In today’s modern society, stress is a word that people have become too familiar with. It’s something that affects everyone inevitably. Stress can be overwhelming and it can make life a little difficult. In one study, researchers found that about 51% of people have depressive thoughts[1] because they’re stressed. One common question that can arise is “can stress cause back pain?”. The truth is, one can cause the other or they go together. This article aims to provide a better understanding of these two conditions. Read through to learn more about stress and back pain, how they are connected, and how to manage them.
The Main Reasons Why People have Back Pain
Back pain is widespread and affects a lot of people. The World Health Organization has been conducting studies on the effects of lower back pain on people. Their latest statistics show that there are more than 600 million people[2] worldwide who struggle with this problem. Their research also shows that lower back pain is the number one cause of disability among people.
You should also note the different factors that can cause back pain. In most cases, the cause can come from a physical injury sustained from an accident or from playing hard-core physical sports. These two factors can cause trauma to your body consequently causing you to suffer back pains.
On the other hand, other things can be considered as silent factors that may also cause pain in your back. The causes are not as obvious as the physical trauma because they are psychological. Stress is something that people often overlook when they are suffering from back pain.
The Link Between Psychological Stress and Back Pain
With the question “can stress cause back pain?”, the short answer is yes. Knowing the answer to the question is not enough. You must understand why you are experiencing back pain.
When you’re stressed, there are physical changes that happen to your body. For example, your shoulders tend to be a little tense and stiff when you’re stressed. This stiffness can put a strain on the muscles that run in your back [3] - which, in turn, results in pain. At this point, you might want to ask “what does tension mean?” Tension in the muscles can occur when one or two muscles are slightly contracted for a long period. Stress disrupts the normal bloodstream which reduces blood flow to the muscles. This causes muscle tension and pain.
You should also note that stress hormones, like cortisol, can flow into your bloodstream and can cause inflammation. This inflammation can also worsen back pain.
How is Back Pain with Stress Diagnosed
When you go to a pain clinic, your healthcare provider will identify the primary causes of why you getting such pain. If the cause is not due to an injury, muscle sprain, or other physical factors, they might consider factors that are not physical as reasons why you’re experiencing back pain.
Your doctor may also ask you about your other symptoms including those that might not be directly associated with back pain. This will usually include questions about stress. If your lifestyle is predisposed to high levels of stress, this could be pointed out as the potential reason for your back pain symptoms.
Understanding what are psycho-emotional stressors
To truly understand stress and back pain, you must consider psycho-emotional stressors. These are the things in life that could make you feel stressed and, over time, can cause aches and pains to develop in your back.
Every person has unique circumstances. Suffice it to say that stressors differ in every person. Hence, it is essential to check your lifestyle if you want to understand why you are having stress and back pain.
Examples of stressors include:
- Financial worries especially when you are having difficulty making ends meet.
- Family problems, such as going through a divorce, or terminal illnesses in the family.
- Issues at work, such as big projects or imminent layoffs.
How Lower Back Pain affects Your Daily Life
If you’ve got lower back pain, it can have a serious impact on your ability to go through your daily life. The severity of your back pain can alter the course of your daily routines.
Lower back pain can restrict your movements and can reduce your mobility. Your ability to do your job might be compromised especially if it involves constant walking, lifting, or simply being in a work environment where you need to be active all the time. That’s going to be difficult when you’re facing chronic back pain.
You may also find that back pain interferes with your sleep. Lack of sleep will make you feel fatigued during the day. This might also cause further problems with your productivity at work. Long-term sleep deficiency might also trigger complications and other health problems.
Tips to Manage Stress Back Pain
You might be able to answer the question “can stress cause back pain?” However, it’s also important to have a strategy to counteract this effect.
You’ll need to consider methods that can help you manage your stress. You must find the strategies that suit you to address your stress back pain. If your back pain is caused by stress, it’s best to target the cause rather than taking painkillers to mask the symptoms all the time.
In this section, we’re going to look at a few strategies you can use to lower your stress and make yourself more resilient against the effects.
1. Meditation and mindfulness exercises
First up is meditation. When it comes to stress and back pain, this is an excellent strategy. Meditation does not only help you with stress but also gives you a tool that can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety[4].
To get the optimal benefits of meditation, consider taking the NUU3 Keep Calm Gummies. This supplement is packed with first-grade ingredients that promote relaxation, stress relief, and reduction of physical tension. Ideally, you should schedule your meditation and this supplement for the evening. They should help you calm down and relax. Doing this can even make it easier to get a good night’s sleep.
2. Physical activity
Another strategy that helps with both stress and back pain is physical activity. We often try to put off an exercise session when we have back pain. Mild workouts could do a lot when it comes to alleviating your pain.
Researchers have shown that physical activity is incredibly helpful in reducing stress. To ensure that you have enough energy as you do your exercises or physical activities, you can take NUU3 Nature’s Superfuel. It’s a powerful, natural supplement, that can help you get that extra boost and make you feel better and more energetic.
3. Self-care practices
You shouldn’t forget to truly take care of yourself. This is the one thing we often overlook when life gets too busy. However, slowing down and taking time to take care and pamper yourself can do wonders for stress.
Create a morning and evening routine where you set out at least 15 minutes for yourself. Take warm baths with some essential oils to soothe your nerves. Spoil yourself a little and call a time-out especially when things get too tough. Boost your immune system with NUU3 Active Immunity Gummies to keep you nourished and healthy. Having a healthy body is being mentally healthy.
FAQ
What part of your back hurts from stress?
You should note that different parts of your back can hurt from stress. However, as your breathing patterns change when you’re stressed, it’s likely going to be most noticeable in the mid-back section.
How do you release stress from your body?
Stress can collect in your body which can make you feel those physical symptoms. Breathing exercises and mindful meditation can help. Some people find stretching, massage, and even listening to music also very helpful and offer useful results.
What are the emotional signs of stress?
Understanding your emotional health will also tell you if you are heavily stressed. Irritability, anger, and impatience are common signs of stress. You may also fall into depression and self-isolation.
Key Takeaways
Stress is a common occurrence among people in the modern society. Lifestyle, work environment, and personal circumstances are often the reasons why people get so stressed. This psychological condition can sometimes result in physical symptoms and this leads us back to the question “can stress cause back pain?” - And the answer is yes. That’s because stress is one of the primary factors that cause back pain. Identifying your stressors and knowing how to address them, along with the tips shared in this post, should help you find some relief. Stress may be a part of our lives, but it should not hinder us from enjoying what is ahead of us. Keep a healthy lifestyle, work your health regimen and you’ll be ready to face all the hurdles in life.
References
1] ↑https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/stress-statistics
2] ↑https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/low-back-pain
3] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7125403/
4] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2848393/
Dr. Ahmed Zayed
Dr. Zayed, has years of experience in the field and has been contributing to public health awareness. Dr. Ahmed Zayed holds a baccalaureate of Medicine and Surgery. Egypt. Dr. Zayed believes in providing knowledgeable information to readers. His articles were featured on many websites like HuffingtonPost, Chicagotribune . Other than his passion for writing, Dr. Zayed spends his time outside the hospital, either reading or at the gym.
