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 more harmful than you realize? It could actually be affecting how well your brain works.

That brain fog you experience during a bad back pain day? It's real, not just in your head. A recent study looking at older adults across the United States revealed a striking link: people with spinal pain were significantly more likely to notice cognitive difficulties. (1) This isn't just about being troubled by pain—there appears to be a real connection between spinal health and how well your brain works.

Think about it: your spine is not just a structural support system. It houses your central nervous system, the communication highway between your brain and body. When spinal stenosis upsets that system, the consequences can spread far beyond your back.

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 boost 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 showed that comprehensive nutritional supplementation positively impacted both cognition and blood biomarkers. (3)

While these studies didn't focus exclusively on back pain sufferers, they suggest that supporting your body nutritionally could give cognitive benefits—potentially offsetting some of the mental fog that comes with chronic pain.

Now, this is where chiropractic care can make a difference. If your spine problems are affecting your thinking, fixing the spine issue should help your brain too, right? A documented case of an 80-year-old woman with chronic low back pain showed significant improvement through 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 boost 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 Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries 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 describes relieving, gentle care of spinal stenosis with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.