Chronic Pain Affects Your Memory
Chronic Pain Affects Your Memory
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I love working in my gardens, and I know it’s a lot of backbreaking work. I also love to walk around when I’m done and enjoy their beauty, so the work is worth it to me. Many of the Boomers that I know suffer from chronic back, neck or shoulder pain all summer, from spending their weekends working in their yards and gardens. That’s just not good for our bodies, spirits or brains.
Did you know that chronic pain can shrink your brain’s grey matter? Grey matter is in charge of memory and information processing. In normal aging, the brain loses about 0.5 percent of gray matter a year, however, when chronic pain is involved, as much as 11 percent is lost in a year! Yikes! Some scientists believe this large decrease in grey matter may be due to the fact that chronic pain forces nerve cells to work overtime.
I don’t want you to suffer in pain all summer, so here’s the best way to relax all those back muscles after you’ve been gardening and before you do your stretching:
Sit on the floor next to your couch or a chair. Then, lie down on your back, placing your buttocks right against the couch or chair so that your thighs are perpendicular to the floor and your lower legs are resting comfortably on the furniture. If your chin is sticking way up toward the ceiling place a folded hand towel, or a very small pillow under your head so that your neck is also in alignment. Now breathe… Continue breathing deeply for about five minutes. In this position your back is completely neutral. The natural curve in your lower spine is intact and can rest, and all of the muscles in your back join in for some much needed R&R. Ahhhh… A lovely vacation for your back!
You can also use this five minute break to meditate and rejuvenate your mind body and spirit! Simply focus on your breath. On your inhale think “So” and on your exhale “Hum”. So, Hum, etc. Don’t worry if thoughts come into your mind – that’s natural. Gently bring yourself back to focusing on your breath. This little meditation practice is quite easy, and can lower your blood pressure and release some of those extra stress hormones that are coursing through your body.
Best of Health,
Kathi
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