Is Stress Making Your Back Pain Worse?

Stress — a.k.a overwork, tension, anxiety, worry — is hard to avoid. For many of us it has become almost a daily norm. Our bodies are adept at dealing with some levels of stress, but when the tension lasts too long our musculoskeletal systems can really suffer. 

Your back is a complex structure of muscles, joints and bones. People often unknowingly tense their muscles when feeling stress, especially the muscles of their, neck and shoulders, which results in tight back muscles, shoulder and neck pain, and persistent headaches. If you already suffer from back pain, added stress and tension can easily worsen your condition. 

Stress happens in life, but how you choose to handle it can lessen it’s impact on your back and the rest of you body as well. When stress occurs remember these tips from the American Chiropractors Association.

• think positively:
  adopting the right attitude can can change negative energy into positive; if you can’t muster a positive attitude on your own, consider talking to a close friend, a licensed therapist, or a counselor at your religious institution
   
• connect with nature:
  studies show that interacting with nature (for example by gardening, hiking or walking, or other outdoor activities) lowers stress and improves attitudes
   
• have a laugh:
  humor relieves stress and anxiety and helps put our our troubles in perspective; laughter can even boost the immune system and lower blood pressure
   
• socialize:
  ook to your support system of friends and family to help you out or take your mind off of your problems; socialize to meet new people and broaden your horizons; consider a support group if you need more than what your current network can offer
   
• enjoy yourself:
  make some time to enjoy your favorite solo activities, like listening to music, reading, taking a relaxing bath, going to a spa, getting a massage, or cooking a favorite food  — allow yourself some comfort when you are feeling stressed
   
• quiet your mind: s
  omething simple like take a couple of minutes for deep breathing exercises each morning; or explore meditation, praying, and other ways of focusing the mind outside of yourself
   
• move your body:
  stretch every day to loosen tight muscles; schedule exercising time regularly during the week to get your heart pumping and joints and muscles moving; achieving exercise or weight loss goals can also work wonders for improving your outlook
   
• make minor lifestyle adjustments:
  little things can add up — go to bed a half hour earlier; eat a fresh fruit or vegetable with every meal; drink extra water throughout the day

Try different stress-relief methods. When you find some that work, make it a habit to keep using them — on stressful days, or not. For chronic back pain, speak to a professional. At Busch Chiropractic in Fort Wayne we believe that no one should have to “just live with the pain”. We offer a “whole patient” approach to help our patients deal with stress, tension and physical conditions. Our goal is that their backs — and the rest of them — stay healthy and pain free.