Did you know that back pain causes 83 million workday losses every year? Yes, nearly 65 million Americans are a victim of chronic back pain that affects their daily life. This pain does not only hurt physically but can have mental effects too. So, it is necessary to address any back-related issues that you are facing.
Many factors can cause back pain. So, it is hard to tell why you’re having it. What is similar, though, is its effects. Almost every back pain can affect your daily life enormously. So, before avoiding it, know how back pain can affect your lifestyle.
Affects Sleep
Spending sleepless nights is more annoying than it seems. There is a difference between ‘sleeping late’ and ‘unable to sleep’. The former depends on your choice, while the latter is against your will. But ‘sleepless nights’ can have several adverse effects. The major problem here is that pain can keep you awake all night.
It results in uncomfortable sleeping. The backache can thus leave you tired and unwilling to perform any job. Insufficient sleep has several ill-effects on both your physical and mental health. Soon, your health will start deteriorating, and you may even land up in the hospital.
Mood Swings and Depression
Back pain affects your mental health intensively. There are many ill-effects of pain. But, when it comes to back pain, the products are more vivid. Depressive feelings are more common in adults suffering from back pain. A study claims that 72% of back pain patients suffer from emotions such as hopelessness, sadness, worthlessness, nervousness, etc.
The pain can detach you from your surroundings, leading you to depression. You may soon start getting disturbing and catastrophic thoughts in your mind. It may even feel like there’s no way out. Thus, you’ll soon begin to experience mood swings and other mental health problems.
Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite is one of the expected effects of back pain. But, it can become severe and leave you in poor health. Food is an unavoidable part of our daily life. It is the fuel that keeps us going. But back pain occupies most of your attention, and you can’t move even a little.
Thus, back pain diminishes your will to consume anything. Severe back pains can cause even more loss of appetite. Consuming less food or diet can leave you weak and pale. You’ll soon start losing weight, which can lead to many other complications.
Lowers Your Self-Esteem
Back pain is an obstruction to your daily living. People suffering from back pain often complain of becoming incompetent in their fields. It is pretty natural since back pain does not let you complete your daily jobs. So, when it hurts, it hurts so badly that you fail to finish your daily activities.
Such things could clearly lower your self-esteem. Sometimes other people’s criticism also becomes an issue when you can’t perform as before. If you feel low self-esteem due to back pain, you must consult your doctor as soon as possible. If things don’t get back to normal, therapy and support groups might help.
Relationship Problems
Relationship problems are one of the significant examples of back pain affecting daily life. People suffering from back pain often complain of losing interest in socializing. So, you keep yourself detached from society and your family. The situation leads you to lock yourself into your room, and it is hard to meet any visitors.
Such impressions may harm your relationship. You must remember that those without the pain can never imagine the suffering. So, misunderstandings and miscommunications can build up, destroying a healthy relationship. If you are going through such a phase, make sure you communicate with people and address your issue.
Decreases Mobility and Ability to Exercise
The most severe and direct effect of back pain is immobility. Back pain can cause modest to severe pain when you move. It even hurts when you stand, sit, or sleep. Thus, with back pain, you can hardly think of moving or exercising at all.
It isn’t very good for fitness-freaks or people who love to workout daily to maintain a good physique. It can soon lead to more physical problems, including pains in other areas (due to immobility).
What Should You Do if You’re Suffering From Back Pain?
Back pain is one of the most common and significant health problems faced by almost every age group. A study at GU Health Policy Institute claims that nearly 65 million Americans are suffering from back pain. Most importantly, it is the 6th costliest health condition in America. Therefore, the sooner you take action, the better result you will get.
So, what should you do if you face episodes of back pain? The best thing is to prevent it before it even occurs. There are several things you can do to prevent or cure your back pain.
Exercise
Exercising is one of the best ways to prevent back pain. Doing some specific exercise or yoga may even treat your back pain.
Maintain a Proper Lifestyle
Leading a proper and healthy lifestyle helps prevent back pain. Make sure you eat healthy food and work accordingly to keep these problems away.
Consult a Doctor
If your back pain is severe and doesn’t go away, you should call for medical help. Consulting medical professionals can help treat your back pain much faster.
Dr. Amr Hony from The Spine & Rehab Group is among the top physicians in NYC and NJ. His treatment has cured a lot of patients and will benefit you too.
Conclusion
Knowing how back pain affects your lifestyle will help you describe your symptoms to your physician. Your physician can provide treatment by studying these symptoms.
Leaving your back pain untreated will only make things worse. If you keep working or moving with such pains, your suffering will only increase. It is better to see a doctor if you feel your back pain is hampering your lifestyle.