Are you tired of constantly suffering from back pain? In this blog article, you will learn about pain and back pain, its causes and how valuable chiropractic can be in the fight against pain. We also tell you how you can prevent back pain through exercise, the right diet and relaxation techniques. So that you can stay active and live a healthy life – on the way to a pain-free back!
What actually is pain?
How do you generally react to pain? A sprained ankle, a simple paper cut in the office? The pain you feel when you have an upset stomach or perhaps your period – why does it feel so different?
Pain is anchored in our genes as a survival mechanism. We may live complicated lives, but our bodies haven’t evolved that much since the Stone Age. There is an unconscious part of our brain that watches out for us, scans the environment for danger and prepares us to react if something happens. If it’s an injury from an external force, then that’s the sharp pain you feel. A trigger for you to remove this body part from danger as quickly as possible.
The next sentence may challenge you. There is no pain. How can that be, everyone knows there is pain, you felt it in your back, in your shoulder, in your head, so what does that mean?
There are many different types of nerves in your body, each of which reacts to a specific change in something. The illustration above shows you six examples of the variety of nerve receptors.
There is no such thing as a “pain nerve”
However, there is no such thing as a “pain nerve”. This is completely misleading. The confusing thing is that pain is lumped together and referred to as nociceptors. The more correct term is pain receptors.
When one or more of these nerves are stimulated, for example if you’ve torn a muscle, pulled your back, broken your leg or burnt your hand, the nerve in question sends signals to your brain and activates different areas so that they can respond. Signale interpretiert werden can. Interpretation is also the key word here, because much more happens than just stimulating the nerves.
Your brain compares these messages with similar events in the past, it takes into account where you are, what mood you are in and whether you are generally stressed. The result of all these factors is that you become aware of the injury and feel pain. The pain is therefore initially a protective mechanism and is then experienced almost like a feeling. We tend to try to ignore or suppress one or both of these reactions, which is definitely not recommended.
Change of perspective – pain friend or foe?
There’s no question that going through the day with pain is a burden. Back pain in particular has a huge impact on everyday life. Not just physically. We invite you to change your perspective. Instead of seeing pain as your enemy, you could start to see it as a friend.
The following information will help you do this. The brain’s ability to localize pain is very dependent on location, as we are very sensitive in our hands and face, for example, while our back is not. The pelvic area or the temporomandibular joints are also often painful on the side opposite the site of the chiropractic subluxation (misalignment). So it’s good to know that you have pain, but where is less relevant.
Pain is your friend!
Everything in your body is dependent on the free flow of information in your nervous system. Pain is one of the less enjoyable necessities in life and it is important to experience it, preferably without painkillers. When you become aware of a problem, it is a signal that your innate intelligence needs time and rest to help you heal. Chiropractic treatment supports exactly this process in your body.
Pain & Chiropractic
Everyone who makes an initial appointment with us has a new experience. This is because we take the time to look at people holistically. We listen and want to get to the root of the pain instead of treating the symptoms. Unfortunately, many of our patients have already been through a lot. We ask you about your state of health, complaints and pain, as these are useful indicators to assess how we can best help you. Pain can be so different – there are good days and bad days, and a similar problem can be experienced completely differently by two people.
Causes and risk factors for back pain
Back pain can have many causes, ranging from poor posture and lack of exercise to obesity. Added to this are traumas caused by difficult births or accidents that are still stored in the central nervous system. Psychological strain and stress can also have a negative effect on the back. This is exactly where chiropractic treatment can have a great effect.
In particular, long hours spent sitting or incorrect lifting and carrying techniques can lead to tension. An untrained back is more susceptible to pain as the muscles are not sufficiently strengthened to support the spine. It is important to recognize these risk factors and counteract them in a targeted manner in order to maintain a healthy and pain-free back in the long term.
Prevention of back pain
Exercise is the key to preventing back pain. Regular exercise strengthens the muscles in your back and improves your posture, which in turn reduces the risk of pain. Prolonged sitting is a killer for your back. So take regular exercise breaks. A mix of endurance, strengthening and stretching exercises can help to relieve pressure on the spine and prevent tension. Exercises such as swimming, yoga or Pilates, which specifically target the back and at the same time provide relaxation, are particularly effective. Exercise also promotes blood circulation and provides the intervertebral discs with important nutrients. Avoid highly processed foods and excess sugar, which can promote inflammation. Drink enough water to keep your intervertebral discs well hydrated and elastic.
Use relaxation techniques
Consciously use moments of rest and relaxation to do something good for your back. Relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation can reduce stress and therefore also reduce back pain. After all, a relaxed mind and a relaxed body go hand in hand when it comes to fighting back pain. This also includes being mindful of what media you consume (news, videos, images). This is because they can trigger emotional stress in you and create anxiety. Listen to one of our videos to gain a better understanding of the connections. Make sure you take these little breaks for yourself and your back more often – you’ll soon feel the positive effects!
Tips for a back-friendly everyday life
– Make your everyday life easy on your back, e.g. through ergonomic workplace design and ensure good posture when sitting.
– Make sure you lift heavy loads correctly by bending your knees and keeping your back straight.
– Avoid sitting for long periods and move regularly to strengthen your muscles and relieve tension.
– Make sure you get enough sleep, relaxation and water for your body.
– Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
– By making small changes to your everyday life, you can actively help to keep your back strong and pain-free. Keep at it and invest in your health – your body will thank you for it!
Conclusion:
It’s never too late to start an active lifestyle and do something good for your back. So get out of your chair and get moving – your body will thank you for it!
We wish you a vital and healthy life and would be delighted if you find our tips useful. If you would like to know more about vitalistic chiropractic, please write to us.
The Chirolounge team Munich
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