Nothing is very simple with the body and especially the spine. Researchers are taking advantage of new computer-generated devices for scientific study. The spine is a major focus of study.
Like many things, the more we understand, the less we know. New research has shown the complex relationship between the spine, nerve messages, muscle control, and posture.
For a long time, scientists believed that pressure on a nerve from a herniated disc caused back and leg pain. Simple. Remove the disc, take the pressure off, and the symptoms are gone. But that doesn’t always happen. It may be that higher centers (for example, the brain) are affected, too.
It seems that information about any damage down below is transmitted to the brain. There may be a feedback loop between brain and muscles previously overlooked. Future studies using functional brain imaging may shed further light on the subject. Improved pain and reduced disability may be all in the head after all!