Chiropractic Care For Back Pain
Taking the steps to get healthy and make lifestyle changes is already hard enough. Getting deterred from back pain can, unfortunately, cause some rough patches in the process. For some, losing weight is a necessity. For others, it may be a choice. The Internet is a wonderful advancement in technology, but it is also full of trendy crash diets and bad advice that actually get you further from a healthy life.
If youre overwhelmed, take a deep breath. Focus on plans that are nutritionally dense and keep you hydrated. If you are experiencing back pain on a rapid weight loss diet, it could be a warning sign that your body is not getting enough nutrients. Or it could mean you are working out too hard and not giving your body enough time to recover. To talk about your back pain and diet concerns, contact us today to schedule an introductory chiropractic session. We can discuss your wellness routine and nutritional needs as part of my initial chiropractic workup for you as a new patient to our practice.
* This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please contact a medical professional for advice.
Losing Weight For Back Pain Relief
It’s only natural to assume that, along with controlling your risk for heart attack, diabetes, stroke and other degenerative diseases, losing weight can help you get rid of back pain.
Experts agree that losing weight successfully may result in partial or complete back pain relief. Dr. Andre Panagos, physiatrist and director of Spine and Sports Medicine in New York notes, “every single patient in my clinic who loses a significant amount of weight finds their pain to be vastly improved.”
The reason for this, Panagos explains, is that if you are heavier than your ideal weight, your muscles will need to work harder in order to help you accomplish everyday tasks. Plus, the extra load that is put on the spine can take vertebrae out of alignment, which may lead to joint strainanother potential cause of pain.
“When you lose weight, you are effectively reducing strain on your spinal column and back muscles,” Panagos adds.
Weight Loss And Back Pain
Medical research makes a pretty good case for the relationship between back pain and obesity. But it still has yet to confirm that obesity is an actual cause of spine problems. That said, a 2016 study published in the journal Medicine, did find that high-intensity back pain and/or disability was associated with increased obesity in a large sample of men.
More and more, health professionals are directing their patients toward making common-sense choices for the purposes of pain management. These include maintaining a physically active lifestyle and keeping weight in check.
If you are morbidly obese, i.e., 100 or more pounds overweight or a BMI of 40, or you are 35 years of age or older and experiencing obesity-related health issues such as high blood pressure, you should work with your healthcare provider to lose the weight. In fact, it’s best to speak with your healthcare provider before embarking on any weight loss program.
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Reducing Risks Of Diseases
Osteoarthritis, or spinal arthritis, is caused due to extra body weight, and those with a BMI of more than 25 face a greater risk of this disease.
Studies have shown that weight loss could lower osteoarthritis risk, as well as alleviate problems of sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and high BP for those who suffer from them.
According to a 2008 Sleep journal study, one faces huge risks of becoming obese if one sleeps lesser and also faces the risk of developing unhealthy eating habits, both of which lead to weight loss and back pain.
How To Exercise With Sciatica
Regular exercise is not only beneficial for weight loss, but it also helps reduce the symptoms and likelihood of sciatica in other ways. Exercise can help sciatica because there are many things that make sciatica worse, such as:
- Sitting too much.
- Wearing shoes with inadequate support.
- Lifting improperly.
Regular exercise is the best antidote to sitting too much and living a sedentary lifestyle. But exercise can also help relieve sciatica pain in the moment. Sounds counter intuitive, right? The last thing you want to do with sciatica is exercise, but you should. As long as youre doing the right exercises.
The overall key is to choose exercises that dont cause you pain. If you cant run, try swimming instead. The important thing to do is to stay active. Avoiding exercise will only make your sciatica worse.
Its important to remember that yoga is great for sciatica and your health in general. Many people find that 30 minutes of yoga 3 times a week along with another form of exercise twice a week gives them great results.
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What Are We Seeing In The Next Image
It is all about the curvature of the spine.
A.Normal spine:
- We see a normal disc in between two normal vertebrae ready to handle stress and loads. The ligaments of the spine, the posterior ligamentous complex, simply the ligaments that hold the vertebrae in place and the back of the spine.
