Freehold Chiropractor and owner of Hometown Family Wellness Center, Dr. Russell Brokstein, reviews how lifestyle in many times results in chronic pain. People wonder where their pain came from as they didn’t have a particular injury. The fact is we are causing our pain every day 
The American Chronic Pain Association defines chronic pain “…can be described as ongoing or recurrent pain, lasting beyond the usual course of acute illness or injury or more than 3 to 6 months, and which adversely affects the individual’s well-being. A simpler definition for chronic or persistent pain is pain that continues when it should not.”[1]
There are many causes of pain other than an accident or injury. Certain choices we make in our everyday lives could be the reason why we experience lasting musculoskeletal pain. Following are some things that can lead to chronic pain:
Carrying wallets/handbags/briefcases – Many people use these to carry our everyday essentials. But carrying a handbag or briefcase causes us to adjust to the amount of weight being carried on one side. This can strain everything from
Many guys carry a wallet and they put it in their back pocket of their pants. This can be another cause of chronic low back pain. Sitting on a thick wallet in the car, at work, and at home causes an uneven foundation for the hips and lower back. The more one sits with the wallet in their back pocket, the greater the chance of experiencing a pinched nerve, or a herniated disc.
Weight – Our population is become more overweight every year. Extra weight can impact the body in so many ways. It builds up around the midsection of the body offsetting balance, causing the pelvis to tilt forward, which can strain the spine and lower back as well as putting additional pressure on the discs.
Extra weight adds pressure onto the feet causing the muscles, ligaments, and tendons to stretch and become weaker. It is common for overweight men and women to experience collapsed arches, which cause the knees to rotate, the hips to drop and disrupt the balance of the spine.
Pain becomes more of an issue when the body carries more weight that it has been designed to carry. By adding light exercise and watching what you eat, you can make a big difference in reducing the pain.
On the job – Every job is different and our bodies react inversely to the ergonomics at work. Setting up your work station properly is so important to help prevent chronic pain. In a previous blog we discussed ergonomics: Ergonomics at your Work Station. Whether you are standing or sitting all day, your body develops a routine and adapts to the positions you frequent the most throughout the day. No matter what the job may be, every body needs restoration of its original range of motion. It is highly recommended to take frequent breaks, take a walk outside during a break and take the time to stretch. This helps avoid improper posture, lifting techniques, and eyestrain from computer screens. You will also notice an energy boost and less chronic pain.
Sleep – There are many consequences to the way we sleep. From the type of mattress you use, to the position that you sleep in.
Stomach and side sleeping may feel comfortable, but are also a main reason why we toss and turn during the night and wake up with pain. As we sleep, our head, neck, and spine need to be supported correctly. Optimal sleep patterns include, sleeping flat on the back with the neck supported by a cervical pillow. If you must sleep on your side, keep a pillow between your knees with them slightly bent and your head and neck supported by a pillow. You should avoid sleeping on your stomach at all costs as it puts continuous strain on your neck, shoulders and lower back.
Posture – Posture is one of the key elements at reducing every day stress to the body. So many people slouch at their desk or while watching tv and many times are propped up in unnatural positions while watching tv. Or talking for extended periods of time on the phone with the head tilted. Having the body in these postures for extended periods of time increases the stress and tension to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. This will further increase the amount of pain you feel.
For a moment sit in your chair and slouch with your head forward, letting it fall slightly and you will notice an increase in pain in the back of the neck, down to between the shoulder blades. Sitting all day at school or work in this type of position damages the soft tissues. Now sit up straight and you will most likely notice that there is less pain. Just by improving your posture, you can reduce your chronic pain, but you might have to do strengthening exercises to improve your posture.
These are just a few of many reasons why you might have chronic pain and not know where it stems from. At least one of the above factors might be adding to your pain. Instead of using temporary painkillers and muscle relaxers that just mask the symptoms and lead to harmful side affects, chiropractors help you pinpoint the cause of your pain and recommends change in lifestyle to reduce and prevent future problems.
Dr. Russell Brokstein utilizes chiropractic care, therapeutic stretching as well as lifestyle recommendations to help his patients recover more quickly so you can once again enjoy your regular daily activities. Don’t let chronic pain take control of your life!
To find out more about Hometown Family Wellness Center in Freehold, NJ go to our website at www.chiropractorfreehold.com.
[1] American Chronic Pain Association. Chronic Pain. Last Updated: 9/18/2012. http://www.theacpa.org/conditionDetail.aspx?id=74