Is Your Back Pain due to Spinal Stenosis Causing Memory Problems? The Brain-Spine Connection Explained

the constant search for relief. But what if your back pain is doing more damage than you realize? It could actually be affecting how well your brain works.

It’d not just your imagination if you've felt mentally foggy on days when your back pain flares up. A new study looking at older adults across the United States uncovered a striking link: people with spinal pain were significantly more likely to experience cognitive difficulties. (1) This isn't just about being troubled by discomfort—there appears to be a genuine connection between spinal health and how well your brain works.

Think about it: your spine is not just a structural support system. It protects your central nervous system, the critical pathway that lets your brain and body talk to each other. When that system is impacted by conditions like spinal stenosis, the effects can extend beyond your spine.

Before you get too worried, there's hopful news: research shows some surprisingly simple solutions might make a real difference. Studies have shown that daily multivitamin supplementation can support cognitive function in older adults. One study found that elderly women taking a combined multivitamin, mineral, and herbal supplement for just 16 weeks experienced measurable memory improvements. (2) Similar research in older men demonstrated that comprehensive nutritional supplementation positively affected both cognition and blood biomarkers. (3)

While these studies didn't solely focus on back pain sufferers, they suggest that assisting your body nutritionally could supply cognitive benefits—potentially offsetting some of the mental fog that accompanies chronic pain.

Now, this is where your chiropractor's care can help. If spinal problems contribute to cognitive issues, doesn't it make sense that addressing those spinal problems could help? A documented case of an 80-year-old woman with chronic low back pain showed significant improvement with specialized chiropractic techniques, specifically modified Cox® Technic flexion distraction decompression performed in a gentle, side-lying position. (4) By decreasing chronic spinal pain, chiropractic spinal manipulation may help your whole system—including your brain.

If you're living with back pain and noticing that your memory or focus isn't what you’re used to, it doesn't have to be your new normal. Think about addressing it two ways: begin with a quality daily multivitamin to support your nutritional foundation, and talk with your your chiropractor at Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation about how spinal manipulation helps address the root causes of your discomfort. Your back—and your brain—will be so grateful.

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr.  Cameron McConville  on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates relieving, gentle care of spinal stenosis with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.