Could My Back Pain be Caused by Stress?

No one would disagree that having back and neck pain causes stress, but what about the other way around? Can stress be the primary cause of your back pain?

Dr. John Sarno, Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University School of Medicine, and attending physician at the Howard A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, believes the answer to that question is yes. He coined the phrase Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) to describe stress-related back pain.

To be clear, no one is suggesting that the pain is all in your head. Rather, it is a result of very real physical problems which are being affected by emotional factors.

How does stress cause back pain?

Dr. Sarno’s theory is that patients who do not deal with their stress and anxiety push them out of their conscious awareness and into their unconscious. This unconscious tension starts a cascade of changes in the systems of the body:

Constriction of blood vessels throughout the body
Reduction of blood flow to the muscles and other tissues
Decrease in oxygen in the muscles and tissues of the body
Buildup of biochemical waste in the muscles

According to his theory, this cascade of events causes:

Muscle tension
Muscle spasms
Back pain

Diagnosing stress-related back pain

Your physician will conduct a thorough physical exam to rule out any serious spinal disorders such as a spinal tumor or infection, or structural causes such as a degenerated disc.

The symptoms are usually very similar to fibromyalgia and include:

Back pain and/or neck pain
Diffuse muscle aches
Muscle tender points
Sleep disturbance and fatigue

In many stress-related back pain cases, patients complain of the pain just from “moving around.”

Treatments for stress-related back pain

Two of the most common ways to treat back pain caused by stress are Dr. Sarno’s approach and the multidisciplinary approach.

Through a series of lectures and/or psychotherapy, Dr. Sarno’s approach helps the patient process their unconscious rage, anger, and stress and acknowledge that their back pain is a result of unconscious issues.

Most physicians use the multidisciplinary approach, which combines therapies to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and environmental issues the patient is dealing with.

Bottom line?

While it’s only a theory, many spine professionals do believe that stress can be the primary cause of back pain.

What do you think? Do you believe your back pain has been caused by stress? What helps you cope?

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Practice Policy Update Regarding COVID-19

Dear Patients:

Our patients, employees and family are our top priority at Long Island Spine Specialists, P.C.

We ask you to not visit any of our locations if you have symptoms such as fever, sneezing, coughing and possible shortness of breath.

Please cancel your appointment and re-schedule once you are feeling better and are no longer suffering with symptoms.

Only non-symptomatic patients will be seen. No exceptions.

Accompanying family members – including children – are asked to remain in the waiting area and will not be allowed to enter the exam rooms.

During this time of high concern regarding the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) we are taking extra precautions to maintain the highest possible standards of safety and cleanliness. Please be advised that we are carefully following recommendations from both the CDC and WHO and are here to help guide you through this time if needed.

Some steps we are taking to keeping safe:

We know how important cleanliness is and always maintain the highest standards of cleanliness. To further offer you peace of mind, we have increased the frequency of the cleaning of our office.

Rest assured that hand washing is strictly followed. Hand sanitizer is available to all staff and patients.

Additionally, if you have recently traveled to a country with high rates of the coronavirus or have been on a cruise, please reschedule your visit for at least 14 days from your return date. We will gladly accommodate your needs to reschedule. At that time, a telehealth interface can be arranged if necessary.

Find up-to-date and accurate information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and feel free to reach out with questions.

- Your team at Long Island Spine Specialists, P.C.

Schedule a Consultation

To learn more about Long Island Spine Specialists – and to discover how we can relieve your pain and help you find an improved quality of life – please contact our office today and schedule a consultation.