There is no doubt that back pain troubles residents throughout the community in epidemic proportions.
Aside from cold and flu, back pain is the top reason people visit our Tucker Chiropractors.
It is estimated that Americans suffering from back pain on average spend more than $6,000 per year on treatment including office visits, MRIs, X-rays, prescription drugs, and surgery.
And every year those costs rise.
Tucker Chiropractic Care for Back Pain
In recent years, the trend of having surgery has decreased as statistics show that 85 percent of people who choose this option will not benefit from the procedure.
According to the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, spending more money has not diminished the suffering.
Chronic Back Pain Continues To Increase
Despite new approaches and research into reducing pain, the incidents and severity of back pain have remained constant. Some clinicians have concluded that treating back pain simply as a structural problem may not be the best approach and suggest incorporating a psychological element into therapy.
It is commonly accepted by most in the medical field that there is a relationship between mind and body.
Little research has been conducted on that relationship when it comes to acute or chronic pain, but what data there is has prompted a growing belief that the brain/mind connection may play a part in persistent pain.
Stress and Chronic Back Pain
The simple explanation for what is a somewhat complicated theory is that the brain perpetuates the pain as a distraction from some emotional issue.
This is called distraction pain syndrome, and usually, the emotions involved are rooted in stress. It is well documented how stress can cause other physical ailments such as headaches, high blood pressure, and ulcers so it’s not that big of a leap to assume it could also present as back pain.
Research by Dr. Herbert Benson, commonly considered the father of modern mind-body medicine, has led to a two-step approach to initiate what he refers to as the relaxation response, designed to elicit peace of mind and improved health.
Prompting the relaxation response produced physiological changes that were opposite to those caused by stress such as decreased heart and respiration rates. The technique has also proven effective in easing anger, mild depression, and anxiety.
According to Benson, there are many activities that can initiate the relaxation response such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer.
Benson’s work and that of others are adding to a growing body of evidence on the power of relaxation to improve overall health.
Call AICA Tucker Today For Immediate Back Pain Relief
On your next visit, talk to your Tucker Chiropractic practitioner about incorporating such techniques into your comprehensive wellness program.
Schedule a consultation today by calling us at 404-592-1186.