Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

If your check engine light comes on, you take your car to a repair shop with the idea that the issue will be corrected for good once the mechanics have done their job. The same sentiment holds true for pain, which is kind of like a check engine light for our body. Nobody wants to undergo a treatment regimen only to see pain return a couple months down the road.

Because lifestyle choices oftentimes play a role in back pain onset, we may have to make some tweaks or changes to our lifestyle choices in order to find this long term relief from back pain. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at five lifestyle changes that can help you find long term back pain relief.

Adjusting Your Life To Find Long Term Back Pain Relief

While it may be rare for just one of the following adjustments to completely eradicate your back pain in the long term, pursuing a few of these changes and following some other doctor recommendations like physical therapy can certainly help you manage your spine discomfort in the long term. Here are five lifestyle adjustments to consider if you’re dealing with prolonged or intermittent back pain:

1. Be More Active – If you’re dealing with back pain, it’s easy to want to retreat to the bedroom or the couch. You may think that these actions are helping to protect your spine from stress, and while that may be true in the short term, this protection isn’t always what your injured spine needs. Instead, try to become more active and pursue activities that are appropriate for your fitness level. Whether you’re trying out some intense physical activity or simply trying to walk more, you’ll find that these activities can help to strengthen back muscles and push healthy nutrient-dense blood to the spinal structures that need it most.
2. Dietary Adjustments – Tweaking your diet can help your spine in a couple different ways. For starters, eating a range of healthy fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help your spine and your body get access to essential nutrients that aid in tissue growth and repair. Conversely, foods that are high in fat and sugar can be pro-inflammatory, leading to inflammation in the spinal column that could compress some key spinal nerves. And finally, minding your diet can help you maintain an ideal weight, which keeps extra stress off of your spinal column.
3. Weight Loss – This ties in with the above points, but if you can strive to become more active and be more cognizant of your diet, we are confident that you’ll be able to maintain your weight or even shed a few pounds. Your spine handles a fair amount of stress when you are seated or standing, and if you’re carrying extra weight, this only adds to the spine’s burden. Shedding just a few pounds can take an immense amount of stress off your spinal column, which can naturally help to decompress it and alleviate back discomfort in the long term.
4. Posture Improvements – Now more than ever it seems like posture problems are sending people to the doctor’s office. Whether that’s because we’re spending more time at our work desks or because we’re regularly hunched forward, scrolling through our phones, your posture can have a significant effect on the health of your spine. Make it a point to conduct frequent posture checks throughout the day, and make adjustments when you notice that you’re slouched or hunched. Strive to have your head positioned directly above your shoulders, and limit screen time, as we typically don’t have great posture when watching television or using our cell phone. Simple posture tweaks can really help to address chronic back discomfort.
5. Confront And Control Stress – Finally, although stress may seem like something that only affects your mind, stress can certainly cause issues for your physical health. Stress can affect our posture and leave us feeling less motivated to eat right or seek out physical activity, all of which are important for ideal spine health. Figure out what is causing stress in your life and work to find ways to alleviate this stress. Whether that’s through exercise, yoga, breathing techniques or mindfulness training, find ways to help control stress in your life so that it doesn’t lead to physical issues.

If you can do all of these things and you trust your professional care to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute, we know that you’ll be able to relieve back pain in the long term. For more information or for help with a different spine issue, give our team a call today at (651) 430-3800.

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