can’t pay my bills without finding job now I’m working as labour

I am a 24 year old and I was thrown to the ground and crushed until suffocation. Everyday is worse and worse with pain. Please help those in need with back-pain.

Dr. Marras correctly points out the pain generators can be identified in approximately 10 to 15% of cases. It is rather confusing then that he spends the curriculum time discussing disc and play degeneration and concludes that muscles are significant source of pain.

He correctly points out that emotional factors are key in understanding both the etiology and chronicity of back pain (this can apply to many other forms of muscoskeletal pain as well). This was demonstrated many times including a study of airport baggage handlers which proved that job satisfaction (or lack thereof) was the primary predictor of back pain development. I am confused about his emphasis on disc pathology. I think studies have conclusively shown zero correlation with pain.

Perfectly explained

Why don't they ever ask people in chronic pain what causes it, helps it, makes it worse. A long term study with chronic pain patients. Low back, mid back, neck. MS, Fibromyalgia.

If pain generators in the spine are only correctly identified 10 to 15 % of time why do so many surgeries occur? The chance of fixing the pain is low and the chance of causing new pain is high. Yet we still see very little evidence or outcome studies for pain and surgery.

Biomechanics is very important. Too many specialists not talking to each other though.

What about SIJoint? And why does it not get addressed in the back pain talks?

I am glad Dr Marras is open to exploring pain. I found this an interesting talk. It suggests to me when we feel 'up' about life there is more likely to be space between the joints. Conversely, when we feel 'down' about life there is more likely to be a contracting and limiting of movement. I notice while he talks he has a damaged left leg where to stay upright he has to put most weight on his left leg. However, in doing so he angles his pelvis and this has a knock on effect on his torso, shoulder girdle and neck. I am a trained Alexander Technique teacher and wonder, rather than keeping the pelvis level, if in angling his pelvis this kind of change of use on a regular basis might also promote damage to internal tissue. Perhaps both aspects can be considered when approaching physical/mental pain.

Nice introduction into emotional drive in pain centralization. Two things I found regrettable: 1) the 6 wk mark of chronicity. Not only is that a very narrow window compared to most studies, but his language was rather catastrophizing. I get that he's compelling urgent attention, but I think he might have made that a redline without explaining later patient expectation. 2) he should have also mentioned that damage to the disc has an unknown effect on pain causality, most people show up with disc damage on imaging without any symptoms. Again, this seemed a little critical for a talk about how emotions and beliefs affect pain. But, at minimum, he did open up the door for people to start learning more about the topic.

I’m just wondering how I can apply this to my own situation or should I even attempt to but it’s a very good video

Didn't work for me.  I have nerve damage and failed back surgery, the only thing that works for me are the opiods.  I can't even walk or think without them.  Too bad there is nothing more helpful for us.

This proves it. Some people are a pain in the back. 9:18-end.