Chronic back pain is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and it is often caused by the effects of aging and trauma that cannot be avoided. Those who were involved in a car accident, for instance, and sustained a serious injury to the lumbar spine may have sharp pain and muscle tension in their backs due to the incident.
However, other preventable circumstances often lead to chronic low back pain. These issues result from bad habits that people engage in every day. Even if an individual is at a healthy weight and has an active lifestyle, certain bad habits can still result in back pain, leg pain, and neck pain.
The only way to find pain relief in these situations is to correct these bad habits through the help and guidance of an expert such as ours at New York Spine Specialist. Our team is here to discuss the type of pain and discomfort you are experiencing, examine your back, and get the back pain diagnosed. From there, we can develop a treatment plan to help you correct your bad habits and relieve pain.
Common Causes of Chronic Pain in the Spinal Cord
There are various causes of chronic back pain, and many of them are not preventable. Some are just the result of the natural aging process, and others develop after a lifetime of working in certain occupations or through genetics. Regardless of the reason for the condition, pain persists and can be devastating to your lifestyle and overall well-being.
Some of the most common causes of pain from a spine condition include:
Spinal stenosis
Degenerative disc disease
Sciatic nerve compression
Osteoporosis
Osteoarthritis
Herniated disc
Specific injuries affect the soft tissues and nerve roots, which can worsen if a patient engages in certain bad habits. Injuries such as compression fractures or other broken bones in the spine can result in continuous back pain. Patients can make their symptoms much more challenging to handle when they have bad habits and choose not to correct them.
At New York Spine Specialist, our team will treat the symptoms and the underlying cause of the back pain you are feeling, but we will also discuss your daily routine with you and determine if there may be a habit worsening your situation. Contact us today to make an appointment with our spine surgeons and start on the road to recovery!
Everyday Habits that Can Make Pain Worse from Spine Conditions
Whether you already have a spine condition that has been diagnosed or you think there may be one developing, engaging in bad habits daily can undoubtedly make those circumstances worse and more painful for you.
Most people are unaware that they are engaging in some bad habits because they have become so used to doing them. It is usually not until someone points it out to a patient that they become more aware of the habit and work to break it.
Some of the everyday bad habits that we have helped patients at New York Spine Specialist overcome to improve their spine health include:
Poor posture: Bad posture is prevalent throughout all ages and occupations. People have developed worsening posture habits, especially in the modern technological age. Constantly looking down at our cell phones or working hunched over a computer can be catastrophic to our spines. Relieve the pressure and pain by remembering to have the correct posture, keep your feet on the floor, and take breaks.
Not getting enough exercise: Exercise is essential for good health, increasing blood flow, and looking great! It is important to strengthen muscles, especially stomach and back muscles, to gain stability and prevent injury. It also keeps off excess weight which can contribute to pressure and pain in the back.
Using the wrong lifting techniques: If you want to prevent torn muscles or damage to your spine discs, you must lift heavy objects using your knees rather than your back.
Poor nutrition: A good diet, especially one rich in Vitamin D and calcium, will strengthen your bones and reduce persistent pain.
Smoking: No matter how you view it, smoking is a terrible habit and should be avoided. As far as spine health is concerned, smoking can increase the chances of herniated disc issues by restricting the blood flow in your blood vessels. That lack of blood flow to protective discs in your back leaves you vulnerable to herniated discs. Quit smoking as soon as possible!
Most of these habits are easy to correct once you realize that you are doing them. For instance, it is usually relatively easy to remember to stand or sit straight and use the proper technique when lifting something heavy. Learning to eat more nutritious foods and break a smoking habit can be more difficult, but they are undoubtedly doable with help and guidance.
Using Physical Therapy and Strengthening the Abdominal Muscles to Decrease Spine Pain
When you contact New York Spine Specialist to discuss the pain you are feeling in your spinal column and spinal joints, we will discuss your habits. Sometimes, relieving pain is just correcting your everyday lifestyle and learning good relaxation techniques.
Our spine doctors may also recommend physical therapy, strengthening exercises, and cortisone injections to help relieve lower back pain.
Contact New York Spine Specialist for Spine Pain Treatment
If you are experiencing upper or lower back pain and cannot seem to find relief, contact New York Spine Specialist. Our team of spine experts is here to help you determine the cause of your pain through a physical exam and diagnostic tests such as bone scans and then develop a treatment plan customized for your needs. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
