By Dr. Steven Warfield
While it’s hard to put an
exact dollar figure on the costs associated with spinal issues, it is widely accepted that somewhere in the neighborhood of $90 billion will be spent this
year alone on the diagnosis and treatment of back and neck pain. Everything from x-rays and MRIs, from surgery
to physical therapy are attributable to back and neck injuries. Not to mention prescription and
over-the-counter pain killers. (Don’t
even get me started there.) However, these costs do not include the $10-$20
billion in earnings that will also be lost due to missed days at work while
convalescing. When you add everything
up, this brings the total cost for spinal treatment at well over the $100
billion mark.
While these numbers seem
alarming, so is the incidence of spinal injury.
While slip and fall or automobile accidents are responsible for a
significant amount of back and neck problems, these are by no means the only
culprits. Everything from overdoing it
at the gym, to playing golf, tennis or some other sports-related activity can
result in spinal pain. So too can activities
around the home or work. In fact, one of
the most common ways to throw your back out is to simply lift something the
wrong way. Puttering around in the
garden is also another way in which to injure your back.
Kid’s Stuff
If you are a parent, caring
for young children can present something of a minefield. Whether it’s tripping over toys, or simply
the strain of picking up your child, when it comes to back and neck strain,
childcare is not kid’s stuff. Even
during play time, many times adults will overdo it in their zeal to compete
with or corral a tot. Not to mention the
fact that toting baby paraphernalia slung over one shoulder is sufficient to
cause spinal wear and tear that can ultimately result in a trip to the
chiropractor.
Other than covering yourself
in bubble wrap and refusing to get off the sofa, what can the average person do
to enjoy an active lifestyle while avoiding back and neck strain. (Let me count the ways.)
1. Make sure your bedding provides sufficient support for
your back and your neck. This means checking
everything from your mattress to your pillows.
2. Chair Check – Does your office chair have an
adjustable lumbar support and more importantly is it properly adjusted? If you routinely find yourself slouched
behind your desk then it is time to either adjust or replace your chair.
3. Your computer is not your friend. Especially if you
spend all day sitting in front of one.
Most desktop computers and all laptops and tablets force the user to
lean forward to type while viewing the screen.
My advice is to get an external monitor for your laptop and to raise the
level of the monitor at least a foot above the desktop. This will allow you to sit upright and avoid
the condition called shoulders forward that is primarily caused by the modern
workplace.
4. Lift with the legs as opposed to the back. If you must lift something off the ground,
the correct way to do so without straining your back is to squat down, grasp
the item and then stand straight up. Do NOT lean forward, grasp the item and
then straighten your back. This is the
surest way I know to strain your back.
5. Hire a Coach – If you haven’t been to the gym in ages,
or played a round of golf or game of tennis in more than a year, the last thing
you want to do is go at it full bore. Especially
if you are over forty. At least not
without supervision. Today there are
scads of professional trainers who make their living by evaluating and supervising
sports-minded people. (Another person to
consult regarding exercise would be your chiropractor, since he or she has been
trained in everything from stretching routines to nutrition.)
6. Don’t let your green thumb turn you into a dead
duck. Aside from the fact that many
garden implements can be considered lethal weapons, just the act of digging,
pruning and/or planting is a hotbed for back and neck strain. (So is shoveling snow, although we don’t have
that problem here in sunny Florida.) The
secret to getting the most out of your gardening is to take it a little at a
time, make sure you stay hydrated and be extra cautious around tasks that involve
climbing trees and operating power tools.
While health costs in the US are
predicted to do little but rise, that doesn’t mean that with a little common
sense you can’t enjoy good health and save yourself an unnecessary trip to the
doctor. That in itself is priceless. (Or
failing that I can probably get you a good price on bubble wrap.)
Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave
Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck
pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with
state-of-the-art technologies. For more information visit http://endyourpain.org
