Back pain

[FedUp100]

5 weeks ago I injured my back. I lifted a heavy object (double buggy) and suddenly felt a searing pain through my back and I screamed out in pain, I've never experienced pain like it. I collapsed to my knees and cried in agony. Ambulance was called by DH. Paramedics gave me gas & air (entinox), intravenous painkillers and diazepam then I stayed in hospital for 4 days until I was discharged with a zimmer frame to help me walk a few steps.
I am still in a lot of pain with limited activities and taking prescribed painkillers 4 x daily.Today I had a physiotherapy appointment. Here's the thing; the physiotherapist told me that my pain is not real, that it is impossible for the body to send pain signals to the brain and that I am only experiencing pain because I think it should hurt. He said several times that pain is not real, it's perceived. He gave examples of people who have broken their legs but did not experience any pain until they looked down and realised their legs were broken.
I can't really get my head around this. Has anyone else heard of this theory?

Whaa?? Dm has a chronic back pain condition and has been told even though you take painkillers, the body will eventually find another route to acknowledge that pain. She is in definite, constant pain and I think would find it hard not to hit someone who told her that.

Bullshit. Of course pain is real. If you hurt babies or animals they react with no awareness it's just because they think they should.

As aside for long term Find a good Pilates teacher to avoid long term back pain. It's the best thing I did after circumstances much like yours and years of back pain.

He's talking bollocks.

I've been in chronic pain for 20 years. I lots of conditions, including a chronic back pain that I see a pain specialist for. Never in all the time I've seen him, or other specialists, surgeons, GPs, or physios have they said such a thing.

I'd ask to see someone else and talk to PALs about him.

Actually, if you can afford it see a chiropractor or osteopath.

Thank you guys.
I was really upset when I posted my message straight after my appointment with him. He didn't even look at my back or ask me what hurts. When I told him, he said what the pain feels like is irrelevant because it's not real, it's my brain telling me I feel pain because I'm expecting it to hurt. When I protested and said I have injured my back he told me that I was using negative language my using the word 'injured' which was further reinforcing the 'perception' that I am in pain.
Patterkiller - please could you elaborate on how pilates has helped you? I asked him if he thought pilates would be a good idea and he said it won't make any difference to my how I 'perceive' my back pain to be. He said that structurally pilates provides no help at all to strengthening the back because the back is already strengthened by its own ligaments. He said doing abdominal exercises will make no difference to how I feel.
TheFairyCaravan - have you ever seen a Chiropractor or Osteopath? If so did they help your back pain? This physiotherapist told me that Chiropractors/Osteopaths give patients wrong information by telling them that their backs are 'out of alignment' and said this is wrong and anatomically impossible.
He told me that it has been 5 weeks now that I've 'been perceiving pain' and that if I don't stop perceiving it then it is going to turn in to a lifelong pattern of thinking I am in pain.
I really thought he was going to help me but I just feel upset today. Every time I tried to describe how I'm feeling he said ''there you go again, you're using negative language to re-enforce the message that you think you feel pain'' - the language I was using was words like ''hurt/pain/can't move very easily/restricted activities'' because I was trying to explain how I'm feeling.
BTW he was the lead/senior physio so I couldn't ask to see his senior because he is the senior!

Ok you need to try find another Physio.
I've suffered chronic back pain for years, my Physio is also a Pilates instructor, see if you can find similar.
Yes your back has ligaments & muscles to support it but these can become weak or damaged & Pilates will help build up your core strength & your core acts like a corset to support & protect your back,
Maybe in time also you could try strengthing your core by lifting weights - sounds crazy but with the right instruction you can lift without stressing your back & build a really strong core which will help your back pain, at least it did for me, I'm not cured & still limited in movement but am loads better than I was.
Start with the Pilates though
I hope this helps

FedUp I have seen an osteopath and they did help, but ultimately they were up against it because my problems needed surgery. I know lots of people who have used them with success.

Your physio sounds like an arsehole. That said, there genuinely is a case that longer term pain management can become psychosomatic, rather than physical. But treating psychosomatic pain requires a lot of kindness, caring, nurture and trust. It dies require the HCP to be firm in explaining, but not an arsehole like yours sounds to be.

Countering the stiffness and muscle wasting can be hugely beneficial and this is best done by stretching and movement. Don't necessarily be afraid of your pain.