Water and Back Pain?

Did you know dehydration can contribute to back pain? Sounds silly right? Well, a lot of it comes down to structures in your back called discs.

But what is a ‘disc’? The ‘intervertebral discs’ are the round cushion-like structures that sit between the bones in your spine (called vertebrae).

These discs act as shock absorbers when we walk, run and jump during our daily activities. They keep the vertebrae from bumping into each other directly, allowing our spines to bend and twist as smoothly as possible.

Doesn’t sound like much to do with water yet. Well, they (discs), like the rest of your body, are made up by 66-86% water.

When you’re dehydrated, your discs get thinner due to water leaving them. When your discs get thinner, their ability to cushion forces become reduced and increases the risk of stiffness, discomfort and even injury. In some cases, this is back pain. Sometimes, the loss of disc height can irritate the nerves which exit the spine. This nerve irritation can cause symptoms like ‘sciatica’ which presents as pain and sometimes pins and needles down one of your legs.

It is important to note that this DOES NOT MEAN that all back pain is the result of dehydration.

But it is so so important to ensure you are well hydrated throughout the day to keep those discs ‘full’ and functioning as they’re designed to. A simple habit that supports spinal health in the long run!

But, if your pain is still lingering and causing you some jip, don’t ignore it. Come in and see us, we’ll take a closer look and see how we can help!

As a general rule of thumb, aim to drink 2.5 – 3.5 litres of water EACH DAY at least, but with the temperatures we have been getting lately – a little more won’t hurt!