How Osteoporosis Causes Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctors’ visits in the United States. In fact, it’s estimated that 80 percent of all adults will experience back or spine pain at some point in their life.

Certain health conditions like arthritis, degenerative disc disease and osteoporosis can cause painful, chronic back pain that can make even the simplest task impossible. When a person has osteoporosis, for example, they’re more prone to bone fractures in areas all over the body, including the spine.

Spine Pain from Osteoporosis

When a person with osteoporosis experiences back pain, it can be a sign that a compression fracture has occurred in the vertebrae of the spine. When bones become weak, brittle and less dense from osteoporosis, a higher likelihood of fractures exists.

These types of compression fractures in the back can cause severe pain or disability for women and even some men. According to WebMD, compression fractures in the back are the most common type of fractures associated with osteoporosis.

Depending on the severity of the osteoporosis, compression fractures in the back can happen from many different activities, including:

• Picking up an object
• Slipping and falling
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Bending
• Twisting

Spine Pain Treatment

WebMD also states that two-thirds of all spinal compression fractures have no symptoms and are therefore never diagnosed. Often when these types of fractures are diagnosed, individuals link them to aging and never seek proper treatment for a full recovery.

The first step in healing compression fractures in people with osteoporosis is seeking osteoporosis treatment to help strengthen bones and boost bone mass. Without this treatment, more fractures are likely to occur. Another important step is seeking treatment from an experienced spine pain specialist who can locate the source of the pain and suggest proper methods to cure the pain.

Explore more information on the types of pain treated by the spine pain specialists at Capstone Pain & Spine Center today.

Tips to Avoid Weekend Warrior Injuries

You work hard all week long. At the end of the week, all you want is a little fun and games, like some trips to the golf course or a round of touch football in the backyard with friends. But are you pushing yourself too far?

Weekend warrior syndrome happens to many people, primarily men who have sedentary lives during the workweek but become extremely active on the weekends. It's great to get out there and exercise, but going from being completely inactive to huge amounts of vigorous activity can make your body, especially your spine, more prone to injury.

Common injuries resulting from weekend warrior syndrome include:

• Sprained ankles
• Knee pain
• Shin splints
• Lower back pain
• Groin strain
• And more

Weekend Warrior Must-Do's

So what can you do to enjoy your weekend sports without finding yourself with irritating pain come Monday? Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Warm Up.
Okay, we know it's kind of annoying to have to warm up before playing a sport, but the benefits of warming up are worth it. By giving yourself some time to prepare for what's to come, you’re lowering your risk of straining your body. A good warm up should include about five minutes of walking or running to get your heart rate up, along with basic stretches related to the sport you’re about to play.
2. Add Intensity Gradually.
If you tend to get pretty intense while playing any sport, remind yourself not to get too worked up right away. Take it easy at first, adding intensity like faster running or jumping after your body has plenty of time to loosen up.
3. Drink Enough Fluids.
Muscles rely on good hydration to function properly. You're more prone to muscle cramps and strains if you aren't drinking enough fluids. Take time to stop what you’re doing and drink something so your muscles can keep up.
4. If You Feel Pain—Stop!
Even the slightest pain can lead to something bigger if you don’t stop whatever it is that's causing the pain. Is your knee starting to bother you? Call it quits for a while. Pain sensations are warning signs from your body telling you that something's wrong, and not stopping is definitely going to make it worse.

Spine Pain Treatment

Weekend warrior pain is not uncommon. If Monday morning rolls around and you find yourself with debilitating pain, whether it’s in your spine or extremities, and that pain doesn't go away, you may need to seek spine pain treatment.

Don’t let weekend warrior injuries hold you back. Learn more about the noninvasive and minimally invasive procedures from Capstone’s spine pain specialists today.

4 Surprising Back Pain Statistics

Back pain is very common in the United States, along with other types of chronic pain that affect the neck, shoulders, arms or legs. These types of pain can completely alter a person’s life and make it impossible to take part in everyday, once-loved activities.

Brought to you by the American Chiropractor’s Association, we found these surprising back pain statistics to show just how common it is.

1. 31 million Americans experience random, lower back pain.
   The number of people lower back pain impacts is startling. If you’re among the 31 million Americans who suffer from this debilitating pain, don’t just “get through it”. Pain relief can be sought and achieved so you can get on with your life.


2. 50 percent of working Americans have back pain symptoms every year.
   A lot of jobs Americans take part in every day can cause severe stress on the neck, back or other areas of the body and lead to chronic back pain. Among all working Americans, back pain symptoms are not uncommon.


3. Back pain is the second most common reason for doctor’s visits.
   The most common reason is upper-respiratory infections, but back pain is close behind. Doing something about your back pain by seeing your doctor is definitely a good idea. Another good idea is seeing a back pain specialist like those at Capstone Pain and Spine Center, because they specialize in providing back pain relief.


4. As many as 80 percent of Americans will be faced with a back problem at some point in time.
   This surprising statistic shows that back pain, unfortunately, is highly likely. However there are things you can do to prevent back pain or ways you can get pain relief from the back problems you’re already experiencing. Don’t force yourself to suffer through it. Get the help you need now.

Back Pain Treatment

Many factors can increase your likelihood of experiencing back pain, like physical activity such as sports or strenuous exercise, bending the wrong way, lifting something too heavy, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, or psychological stress.

Unfortunately, sometimes you can’t avoid it. If you’re tired of dealing with exhausting back pain, consider contacting the back pain specialists at Capstone Pain and Spine Center. They can help provide the noninvasive or minimally invasive treatments you need for pain relief today.

Do you have chronic back pain? If so, what caused it? We’d love to hear. Comment below.

5 Tips for Preventing Back Pain from Yard Work

Last year, I dreaded fall time because I knew I’d have to get outside and rake leaves. But it wasn’t just the raking that I dreaded—it was the back pain I knew would accompany the work. This year, I plan to use these tips to prevent back pain so I don’t have to experience that agony again.

Here’s a roundup of some helpful yard work tips that can prevent annoying and debilitating back pain.

Tip #1: Switch it Up

Do you rake with your dominant hand only? That might be what’s causing pain because it overuses one side of your body. Switch hands every five minutes or so. Feel weird? Stick with it and it’ll start to feel more normal, plus your body will thank you.

Tip #2: Take Breaks

One of the easiest ways to cause muscle, back or neck pain is to work too hard for too long. If you’re raking a big area, take frequent breaks to give your body a rest. Also, take your time while raking and use good posture and lifting techniques.

Tip #3: Hydrate

During your frequent breaks, make sure you’re drinking enough water. Muscles need plenty of water to function properly. Drinking enough water can also prevent muscle cramps, spasms and dehydration.

Tip #4: Wear Supportive Shoes

Raking works your legs and feet pretty hard, but wearing supportive and comfortable shoes can prevent pain in your feet, legs and back. Pain that starts in your feet arches or other parts of your feet can travel up to your back, so avoid flat shoes like sandals and instead wear supportive shoes like tennis shoes.

Tip #5: Get Help

If raking always causes you pain, whether it’s in your neck, back, legs, arms or feet, consider having someone help you or take over the raking altogether. Many young people are looking for side jobs like yard work, so hiring someone young can be a huge weight off your shoulders (literally).
Fall is a beautiful season; don’t let back pain ruin it for you. Follow these five tips above and you’ll be able to better enjoy the changing leaves with a healthy, pain-free body. If you, however, are already experiencing back, neck or leg pain, contact Capstone Pain and Spine Center today.

Do you have any tips for preventing back pain while doing yard work? We’d love to hear. Share them with us below.