The exercise topic of
the month is…sleep?! Unusual? Not at all! Sleep is just as vital
as exercise for pain management including management for back
pain. Back And Neck Care Center helps many Severna Park
pain sufferers manage their spine, neck, and back pain with chiropractic spinal manipulation, nutrition advice, and exercise direction. Sleep – adequate
sleep – is included in that list for a good purpose!
CONTROLLING BACK PAIN
Since low back pain often is a condition
for life that is sporadic, a condition
that is handled rather than cured, it’s a positive
thing that researchers are studying just how a back pain
sufferer can take charge of the Severna Park back pain and how
often it ‘rears its head.' Question any back
pain sufferer and you’ll know that keeping
the pain away is an objective. But how? Researchers are looking
at sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to figure that out. Back And Neck Care Center
shares the term “flare” as it relates to
a back pain episode.
BACK PAIN FLARE
A Severna Park low back pain flare is one that includes increased pain,
paresthesia, or muscle tension, increased duration of symptoms, decreased
functional (social, cognitive, physical), and negative emotions. Researchers
found that back pain sufferers do not consider their
back pain to be a flare just because of heightened pain, so
healthcare professionals need to look beyond the pain to see
what else is going on around the pain event, what
psychosocial factors are at play. (1,2) The mind-body connection
cannot always be ignored! Nor can the time of day
that pain is experienced.
PAIN: MORNING NOON AND NIGHT
Patients suffering with low back pain for more
than 3 months were studied to see what might bring
on a new episode of their pain. Researchers discovered
that poor sleep quality and morning pain were threats for such
flare-ups. Increased pain risk grew with days of more afternoon and
evening pain, fatigue, and fear of activity. Sleep is recommended
to reduce the intensity, frequency, and risk of back pain flares.
(3) Sleep quality
also plays a role in how Severna Park back pain is felt.
SLEEP QUALITY
A study of sleep quality in older
adults in six middle-income countries found that women had
more sleep problems. Additionally, age, depression, low back pain,
and poor self-rated health were also significantly linked to
sleep problems. (4) Sleep, perceived stress, and anxiety play a
role in chronic low back pain. Fortunately, sleep quality is capable
of mediating anxiety, making sleep a practical
recommendation in the treatment plan. (5)
CONTACT Back And Neck Care Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Ted Siciliano on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses
his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease arm pain and numbness that was keeping
him from sleeping.
Make your Severna Park
chiropractic appointment soon. Let’s talk sleep
next time you are in for a visit!