Back pain is an extremely common problem with a wide variety of causes. Although more common in aging adults as they become less mobile, back pain can strike at any age under the right (or wrong) circumstances. In 2010 it was estimated that about 600,000 Americans opt for surgery each year in an attempt to alleviate their back pain. Unfortunately, the success rate is not as great as most probably believe. Let’s look at some causes and treatment options for this widespread problem. Why Does Your Back Hurt?
There can always be disease-related causes for back pain, but in most cases the causes are simple and common: bad posture, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and lifting or bending wrong. Bad posture is very common in the US, due to sitting down all day at work, driving frequently, and constantly staring down at those clever little devices we call smartphones and tablets. The spongy discs in our spines are fed by movement, literally. When we move, fluid flows through them and nourishes them. When we sit still at work or in the car, they get malnourished. And every inch that your head sticks out from a true center of gravity over your body adds 10 pounds of stress to your neck. So leaning your neck out 3 inches while staring at your phone is adding 30 pounds of stress on your neck and spine. Ouch!
In addition to the fluid moving through your spine, regular nutrition for your body also plays a part. A healthy diet nourishes the bones, discs, muscles, and other structures in your back and spine. And wherever nutrition is a factor, exercise is sure to follow as another. When you don’t get regular movement and exercise, your muscles atrophy and your bones become weaker. Then in your weakened condition you decide to play some weekend basketball with the guys, and one wrong movement lets you know that you just messed up. Regular exercise prevents these types of strains and sprains from happening as easily.
Reliable Solutions?
Chiropractic care can relieve back pain without surgery or prescription drugs, yet the standard option among many seems to be to run straight to the surgeon. Is surgery more effective? Not necessarily. A 2010 study in the journal Spine followed 1450 patients with disc degeneration, disc herniation, and radiculopathy. Half had surgery and half didn’t. After two years, only 26% of those who had surgery had returned to work, compared with 67% of those who didn’t. More troubling, those who had surgery showed a 41% increase in in the use of painkillers, specifically opiates.
Thousands of studies have shown Chiropractic care helps those with back pain, sciatica, tension headaches, blood pressure and more; all without drugs or surgery. If you are suffering with back pain, Chiropractic should be your first choice for treatment.
