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Chronic Pain Shrinks The Brain

Posted by timothy on from the as-long-as-it-doesn't-touch-my-10-percent dept.

An anonymous reader writes "LiveScience is reporting on a study showing that people with chronic lower back pain have 5 to 11 percent less gray matter than pain-free folks. Its not known for sure why, but the thinking is that neurons just get worn out as the mind deals with the pain."

5 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. In soviet russia... by nerd256 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Shrinking grey matter causes chronic pain

    Seriously, how do we know what the dependent variable is.

    (and the flaming ensues)

  2. Obviously. by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Its not known for sure why, but the thinking is that neurons just get worn out as the mind deals with the pain."

    Right. Either that or being stupid hurts.

    --

    There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
  3. Re:Study Problems by NiceGeek · · Score: 4, Funny

    Salt is bad for you.

  4. Re: or... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Only stupid people have lower back pain!

    Yeah, it must be something like that, because my back is killing me...

  5. Re:Hahaha I totally read that wrong. by Neon+Spiral+Injector · · Score: 3, Funny

    It just shrinks the short term memory. Like when you can't remember that you opened a bold tag only four words ago.