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Toronto ChiropractorBack Pain Affects Your Brain
When an individual develops back pain, there are usually a number of factors which contribute to the pain. We are all focused on the immediate pain, but does this back pain affect any other part of the body? Yes, it does! Studies have shown that back pain makes the brain of some individuals shrink.
Researchers who scanned the brains of people with back pain using MRI technology found that the longer the person had back pain, the more grey matter he or she lost—hence the shrinkage. Grey matter consists of neurons, or brain cells that process information and memory. According to the study by Dr. V. Apkarian, people lose 1.3 cubic centimeters of grey matter for every year they experience low back pain. It is not known how much, if any, of that shrinkage is reversible.
Other studies by Dr. Apkarian found that patients with chronic back pain have abnormal brain chemistry and are more likely to lose grey matter. These studies demonstrate that common health conditions can harm the brain. But what is not known is how chronic back pain shrinks the brain tissue. Apart from that, these studies point to the fact that people with pain need early intervention to rid themselves of the pain.
Generally, these patients are under-treated due to liability issues regarding medication. However, there are other approaches such as Chiropractic, Physiotherapy and Rehab Exercise Programs which will significantly impact the patient’s pain in a positive way.
Here are a few more reasons why effective pain therapy intervention is highly recommended. In other studies, Dr. Apkarian compared patients with back pain to “normal” (pain free) patients. MRI scans showed that those with back pain had 5-11 percent less grey matter. This is equal to about the amount that would be lost in normal aging of 10-20 years. The patients with back pain who had the grey matter loss were found to take longer to understand a simple game of cards.
How would chronic low back pain cause these changes to occur in the brain? It is not known, but it could be due to the sheer effort of the neurons to cope with the pain. The neurons may become overactive and burn themselves out. Future studies will show what area of the brain, if any, is most affected.
These findings raise a great deal of issues. They point to the fact that anyone with back pain (or any pain) should become proactive and seek out effective therapy programs which will help them keep their low back strong and pain free.
Simple changes in how you sit daily, sleep each night, the way you bend and move your body can have significant consequences either for assisting you to be pain free, or conversely, contributing to your back pain. By regularly doing activities such as walking or a proven Rehab Exercise Program, you can begin the process of moving and strengthening the muscles in your back/lumbo-pelvic region. As the muscles become stronger, your back pain will slowly resolve. As you do activities to enhance the function of your back, realize also that you are preventing damage from occurring to your brain. Since it is not yet known where the damage to the brain is, it could affect your problem solving abilities, as previously mentioned with the card games. This can contribute to your productivity at work, home or any sports activities you may be involved with.
You owe it to yourself to seek effective care for your back pain, in order to decrease its’ detrimental effects on your brain and quality of life.
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Best regards,
Dr. Don
Click here to find out more about how Dr. Don Fitz-Ritson can help your back pain in Toronto.
