I am often asked if stress is causing my pain?
The answer is: it is contributing to your pain, when you are under stress your heart rate and blood pressure rise, breathing becomes fast and shallow, and your muscles tighten. If you have a disc injury this puts tension on an injured disc which causes pain, it restricts joint motion which increases the symptoms of pain, a moving joint decreases the sensation of pain. The nervous system keeps the body on alert when under stress. This takes a big toll on your body. Levels of stress hormones increase, and muscles remain in a nearly constant state of tension, which under extended time reducing blood flow to the muscles, tendons and nerves in the back. This process causes a decrease in oxygen and a buildup of biochemical waste products in the muscles, resulting in muscle tension, spasm and pain. It is a viscous circle which can be broken by getting adjusted to keep your spine healthy, keeping your joints moving and getting out of what is causing you stress.