Chronic Back Pain Limits Brain Power

You don't need to be a scientist to know that chronic back pain can have a negative impact on your life, often bringing with it anxiety and depression. It can affect your ability to work, sleep, and perform other daily activities. Until recently, it has been assumed that whatever changes occurred in the brain as a result of chronic back pain were only temporary and that the brain would revert to a normal state once the pain stopped. Recent findings by researchers from Northwestern University have turned this assumption on its head. What they found was that chronic back pain�defined as pain lasting six months or longer�can cause significant and long-lasting damage to the brain, aging it up to 20 times faster than normal. Shades of gray
In fact, chronic back pain actually shrinks the gray matter of the brain�the part responsible for memory and information processing�by as much as 11 percent each year. In contrast, normal aging of the brain results in just a 0.5 percent loss of gray matter a year. Scientists compared 26 healthy volunteers with 26 patients who had been suffering with chronic lower back pain (some with sciatica) for more than a year. Those with chronic back pain with sciatica had the largest decrease in gray matter. Another significant finding: The longer a subject had had chronic back pain, the more brain loss he suffered. One theory on why there is such a large decrease in gray matter is that chronic pain forces nerve cells to work overtime. Even more troubling is the possibility that if chronic back pain is allowed to continue, it may become harder to reverse and less responsive to treatment due to these changes in the brain. Experts say the findings should sound a warning to patients with back pain to seek care as soon as possible. Driven to distraction
The Northwestern study is consistent with other research on chronic pain and cognitive ability. Scientists at the University of Alberta have confirmed that chronic pain can impair your memory and concentration. Intesting done by Drs. Bruce D. Dick and Saifudin Rashiq at theuniversity's Multidisciplinary Pain Centre in Edmonton, Canada,two-thirds of participants who suffered withchronic pain had a difficult time paying attention and remembering simple facts. Participants in the study�all of whom had pain lasting six months or longer�were given computerized memory tests, along with a neuropsychological test of attention on what were identified as "pain" and "less pain" days. Ona "less pain" day, participants were tested after they received apain-reducing procedure as part of their ongoing treatment at theCentre. On a "pain" day, participants were tested without getting anypain-reducing procedure. Sixteen of the 24 participants�67 percent�showed signs of cognitive impairment on their pain-testing day.Although the sample of participants was small, the findings werestatistically significant, according to the lead researchers. You must remember this
Further evidence of a link between chronic pain and brain function comes from a study done at Keele University in the United Kingdom. Scientists compared the "prospective" memory�such as remembering to pick up groceries or keep a doctor's appointment�of 50 subjects with chronic back pain to the memory of 50 subjects who were pain-free. Investigators used something called the Prospective Memory Questionnaire, a self-rating scale that requires users to record the number of times their prospective memory fails in a given period of time. The scale measures three types of prospective memory: long-term habitual, short-term episodic, and internally cued. Those with chronic pain had significantly impaired short-term memory compared with subjects who were pain-free. No differences were observed in the other types of prospective memory. "One explanation for the observation of short-term prospective memorydeficits may be related to the link between pain and stress and theimpact of this relationship on cognitive function," Ling's teamreported. The ideas is that when pain kicks in, it triggers a region of the brainknown as the lateral occipital complex (LOC). When this happens, itoverrides a person's ability to concentrate and accurately recognizeimages. Strategies to improve memory
The investigators said they hope that these findings will help guide the care of patients with chronic pain and encourage the development of skills to offset memory problems. Here are a few quick tips to improve your memory: Read out loud
Ifyou want to remember something, saying the words out loud will helpburn the information into your brain. If you can turn it into a rhyme,even better. Write things down
Mentalclutter makes it hard to recall data. Use address books, datebooks, andcalendars. Jot down notes on more complicated material and reorganizeyour notes as soon as possible. The physical act of rewriting can helpimprint facts into yourmemory. Rehearse and review
Goover what you've learned the day you learn it, and review itperiodically. Researchers call this "spaced rehearsal," which hasproven to be more effective than cramming. Get your vitamins
Nutrientssuch as vitamins B, C, and E can nurture brain function. Dietarysources of B include spinach and other dark leafy greens, strawberries,melons, and black beans. Vitamins C and E improve the flow of oxygenthroughthe brain . Good natural sources are berries, sweet potatoes,red tomatoes, green tea, nuts, citrus fruits, and liver. Omega-3 fattyacids�found in cold-water fish such as salmon and tuna�are alsoassociated with improved cognitive function. Surprise your brain
Anotherway to help your brain perform better is to stimulate it throughnovelty. For example, brushing your teeth with your left hand (ifyou're right-handed) will fire up seldom-used connections on thenondominant side of your brain. Or try "neurobic" exercise, whichforces you to use your faculties in unusual ways�say, getting dressedwith your eyes closed, taking a course in a subject you know nothingabout, or cooking a recipe in an unfamiliar cuisine. The brainmaybe affected by pain but you should never let pain control how orwhat you think about. If pain relief is what you are after you musthold a firm belief that you can achieve your goalsand if believe heart and soul and keep you're your thoughtsconcentrated and coordinated there is no way that you can not achievewhat you are after. If you enjoyed this article, and would like more information in alternative back pain treatments sign up for our Back PainAdvisory and you will join the nearly 1 million people that havereceived this life changing information.