Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Inflammation development is one of the most common reasons for back pain onset. Inflammation can irritate nerves and other soft tissues and make it harder for key structures to move normally. It can also develop for a variety of reasons, which is why it pays to be aware of some of the ways inflammation can set in so that you can protect your back from discomfort. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the obvious and some of the not-so-obvious triggers of spinal inflammation.

Understanding Inflammatory Responses In The Spine

Inflammation is one of your body’s natural defense mechanisms, and it can aid in the healing process. However, if inflammation occurs excessively or the body interprets certain actions as worthy of an inflammatory response, this chronic inflammation can cause discomfort and other symptoms in the spine. Let’s look at some of the actions that can trigger an inflammatory response in your spine.

1. Poor Posture – When you have poor posture, you increase the amount of stress on certain areas of your body, mainly the upper and lower portions of your spine. This increased strain slowly fatigues muscles and other soft tissues in the area, and if you have poor posture long enough, your body interprets this stress as something worthy of responding to with inflammatory action. Be mindful of your posture and make adjustments when you notice that your spinal alignment is slipping so that you don’t gradually overload your spine and trigger inflammatory responses.
2. Poor Diet – Many people overlook the role that their diet plays in keeping spinal inflammation in check. Your immune system can get kicked into overdrive when it is overloaded with certain types of foods, and that can lead to inflammation onset in your spine or other areas of your body. Pro-inflammatory foods to watch out for include excessive processed sugars, trans fats, refined carbohydrates, alcohol and red meat. Limit your intake of these foods and consider starting a food journal to learn more about what foods trigger spinal discomfort if you’ve been noticing that back symptoms tend to be more common after consuming certain unhealthy foods.
3. Inactive Lifestyle – Activity and physical exertion can lead to a healthy type of inflammation response, but people overlook the fact that an inactive lifestyle can trigger unwanted inflammatory responses in our body. When we live a sedentary life, circulation slows, muscles weaken, joints become more stiff and our bodies aren’t getting the regular stress they need to remain functional. As function decreases, the risk of inflammation rises when the area does have to handle stress from movement. Stay active, and your spine will be better able to handle the daily stress you put on it without triggering an inflammatory response.
4. Stress and Anxiety – Stress and anxiety are a normal part of life, but being chronically stressed or overwhelmed can have a physical impact on your spine. Chronic stress and anxiety leads to elevated levels of cortisol in your body, a hormone that plays a role in triggering inflammatory responses. Finding ways to manage stress can lower cortisol levels and reduce inflammation in your body. Exercise, meditate, seek counseling or simply find an activity that helps you manage stress in your life, and you may find that your back is healthier because of it.
5. Overstress – Exercise, movement and physical activity are great ways to keep your spine healthy, but like many things in life, you can have too much of a good thing. Healthy stress is great for muscle development, but if you put too much strain on your back or you don’t give enough time for your spine to recover between exercise, inflammation can develop and become chronic. Listen to your body and give it time to heal following physical activity so that it remains capable of handling the stress you put on it.

Inflammation can irritate spinal nerves and compress key tissues, so working to resolve the underlying causes of inflammation is essential. Anti-inflammatory medications can mask the symptoms, but you need to focus on the root cause if you want to solve spinal inflammation in the long term. If you’re struggling to prevent or treat inflammatory responses in your back, connect with a spine specialist in your area. In the greater Twin Cities area, we hope you’ll connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute at (651) 430-3800.

Comments are closed.