B. Hyperlordosis:
- If you have hyperlordosis, the obvious sign is that your butt is sticking out in the back and your stomach is sticking out in the front. This is caused by the shape of the spine. This is not a correct postural balance stance. To keep you from falling over, your body makes adjustments. The rib cage will not alter itself to help provide stability but in doing so will cause pressure on the spine in the midback and lumbar region. You can have problems with muscle spasms throughout your spine. You will have lower back pain problems. You may have trouble breathing as your stomach and abdomen, now forced forwards will take up space where the lungs would need to expand. It also makes getting a well-fitting back brace a problem.
C. Kyphosis: The hunchback
- You probably do not need a medical description of what Kyphosis is. It is the hunchback situation. You are bent forward. This condition comes can come with significant back pain or no back pain at all.
Take The Next Step Toward Finding Lower Back Pain Relief Today
If your lower back pain is not going away within two weeks of rest, contact a physical therapist to find a treatment plan that works for you. Arrow Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in New Jersey wants to help you keep your resolutions of weight loss and find some relief from your chronic lower back pain. If you are in the Woodbridge, Edison or Union area of New Jersey, and you are experiencing lower back pain, contact our physical therapy office near you today to schedule an appointment or fill out the appointment request form on our website. We are here to help you find a personalized plan to lose weight and reduce your lower back pain symptoms. Contact us today!
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How A Physical Therapist Might Help You
If you are suffering from lower back pain, a physical therapist may be able to help reduce the pain and symptoms you are experiencing. A physical therapist is able to recommend specific stretches and exercises, and make sure you are doing them correctly in order to prevent further injury. Other therapies such as massages and heat therapy may also be recommended to help reduce your lower back pain and symptoms.
Neuropathic Pain Not From Musculoskeletal Damage Was Higher In Overweight And Obese Patients In Other Words The Weight Is Causing The Pain Whether You Hurt Your Back Or Not
There have been many studies that suggest that it is not the physical load of carrying the extra weight that is causing back pain in obese and overweight patients, but inflammation caused by excess fat changing the body environment to that of chronic inflammation. Please see our article: Excessive weight and joint pain the inflammation connection.
Now researchers are suggesting a relationship between neuropathic pain and obesity with an inflammation connection. In a paper from the University of Tokyo, doctors made these observations:
- Being overweight negatively affects musculoskeletal health
- obesity is considered a risk factor for osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain.
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Research Questioning Obesity As A Cause
However, others insist that the relationship is not so cut-and-dry. In 2017, a collaborative research effort coordinated by Cornell University aimed to evaluate which types of back or spine problems were related to obesity.
Using data from the 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Study , the researchers specifically looked at four common disorders:
- Lower back pain
- Internal disc disruption
- Neck problems unrelated to spondylosis or IDD
What the researchers found was that obesity was a strong predictor of lower back pain and IDD but not the other two conditions.
What this suggests is that, while a connection clearly exists, there are likely other factors beyond body mechanics that contribute. If not, they would have likely seen the same increase in the rates of spondylosis as they did IDD.
It is possible, say the researchers, that increases in adipose tissue may trigger metabolic changes that play as much a part of back troubles as the weight itself.
It is equally possible that weight is not so much the cause of a back problem as it is a complicating factor. A 2015 study published in the Medical Archives Obesity came to this conclusion after reviewing the medical history of 101 men employed in similar job types.
What they determined was that obesity did not exert a direct influence on back pain but rather hastened or worsened underlying disorders .
There Will Be Less Strain On Your Joints
People who lose a lot of weight may find they have fewer aches and pains throughout the day, and this can largely be attributed to their joints. In addition to muscles and ligaments, our joints help hold us up when we stand and move. Many of these joints also support the weight we carry. These weight-bearing joints include the knees, hips, and ankles for primary support. When you carry extra weight, these joints have to offer more support. While everyone experiences wear and tear on their weight-bearing joints over time, those who are overweight or obese experience much more wear and tear over time. This leads to a higher prevalence of not only general joint pain, but also osteoarthritis and joint replacement.
Research has shown that not only will losing weight decrease the chance you’ll develop arthritis, losing weight can also help improve your symptoms if you have already been diagnosed with arthritis. A 2005 study found that a weight-loss of just five percent brought about an average 18 percent improvement in osteoarthritis symptoms, including reduced pain and improved joint function. Another study the same year showed that a weight reduction of ten percent resulted in a 28 percent improvement in joint function. This suggests that the more weight you lose, the more joint function improvement you will see, whether or not you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
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Sciatica And Weight Loss
Sciatica and weight loss can be a catch-22 situation.
