What Does Your Pain Tell You?

You feel pain for a reason. Migraines, muscle cramps, backaches, and neck and shoulder pain are often warning signs of a more ominous problem. But too many people ignore their pain or take medication to mask the symptoms. Here are some potential pain sources to consider:

Toxic Pain. Your headache may be caused by an increased level of sugar in your bloodstream or some other toxic situation. For some people, red wine does it. Don't just assume it's pain you can ignore.
Poor-Posture Stress. If you have chronically poor posture, you are going to have additional stresses on your joints and muscles that can cause pain in your head, neck, shoulders, back, hips and legs. Your posture also can be compromised when you sleep. Poor mattresses and pillows could be the culprits.
Nutritional Deficiencies. Research studies suggest most people don't get all of the nutrients they need from the food they eat. This is partially due to the processed nature of our diets and the poor menu choices many of us make. Your pain, particularly if it is chronic, could have its roots in a nutritional deficiency.
Muscle Strain. You use your muscles every day. Sometimes, you use muscles you haven't used in years. Mild muscle strain can occur on occasion, particularly if your muscles aren't getting the exercise they need. If you aren't exercising regularly, you are allowing your muscles to slowly weaken and atrophy. The consequence: You can expect to suffer more frequent muscles strains.
Musculoskeletal Pain. Your spinal column and all of your joints are designed to move in specific ways. They also enjoy a certain amount of elasticity that allows them to extend beyond their normal range of motion, providing flexibility, stability and shock absorption. Injuries or abnormal movement patterns can create points of restriction or "subluxations" that can cause pain and reduce your mobility.
Your pain's cause may not be what you assume. A health care professional whose orientation does not focus on administering drugs, such as a doctor of chiropractic, will be better able to find out the core cause of your pain. Since you are a vital component of your overall health, do your part to achieve long-term wellness. After all, it's your body.