Why do I have back pain?
According to the Burden of Disease, low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. It is the number one reason for missed work, as well as the second most common reason for GP visits.
But why do we have back pain?
There are many reasons why back pain arises. These include:
Damaged ligaments
Strained muscles
Discs issues
Arthritis
Obesity
Psychological stress
Kidney problems
And more!
A visit to your GP may rule out many of these causes. In my clinic most of my clients present with ligament / muscles issues, perhaps from an old injury or the pain developed over time.
What should I do if I have back pain?
There are many things you can do to help, but first it is always recommended that you check with your GP to rule out some structural or organic problems.
Once you've ruled out these symptoms, here are some of my best suggestions:
Move 'IT'
Move YOURSELF - exercises
Adequate Sleep
Good Nutrition
See a professional
1) Move 'IT' - Yes it hurts! But without movement, our nervous system will become more sensitive in the area, causing muscles and ligaments in your back to 'seize up' and cause more pain. Gentle movement in the area without extreme pain is ideal, there are many exercises on the internet that you can find to help - or come to my clinic.
2) Move YOURSELF - Don't let the back pain stop you from exercising. There are many exercises that you can do without causing pain, a good suggestion would be swimming. Not moving could increase your sensitivity to the pain, or worse you could increase your risk of other injuries.
3) Adequate Sleep - Sleep is perhaps the most underrated healing angel. Sleep is our body's natural reset button. Every night when we close our eyes, our brain and body becomes very ACTIVE! We don't just 'shut down', the factory is just getting started! 6 hours is MINIMUM, I would strongly recommend at least 8 hours. Switch the TV off earlier and turn the sleep up.
I suggest the book 'Why We Sleep?' by Matthew Walker if you would like to know more about sleep
4) Good Nutrition - This goes without saying. If your body is not getting enough fuel and appropriate building blocks to repair, your back pain will never leave you. There are many resources out there to help you achieve a good diet, the idea is to have a balanced diet for YOUR lifestyle.
5) See a Professional - This is where I come in. I listed this suggestion as the last thing on my list for a reason - if you are not achieving any or all of the above, my job to help you becomes more difficult.
In my clinic I use a whole host of tools to help me find the roots of your problem. Once the reasons are found, treatments will be given. You don't have to worry about what you have to do in my clinic to get your back pain improved, what you DO have to worry about is what you do AFTER leaving my clinic - that brings me back to the previous 4 suggestions.
I was going to write about 'How do I prevent back pain?', but then I realise that the above 5 suggestions is exactly what I would do to prevent back pain. Seeing a professional on a regular basis is like a 'MOT' for your body. We could find issues in your nervous system and prevent them from causing physical pain.
'I am suffering from chronic pain, could you help?'
Yes - as long as you are willing to lead a healthier lifestyle!
Feel free to contact myself to have a chat about your symptoms, and find out how I would be able to help. My clinic is in Monmouth, and you can reach me here: 07380 318155
Let's get going!
Jun
Pain Specialist
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