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.

You're not imagining it if you've felt mentally foggy on days when your back pain flares up. A new study examining older adults across the United States revealed a striking link: people with spinal pain were significantly more likely to experience cognitive difficulties. (1) This is not just about being troubled by pain—there appears to be a real connection between spinal health and how well your brain functions.

Think about it: your spine isn't only a structural support system. It houses your central nervous system, the communication highway between your brain and body. When that system is compromised by conditions like spinal stenosis, the effects can extend beyond your spine.

Before you worry, there is some good news: research suggests relatively simple interventions that might help. 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 reported measurable memory improvements. (2) Similar research in older men demonstrated that comprehensive nutritional supplementation positively impacted 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 give cognitive benefits—potentially counteracting some of the mental fog that accompanies chronic pain.

Now, this is where chiropractic care can make a difference. If spinal problems further 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 described significant improvement through specialized chiropractic techniques, specifically modified Cox® Technic flexion distraction decompression performed in a gentle, side-lying position. (4) By reducing chronic spinal pain, chiropractic spinal manipulation may help your whole system—including your brain.

If you're dealing 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: start with a quality daily multivitamin to sustain your nutritional foundation, and consult with your chiropractor at Most Chiropractic Clinic about how spinal manipulation helps get at the root causes of your discomfort. Your back—and your brain—will thank you.

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