It’s no secret that back pain is the most common thing we treat as chiropractors. After all, 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. 

It's helpful to know what kind of back pain you're dealing with, so you can seek out the appropriate care. 

There are two types of back pain: mechanical & non-mechanical. 

Mechanical back pain refers to a physical cause much like a broken car part. It usually comes on quickly with an injury or specific movement. The patient knows when it happens. This is the notorious “I threw my back out” moment. 

Because this type of back pain has a physical cause related to the spine or muscles, it’s easily treated with chiropractic care and can be prevented with the right exercises and rehabilitation of movement patterns.

Non-mechanical back pain refers to an internal cause much like an electrical problem with a car. It comes on slowly over time and the patient can’t identify a specific moment when it started. This is that nagging, chronic pain that never completely goes away, even with chiropractic care or physical therapy. It's often accompanied by chronic aches and pains in other areas like the neck, hands, or knees. 

Non-mechanical back pain is a metabolic problem, not a physical problem.

No amount of chiropractic care will completely resolve the issue.

How does metabolic health cause physical discomfort?

Remember that metabolism refers to ALL chemical processes inside a living organism; the many processes that occur inside your cells. 

When cells are stressed, they start spitting out distress signals, like an SOS. This sets off a cascade of inflammatory chemicals - the body’s way of mobilizing the troops. 

This is okay for short periods of time like when we’re sick or injured. But left unchecked for too long and the result is chronic, low-grade inflammation.

These inflammatory chemicals migrate throughout the body, often settling inside joints and damaging tissues. Where they go and how they affect a person varies by individual, but joint pain is common.

What causes this metabolic mayhem?

Lots of things can disrupt metabolism such as poor diet, nutrient deficiencies, being sedentary, chemical exposures, mold, stealth infections, ongoing stress, or emotional trauma.

The cause varies by individual, but getting to the root of it is essential for healing.

Luckily, a few simple blood tests can accurately assess your metabolic health. And we’ve put them all together for you in the comprehensive lab panel included with the Proactive Health Audit.

Assess your health from the inside as well as the outside with insights into your metabolism, blood sugar, hormones, detox capabilities, immune function, thyroid health, nutrient levels, and more. 

Here’s to crushing some health goals this year!

Drs. Mike & Natalie