Back Pain & Chiropractic

If You're A Back Sufferer, You're Not Alone

More than 31 million Americans experience low back pain at any given time.(1)

It's easy to forget how delicate our spine is when we're NOT in pain.  But when we are in pain it's another story.  We need to understand that the back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles.  And it's easy to strain muscles, sprain ligaments, irritate joints and even rupture disks…all of which can cause low back pain. 

While it's true that sports injuries, car accidents and work injuries can cause back pain, sometimes it's the simplest things that cause the most pain.  For example, bending over to put on socks, sneezing and even moving too fast (in some situations).  

Not only do we have to protect ourselves from injuries but we also have to acknowledge other factors that can cause or complicate back pain, like arthritis, poor posture, obesity and psychological stress.  Back pain can also directly result from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss.

Here's A few interesting facts about back pain:

• Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2010.

• One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.(2)

• Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work.  In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.

• Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.

• Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.(3)

• Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in our lives.(4)

So What…

Ok, so now we know that back pain is REAL.  But what of it, what are you going to do about it (we'll get to that).  

One thing that I've learned over the past 26 years of helping patients is that when you have a problem such as back pain and ignore it, your problem will worsen.  When the problem gets ignored the deleterious effects of the condition continue and most will suffer these common circumstances - when they get around to dealing with their low back pain it's going to take longer to correct and because of that it's probably going to cost more money.  

And above all else, when you're in pain it affects your quality of life.  Yes pain can make us grumpy, decrease our activities and affect our sleep, but it also affects our relationships as well.

If there was one thing I'd like for you to take away from this article it would be for you to understand that ignoring low back pain (or any health condition) will have consequences.

Tips to Prevent Back Pain

• Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
• Remain active—under the supervision of your doctor of chiropractic.
• Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
• Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities, such as gardening.
• Maintain proper posture.
• Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
• Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine.
• Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist when lifting.
• Quit smoking.
• Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.
• Work with your doctor of chiropractic to ensure that your computer workstation is ergonomically correct.

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Cordima Chiropractic Center
Dr. Chris Cordima
Dr. Lynda Doricent

690 Broadway
Somerville, MA  02144
Phone:  (617) 629-2600

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References:

1. Jensen M, Brant-Zawadzki M, Obuchowski N, et al. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine in People Without Back Pain. N Engl J Med 1994; 331: 69-116.

2. Vallfors B. Acute, Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Symptoms, Absenteeism and Working Environment. Scan J Rehab Med Suppl 1985; 11: 1-98.

3. This total represents only the more readily identifiable costs for medical care, workers compensation payments and time lost from work. It does not include costs associated with lost personal income due to acquired physical limitation resulting from a back problem and lost employer productivity due to employee medical absence. In Project Briefs: Back Pain Patient Outcomes Assessment Team (BOAT). In MEDTEP Update, Vol. 1 Issue 1, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, 

4. In Vallfors B, previously cited.

5. Back Pain Facts & Statistics, American Chiropractic Association