How To Prevent Chronic Back Pain

San Francisco and Marin County Chiropractor Dr. Eben Davis takes a look at some of the ways we can prevent chronic back pain

We treat many forms of chronic back pain at our SF Bay Area Back Pain Centers. Sometimes the back pain is brought on suddenly by some sort of a trauma, say a car accident or a slip and fall. But for the most part, what we see is slowly developing conditions that are the result of poor lifestyle choices and lack of attention to back pain prevention. Poor habits repeated over and over are one of the primary causes of chronic back pain. The problem is that we do not come with an "Owners Manual" when we are born that instructs our parents on how we should take care of our spines. So, this lack of spinal hygiene starts at a very early age and continues throughout our adult lives, eventually manifesting as degenerative spinal conditions and chronic back pain. Anyway, I found an interesting article this morning that could actually be used as a few chapters of the "Owners Manual" for back pain prevention (I might actually create this manual one day). Here is a paragraph or two from the article:

Back pain and back injuries are very common in our society. In fact, approximately 60 to 90 percent of all U.S. citizens will experience at least one back injury in their lives. Half of these people will experience multiple episodes of back problems. Many will undergo surgical procedures, and roughly 10 percent will see their condition become chronic. The ultimate cost to society in lost productivity and health-care resources totals in the billions of dollars. An even higher price, however, is paid by the people who have lost the ability to participate in the activities they most enjoy. Back problems can make fishing, golfing, or even just playing with children and grandchildren fraught with pain. In the worst cases, a back problem can interfere with even the ability to get dressed.

Despite all this, people still take their backs for granted, not realizing the dangerous positions they put their backs in every day. Almost everything you do requires the use of your back, and back problems are rarely the result of a single activity or accident. Most injuries occur over a period of years or even decades, as a result of various factors -- how you sleep or sit, what you eat, or how you deal with the emotional stresses at home and work. In this article, we will tell you how  to perform those tasks, and many more, without injuring your back. Just look at all the helpful tips spread out over these sections:
   

I recommend you read through these tasks and tips and incorporate them into your daily routine. If you are currently under my care and wish to consider something here that conflicts with your existing home care instructions, then please speak to us first before you do it. You will notice most of these things are in alignment with what we teach. If you have any questions or concerns I can be reached at 415-392-2225 or emailed at drdavis@best.com.