Back pain is common all across the globe. What are some things a person can do to keep the back strong and healthy?
The Pain you Feel
If you suffer from back pain, you are definitely not alone. It’s easy to think you can just ignore it and hope it goes away. The truth is that even if the pain you feel does go away with some ice and rest, the underlying cause of that back pain is still there.
So, if you suffer from back pain, don’t think that a good night’s rest will alleviate the underlying cause of your sore back. There’s something causing it, and we’ll explore some of those more common causes of your back pain in this blog.
Pain: A Built-in Warning System
Most people deal with back pain at least once in their life. When you experience it, it’s important to not ignore that pain or any other pain. Our bodies feel pain to warn us that something is not right.
In the case of back pain, not only is your body telling you of an immediate problem, but it might also be telling you of an underlying problem. Here are some of the more common conditions this pain might be tell you about:
Underlying Reasons for Back Pain
- Degenerative Disc Disease – Often, this is the result of wear and tear of your discs. This can be the result a major trauma, such a car accident, and it will most likely regresses due to a low energy injury impact.
- Facet Joint Osteoarthritis – Facet joints are made up of two bone-like surfaces with cartilage between them, which are on the back side of your spine. Your cartilage and fluid allow your joints to move without pain. If your cartilage breaks down because of facet joint arthritis, pain occurs.
- Lumbar Disc Herniation – Discs are the spongy substances between each vertebrae. Those discs keep those vertebra from grinding against each other. When one of your discs slips out of place causing two of your vertebra to grind against each other, it results in a herniated disc.
- Isthmic Spondylolisthesis – Sometimes, our spine sustain fractures due to stress on the bone that connects a vertebrae to the one below it. That can cause a vertebrae to slip forward.
There are more conditions that your back pain may be warning you about, and ignoring those warning signs now will only make the underlying condition worse. Your body’s trying to tell you something, and ignoring it will only cause the pain to get worse.
Often times, that pain is related to imbalances in your muscles dues to postural misalignments. This can be the result of head, neck, or spinal injuries. Your body compensate for any misalignments in your neck that cause your head to not be properly aligned with your body, and that will often cause lower back pain. The good news is an upper cervical chiropractor can realign your spine by focusing on realigning the top two vertebrae in your neck. So wherever your lower back pain is originating an upper cervical chiropractor is uniquely qualified to give you a thorough evaluation from head to toe.
The Role of Proper Sleep Position in Back Pain Relief
It may be surprising to learn that the way one sleeps can affect the back, either reducing or adding pain. It is important to know the best way to sleep for optimum back health.
The best way that one can sleep is actually laying on his or her back with proper neck support as this removes any pressure from the lower back and neck area. The improper way to sleep, however, is lying on the stomach. By sleeping in this position, one forces the neck to be bent at an unhealthy angle decreasing the amount of blood that is able to flow to the brain. If one is a side sleeper, it is important to use a pillow between the knees to keep the spine in proper position.
Other Natural Ways to Combat Back Pain
Exercise is very important to a healthy back. While it may seem difficult to exercise while one is in pain, it has been proven to be effective in lessening back pain. Sitting, however, has been shown to exacerbate back pain due to the fact that while sitting extra pressure is placed on the lower back.
It is important to start slowly and do something that is enjoyable. Things such as walking, swimming, and Pilates —along with a number of other gentle forms of exercise—are all beneficial when it comes to alleviating back pain. If you do something you enjoy, you will be more likely to stick with it. Just try to do something every day to get your body moving.
Another important aspect of back health is regular visits to an upper cervical chiropractor. Often back pain—no matter where it is located— may be caused by a misalignment in the upper neck vertebrae. An upper cervical chiropractor can work to correct this with a very specific, gentle adjutant technique. Keeping the neck healthy should be a top priority when hoping to stay free from back pain long-term.
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Dr. Young Chung of NUCCA Wellness Clinic of Chicago, with a location in Chicago and a 2nd location in Wheeling is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves Northbrook, Long Grove, Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove and Vernon Hills. He is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, whiplash injuries, post-concussion syndrome. This type of care has also shown benefits for athletic performance and pregnancy outcomes. More information can be found on our website at https://nuccawcc.com
NUCCA Wellness Clinic of Chicago
4801 W. Peterson Ave, Ste 216, Chicago, IL 60646
401 S. Milwaukee Ave, Ste 210, Wheeling, IL 60090
Call to schedule (224) 676-1920
