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Neck and Back Pain in Women

Therese Diener, RN, Clinical Spine Care Nurse, Columbia St. Mary's

Posted: May 1, 2009

Neck and back pain is one of the most debilitating conditions to afflict women and can impact every aspect of daily life.

Although back and neck pain was once seen predominately in men, more and more women are complaining of such pain. Part of the reason is because women are more likely to be doing heavy lifting as part of their job today than in previous generations. Improper lifting can result in herniated disks and early onset of arthritis in the neck and back.

Footwear is another major cause of back pain in women. When a woman wears high heels it throws off her whole alignment. The result is poor posture, which can eventually lead to uneven wear on the discs, joints and ligaments of the back. Wearing flip flops can have a similar impact on a woman’s spine. These flimsy fashion must-haves offer little or no support and wearing them on a regular basis can eventually lead to chronic pain.

Pregnancy and the extra weight that comes with it can also result in back and neck pain for women, from herniated disks to compression of the spine to stress fractures. It’s not uncommon for women to experience back and neck pain for the rest of their lives following pregnancy.

Although most back and neck pain may resolve itself within a year, it is the number one reason people seek medical attention. Left untreated, back and neck pain can hinder daily activities, from carrying groceries, to driving a car, to doing a job.

Prevention is the key to avoiding a lifetime of neck and back pain. Good posture, comfortable shoes and exercise, especially those exercises that strengthen the abdominal and back muscles, can go a long way in keeping back and neck pain at bay. Eating healthy is also important to help keep off extra pounds that can unnecessarily stress the back.

Columbia St. Mary’s Spine Center is focused on finding the right treatment to improve the quality of our patients’ lives. We offer complimentary classes to help those suffering from neck and back pain. The classes are designed to help patients identify different kinds of back and neck pain, determine when they need to seek medical attention and how to navigate the medical system to ensure they receive the right care.

To learn more about back and neck pain seminars, call 414-326-1745 or visit www.MedicalMoment.org.
Therese Diener, RN
Columbia St. Mary’s
414-326-1745

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