Years of research have documented beneficial
activities of the hormone, vitamin D, on the skeleton, metabolic issues, cancer, inflammation,
auto-immunity, endocrinopathies, and now adrenal diseases, diabetes,
thyroiditis, and others. (1) Vitamin D’s reputation continues
growing! Researchers now are analyzing
vitamin D’s effects on biomarkers like CRP, NPY, TNF-alpha, etc.,
after spinal manipulation and medical care. (2) In older adults who don’t always take the recommended amount of vitamin D, researchers found
that even a slightly enhanced intake of
vitamin D was linked to 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 Carrolltown back pain, a familiar
problem that affects millions of people globally? Lately, research has revealed
that there may be a link between small levels of
vitamin D and back pain. While the proof is still early,
it’s important for our Carrolltown chiropractic
patients and Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation to understand what this possible
connection could mean for those suffering from 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 bones stay strong and healthy by keeping 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 stored
in fat tissues. Even in winter in Carrolltown, 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 experience
chronic back pain than those with better levels of vitamin D. One
report 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’ follow-up.
The results showed that those who had decreased
levels of vitamin D were more likely to experience higher levels of
disability related to their low back pain at follow-up
than those who had higher levels of vitamin D at the start.
(2) What’s your Carrolltown 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 heightened risk for chronic or recurrent bouts
of back pain. (2) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation 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 the management of
a patient with 3 disc herniations via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
CONTACT Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
Overall, there is evidence suggesting a
link between a low Vitamin D level and an increased risk for
chronic or recurrent episodes of back pain. Let’s chat
about your vitamin D level. Make your Carrolltown
chiropractic appointment with Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, your collaborator
in spinal health.