Research has shown that back pain, especially lower back pain, can have a devastating effect on one’s quality of life. Worse, over time acute back pain triggers a deterioration in your cognitive function. You may experience memory loss, and other neurological issues. The science behind the inflammation that causes back pain is still not 100% clear, but one thing that is clear: if you suffer from lower back pain, you deserve pain relief.
Pain in the lower back is an epidemic. At least 80% of Americans have, at some point in their lives, experienced the suffering that comes from lower back pain. Muscle injuries, such as sprains or strains, are extremely common. We spend far too many hours at desks, or standing still, during work hours. Then, we go out and try to live “active” lives, biking, hiking, running, working out. But, our core strength is not there, and before long we experience back pain.
Chronic back pain is still somewhat of a mystery to the medical community. Anyone suffering for more than a few months is considered to have a chronic problem. Chronic back pain has a significantly negative impact on quality of life. How you sit, stand, walk, cook, clean, sleep…virtually every aspect of life can become difficult. While fewer individuals suffer from this type of chronic pain, it’s still costing the US somewhere between $261 to $300 billion in health care costs and loss of work productivity. Beyond medical expenses, what back pain costs in terms of enjoyment of life’s activities can’t be counted.
A number of scientific studies have uncovered possible body chemical mediators present in people with chronic back pain. What is unclear is what comes first, the back pain, or the chemical reaction. It’s possible that the two feed each other in a terrible cycle of pain, chemical imbalance, and more pain. In the meantime, how do you get relief? More importantly, how do you get relief that does not involve a lifetime of dependence on medications?