Thanks so
much to everyone who read last month’s article. Thanks very much for all your
feedback. If you missed our article last month, just go to www.saporitochiropractic.blogspot.com
to get caught up! So… we were talking about the 3 step process that we have
found works wonders for patients with musculoskeletal pain: acute pain or
chronic pain, back pain or neck pain. Step 1 looked at Physical Medicine Modalities
and most readers agreed that they could see how using those techniques would
make a difference. Many of our patients who do particularly well however take
their treatment protocol a little further. They also incorporate lifestyle
changes that make a big difference in their pain.
Ergonomics
When I was
in chiropractic school I remember one of our professors telling us: If you are
treating in the correct way but are not getting the results you expect, look at
the patient’s ergonomics. Have you ever sat in an uncomfortable chair or slept
in an uncomfortable bed and paid for it the next day? Can you imagine the
damage done when someone sits like that or sleeps like that every day for
months, sometimes even years? For some patients, it may be that their work
station needs to be reorganized. Their chair may need to be adjusted/changed,
the computer screen may not be at the correct height, they may need a foot rest
or there may be something else in the work environment contributing to their
pain. Some of our patients who work in a more manual setting may find that
getting into certain positions or using certain tools repetitively may be the
culprit. The wrong kind of pillows and mattresses can contribute to neck and
back pain as well. Sometimes just making a little change in one of these areas makes
all the difference.
Food and pain
When
patients come in with pain we always ask questions about their diet. Often
patients come in expecting a quick adjustment and are a little surprised to
find that diet and pain could be even remotely related! The truth is that some
mainstays of the Standard American Diet promote pain and inflammation. For
some, increasing the intake of Omega -3 fatty acids is a great idea. Some
studies show that foods from animals as well as some grains and seeds may be
associated with increased inflammation. Having a plant based diet has been
proven to be anti-inflammatory. For some patients adding some anti-inflammatory
substances such as green tea, resveratrol, vitamins C and E, curcumin as well
as certain compounds found in some fruits and vegetables have been shown in
some studies to act on the same pathway as NSAIDS and COX-2 inhibitors to
reduce pain! Most patients
will benefit from reducing pro-inflammatory substances from their diets,
essentially stopping the pain even before it starts! Patients with an
inflammatory condition such as a musculoskeletal injury should consider how
what they are eating may be affecting their recovery!
Posture
I have a confession
to make. Before I went to chiropractic school I had great posture and hardly
ever had back pain. Studying for hours, sitting in classes all day, sitting at
the computer for hours, using laptops, tablets and smart phones were all
convenient but they have all played a part in ruining my posture and
introducing me to the world of back pain! The same techniques that I use for
myself are the ones I recommend for patients: I have found that working to
change poor postural habits, retraining neuromuscular patterns and using
rehabilitation exercises and other such techniques go a long way to reduce
pain. Yes your mom was right! Do sit up straight!
Exercise
There was a
study published in the journal of the American Medical Association a couple of
years ago that showed that daily exercise for patients suffering from arthritic
changes was more effective for many patients than NSAID medication. I have also
seen studies and proven in practice the benefit of a prescribed exercise program
using rehabilitation exercises for many patients with chronic pain.
These are
just of a few of the lifestyle changes that some of our patients found helpful
in getting to pain free. Next time I’ll give you the secret sauce, the icing on
the cake so to speak of living pain free. You will be surprised; it’s not what you’re
thinking. You are going to like it and I can’t wait to share it with you!
Regards in
health,
Dr. Shepherd
