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Oh my aching back… Winter is coming and in many parts of the world that means increased back pain! Whether it's from shoveling that fluffy white snow, carrying the Christmas tree or being exposed to cold drafts, back pain has a way of creeping up this time of year. Although, back pain is so common that many people will suffer from it at any point in time. In fact, many reports suggest that up to 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. There are other symptoms, in addition to pain, that back pain sufferers may experience. These include loss of mobility (or stiffness), muscle spasm, leg pain or weakness and difficulty sleeping. The timing of the symptoms often depends on the cause of the pain. For example, people with arthritis usually complain of stiffness that is worse in the morning, while people with muscle injuries usually experience more pain at the end of the day. In more serious but rare cases of back pain, people may experience loss of bowel or bladder control. There are many causes of back pain, and these can include:
More serious causes of back pain, such as cancer and infection, while they can occur, are far less common. Because the causes and the symptoms of back pain can vary so much from one person to the next, it is very important to have your back pain evaluated. Chiropractors are known back care specialists, because of their extensive training, education and experience in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of back pain. Your Chiropractor will obtain a history (details) about your complaint and conduct a thorough physical assessment. Sometimes X-rays are taken to confirm the diagnosis or the best treatment approach for your condition. Specialized X-ray procedures such as CAT Scans, MRI's and Myelograms are rarely required. In addition to Chiropractors, there are many practitioners of Complementary and Alternative Medicine that offer effective treatments for back pain. These include massage therapists, naturopaths, herbalists, acupuncturists, homeopaths, etc. The best testimony that Complementary and Alternative therapies work is the level of public interest in these therapies. It's not surprising that a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Eisenberg, 1993) reported a steep rise in public utilization of these therapies, which matched the utilization of mainstream medical services. Back pain is often categorized as Acute, Chronic and Recurrent. Acute Back Pain is a new episode of back pain that is often accompanied by intense pain levels and a significant loss of mobility. Acute Back Pain may follow a recent injury or a sudden unexpected movement of the back. Many people don't realize that you can injure your back just as much by bending over to pick up a needle from the ground as picking up a large, heavy box! The fact is that injury to the back is often caused by a movement that is performed suddenly or using the wrong technique. Chronic Back Pain is pain that has been around for more than six months. This type of pain can be devastating because it can interfere with many aspects of a person's life including disturbed sleep and family life, absence from work and social activities, not to mention possible side effects from pain medications. The good news is that Chronic pain CAN be beaten! There has been a tremendous amount of positive research on the benefits of exercise in alleviating Chronic Back Pain. Many people experience Recurrent Back Pain where their pain will come and go several times throughout their lives. All forms of back pain can be treated effectively, but some will require a little more effort on your part, especially if exercise and nutrition are part of your treatment plan. How quickly your back pain resolves may depend on you. Here are 7 lucky steps to conquering back pain : 1. STOP! Stop the activity that caused the pain in the first place. If the pain was brought on by heavy lifting or is aggravated by work, you should stop the offending activity in the short term. Once you have identified the proper way to perform the activity, it may be safe to go back to it. 2. GO - get help. Visit your Chiropractor or other health care provider for an assessment of your back pain. There are many treatments available to you including chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, acupuncture, exercise rehabilitation, nutritional counseling and more. Don't forget about caring for yourself at home too through relaxing baths, relieving ointments, supporting braces and restful sleep!
7. FOCUS on Health! The way you live your life is an important contributor to how your body will react to many influences, including back pain! Make this a time to achieve a higher state of health for you. Whether it's quitting smoking, losing some excess weight, eating more balanced foods or starting an exercise program, it's up to you. Remember, your lifestyle will determine your needs! For example, smoking depletes Vitamin C levels in the body. Since Vitamin C is essential for collagen tissue formation, without enough of it, healing of injured back tissues will be poor. Research has shown and increased rate of chronic back pain in smokers. Athletes on the other hand, sometimes work their muscles to the point of exhaustion and will require extra protein to help heal and build their muscle tissue. Speak to your health provider about your individual nutritional needs to determine how you can focus on your health. Flu season has hit early this year! Be proactive and boost your immune system now. In a previous newsletter we discussed some natural approaches to fighting the flu and boosting your immune system. Here is a summary: The most well known natural therapy for the treatment or prevention of the flu is Echinacea. Echinacea is most effective when taken at the first sign of symptoms of a cold or flu, but can also be taken proactively to prevent illness. The typical daily dose for cold cycle susceptibility periods is 500-1,000 mg; however, many people take Echinacea as a daily supplement throughout the flu season to boost their immune systems and prevent cold and flu. When taking this and many other herbs, herb "breaks" are recommended where the user discontinues use of the herb for one week every 4-6 weeks, then resumes treatment. You should discuss the best dosage of this product or any other therapy with your health care practitioner. Other useful natural remedies for colds and flus include: Other useful natural remedies for cold and flu relief:
Be INFORMED about the FLU - For more information about colds and flus, including the flu VACCINE have a look at our previous Flu Newsletter or checkout all our past newsletters. |
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