Fear of back pain? Once you have experienced
it, you answer “yes!” Your La Grande chiropractor totally
understands this. La Grande back pain and neck pain
patients do not want to feel that pain again.
Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC helps spine pain sufferers regain their confidence with encouragement and exercise.
FEAR AVOIDANCE DUE TO BACK PAIN
Back pain sufferers don't want to revisit
back pain if they can help it. That desire -
whether obvious or subtle, stated or just ruminated in the mind – establishes the ‘perfect storm’ for a behavior known as
fear-avoidance. Patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome - post-surgically
generated or not – elicited high levels of
fear avoidance, anxiety, and depression. (1) Researchers explained
that the pain experience isn't just physical as
emotions, behaviors and beliefs are mixed in, too. Fear
avoidant behavior like fearing object lifting
grows and impacts muscle behavior without realizing it. A recent
study compared fear-avoidant beliefs and the use of lumbar paraspinal muscle activity while lifting in
both back pain and in pain-free persons. Fear of lifting an object
with a flexed spine as documented in a questionnaire was negatively
associated with erector spinae activity to protect the spine from
injury. The proper way to lift has been debated
through the years. Lifting with a straight back has been portrayed
as safer than lifting with a flexed back though research hasn't really
supported that while lifting with a lordotic posture has been reported
to result in more erector spinae muscle activity giving rise to
muscle fatigue and pain. (2) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC recognizes the importance
of handling fear avoidance and its link to better quality of
life.
HOW TO MANAGE FEAR AVOIDANCE
Researchers documented that back pain
sufferers today ‘get’ that they must keep active but some require
a bit more support and encouragement to move and exercise due to a lack of confidence in their spines’
ability to exercise without triggering pain. The healthcare
provider not only can provide the latest findings on
pain control but also coach the back pain patient to be
physical in the safest way possible. (3) If you are that patient, Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is
your coach! We’re a team and can help you move easier
and with less fear and deliver gentle, relieving spinal
manipulation. Three months of chiropractic manipulation and exercise for older adults with chronic back pain boosted
their self-efficacy and fear-avoidant behaviors along
with decreases in disability. A 30% or more drop
in the Oswestry Disability Index indicated positive response to
care. (4) The more engaged a patient is with treatment, the greater the influence
on the feeling of self-efficacy and disability reduction. (5) Let’s
work together to control your La Grande back pain so it doesn’t control you.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Tom Menendez on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management for an older patient with back pain for whom fear avoidance is logical.
Schedule your La Grande chiropractic
appointment now so that if you are asked
if you fear back pain, you can say “no”!