Weight loss has been proven to help ease sciatica symptoms and take pressure off the sciatic nerve. But, sciatica makes it difficult for us to exercise, so weight loss is harder.
Fortunately, this isnt a trap you need to get caught up in. Heres what we know.
Statistics About Weight Gain And Back Pain
Reports from the CDC say that seven out of 10 Americans over the age of 20 are overweight. Seven out of 10 adults also experience low back pain at one point or another in their lifetime.
Now, you dont have to be overweight to experience back pain. And not every overweight person experiences back pain, either. But even beyond those two pretty damning stats above, a number of studies show that the two may be linked.
Its pretty simple, really. If you are overweight, you face a higher risk of:
- Any musculoskeletal pain
- Fatigue
- Inability to complete everyday activities
These symptoms, along with other postural changes in the body, can all contribute to different types of back pain.
So, if you are overweight and concerned about back pain, it may be wise to check in with a specialist to assess your health. Your doctor may have different concerns depending on where you carry your weight. Patients who carry excess weight around their midsection, for example, face higher risk than others. A professional can help you identify areas where excess weight is being held and assess your risk of back pain, joint pain, and other symptoms.
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Sciatica And Unexplained Weight Loss
On a final note, there are rare occasions where back pain caused by a serious medical issue is confused with sciatica. If you experience unexplained weight loss, meaning you lose 10 or more pounds in 3 months or less, you should seek medical attention right away. Sometimes what seems like sciatica may be something else, and unexplained weight loss is a sign that something is wrong. Sciatica by itself doesnt generally cause weight loss such as this.
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How Weight Gain May Cause Pain In Your Back
Why does the location of your excess weight matter when it comes to back pain? Because while weight gain doesnt cause back pain in and of itself, it may cause various traumas or postures that lead to back pain.
Excess weight around the stomach, for example, needs to be carried by the body. If an overweight person is not being cautious of their posture, their body may carry their weight by pulling the pelvis forward. This demands more work from the lower back.
This work may only result in minor strain, but the problem could also become much more serious. In fact, this rearrangement of the low back may cause damage to the actual structure of the spine. This is why people who are overweight may experience a herniated disc, in which the disc bulges out of its spot between the vertebrae of the spine.
If the disc comes out of its place, it could place pressure on the surrounding nerves. If the lumbar nerve is pinched, a patient may experience sciatica pain.
As these changes occur, the body may try to reduce pain through inflammation. Unfortunately, excess inflammation can lead to other types of back pain, including ankylosing spondylitis and other forms of spinal arthritis. Persisting inflammation can cause lasting damage, including joint fusion and other damage.
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Signs That Its Time To Call A Doctor For Your Back Pain
Most people have experienced back pain at some point in their lives. It’s actually the leading cause of disability worldwide and the most common reason people call out of work. Back pain can come in many different forms, ranging from a dull ache that lasts only a few days to severe pain that lasts for weeks.
Depending on the intensity of the pain, there are many treatments you can try at home to help. But how do you know when it’s time to stop home remedies and see a physician?
If any of the following applies to your back pain, then it’s time to make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible.
Tips For Losing Weight And Managing Back Pain
How Losing Weight Can Relieve Back Pain
Slide 1
Bulging bellies are becoming the norm at an alarming rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than one-third of US adults are obese.1 Those extra pounds youre carrying around can lead to back pain because of the strain excess weight puts on your body.
The following tips can help you control back painand your weightin a healthy way.
References
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Exercise Programs For Weight Loss And Back Pain
A 2016 study found that sticking with a general exercise program may help you reduce chronic non-specific low back pain. Such a program might include strength training, stretching and aerobic activity. The study authors say that developing flexibility may help improve functional movement, and aerobic activity may increase blood flow and nutrients that go to the soft tissues of the body. This, in turn, may help reduce back stiffness.
And don’t forget your core. The researchers say that a strong core plays an important role in support of the low back.
Excess Weight And Sciatica Pain
Sciatica pain is often caused or worsened by pressure on the lower back and pelvis. When you carry excess weight, thats exactly where much of the pressure is placed, particularly if you have a tendency to carry your excess weight in your abdominal area.
In fact, one studyfound that every extra pound of body weight adds an extra four pounds of pressure and weight on your joints and back. Additionally, if youre obese, it can take you longer to heal from sciatica because of the physical strain on your body.
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