Do you have stress related back pain?
Back pain is a side effect of different health issues, but a common culprit you might be overlooking is stress. Whether caused by work, home, school, or all of the above- it can affect the health of your spine. If you’re going through a particularly stressful time in your life, it’s important to understand stress related back pain and how you can prevent it.
How stress affects your body
Some stress can be good, but unmanaged or prolonged stress can have negative affects on the body. Stress can affect the muscles and joints, trigger tension headaches, disrupt the digestive system and increase resting heart rate, and weaken the immune system.
Other theories suggest that emotional and psychological factors relating to the stress causes the changes in the body that cause pain. Unconscious tension in the body causes changes in the nervous system that restricts blood vessels. This can result in less blood flow and oxygen flow to the soft tissues and nerves throughout the body. There is also less ability to properly filter out waste within the human body. Consequently this causes an increased probability for tension and pain.
Common types of pain related to stress
Upper back and neck pain are common with people undergoing a lot of tension stress. The shoulders, neck, and jaw are commonly known as the “tension triangle.” Tension here creates a pattern of headaches and spasms throughout trigger points in the upper back.
Tension Myositis Syndrome is a type of back pain caused by stress. Stress manifests physically in the body and begins a cycle of soreness and muscle pain.
Individuals with chronic back conditions can find themselves in more pain under stress. It can be more difficult to manage the pain through corrective exercises and proper posture. This additionally increases the symptoms associated with the condition and create more pain.
Tips for preventing stress related back pain
Keeping your body in good shape can help reduce the affects of stress and your back pain. Exercising the recommended amounts per week and eating healthy can help.
If you’ve determined that stress is the cause of your back pain, managing the stress with the help of a counselor might be an option. Many different types of therapies are available to help manage stress.
Reducing stress can also be part of your routine chiropractic care. Regular treatments ensure that your body is in balance and that stress-related chemicals are occurring in lower levels throughout your body.
