Back pain is clearly an incredibly prevalent issue. Just look at how many people in the United States experience the most common form of this condition, low back pain (LBP): 31 million. The US population was 323.1 million in 2016, so nearly 1 in 10 Americans (9.6 percent) suffer from LBP.
The cause of back pain is important to know so that you can avoid anything that is a contributing to your anguish – and some reasons are surprising. Here are several unexpected reasons you might experience pain within your spine and back:
1.) Your Cargo
Your back may be hurting because of all the items you lug around with you. One way to counteract the basic issue of overload for reduced back pain is by distributing the weight across yourself more evenly. You can try a purse on one shoulder and bag on the other, or a single bag that incorporates your full upper body, such as a backpack (worn as intended, on both shoulders).
2.) Your Anger
While it may sound bizarre to suggest that the extent to which you hold grudges could lead to that pain in your lower back, it is true. Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, a psychologist focused in part on the mind-body connection, has noted that the stress within your mind can result in tightness within your musculature – which in turn is associated with pain. Try your best to forgive and forget if you want less back pain.
3.) Your Footwear
High heels may elevate you; however, they force an arch in the back that is unhelpful for your posture and the health of your back. Flats can also have too little support. You want to use shoes with at least an inch of heel whenever you are going to be walking very much at all. The powerful connection between back pain and your shoes should not be underestimated.
4.) Your Kidneys
If you do not notice or otherwise do not treat a urinary tract infection (UTI), you can end up with a kidney infection that leads to pain and inflammation in your back.
Help in Alleviating your Back Pain
Do you want to alleviate your back pain as quickly, safely, and effectively as possible? Successful recovery goes beyond avoidance. At OrthoGen, we lead modern joint and pain treatments away from invasive surgeries and into the new frontier of safe and effective stem cell therapies. See our mission and story.