In my experience and in my opinion, stress has been the major cause of most of the physical challenges I have had in my life, from back pain to cancer, chronic fatigue, aching muscles, headaches, osteoarthritis and more.
Although many of these conditions are viewed by the establishment as simple physical body conditions, the role that emotional stress plays in causing or worsening these conditions cannot be ignored. Primarily in the effect it has on compromising the body’s immune system, weakening its ability to fight disease and keeping the body in a tight and contracted state for much of the time.
The most common cause of chronic back pain is considered to be compression of the lumbar vertebrae. When this occurs, the intervertebral discs shrink, the facet joints are jammed together and inflammation ensues, causing pain. Compression of vertebrae may be the result of muscular imbalances.
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I believe that stress is at the root of much of the compression, shrinking and muscular imbalance, although physical injury can also play a part
Back problems may be a consequence of weak muscles, especially those of the abdomen, which play a valuable supportive role. Or, it may occur because of habitual bad posture. Prolonged sitting can cause disc compression, as can wearing shoes with high heels, which places unnatural stress on the spinal muscles and ligaments.
The ageing process, too, (after years of stress) can take its toll on the spinal structures. With age, intervertebral discs lose some of their moisture content and their outer rings become more brittle and so vulnerable to cracks. Fluid can then escape and place pressure on surrounding structures, such as nerves. Pain will then follow.
In the 1970s, a professor remarked that the state of our mind is a reflection of the state of our back. This observation is not as far fetched as it may at first appear. Indeed, there are many documented cases to support it. The experience of pain is influenced not only by physical factors, such as pressure on nerves, but also by religious beliefs, ethnicity and personality.
Also by whether one is stressed or relaxed, uhappy or happy
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Playing a part in how we respond to pain stimuli are memory, attention, fear, depression and various causes of stress, such as job dissatisfaction, a broken relationship, death in the family, money worries and so on. All these factors increase tension and so intensify and prolong back pain. The lower back is a common site of chronic pain.
Pain in the lower back is also often associated with feeling unsupported and upper back with feeling the pressure of having to be in control of everything
From this it seems obvious then, that a recommended remedy for back pain would be to relax and find reasons to be happy
This seemed to work for me. Although it is not quite as simple as it seems. Sometimes in order to relax you might need to first let go of whatever it is that is ‘bugging’ you.
I found a way to do this through the practice of visualization and dynamic meditation.
One of the exercises that seemed to work best for me was to imagine myself having a two way conversation with whoever it was I needed to talk to, to get things off my chest and ’empty it all out’ until there was nothing more to say and I was at peace about it.
And then on top of that I meditated and at the same time imagined light spreading throughout my body.
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I found this deeply relaxing and refreshing and the pain I was in at the time started to gradually dissolve and over time I became well again.
Others I know have found relief with Eft, an energy therapy that involves tapping lightly with the fingers on some of the acupressure points of the body.
In fact I used this technique as part of my recovery process after a total hip replacement, using the eft process instead of the drugs that were prescribed.I was able to go through recovery about 90% drug free!
Finally I would recommend a good hearty round of laughter!
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It has the opposite effect of stress and works to actually boost the immue system and strengthen it in response to any threat of illness or pain.
It strengthens the lungs, oxygenates the blood, relaxes the muscles and has a real feel good factor through a boost of serotonin in the brain
This is a good one to have up your sleeve and best of all it is free and has no known nasty side effects.
So that’s it. Relax: Meditate: Laugh …. in any combination and as often as required
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i have backpains after work. what i do is get some relaxing massage and yoga.,.*