Is stress causing you back pain?

Back pain is one of the most common physical ailments in the nation. It can be caused and worsened by a large variety of factors. In most cases, it boils down to one or more of the following causes:Physical problems caused by injury, illness, or surgery (disease pain)Tense muscles (which may be the body’s reaction to protect injured joints)Psychological stress, such as fear, anger, and frustrationDepression or other negative emotions/feelingsFatigue caused by the disease or by inactivity

There are many theories about the causes of stress-related back pain. Regardless of the discussion, knowing that stress plays a role in your back pain is the key! Here are a few culprits:

Pain Theory and Pain Science

The Biopsychosocial Model of pain states that is not simply a neurological and physiological phenomenon but also involves social and psychological factors. In the presence of multiple pain factors, the pain cycle continues and is exacerbated as the pain leads to the patient becoming timid and anxious about daily activities.

The pain cycle is characterized by:Unnecessarily limiting oneself in many functions of daily life and leisure activitiesThis decrease in activities is due to the patient’s fear of the pain worseningThis fear may be made worse by admonitions from doctors (and/or family and friends) to “take it easy” due to some structural diagnosis (which may have nothing to do with the back pain)The limitations in movement and activity lead to physical de-conditioning and muscle weakening, which in turn leads to more back pain

Of course, this cycle results in more pain, more fear, and more physical de-conditioning, along with other reactions such as social isolation, depression, and anxiety.

Physical Therapy Can Help Break the CyclePhysical Therapists are experts at getting to the root cause of your back pain and creating an individualized plan to help you reduce your pain, increase your daily movement, and get you out of the vicious pain cycle. Gradually introducing movement and exercise to your body, combined with other treatments such as manual therapy and modalities, will reduce your fear of pain and restore you to pain-free living.Don’t wait; start your journey out of the pain cycle today. Contact your local HealthQuest and request a free consultation with one of our skilled and caring therapists TODAY!

disease pain)

• Tense muscles (which may be the body’s reaction to protect injured joints)
• Psychological stress, such as fear, anger, and frustration
• Depression or other negative emotions/feelings
• Fatigue caused by the disease or by inactivity

There are many theories about the causes of stress-related back pain. Regardless of the discussion, knowing that stress plays a role in your back pain is the key! Here are a few culprits:

Pain Cycle

In most theories, the pain cycle continues and is exacerbated as the pain leads to the patient becoming timid and anxious about daily activities.

The pain cycle is characterized by:

• Unnecessarily limited in many functions of daily life, as well as leisure activities
• This decrease in activities is due to the patient’s fear of the pain and injury
• This fear may be made worse by admonitions from doctors (and/or family and friends) to “take it easy” due to some structural diagnosis (which may actually have nothing to do with the back pain)
• The limitations in movement and activity lead to physical de-conditioning and muscle weakening, which in turn leads to more back pain

Of course, this cycle results in more pain, more fear, and more physical de-conditioning, along with other reactions such as social isolation, depression, and anxiety.

Doctor Sarno’s Theory

In Dr. Sarno’s formulation of TMS, the back pain is not attributed to mechanical or physical factors but rather due to the patient’s feelings, personality, and unconscious issues. Key emotions include unconscious anger and rage. In addition, he describes people who are likely to get TMS as being similar to the type A personality, with characteristics such as:

• Having a strong inner drive to succeed
• Having a great sense of responsibility
• Being self-motivated and disciplined
• Being their own severest critics
• Being perfectionistic and compulsive

Dr. Sarno’s theory is that these personality characteristics interact with stressful situations to cause back pain. He points out that the source of psychological and emotional tension is not always obvious.