Back & Neck Pain: A Major Cause of Missed Work

Most people will experience back pain and neck pain at some point during their lives. The severity of the pain will depend on the cause, but oftentimes, the discomfort level is so high, patients take time off of work to recover. According to NIAMS, back pain causes five percent of Americans to miss at least one day of work. Back and neck pain are two of the most common reasons why our Longview, WA and Kelso, WA patients book an appointment with Family Chiropractic Care.

Regardless of treatment for lower back pain, it can take anywhere between two weeks to three months for the majority of patients to heal. Lower back pain can interfere with your quality of life, restrict your mobility and prevent you from performing your normal daily tasks.

Neck pain is not quite as common or debilitating, but the pain can last several months or years in some cases. Pain may be intermittent or continuous.

What Causes Back and Neck Pain?

There are numerous causes for back and neck pain, including:

• Injury or trauma
• Vertebrae degeneration
• Improper lifting of heavy objects
• Overuse or strenuous activity
• Bone spur or tumor
• Infection
• Poor muscle tone
• Tension
• Strain or sprain
• Muscle or ligament tears
• Smoking
• Abdominal problems
• Congenital abnormalities
• Osteoporosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Lumbar disc herniation
• Cervical osteoarthritis

Rehabilitation For Back Pain Longview WA

The goal with any rehabilitation program is to improve mobility and relieve pain. When it comes to neck and back pain, rehabilitation may include:

• Developing an exercise program to improve muscle tone, flexibility and mobility, range of motion, and endurance.
• Retraining the patient to walk
• Pain management
• Stress management
• Nutritional counseling
• Chiropractic care
• Massage therapy

The method chosen will largely depend on the cause of the pain. In most cases, rehabilitation includes a combination of these therapies with a primary focus on exercise, massage therapy and chiropractic care.

At Family Chiropractic Care, we regularly treat patients with back pain and neck pain, and can help you create the right rehabilitation program for your needs. Call us today for an appointment at