Nearly 80 percent of Americans experience back pain at some point in their life. Back pain can cause you to miss out on work, hinder your ability to engage in physical exercise, and disrupt sleep.
The Cost of Back Pain For Many Americans
This condition can also be a costly one, whether you have to take time off of work or spend a large amount of money on a variety of treatments. Back pain is the leading cause of disability in the country.
So, how do you handle this epidemic if you find yourself suffering from this debilitating pain? Our Atlanta chiropractic clinic is highly skilled in treating musculoskeletal injuries such as chronic back pain.
With back pain, finding an effective treatment option cost-effectively is a goal of chronic back pain sufferers. Our skilled team is sharing ways to help reduce your symptoms and get back to life as usual.
How To Manage Back Pain
Our bodies are designed to withhold a certain amount of weight, and when our frames exceed that amount, back pain can develop. Being overweight also creates a higher risk of heart attacks, stroke, and diabetes to develop. When added weight is put on the body, the spine and other joints are put under a great deal of stress. With the strain on the spine, the vertebrae become overworked and can degenerate at a faster rate, which can lead to chronic back pain.
Aside from the risk of degeneration, the discs can herniate, osteoarthritis may present as well as trouble with the sciatic nerve. Being overweight puts you at higher risk for the need for surgery to correct these conditions and manage your back pain.
With these surgeries come risks, and recovery times taking essential time away from the things you love to do. Aside from managing your back pain, eating healthy food, and lowering your weight can help to change your overall health for the better.
Those who engage in smoking are at a higher risk for a plethora of conditions, but one that may surprise you is chronic back pain and conditions associated with the spine. How can smoking affect the spine?
Studies have shown that when one engages in tobacco use, they are at a higher risk for developing atherosclerosis, which is a blockage of the small arteries throughout the body. With the spine receiving much of the blood supply through these vessels, when they are blocked, it is difficult for the body to heal correctly. As blockages progress, degeneration, and pain present.
With the blood supply being limited, the nicotine also contributes to a decrease in the bones, forming cells called osteoblasts. When these cells cannot be produced, the ability of the spine to heal correctly can become compromised. If you’re a smoker and back pain is affecting your life, this may be just one more reason to quit!
Posture, posture, posture. Becoming mindful of your posture can go a long way in managing your overall health and combating that back pain. When the body is incorrectly positioned, whether you are sitting, standing, or relaxing on the couch, your posture can trigger back pain.
Many Americans work from an office and sit for a prolonged period, which causes a great deal of stress on the spine. When sitting in an office chair, make sure that your back is supported, feet are on the floor, and your shoulders are not pulling your body forward. To avoid unwanted pressure and pain on the spine and nerves, sitting or standing tall can go a long way.
Movement is key. When the body remains stagnant for an extended amount of time, the musculoskeletal system feels the pressure. When we remain inactive, we are at the highest risk of becoming obese, as well as a weakened spine.
As the muscles and discs tend to shorten due to the inactivity levels, pain more than likely presents. If your job requires you to sit for an extended period or you are recovering from an injury, implementing some form of physical exercise and stretching regimes can help you in taking control of your lower back pain.
Prevention. Many wait until the pain is too bad before they seek treatment, but chiropractic care offers relief and prevention techniques to allow for a pain-free life. When seeking chiropractic care regularly, the body as a whole performs better.
With chiropractic treatment, the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system work more effectively when sending messages through the neural pathways, which lead to improved healing. If the alignment in the spine is off, the brain can not communicate as well with the rest of the body leading to increased pain. These treatments are natural and pose no side effects and are extremely cost-effective.
If back pain has you down, our Atlanta chiropractors are a skilled team of doctors who can correct the abnormalities causing your pain. To learn more, contact our team today by dialing (404) 889-8828 to schedule an appointment.