Laughter and Low Back Pain

Backaches and sciatica image.

Rather than numbing the problem with drugs, or surgically removing the problem, we have always been proud of the fact that we seek the underlying cause of a patient’s low back pain or sciatic nerve involvement.

While subluxation is a common culprit, a closer look shows another issue: psychosocial issues. That’s a fancy way of saying that your psychological response to social situations may be a contributing factor to your low back pain.

Back pain is a worldwide problem and is the leading cause of disability in the USA. Lost productivity and treatment tax the health care system, with 20% of patients seeking the advice of more than one doctor. In the UK, almost 10% of adults consult a doctor each year due to back pain.

Research is showing that depression and chronic low back pain may be related. In a sample of 31 veterans with chronic low back pain who completed a depression questionnaire inventory, those who suffered from depression scored significantly higher than those who weren’t.

A conclusion? Laugh! Get regular chiropractic adjustments and laugh. In fact, try laughing while you’re getting adjusted!

Dr. Doug  Asks some important questions of interest to Oakdale residents - Chiropractor Oakdale Dr. Doug Asks...

What is the purpose of pain?
Pain prompts many Oakdale folks to begin chiropractic care. But pain isn't the problem! Pain is just how your body alerts you that a limit has been reached (or exceeded), that something isn't working right and that some type of change is needed. As a chiropractor, my job is finding the underlying cause and recommending the changes needed to bring your body back into balance.
Are aches and pains good or bad?
While aches or pains may be unpleasant, they're merely warning signs. As a Oakdale chiropractor, I see this all the time. The pain is not the problem! It just means a limitation has been reached and something needs to change. That's when we get to work correcting the underlying cause.