Back pain can have more of an emotional toll than just a physical sensation. At times serious issues with your back may require more serious manipulations, e.g. spinal stenosis surgery. That is why it’s extremely important to take care of your health and be cautious about every disturbing signal of your body.
When experiencing back pain, it may seem innocuous and self-limiting; but if it persists for more than four weeks or has caused other health complications, treatment may be necessary.
1. It can affect your work
Back pain can have serious repercussions in the workplace. While most individuals can manage with over-the-counter pain relievers or self-management strategies alone, employees experiencing frequent or persistent back discomfort should work closely with their healthcare team to ensure it’s safe to continue working.
Manual laborers such as health care and construction workers are at increased risk for back injuries due to frequently lifting heavy objects and engaging in repetitive motions that strain muscles and ligaments in their backs. Even office workers can suffer back discomfort if they sit for extended periods without taking frequent breaks to stretch and move around their bodies.
When people experience back pain, they tend to miss work and focus on the discomfort rather than on what tasks need to be completed at work. This can have serious repercussions for a company’s bottom line if this employee works on commission or is responsible for sales activities that generate revenues.
Back pain symptoms can range in intensity and last from several days to several weeks depending on its source. Most episodes of back discomfort tend to be temporary and do not point toward serious spinal damage or disease.
Experienced back pain can alter a person’s emotional state and diminish productivity. Anxiousness, irritation, or lethargy could arise which interferes with work productivity.
Recurrent or persistent back pain requires seeing not only their primary care provider but also a team of specialists, including an orthopedic doctor or physiatrist, chronic pain specialist, and physical therapist as well as cognitive behavioral therapy for depression or anxiety caused by their condition. Such healthcare teams can help patients manage their back pain safely and quickly return to work safely. They may recommend effective workplace practices to avoid injuries as well as home or lifestyle modifications that reduce symptoms.
If you have spondylolisthesis or lumbar spinal stenosis and you have been suggested surgery, you can consider Premia Spine TOPS System, an FDA-approved implant that would ease your back pain and other symptoms that prevent living a full life.
2. It can affect your social life
Chronic back pain can have a dramatic effect on your social life. For instance, being unable to participate in family activities like sitting together for dinner or going for walks together may exacerbate relationships and increase feelings of isolation and depression if other people don’t understand your circumstances.
There can be numerous causes of back pain, making it hard to know how best to address them. But there are steps you can take to mitigate its effect and try and minimize its negative impact on your daily life.
One of the best things you can do for yourself and those around you is to communicate about your pain with those closest to you. Many believe that in order to treat back pain effectively, all one needs to do is lie still and rest, yet this may actually exacerbate it! Talking with friends and family about how they can provide support can make all the difference when facing such struggles themselves.
One way you can reduce back pain is to change negative thought patterns that contribute to it. Frequent worry and thinking back about previous times it hurt can worsen symptoms; try shifting focus toward positive activities like mindfulness or meditation instead.
At presenteeism (showing up at work despite feeling poorly) can be just as detrimental to productivity in the workplace and, consequently, financial hardship can ensue. There are ways you can mitigate its financial repercussions though; such as opening up to your employer about your situation and exploring funding options or joining support groups for further help if dealing with long-term back pain.
3. It can affect your mood
Back pain can come from many sources, from lifting heavy objects and playing sports to sitting or standing for extended periods. Still, if your back is constantly sore it could also be a telltale sign of emotional or psychological stress. While it might be hard to accept this truth, studies have proven a correlation between back pain and emotions; research shows stress actually triggers or worsens backache symptoms – but with holistic approaches to treatment you can help alleviate both physical and psychological stresses contributing to it simultaneously.
When experiencing physical discomfort, it can be overwhelming and create anxiety. Muscle tension increases the discomfort further, compounding into an endless cycle. Over time, this could cause you to avoid physical activities out of fear they will either increase the pain further or reinjure you, eventually weakening your body to such an extent that it cannot withstand its pain anymore.
Furthermore, dealing with chronic back pain can have an emotional toll. Being unable to participate in your favorite hobbies or attend social events due to discomfort can lead to feelings of depression; while constantly worrying about how it will impact the future can bring feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
If you suffer from back pain, it is crucial that you visit a healthcare practitioner who takes a holistic approach to treatment. This should include not only an orthopedist or physiatrist but also a physical therapist and psychologist as these can provide invaluable coping techniques to manage it better.
Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or biofeedback may also help ease muscle tension that could be contributing to your backache and help take control of it rather than having it control you and your mood.
4. It can affect your sleep
Sleep is essential to leading a healthy life, yet finding restful slumber may prove challenging when living with back pain. Here are a few things you can do to improve your rest and soothe back discomfort.
Try switching up your sleeping position. Many people suffering from back pain discover that lying on their back can exacerbate it further, particularly if they do not support their spine’s natural curve. Instead, you could find relief by placing a pillow underneath both knees and pulling them toward your chest in a fetal position – or you could use an entire body pillow for additional support and comfort.
Studies have demonstrated that hard mattresses are likely to contribute to back pain. Try sleeping on different kinds of mattresses at friends’ houses or hotels to see which one best suits your preferences; alternatively, using plywood sheets between your mattress and box spring may create an additional harder surface and ease the pressure off of your back.
Stay Active. A key way to alleviate back pain is to stay as active as possible. If your job requires long periods of sitting, consider taking frequent breaks throughout the day to stand and stretch – or invest in a standing desk to reduce time spent sitting at work.
Over-the-counter pain relievers may help keep pain under control and prescription sedatives may help ease backache and sleep issues, though both should only ever be used with medical advice from your healthcare provider.
Chronic back pain can have a tremendously detrimental impact on your life in more ways than one. Not only does it cause physical discomfort, but it may also alter your emotions and prevent participation in social activities; mobility may become limited; sleep may suffer; these factors all add up to diminish overall quality of life.
