There isn’t one end-all-be-all cause of back pain. In fact, that’s likely the most frustrating thing about this common ailment—it can be caused by any number of things. This is precisely why listening to your body can go a long way in effectively treating back pain. With the proper diagnosis leading the way for treatment, paying attention to your back pain is key.
4 Things Your Back Pain is Saying
Here are four things it could be trying to tell you.
You Have a Spine-Related Problem
This casts a wide net, but there are some common spine issues that are known to trigger back pain. Having a healthy back means that your muscles, joints, nerves and discs are all working in tandem, resulting in pain-free movement. But conditions like a pinched nerve, disc issues or spinal stenosis can disrupt this harmony pretty fast. Each is associated with its own symptoms, according to WebMD, but one thing they all have in common is back pain.
Osteoarthritis is Behind Your Back Pain
Roughly 50 to 80 percent of U.S. adults will experience back pain at one time or another, reports the Arthritis Foundation. While most bouts of back pain resolve themselves on their own, pain that sticks around may be a sign of osteoarthritis. This degenerative disease gets worse over time, so intervening as soon as possible is the best way to get ahead of it. In most cases, arthritis-related back pain improves when you’re laying down, but in extreme cases, it can cause numbness and/or weakness in the limbs.
You’re Overly Stressed
Stress usually isn’t the first thing to come to mind when you think about back pain, but it turns out, it’s a very real culprit. Many of us actually “hold our stress” in our backs, which can lead to muscle tension and pain, specifically in the lower back. What’s worse is that it appears to be a self-feeding loop—back pain tends to stress us out even more, while stress typically makes back pain worse.
Your Posture Needs Some Work
The average U.S. consumer spends a whopping five hours a day staring at their phone. If you’re one of them, back pain may be an unwelcome, but common, side effect. The good news is that it’s a relatively easy fix. According to Harvard Medical School, understanding the basic fundamentals of good posture can help remedy the problem.
If chronic back pain is impacting your day-to-day life, it’s probably time to seek professional help. Health Star Clinic takes a multifaceted approach, leveraging chiropractic care, physical therapy and traditional medicine to put together tailored treatment plans. Reach out today to learn more about saying goodbye to back pain.