Why Should Your Doctor Treat Back Pain Differently in Women?

They say that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, so why do doctors treat their back pain Journal of Pain study release in January 2012, women reported pain levels that were 20% higher on average than men with almost every condition.

the same? Women and men visit the doctor at approximately the same rate when it comes to back pain however new research suggests that women feel pain more intensely than men do. In a

In addition, women’s gait pattern differs from men’s in the fact we swing our hips while walking to add a “sashay” to our walk while men’s hips primarily move up and down. This additional hip movement in women puts a higher demand on our joints and muscles which can cause more complex pain that is harder to treat. Back pain in women is more about the delicate balance of joint motion and muscle stability during motion which, when out of balance, can cause increased pain, muscle spasms, and sciatica (pain into the buttocks or leg). To make matters even more complex, women’s fluctuating hormone levels can also cause joint laxity and increased swelling in joints that aren’t moving properly.

At AlignLife, we customize our treatments to target your specific problem and we pride ourselves on educating you so that you can set health goals and partner with us to meet those goals. I am always excited to see the results of our integrative treatment and love when patients are able to return to an activity they have been missing. My goal is always to reduce your pain and get your body stable so you don’t have the same condition occurring over and over again.

When you have back pain, it can interfere not only with your work and recreational activities but it can affect your relationship with your kids and your husband as well. I’ve seen many women in my office who suffer with pain at work and then come home with such exhaustion from dealing with the chronic pain that they can’t play with their kids or even hold a conversation with their husband. This is no way to live!

I had a patient who was a mother of two and a stay at home mom who had such severe back pain she wasn’t able to pick up her 18 month old daughter or play with her 6 year old son. Her health goal was to not only get rid of her back pain but to play in the backyard with her kids. With a treatment combination of chiropractic care for pain relief, home exercises to strengthen muscles, and nutrition enhancement to improve healing, we were able to get her pain free in 2 weeks and playing soccer with her son in just 6 weeks!

If you’re suffering from back pain, even if it comes and goes, or dealing with pelvic floor issues such as pain during intercourse, incontinence, or even organ prolapse, then you need to call AlignLife to setup a consultation to find out what you can start doing today to get your body back in order.

Resources:
1) Smith et al. "Gender Differences in Pelvic Motions and Center of Mass Displacement During Walking: sterotypes quantified." Journal of Women's Health Gender Based Medicine. June 2002 11(5):453-8
2) Hunt et al. "Do Women Consult more than men? A review of gender and consultation for back pain and headache." Journal of Health Services Res & Policy. April 2011 16 (2): 108-117
3) Maserejian et al. "Disparities in physicians interpretations of heart disease symptoms by patient gender: results of a video vignette factorial experiment." Journal of Women's Health Oct 2009 18(10): 1661-7

Andrea Schnowske, D.C. is a local chiropractor at AlignLife that specializes in family wellness with a specific interest in women. AlignLife is a chiropractic and natural health center that has been serving the community since 2007 and has locations in seven states. They are located at the corner of Glen Ave and Sheridan Rd in Peoria IL and are open six days a week including Saturdays. 

Chiropractic Care Is Mandated Before Surgery

Back pain is a common occurrence in America today due to our sedentary lifestyles, poor posture, obesity rates, and core muscle weakness. According to experts, 4 out of 5 Americans will experience low back pain at least once in their lifetime and low back pain is the second most common reason, behind the common cold, for a doctor's visit. This condition can be debilitating and lead to difficulty with every activity of daily living and can cause also contribute to lost wages and financial burdens on family members. According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, pain costs put a burden of approximately 560 to 635 billion dollars in the US with a combination of medical costs and economic costs related to disability, wages, and productivity.

In May of 2012, the Pittsburgh Medical Center Health Plan released new guidelines for the management of chronic low back pain that included a mandate requiring all surgical candidates to have tried 3 months of conservative care consisting of chiropractic care, physical therapy, medication, and a low back pain health coaching program before surgery. These standard guidelines will be enforced in 15 counties in Pennsylvania, 20 hospitals, and over 400 doctors' offices and outpatient facilities. Administrators are hoping to cut down the use of costly spinal surgery which in many cases can actually cause conditions to worsen rather than a more conservative approach in care that can address and manage about 70% of low back cases. Want more information on their mandate?

This trend will be on the rise in the next few years throughout the world as more research is being put to the test in verifying the benefit of conservative care before surgery. In a recent review at ENEVE, a chiropractic college in Mexico, spinal surgery numbers were found to be reduced and back pain relieved when chiropractic care was sought out before surgery. Chiropractic is a resoundingly good resource for people suffering from low back pain, because it will focus on restoring nervous system function and also address the weakened or injured musculature and soft tissue involved in the pain and disability created from back pain. If you're suffering from back pain and are considering surgery, I'd highly recommend visiting a chiropractor for a minimum of 3 months of treatment before scheduling a surgery. Surgery in many cases is not reversible and may result in an increase of symptoms and degeneration over a period of time. Want more information?

Would you like to schedule a consultation to learn more about how chiropractic can help you achieve your health goals? Click on "Make Appointment" on the right side of the screen.