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Identifying All the CAUSES of Back and Neck Pain

"Conditions” may not be the real Cause – “Conditions” may be the results or “symptoms” of metabolic imbalances, which have been linked to Aging and/or “Premature” Aging factors.

The CAUSE of Back and Neck Pain (Orthodox Medical Model)
There is a high failure rate in the management and treatment of back and neck pain. More than 40% of all people who ever experience back and neck pain will go on to further pain episodes. When we consider that up to 98% of all people will experience back or neck pain at some point in their lives – 44% is a very high figure. We think the numbers of these sufferers who move on to pain that causes disability, job, social and family problems is far too high. We question the millions of other sufferers who are having to experience progressive back pain of any kind, especially if they are young under 50. In order to try and reduce these numbers we present the following information for you to consider. We believe this information may just help to explain why this figure is higher then it needs to be and how people may be able to reduce all these numbers and the normal intensity of frequency of episodes currently being experienced by our population.

There are many “Causes” of back and neck pain one would not expect to see as a part of orthodox medical causes, but they exist none the less and they are causes that need to be examined. They all contribute to this ongoing problem of too frequent pain and disability.

The major “causes” that need to be considered are
1. Pain-Causing Conditions
2. Improper diagnose and treatment (including Pain Treatment)
3. Lack of adequate and/or correct information
4. Ignoring the Signs/Lack of treatment
5. Underlying Metabolic Imbalances
6. Personal non-adherence to a specific treatment program
7. The "Pain" itself [undertreatment]

1. Pain-Causing Conditions:
On most back and neck pain sites you will find a section labeled as “Conditions” under which are numerous links to names like Sciatica, Spondylolisthesis, Sciatica, ankylosing spondylitis, aging spine, cervical pain (whiplash), degenerative disc dis-ease, degenerative spine dis-ease, herniated disc, lumbar / low back pain, pinched nerve, ruptured disc, slipped disc, stenosis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, facet joint syndrome, and osteoporosis.

Orthodox medicine explains that without a hereditary or genetic problem, the majority (90 - 98%) of “back and neck pain” is due to Degenerative Spinal Dis-ease - (degenerative, progressive, normal old age, changes and their complications.) This implies a ‘breakdown,’ or lack of health and normal function of a variety of tissues and supporting processes of the spine. This can be bone, joints, cartilage, muscle, fluids, discs, ligaments, nerves, and the like. Both patient and doctor have come to accept the belief that “oh, its old age creeping up.” Or, “well there is not much we can do about this.” This attitude by itself is like a secondary Cause and it may not be true. We will discuss more about this under the heading of “Identifying Metabolic Imbalances,.” But for now, its good to keep in mind.

We are told we can speed the development of such degenerative changes though accident, job related repetitive motions, poor posture, and lack of proper exercise, and here genetics would figure in. The degenerative changes that are occurring result in the pain-causing Conditions associated with back and neck pain listed at the beginning of this article. Each needs to be correctly identified and properly treated.

Yet, it also tells us, “95% of all back pain has NO identifiable physical CAUSE.”
It would appear we have a slight conflict of information. We know it sounds silly, but if 98% of back pain is due to degenerative conditions, and 95% has no identifiable physical cause – then what is causing all this pain?

Do we, or don’t we have the means to determine pain-cause Conditions of back and neck pain? This is a very important question for those people who fall into the 95% category of people with no identifiable physical cause. We know that a high percentage of back and neck pain escalates in the level of pain, the number of episodes, and the amount of disability experienced. If you can’t find an identifiable cause how is it possible to prescribe corrective treatment and stop this progress?

2. Improper Diagnoses and Treatment
It would appear that determining the correct diagnoses of an pain-creating Condition is not as easy as one would think.
It would make sense to locate the CAUSE of the pain. Fix that. Voila, no more pain. Right?

If it were only that simple, it would be a truly wonderful world. Perhaps, if we had greater success with diagnosing and treating even the pain-causing conditions we are aware of, we might not have the staggering numbers of people, now included in that awful statistic of 70 MILLION people suffering from Chronic Pain, with many of those functionally disabled (US STAT.) A high number of these people are back and neck pain sufferers. These are unnecessary numbers. We have much greater control of this then we are led to believe.

