Can We Predict When Back Pain Is More Likely To Become Chronic?
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
Chronic back pain affects tens of millions of people worldwide, and while this isn’t ideal, it also gives us a large number of datapoints to analyze when seeking to learn more about back pain onset and progression. Many people end up overcoming a spinal issue, but for others, their acute issue slowly morphs into a chronic one. If we could learn more about why certain individuals are more likely to see their back pain become a chronic issue, perhaps we could intervene before this transition took place.
With that in mind, we turn our attention to a recent study that sought to learn more about what factors can increase the risk of an acute back issue becoming chronic. In today’s blog, we explore if we can predict when back pain is more likely to become chronic.
What Factors Predict Chronic Back Pain?
To better understand which factors increase the risk for chronic back pain symptoms, we look at a recent study out of the Netherlands. When analyzing chronic low back pain, which for their study, was back pain that persisted more than six months, they found that driving factors could be broken down into four distinct groups: Demographics, Work, Clinical and Psychosocial. Let’s take a closer look at each:
- Demographics – Demographic factors that drive chronic low back pain onset are things like age, gender, education and income level. Older adults may be at a greater risk for chronic low back pain after an injury than younger adults, while other conditions may be skewed towards males or females. Education and income level may also tell doctors more about a patient’s ability to pursue effective treatments.
- Work – Certain chronic low back pain issues may also be driven by occupational factors. Those in manual labor positions may be at a heightened risk for developing chronic low back pain tied to issues that require extended periods of rest or activity avoidance, whereas office workers may be at an elevated risk for conditions that are tied to a sedentary lifestyle or poor posture habits.
- Clinical – Perhaps the easiest risk factors for a doctor to identify in terms of a patient’s risk for developing long-term spinal symptoms are the clinical markers. More severe injuries, greater functional deficits and certain telltale symptoms (like radiating pain or pain frequency) can help medical professionals determine which patients are high-risk for the development of chronic low back pain.
- Psychosocial – Finally, the team of researchers identified some psychosocial factors that could be used to assess a patient’s risk for chronic back pain onset. Factors like overall mental health (stress, anxiety, depression assessments) and the presence of a support system can help to determine who may benefit from some cognitive behavioral treatments alongside standard back pain treatments in order to tackle the totality of the problem.
By learning more about some of these underlying risk factors, providers can better understand how to determine who may be at an elevated risk for chronic back pain onset and how to get these patients the resources they need to overcome this risk.
Dr. Sinicropi wants to ensure your back pain doesn’t become chronic, and he’ll take the time to really get to know you and find an individualized treatment program for your specific needs. For more information, or to set up an appointment with his office, reach out to his team today at (651) 430-3800.
