For about 9 months in 2009, from April to the end of the year, I suffered from a continuous, nagging lower back pain. It was as if I awoke one day with a new condition, a chronic problem that would continue for the rest of my life. I could no longer sit for more than a few minutes on our soft, cushy couches in our family room. The task chairs at our computer desk were suddenly awful.
I immediately ramped up my physical exercise routine, adding an entire stretching regimen. Surprisingly, that made little difference. Suddenly, I was unable to do certain activities without significant consequences. Raking or shoveling would set me back several days with a very stiff lower back. Running, even jogging, a short distance led to significant pain and limitation of mobility and flexibility. I was exasperated. Months of effort to resolve my problem had passed, with no solution. Was I destined to suffer this way for the rest of my life?
When December arrived, I noticed that we still had a supply of multivitamins that was not being used. With the winter before me, I decided to strengthen my immune system by taking a multivitamin daily. Within a few days to a couple weeks, my back pain magically disappeared. Then, I stumbled upon an article that claimed that declared vitamin D to be the "new supervitamin."
Apparently, more than one study has shown a correlation between low vitamin D levels and back pain. A simple Internet search makes this case. My experience agrees.
