Some causes and fixes for neck, low-back pain

I am frequently asked to assist patients who suffer from chronic neck and low-back pain. Regardless of whether you have had successful treatment in the past or are currently managing your symptoms with medications, understanding the problem is the first step in managing your chronic pain.

In my experience, the second step is to integrate an active-care model of rehabilitation and self-care for sustainable, long-term management of your chronic pain.

For the most part, chronic neck and low-back problems arise from three factors: injuries and trauma; a combination of excess body weight and advanced arthritis; and a lack of postural awareness and poor body mechanics.

There is commonly a component of all these factors throughout a person’s lifetime that contribute to the pain.

The first factor is simple to understand. Trauma to the body, such as a car accident or a sports injury, is a large force over a short period of time that causes the tissues of the body to become damaged.

According to studies published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, in the event of an injury, the most important step one can take is to get evaluated right away and receive the best physical rehabilitation as soon as possible, even if you perceive the trauma to be relatively minimal.

Doing so will minimize the effect of the injury and prevent instability that can significantly increase the probability of chronic problems in the future.

The second factor is excess body weight and advanced arthritis.

Excess body weight simply adds more load to your skeletal system, accelerating the normal rate of degeneration and arthritis associated with aging.

If you are overweight, you are not alone and it is very important that you start looking for weight-loss solutions.

An effective place to start concerns your diet. Minimize all junk food, including anything with high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils (trans fats). Next, follow up with a doctor who specializes in weight loss and/or enlist the help of a nutritionist or a registered dietitian.

The third factor that can significantly increase the probability of chronic neck and low-back pain is lack of postural awareness and poor body mechanics, or body movement. The most common examples that lead to neck and back problems are sitting in prolonged slumped postures and bending at the lower back with daily activities and occupational tasks.

When combined with excess body weight, this small factor compounded over time can become a moderate force, contributing to chronic pain.

The active-care rehabilitation model, developed from sports rehab, encourages the client to learn and apply daily self-care techniques and restorative strength and flexibility exercises.

I’m biased, but I suggest working with a doctor of chiropractic or a physical therapist who specializes in sports rehab.

In my experience, active care is the key component to a beneficial treatment program and the most cost-effective solution to the management of chronic neck and low-back pain.

With consistent dedication and professional guidance, a person who suffers chronic pain can effectively manage his or her symptoms through active care. The key is to take action now.

— Sevak Khodabakhshian is a doctor of chiropractic with Thousand Oaks-based Omega Rehab & Sport, where a team of physical therapists, chiropractors and athletic trainers applies an active-care approach to healthcare. He can be reached for comments, questions or suggestions by e-mail, at Sevakk@omega-rehab.com.

Ventura County Star