Stress and Back Pain

Stress and Back Pain

Nearly everyone at some time in their lives will experience both stress and back pain. Sometimes the two conditions have nothing to do with each other. Quite often, though, prolonged stress can manifest itself as serious and chronic back pain. When people are experiencing emotional stress, they “hold” the stress in their neck and back muscles. A tension headache is a common symptom of this sort of stress. The actual cause of the back pain is a circulation problem. Blood should be flowing through your muscles easily. When the muscles in your neck and back are tense, they constrict the blood vessels and interrupt the blood flow. When your neck and back are not receiving the blood supply they need, they communicate that to you in the form of pain. Relieving your stress will obviously lead to relieving your neck and back pain. Breathe a bit, do some yoga, take a walk, or just relax. The key is to be aware of your stress levels and control them when needed. A little stress can be good, but if your stress leads to chronic neck and back pain, you need to get rid of it.

Posture and Back Pain

Your posture could be making your back more vulnerable to injuries and back pain. If your spine is not properly aligned, it will put your muscles, and joints under physical stress. Stressed out muscles will often cause back injury and back pain. Your poor posture may be caused by weak or shortened muscles. Fatigue can also cause poor posture and back pain. Poor posture could also damage your discs. Your discs are the shock absorbers between each vertebra which prevents the bones from rubbing together and causing back pain. If your discs are part of a crooked spine, they may become damaged or worn, which could lead to nerve pain and back pain. Because the lower back supports most of your body’s weight, lower back pain is a common result of poor posture. Poor posture, especially slouching, can also cause upper back pain. Maintaining good posture whether you are standing, sitting or lying down will help you avoid muscle and back pain. So, listen to your mother and sit up straight!

High Heels and Back Pain

What do toe pain, knee pain, and back pain all have in common? They can be caused by regularly wearing high heels. The bones and muscles in your feet, legs and back all form one sinuous chain of joints. If one joint is damaged or in pain, then the other joints are forced to compensate. High heeled shoes place your heel above your toes when you are walking, and your feet are not engineered to work that way. One slight adjustment to your foot will cause your legs and back to adjust as well. Those adjustments usually are in the form of poor posture, which leads to stressed muscles and worn out joints. Worn out joints will cause injury and back pain, every time. If you have already hurt your back by wearing high heels, take them off and throw them away. Those shoes are causing you pain, and back pain is neither fashionable nor sexy. If you have a perfectly healthy back, then just put the shoes away until a special event. Wearing comfortable shoes on a daily basis will guard against poor posture, worn joints and back pain.