Back pain can ruin your day, but chronic back pain can ruin your life. It can keep you bed or chair-ridden, and strip you of the joy you used to feel when you went out and about. Back pain can limit your ability to work, to explore, to play, and of course, to exercise. Though it is far more common in those who are middle-aged or older, it can happen to anyone.
To help you understand more about back pain and how to treat it, here are the eight most common causes:
The Seven Causes of Back Pain
Back pain occurs due to three main influences: one, prolonged lifestyle habits, two, an external accident, three, genetics.
1. Improper Posture
Sitting, standing, and generally living with poor posture will eventually cause chronic back pain, as your spine is holding onto your weight unnaturally. This can cause muscles to cramp up at best, but at worst, it can cause your spine to deteriorate.
2. Unhealthy Weight
Being overweight can also cause back pain, as you hold more weight on your spine than recommended. Of course, you don’t always have to be overweight to feel back pain. Women with large breasts also experience chronic back pain, and the only way to really relieve this pain is to strengthen the core and, in extreme circumstances, opt for breast reduction surgery.
3. Lack of Strength and Flexibility
Your core, or your stomach muscles, will play a key part in managing back pain. When you have a strong core, you hold yourself up with your stomach and back muscles; whereas if your core is weak, there is more pressure put on your spine.
4. Exercise Strain
Exercising improperly is a great way to throw your back and hurt yourself.
5. Arthritis
Arthritis affects all joints and can impact the back just the same as it can impact your hands.
6. Scoliosis
This genetic condition occurs when the spine is curved upon birth. You will need surgery to rectify this issue.
7. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become weak and brittle, which can lead to chronic back pain and even more serious conditions.
How to Treat Back Pain
To treat back pain, you will want to:
Preventative Measures
The best way to beat back pain is to stop it from happening. If you already suffer from back pain, these tips will help prevent you from aggravating your injury.
1. Exercise Correctly
2. Improve Flexibility
3. Reduce or Gain Weight
4. Stop Smoking
5. Improve Posture
Stay Active
For those with arthritis, it is best to stay active. This will help keep your body moving and help keep your muscles strong so that your body can support itself without over-relying on your spine.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can involve a lot of different treatments, from physiotherapy to chiropractic care, to hot/cold therapy, and more. By contacting a treatment center like ours, you can benefit from a custom-made treatment plan designed to help your body heal correctly, reducing back pain, and strengthening your core.
Surgery
As you can imagine, a slipped disk cannot be treated on your own or even with a physiotherapist. In some cases, it is far better to consult your doctor to see if the cause of your back pain warrants surgery. In extreme cases, you might be an applicant for radiofrequency denervation, which, in simple terms, heats the nerves in your back so that they stop sending pain signals. This procedure carries risk, however, and is only available if you suffer from acute, chronic back pain.
Regardless of the cause of you back pain, our Miami accident clinic can help you eliminate your pain and get you back to living the life you once enjoyed. Our accident chiropractors at our Miami and Hollywood personal injury clinic are highly qualified and experienced in aligning the spine to take off the extra stress placed on your spine. Give us a call today to schedule your initial consultation with one of our personal injury doctors.