Richmond Back Pain and Vitamin D: What to Know
Years of research have recorded beneficial activities of the hormone, vitamin D, on the skeleton, inflammation, cancer, metabolic issues, auto-immunity, endocrinopathies, and now adrenal diseases, diabetes, thyroiditis, and others. (1) Vitamin D’s reputation continues 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 found that even a slightly enhanced intake of vitamin D was associated with a lower incidence of pain over 5 years plus to frequency of pain, severity, and number of pain locations. (3) What about vitamin D and Richmond back pain, a familiar problem that involves millions of people around the world? Lately, research has revealed that there may be a link between low levels of vitamin D and back pain. While the proof is still early, it is vital for our Richmond chiropractic patients and Johnson Chiropractic to grasp what this potential connection could mean for those suffering from chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that assists 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 absorbed from 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 Richmond, sunlight is beneficial!
HOW CAN VITAMIN D HELP WITH BACK PAIN?
Research suggests that those with decreased levels of vitamin D may be more likely to have chronic back pain than those with optimal levels of vitamin D. One study linked biomarkers (such as vitamin D) and pain in acute and subacute low back pain patients over time via comparison of biomarkers at baseline to changes in patient-reported results at three months. The results demonstrated that those who had decreased levels of vitamin D were more likely to have higher levels of disability related to their low back pain at follow-up than those who had better levels of vitamin D at the start. (2) What’s your Richmond 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 suggest a relationship between low vitamin D level and heightened risk for chronic or recurrent bouts of back pain. (2) Johnson 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 adequate nutrition in managing a patient with 3 disc herniations via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Johnson 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’s talk about your vitamin D level. Make your Richmond chiropractic appointment with Johnson Chiropractic, your collaborator in spinal health.