It is possible that the use of such “diagnostic” terms may account or contribute to the high rate of failure in determining exactly where and what the source of the pain is? A doctor may identify a particular problem in the spine that is expected to be a reason for the pain then a particular label such as degenerative disc dis-ease is applied as a diagnostic explanation for the source of a person’s pain. Often as not it may turn out to be the wrong source of the pain. Many people will “show” the exact same type of degenerative changes in the spine the person suffering with pain shows. However, many of those people will never experience back and neck pain. That is a great part of diagnostics – they are no guarantee that “what you see is what you get.”

Almost all diagnosis for the source of back pain is wrong
In fact according to studies 82% of patients seen for back pain will find the first diagnosis given was incorrect.

Yet, treatment will usually be started based on that incorrect diagnosis. Incorrect treatment, along with pain generating diagnostic procedures are also causes of both new and increased back and neck pain. So, why don’t we find either of these listed under normal pain causing “Conditions.”

Back and Neck Pain is one of humankind’s greatest problems. In spite of the new science and research into pain and effective treatments, which we have tried to present on this site - even with everything we know today - it remains the hardest to define and treat effectively. No one has been able to fully explain why 50% recover from their back and neck pain and 50% don’t. They may now understand some of the contributing factors in this process, but they don’t understand them all. The whole area of back and neck pain for orthodox medicine today is still extremely nebulous and as a result for many back pain sufferers, chances for long-term, adequate relief are abysmal.

A person does not have to be confined to a wheelchair to qualify as disabled by back or neck pain. If it interferes with the quality and quantity of your life in any way – it is disabling.

This leads us to a discussion about the Lack of Adequate Information.

3. Lack of Adequate and/or Correct Information
It is said that less than 2% of all back and neck pain is due to a “serious” pain-causing condition, such as fractures, disc dis-ease, impinged nerves, stenosis, for example. Many straight talking orthodox surgeons will tell you that even with these problems less than 1% need to be surgically corrected.

If you look up information on the web about back and/or neck pain you will find it tells us 90 to 98 percent of acute pain episodes will “clear up” within 1 day to 1 month with little or no treatment, (or 3 to 6 months depending on the physician you talk to.)

Is this Encouraging and Accurate Information?
This information certainly appears to be encouraging, but it is not truthful. This flawed information leads people to believe their first time, acute (Eudynia) back or neck pain episode is hardly anything to worry about. This belief is made worse, because the majority of first time back PAIN actually does get better, even though it may take more time and care then indicated.

Many Orthodox physicians also provide the patient with this same information because they have come to believe it themselves. Worse, the doctor, too often has little regard for the absolute importance of adequate first-time pain treatment. The patient notices the physician’s lack of concern about their pain and will tend to try to “tough the pain out”. After all, “it won’t last long and then it will all be gone.” Won’t it? Besides, “a little pain never hurt anyone.” Did it? “Don’t be a wimp, pain builds character.” Doesn’t it?

(Remember, under-treated pain contributes to ongoing pain and the possibility of developing the dis-ease of pain, Maldynia. Yet, we do not see PAIN listed as a “cause” of back and neck pain, either)

If another episode crops up, they are surprised – after all 90 to 98 percent of all people are supposed to get better.

The Real Numbers
This incorrect information is based on one flawed study from years ago. Recently, a number of similar, but more detailed scientific studies determined that, at a minimum, once back pain first strikes this 90-98% of the population……….

1. A minimum of 30-32% of them will have 1 or more episodes within the next 12 months and
2. An additional 12-14% more will have 1 or more episodes in the next 24 months.

That’s a total of 44%. Almost half of the entire population who are first struck with a back or neck pain experience. That’s a lot of people with recurring episodes of back and neck pain that were supposed to be “completely healed in 1 day to 3 months”.

This flawed information can lead a person to think that they must have a much more serious problem when they end up experiencing another episode.

Does it mean they have a really serious problem? Certainly not. But many incorrectly believe they do have a more serious problem. This type of worry has been proven to add to the intensity and length of the pain experience and slow healing down, and this, too, helps to convince the person they are suffering from a serious problem.

