The exercise topic of
the month is…sleep?! Unusual? Not at all! Sleep is just as crucial
as exercise for pain management as well as back pain management. Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center helps many Pensacola
pain sufferers manage their spine, neck, and back pain with chiropractic spinal manipulation, nutrition advice, and exercise direction. Sleep – good
sleep – is added to that list for a good reason!
CONTROLLING BACK PAIN
Since low back pain often is a condition
for life that is sporadic, a condition
that is managed rather than cured, it is a good
thing that researchers are looking into just how a back pain
sufferer can control the Pensacola back pain and the frequency that it ‘rears its head.' Ask any back
pain sufferer and you will know that keeping
the pain away is an objective. But how? Researchers are studying sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to find out. Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center
introduces the term “flare” as it relates to
a back pain episode.
BACK PAIN FLARE
A Pensacola 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 describe 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 happening around the pain event, what
psychosocial factors are involved. (1,2) The mind-body connection
cannot always be overlooked! Nor can the time of day
that pain is experienced.
PAIN: MORNING NOON AND NIGHT
Patients suffering with low back pain for over 3 months were studied to see what might trigger a new episode of their pain. Researchers discovered
that poor sleep quality and morning pain were risks for such
flare-ups. Increased pain risk grew with days of more afternoon and
evening pain, fatigue, and fear of activity. Sleep is suggested
to decrease the intensity, frequency, and risk of back pain flares.
(3) Sleep quality
also plays a part in how Pensacola back pain is felt.
SLEEP QUALITY
A study of sleep quality in older
adults in six middle-income countries found that women experienced
more sleep problems. Further, age, depression, low back pain,
and poor self-rated health were also significantly associated with
sleep problems. (4) Sleep, perceived stress, and anxiety play a
role in chronic low back pain. Luckily, sleep quality is able to mediate anxiety, making sleep a reasonable
recommendation in the treatment plan. (5)
CONTACT Pensacola Spinal Rehab 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 deliver
relieving treatment for his arm pain and numbness that was preventing
him from sleeping.
Schedule your Pensacola
chiropractic appointment soon. Let’s talk sleep
next time you’re in for a visit!