Ashburn and Herndon Back Pain Benefits from Good Sleep

Exercise tip of the month: sleep. Unusual? Not at all! Sleep is just as important as exercise for pain management as well as management for back pain. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn helps many Ashburn and Herndon pain sufferers cope with their spine, neck, and back pain with chiropractic spinal manipulation, nutrition advice, and exercise direction. Sleep – adequate sleep – is included in that list for a good reason!

CONTROLLING BACK PAIN

Since low back pain many times is a condition for life that is sporadic, a condition that is managed rather than cured, it’s a positive thing that researchers are looking into just how a back pain sufferer can take charge of the Ashburn and Herndon back pain and how often it ‘rears its head.' Ask any back pain sufferer and you will know that warding off a pain episode is a goal. But how? Researchers are looking at sleep, fatigue, emotion, and more to figure that out. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn shares the term “flare” as it relates to a back pain episode.

BACK PAIN FLARE

A Ashburn and Herndon low back pain flare is one that consists of heightened pain, paresthesia, or muscle tension, increased duration of symptoms, reduced 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 increased pain, therefore healthcare professionals need to look past the pain to visualize what else is influencing the pain event, what psychosocial factors are involved. (1,2) The mind-body connection can’t always be ignored! 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 bring on a flare up of their pain. Researchers discovered that poor sleep quality and morning pain were threats for such flare-ups. Increased pain risk rose with days of more afternoon and evening pain, fatigue, and fear of activity. Sleep is recommended to reduce the intensity, frequency, and risk of back pain flares.  (3) The quality of sleep also plays a role in how Ashburn and Herndon back pain is felt.

SLEEP QUALITY

A study of sleep quality in mature 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 contribute to chronic low back pain. Luckily, sleep quality is capable of mediating anxiety, making sleep a reasonable recommendation in the treatment plan. (5)

CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn

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 getting sleep.

Make your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic appointment now. Let’s talk sleep next time you are in for a visit!