4. Ignoring the Signs/Lack of Proper Treatment
Well, 98% might have recovered from the PAIN but a minimum of 44% did not stay that way. This is a part of the overall information you need to be aware of in order to help with resolution of ongoing back pain.

Knowing your repeat episode is very unlikely to indicate a more serious problem is comforting information for those who are especially concerned about their lack of expected healing.

However, there are another group of people who don’t give any consideration to their first, second, third, or more back pain episodes until they cause serious interference in their lives and work. We need to get the word out to these people as well –

Ignoring the signs can increase the chances of repeated episodes and/or progression of pain. The best way to manage back and neck pain is to intervene as soon as you experience your first episode of acute back pain. Or, as soon as you begin noticing those small, nagging, painful, tight muscles becoming more irritating and frequent after work or play activities.

We have discussed the importance of immediate treatment in a number of previous articles, but if you have not read any of these we suggest you have a look at the information that is included in “Identifying the Pain.” or “Pain Relief Cheat Sheet.”

The sooner treatment begins the better the overall outcome. Back or neck pain can be an indication of more extensive degenerative metabolic changes taking place then just what is showing up in the back or neck. The sooner you find out the extent of those changes the better. This brings us to Underlying Metabolic Imbalances as a “cause”

Underlying Metabolic Imbalances
All of these pain-causing “Conditions,” and others, may be a reason a person is suffering with back and neck pain, but metabolic changes, premature aging factors can be the Underlying Cause, especially if these pain-causing conditions are not related to genetics and are happening to people under age 50. Once this science of aging and premature aging is examined then we can understand the hypothesis that science considers such “conditions” are but symptoms or the result of metabolic disorders.

Various natural metabolic disorders have been identified as ‘markers’ of the normal evolutionary stages of degenerative “Aging.” Many of these metabolic changes have also been found in younger people. Metabolic changes that are present can be the cause of, or they can complicate degenerative spine conditions.

So, how young is young? According to Scientists who study aging, (without hereditary or genetic conditions) biologically, we should all be able to live to age 100 or 120, in relatively good health. Degenerative changes in the spine that accompany back and neck pain creating “Conditions” are rarely found before the age of 50 in centenarian societies. Certainly many of the above listed types of back and neck pain “Conditions” found in our western societies are never found in these societies. The majority of back and neck pain appears to be linked to degenerative (old age) Conditions, and we are told such degenerative changes are to be expected in people as young as 30. If this is correct, then such changes must be connected to ‘premature’ aging changes, not normal old age changes.

6. Personal non-adherence to a specific treatment program
Non-Adherence to treatment programs usually exists for three main reasons.

1. The “treatment” can “appear” to make the pain worse (not reading the body correctly.) The person stops treatment
2. The “treatment” is making the pain worse (incorrect treatment) The person stops treatment and sometimes will not tell their doctor.
3. The “treatment” involves modifications to life styles that the person is not willing to take responsibility for.
   

Finding Effective Treatments for Back and Neck Pain
To find the most effective treatment means we need to correctly locate and treat:

1. The Pain
2. The pain-causing Condition and
3. Any underlying metabolic imbalance

We have already discussed in great detail how important it is to treat the pain. Pain Causes Pain.

The next part of recovery is one of treatment of the pain-causing condition. Both orthodox and natural physicians usually recommend conservative treatment to begin with. Such treatment involves a period of recovery from the acute pain, any tissue damage, and inflammation that has occurred.

After that, there are any number of conservative treatment options. These can involve Chiropractic, Osteopathic, or sacro-cranial adjustments for spinal imbalances (frequent cause) along with specific strengthening exercises, additional physical activity, and other life style changes to help manage diet, and stress – which are some of the contributors to the causes of metabolic imbalances, which we have control over.

Even correct treatments that involve adjustments and exercises may “appear” to create more pain. Learning to “read” your body is important at this point. Often muscles that have not been used for some time will rebel – but there is a big difference between this type of temporary new pain and the acute pain you were suffering from. When this happens, if the pain is simply uncomfortable – ease back on the exercises or adjustments – you are not in a race of any kind. Be gentle with your body. Use of the Heat Treat Backpack during or even before these treatments is very helpful.

