Why Your Back Pain May Not Be All in Your Head

It’s not uncommon to go to the doctor complaining of back pain and be told that there’s nothing wrong. While it’s true that your pain may be caused by mental distress or an unrelated issue, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have back pain at all. In fact, there are several reasons why back pain may not be all in your head, including these four most common reasons.

4 reasons why your back pain isn’t all in your head

The reason for most low back pain is not that simple. There are many potential culprits, including muscle strain, sprains and inflammation, disk degeneration and infections. Add to that your genetic predisposition and aging—and it’s easy to see why doctors often have trouble pinpointing a root cause of pain. In fact, recent research estimates that more than 80 percent of people with chronic low back pain have no structural abnormalities to account for their discomfort. But just because we can’t find anything wrong with you doesn’t mean there isn’t something going on — a growing body of evidence points to neurogenic (or nervous system) causes of back pain such as central sensitization or painful muscles due to inappropriate firing of nerve cells in spinal cord pathways.

Low-level chronic back pain can lead to depression

If you suffer from non-specific low back pain, it’s not uncommon to feel depressed, anxious and irritable. In fact, according to one study conducted by Jackson Health System, 25 percent of chronic back pain sufferers reported a higher level of depression than those without low-back pain. If you experience ongoing issues with back pain and mental health concerns, seek out treatment options that focus on your body as well as your mind.

Everyday pains can get worse over time

Even if you go to the doctor with a specific complaint, he or she may not focus on your real issue. For example, many people suffer from back pain caused by a tight piriformis muscle—but they’re told that their back pain is just stress and sent home without any solutions. This can be frustrating if you need help dealing with your back pain but are being ignored by your doctor. To get back pain relief, it helps to see a chiropractor who specializes in low back pain treatment.

Brain overload can trigger physical responses

Back pain can be debilitating, but it’s important to understand that your brain may play a role in amplifying its symptoms. Our brains are hardwired to focus on potential threats, so when we experience pain, our brain helps us pinpoint where it hurts and makes it difficult for us to pay attention to anything else. In some cases, constant brain-body communication about back pain can actually lead to chronic non-specific low back pain or even psychological distress. To help relieve lower back pain, try to help your brain focus and learn by taking breaks from studying or working at a computer. It might seem counterintuitive, but you’ll find yourself better able to deal with physical discomfort if you give your mind a break every once in awhile.

People with anxiety are more likely to experience chronic pain than others

If you’re suffering from anxiety, you might also be experiencing a lot of back pain. It’s not uncommon for people who have experienced some sort of trauma or mental distress to experience more physical pain than those without anxiety. The good news is that there are treatments available for both conditions, so if you think you may have both, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor! 2 Ways to Manage Anxiety and Chronic Pain: One treatment method uses medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, while another uses relaxation techniques like meditation and breathing exercises. Both approaches can work well on their own or in combination with one another, depending on your needs. In either case, many experts agree that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective methods for treating chronic pain associated with anxiety disorders. It helps patients learn how to better manage their stress levels by changing their thought patterns about life events and stressors. In other words, CBT teaches patients how to cope more effectively with daily stresses and problems.