Am I Too Young For Back Pain?

Back pain is one of the most common health issues that affects people at some point in life, and while it is typically considered an issue that affects older adults, we’ve seen a rise in young adults and children who are battling spine problems of their own. If you’re one of the millions of young people who are dealing with a chronic or acute back issue, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “I am too young for back pain.” You may feel this way, but unless you actually take proactive steps to address the issue, your back pain is likely here to stay. In today’s blog, we share some ways that young people can work to make their current back issue a thing of the past.

How Young Adults Can Overcome Back Pain

If you’re dealing with back pain when you’re young, you can expect to have back problems when you’re older, unless you dedicate yourself to overcoming the issues you are facing. Doing nothing and expecting your back to get better hardly ever yields the best results, but making a few small changes to your daily life can help you put an end to your spine issues. Here’s some advice for young adults looking to effectively treat their back problem.

1. Consult With A Specialist – It may sound a little self-serving to say that the first thing you should do is to consult with a spine specialist, but as we mentioned in the introduction, back aches and pains tend to be an issue that mainly affects older adults. If you’re dealing with the issue in your youth, you’re probably dealing with something other than age-related osteoarthritis. Let a spine specialist take a closer look at your spine and figure out exactly why you’re dealing with back discomfort. This way they’ll be able to set you up with a care plan tailored to your specific needs.
2. Manage Your Posture – We’re not saying that your posture is certainly contributing to your back issue, but there’s a good chance that posture improvements could help to set your spine up for success now and in the future. When we’re younger, we may pay less attention to our spine and how it’s positioned when we’re slumped on the couch or hunched forward looking at our cell phones. Poor posture can slowly weaken supportive muscle groups and lead to aches and pains that could be contributing to your overall back discomfort. Don’t take ideal posture for granted in your youth. Strive to make some simple adjustments throughout the day so that you aren’t putting excessive stress on certain areas of your spinal column.
3. Stay Active – As we mentioned in the introduction, it’s very rare that resting and doing nothing will help your spine become the strongest version of itself. Your doctor is going to want you to stay active, which will help build muscle, support your spinal column and push healthy blood more easily to structures that need it most. You don’t need to go out and play tackle football, but we don’t want you to just sit on the couch either. Stay active within any current physical limitations that you are facing. Do a water workout, go for a long walk or head out for a bike ride to keep challenging your body with activity, because it will respond positively.
4. Stick To The Plan – Be sure to thoroughly follow the recommendations of your care provider. Don’t skip out on exercise or stop going to your physical therapy sessions early. If you fall back into bad habits before you make a full recovery, you’ll have an elevated risk of suffering a setback. It won’t always be easy, but fully commit to the rehab plan that your doctor has laid out, and stay within any work or physical restrictions they have put in place. Trust the plan and give it your all.
5. Healthy Habits – Finally, back pain in younger populations that wasn’t the result of traumatic injury is oftentimes tied to diet and related health choices. If you’re overweight or obese, your spine has to handle more stress with every move you make, and that can lead to faster structure deterioration and the onset of degenerative conditions at an earlier age. Make it a point to work towards a healthier weight to take some stress off your spine. Also consider ditching other habits like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, as both of these vices have been linked to an increased risk of a variety of spine issues. Make small tweaks to your diet and daily life to become a healthier version of yourself.

For more tips or for hands-on help overcoming a spine issue at a younger age, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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