Nothing you are doing within any treatment should be creating worse or long-lasting pain. But you must give these treatments time – if your pain is due to lack of conditioning, which didn’t happen overnight repairing the body’s conditioning will take time as well.

Incorrect treatment is easy to identify and non-adherence is understandable. Incorrect treatments will always cause an increase in the level of pain and that pain level will not reduce over a few hours or a day. If this increased pain has occurred during a first treatment - wait a few days – if the pain is again under control, and you wish to retry the treatment – proceed. If the same thing again happens, - stop this type of treatment – BUT let your doctor know exactly what happened. Do be clear you were not able to relate this pain increase to “normal” or new muscle use pain. Because of the high level of non-adherence with back pain treatments, many physicians may think you are simply fearful of the new pain and that the treatment they prescribed is still correct and will advise you to continue.

The Biggest Cause of Personal Non-Adherence revolves around necessary life-style changes and there are always life-style changes As we noted above, such changes are often recommended by Chiropractors and Osteopaths. Such changes are often recommended even without looking into possible metabolic imbalances that may be at the heart of the degenerative changes. If you are “out of condition” and exercises or body strengthening is recommended but you are not willing to do this part of treatment, don’t be surprised if your pain-causing condition gets worse.

There is absolutely no point in looking into possible metabolic imbalances if you are not willing to take the responsibility you will be required to in order to help turn those imbalances around.

In Conclusion, we hope that identifying some of the major “causes” that all contribute to back and neck pain will prove helpful. There are a number of other causes, while perhaps more secondary in nature also should be looked at just to see if any might be a part of what is happening to you.

1. Not allowing the body sufficient time to completely heal damaged tissues.
2. Doing things that further damage incompletely healed tissue.
3. Fear of the pain

Some Metabolic Contributors:
Other contributing secondary reasons for pain are both consequences and creators of metabolic imbalance. For instance, it is well known:

1. Pain, creates pain
2. Pain creates inflammation and muscle spasm
3. Inflammation creates more pain
4. Pain and Inflammation create stress
5. Stress, pain, and inflammation eventually depress, or over activate the immune system.
6. Stress creates more pain, more inflammation, emotional and mental depression.
7. Depression and stress create food cravings

Well, it just gets much worse from here.

A metabolic imbalance in any single area of body function results in imbalances in many other areas. Recent endocrinology studies by themselves, has proved, beyond doubt, that orthodox medicine can no longer view or treat dis-ease in isolation. But, it still is treating dis-ease in isolation. It has always been and continues to be folly to expect true healing or even good health by treating anything in isolation.

When you consider the pain, inflammation, stress, depression, pain, metabolic merry-go-round, don’t forget how effective the Heat Treat Backpack is for dealing with PAIN, inflammation and stress – all with the need for less or no damaging drugs.

You bet we are proud this product can provide such an effective all-inclusive pain relief “System” for people.

Speed Your Own Diagnosis.
Besides specific metabolic testing there is also another method you can use that helps to determine if your back and neck pain is an actual symptom of metabolic premature aging. This is done by evaluating a list of important symptoms that appear long before a body has progressed to more life-threatening dis-eases and disorders. If you notice, back pain is one of those listed symptoms.

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER
We define the new meaning of “degenerative (dis-eases) conditions” and take our first look at their identified and easily changed causes in the article on Degenerative Back and Neck Conditions.

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FURTHER SUGGESTED READING:

There are also many other pain-causing “Conditions,” identified with back and neck pain, one does not normally see listed. We listed some of these in the articles on Low back, Upper Back and, Neck Pain. Many of these are also now being considered symptoms of degenerative, old-age dis-ease or the symptoms of dis-ease complications.

Finding and Managing Your Best Treatment Process
Long-term truly effective back and neck pain relief hinges on locating and treating any metabolic imbalances. From there it is relatively easy to determine what caused those imbalances and “treat” them as well.

Deciding upon the medical model you believe can best help you achieve your personal goals in all this is also required. We have a look at how current medical models are best able to achieve personal health and pain relief goals.

Why Should You Believe This Concept?
We don’t expect anyone to blindly accept the concept we are putting forth for a new direction in back and neck pain treatment, and so we felt the best place to help start an understanding is to show you where we first started to see answers to all our questions. “Aging and the Mitochondria.”