Managing Chronic Neck & Low-Back Pain in Thousand Oaks CA

I am frequently asked to assist patients who suffer from chronic neck and low-back pain in Thousand Oaks CA. Regardless of whether you have had successful treatment in the past or are currently managing your symptoms with medications, understanding the problem is the first step in managing your chronic pain. The second step, is to integrate an active-care model of rehabilitation and self-care for sustainable long-term management.

Chiropractic Thousand Oaks CA Chiropractic Care for Back Pain

For the most part, chronic neck and low-back problems arise from three factors:

Injuries/trauma
A combination of excess body weight and advanced arthritis
A lack of postural awareness and poor body mechanics.

There is commonly a component of all these factors throughout a person's lifetime that contribute to the pain they suffer.

The first factor is simple to understand. Trauma to the body, such as a car accident or a sports injury, is a large force over a short period of time that causes the tissues of the body to become damaged. According to studies published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, in the event of an injury, the most important step one can take is to get evaluated right away and receive the best physical rehabilitation as soon as possible, even if you perceive the trauma to be relatively minimal. Doing so will minimize the impact of the injury and prevent instability that can significantly increase the probability of chronic problems in the future.

The second factor is excess body weight and advanced arthritis. Excess body weight simply adds more load to your skeletal system, accelerating the normal rate of degeneration and arthritis associated with aging. If you are overweight, you are not alone and it is very important that you start looking for weight-loss solutions. An effective place to start concerns your diet. Become a label detective and avoid all junk food, including anything with high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils (trans fats). Next, follow up with a doctor who specializes in weight loss and/or enlist the help of a nutritionist or a registered dietician.

The third factor that can significantly increase the probability of chronic low-back and neck pain is lack of mechanics, or movement habits. The most common examples that lead to neck and back problems are sitting in prolonged slumped postures and bending at the low-back with daily activities and occupational tasks. When combined with excess body weight, this small factor compounded over time can become a moderate force, contributing to chronic pain.

Rehab for your chronic problems: integrating an active-care model.

The active-care model, developed from sports rehab, encourages the client to learn and apply daily self-care techniques and restorative strength and flexibility exercises. I'm biased, but I suggest working with a doctor of chiropractic or a physical therapist who specializes in sports rehab.

In my experience, active care is the key component to a beneficial treatment program and the most cost-effective solution to the management of chronic neck and low-back pain. With consistent dedication and professional guidance, a person who suffers chronic pain can effectively manage their symptoms through active care. The key is to take action now.

Call us for a free evaluation and start living pain-free today! (805) 230-1199

- Sevak Khodabakhshian is a doctor of chiropractic with Thousand Oaks-based Omega Rehab & Sport, where a team of physical therapists, chiropractors and athletic trainers applies an active-care approach to healthcare. He can be reached for comments, questions or suggestions by e-mail, at Sevakk@omega-rehab.com