What is so hard to get patients to understand is that most low back pain is caused by a combination of factors. They are looking for a diagnosis that has a specific cause and cure. This is complicated by the fact that you cannot see many causes on an X-Ray or even an MRI. Even if there is degeneration present, it may not be what is generating the pain. I see people on a regular basis who have moderate to severe degenerative changes but almost no pain. I also see people who have no visible abnormalities but severe pain. This is not a surprise to me, but it can be very, very hard to explain to a patient who wants to know why they hurt so badly. Inflammation, overuse and other non-visible factors just don't seem like an adequate explanation for that much pain!
The truth? Most low back pain is caused by overuse, repetitive stress or muscle imbalances and poor conditioning. It is inflammation driven. The things you do-or don't do- on a regular basis play a major role in healing and continued pain. Arthritis can exist without pain, as can a disc herniation.
What to do? The number one thing you can do to help heal back pain and keep it from coming back is exercise. If you are already in pain, you need to consult your chiropractor or other physician for the best exercise to choose. The good news- this is something you can control. The bad news- you have to DO it! Other things that play a huge role: smoking and nutrition. Smokers can take up to twice as long to heal. This is a fact, not something your doctor says to get you to quit smoking. Smoking increases inflammation in the body and slows down healing. What you eat makes a difference too. Sugar, red meat and fried foods increase inflammation. They create a poor environment for cell repair. Weight also plays a role. If you are carrying an extra 30 lbs on your stomach, your back is under constant strain. This will create a constant low level inflammation. That makes little strains into big strains and makes healing much harder.
The longer I practice (15 years this year!), the more I realize how complicated healing is. Every person is different. These differences between people have a huge impact on healing. There are few "text book" cases. For a growing majority of patients, getting well requires a multi-faceted approach and a true partnership between doctor and patient. It often requires a partnership between more than one doctor and the patient. I don't see this changing anytime soon. Our diets, weight and polluted environment continue to weaken our systems, leading to mysterious symptoms, auto-immune disorders, obesity and diabetes. Until we start cutting the chemicals and taking true responsibility for our own lives, the problems will continue to worsen. Sadly, even when people try to do this in their lives, we still end up with exposure to so many chemicals and toxins in our environment that there can still be ill effects. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't try, and it doesn't mean that you won't get well if you are in pain. It simply means that we need to start paying attention to other factors and working harder to be healthy. There are no simple solutions to complicated problems. I wish there were! Be happy and be well.
The truth? Most low back pain is caused by overuse, repetitive stress or muscle imbalances and poor conditioning. It is inflammation driven. The things you do-or don't do- on a regular basis play a major role in healing and continued pain. Arthritis can exist without pain, as can a disc herniation.
What to do? The number one thing you can do to help heal back pain and keep it from coming back is exercise. If you are already in pain, you need to consult your chiropractor or other physician for the best exercise to choose. The good news- this is something you can control. The bad news- you have to DO it! Other things that play a huge role: smoking and nutrition. Smokers can take up to twice as long to heal. This is a fact, not something your doctor says to get you to quit smoking. Smoking increases inflammation in the body and slows down healing. What you eat makes a difference too. Sugar, red meat and fried foods increase inflammation. They create a poor environment for cell repair. Weight also plays a role. If you are carrying an extra 30 lbs on your stomach, your back is under constant strain. This will create a constant low level inflammation. That makes little strains into big strains and makes healing much harder.
The longer I practice (15 years this year!), the more I realize how complicated healing is. Every person is different. These differences between people have a huge impact on healing. There are few "text book" cases. For a growing majority of patients, getting well requires a multi-faceted approach and a true partnership between doctor and patient. It often requires a partnership between more than one doctor and the patient. I don't see this changing anytime soon. Our diets, weight and polluted environment continue to weaken our systems, leading to mysterious symptoms, auto-immune disorders, obesity and diabetes. Until we start cutting the chemicals and taking true responsibility for our own lives, the problems will continue to worsen. Sadly, even when people try to do this in their lives, we still end up with exposure to so many chemicals and toxins in our environment that there can still be ill effects. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't try, and it doesn't mean that you won't get well if you are in pain. It simply means that we need to start paying attention to other factors and working harder to be healthy. There are no simple solutions to complicated problems. I wish there were! Be happy and be well.
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