Are You Suffering From Back Pain?

The CBP chiropractors at Zen Care Physical Medicine know a thing or two about back pain relief!

Back pain is not just disruptive but can be very annoying. Just because back pain is so common nowadays, doesn’t mean we should ignore it and learn to live with it because it could turn into a nightmare. If left untreated, back pain can do more than just affect a person’s quality of life, but rather, affect other parts of the body and cause serious health issues.

According to a study, approximately 80% of Americans will experience back problems at some point in their lives. People spend most of their time seeking the right medical treatment, but end up spending more money for mediocre results. To be able to successfully treat the problem, it is necessary to understand the possible causes and address the root cause of the pain.

Below are some common causes of back pain that we should know about in order to take our first step toward a pain-free life:

Poor sleeping positions

It is said that poor sleeping habits such as sleeping in a “bad” position can put excess pressure on our spine and flatten the spine’s natural curve. Sleeping in such positions will also cause back strain and uneasy pressure on our joints. Unbeknownst to most, sleeping on our stomach, for example, may increase the chances of experiencing back pain more than in other positions. This is because sleeping on our stomach places more strain on our back since most of our weight is in the middle of our body.

Because of this, chiropractors from Zen Care Physical Medicine suggested keeping the spine in a neutral position by choosing a well-made innerspring or foam mattress and sleeping on our backs or sides for the most comfortable position. Using proper pillows or special neck-support foam pillows called Denneroll can also be a critical part of creating a good and healthy sleeping position.

Anxiety and stress

Needless to say, stress and anxiety deliver all kinds of harmful impacts on our overall health. Stress could affect our body in a variety of ways, from minor headaches and mood changes to major migraines and weight fluctuations.

Stress is also to blame for neck and back pain. Over time, repetitive bouts of stress can lead to musculoskeletal issues that can easily lead to tension headaches, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, and other forms of discomfort.

Therefore, an effective way to reduce stress and subsequently help reduce back pain is to exercise.  Not only will you be strengthening your muscles to support your back, but it is also proven that physical activity can release endorphins and improve overall health, which can essentially help reduce stress.

Herniated disc

Often back pain can be caused by a herniated disc. A disc is considered like a “cushion” between two vertebral bodies, which acts as a damping spring that helps reduce the pressure on the spine. Over time, the vertebrae and intervertebral disc gradually become dehydrated which makes them brittle and fragile. A herniated disc occurs when one of the constituents of the intervertebral disk slips out of position and presses against the spinal cord and nerves.

Today, chiropractic care is a non-surgical and effective treatment option for herniated discs. To treat a herniated disc and significantly reduce back pain, chiropractors at Zen Care Physical Medicine will develop a personal treatment plan utilizing the Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) technique to help ease herniated disc symptoms.

Accident or injury

This may sound strange, but did you know a fall, car accident, or seemingly minor impact on your body years ago could be the cause of your back pain today? It’s true. Back pain can be traced back to a spinal misalignment that occurred years ago, but because the damage was so minor, you may have never felt pain or the need to see a doctor. Over time, however, as our bodies go through more everyday impact, that minor misalignment grew into a more significant spinal issue and manifested itself as a painful back.

The solution to this type of back pain is actually very simple. Chiropractors at Zen Care Physical Medicine can devise a plan of action to reverse this misalignment through a series of traction therapies, adjustments, and exercises to normalize the spine, and in the process eliminate back pain altogether.