McHenry Back Pain and Vitamin D: What to Know
Years of research have recorded beneficial actions of the hormone, vitamin D, on the skeleton, inflammation, cancer, metabolic issues, auto-immunity, endocrinopathies, and now adrenal diseases, diabetes, thyroiditis, and more. (1) Vitamin D’s reputation keeps getting better! Researchers today are evaluating vitamin D’s impacts on biomarkers like CRP, NPY, TNF-alpha, etc., after spinal manipulation and medical care. (2) In older adults who tend to not always take the recommended amount of vitamin D, researchers discovered that even a marginally increased intake of vitamin D was associated with a lesser incidence of pain over 5 years in addition to frequency of pain, severity, and number of pain locations. (3) What about vitamin D and McHenry back pain, a common problem that affects millions of people worldwide? Lately, research has revealed that there may be a link between small levels of vitamin D and back pain. While the evidence is still early, it’s important for our McHenry chiropractic patients and OrthoIllinois Chiropractic to understand what this possible connection could mean in managing chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that helps your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. It also helps keep bones healthy and strong by preventing them from becoming brittle or weak. Vitamin D can be found in foods such as dairy products, fish, eggs, mushrooms, and some vegetables. Sunlight also offers natural sources of vitamin D—the ultraviolet rays transform cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D3 which is then absorbed into the bloodstream and are deposited in fat tissues. Even in winter in McHenry, sunlight is beneficial!
HOW CAN VITAMIN D HELP WITH BACK PAIN?
Research suggests that those with lower levels of vitamin D may be more prone to have chronic back pain than those with optimal levels of vitamin D. One report linked biomarkers (such as vitamin D) and pain in acute and subacute low back pain patients over time by comparing biomarkers at baseline to differences in patient-reported outcomes at three months. The results demonstrated that those who had decreased levels of vitamin D were more likely to experience higher levels of disability correlated with their low back pain at follow-up than those who had higher levels of vitamin D at the start. (2) Do you know your McHenry vitamin D level?
CHECK YOUR VITAMIN D LEVEL
Researchers have found that those with lower levels of Vitamin D tend to report more frequent episodes of back pain than their counterparts with better levels of the nutrient. This could indicate a link between low vitamin D level and increased odds for chronic or recurrent bouts of back pain. (2) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic suggests you listen to this podcast with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses the benefit of proper nutrition in managing a patient with 3 disc herniations via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Overall, there is evidence suggesting a link between a low Vitamin D level and an increased possibility for chronic or recurrent episodes of back pain. Let us talk about your vitamin D level. Schedule your McHenry chiropractic appointment with OrthoIllinois Chiropractic, your partner in spinal health.
