Chronic back pain: all in the mind?
2 April 2001
New evidence presented at the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association’s Congress in Adelaide claimed that the severity of chronic, disabling back pain is determined by the patient’s own ‘psycho-social’ makeup, rather than their actual injuries or the disease process.
Adelaide surgeon Dr Orso Osti said: 'Back pain is the leading cause of absenteeism from work—ahead of the common cold—and is costing the community millions of dollars in lost productivity revenue.’
‘Whether a patient is involved in compensation claims following a work injury or car accident, or suffers from depression or from other medical conditions appears to have more bearing on the severity and length of the symptoms, than the back injury itself,’ he explained.
Other highlights from the Congress
- Australian researchers are the first in the world to grow muscle, skin, fat and bone from cells in a laboratory, using tissue engineering. The research could lead to organs being grown from cells for transplants.
- The increasing incidence of hip and knee replacements for osteoarthritis.
- New treatments for cartilage injuries.
Last Reviewed: 06 April 2001
