Secret 101 to Back Pain

http://www.TheBackPainGuy.info

Back Pain Products to Help My Back Pain

2011-06-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

If you suffer lower back pain, you are not on your own. Probably nearly all adults at some point in their lives will experience this condition that interferes with their work eg there is a high incidence of lumbar pain in drivers, everyday activities, sports (eg lumbar pain in golfers) or hobbies. Lower back pain or sciatica is considered the most common cause of job-related disability and the highest contributor to absenteeism in the western world. For example, it is second to headaches as the most common neurological ailment in the United States. Generally, most occurrences of lower back pain or lumbar pain subside after a few days, although some instances may take much longer to resolve or very occasionally lead to more serious conditions. Short-term pain (Acute) generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks, and this condition tends to be mechanical in nature, the consequence of trauma to the lower back or a condition such as arthritis. Back pain from trauma may be caused by an injury sustained through sports activity, household jobs or working in the garden. Sometimes, sudden jarring from a minor fall, or other stress on the lower back bones and tissues could be the root cause of low lumbar pain or sciatica. Symptoms of lumbar pain may range from aching muscles to shooting or sharp stabbing pain, limited flexibility and/or range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Sometimes, pain felt in one part of the body may stem from a disorder or injury incurred in other parts of the body. Very occasionally acute low back pain syndromes could become more serious if untreated. Definitions of what period or duration constitutes chronic back pain vary but pain that persists for over 12 weeks would generally be described as chronic.

Often the initial cause of the back problem is not known and this condition can sometimes be progressive The good news is that the vast majority of occurrences can be treated without surgery. Back pain treatments include analgesics, to reduce inflammation, to restoring proper mobility and strength to the back, by a variety of back pain products and therapies, to strategies for the avoidance of recurrence of the injury. Usually patients suffering lumbar pain recover fully and don't incur continuing loss of functionality. It's advisable to contact your GP if there is no improvement or reduction in the back pain and inflammation after 3 days There is a plethora of exercises, medication, or therapy products and gadgets available to sufferers, designed to provide either, relief, prevention or both. Although some of these back pain products (such as Magnatherapy or aromatherapy) would be described as 'alternative' or pseudoscientific ie they have few empirically or scientifically proven benefits, many are developed through the application of sound medical principle and theory. It's worthwhile asking your GP for recommendations on any therapies as well as making sure that the cause is not more serious

Back pain therapy devices PGAT devices

Inversion Tables

Inversion is a natural form of passive gravity assisted traction (PGAT) that uses the patient's body weight in conjunction with gravity to decompress weight-bearing joints. While the patient is rotated and suspended, gravity effectively creates a traction, resulting in a customized stretch that extends the spine, from the sacroiliac to the cervical joints of the neck, increasing the space between the vertebrae, which relieves the pressure on the discs and nerve roots. By reducing this pressure there is less interference with the spinal nerves thus reducing lower lumbar pain. Inversion is considered to be an effective therapy This is typically performed on what's called an inversion table. The table allows you to lie on your back relaxed, in an inverted position. This position eliminates some or all gravitational compression, depending upon how far back you position your body. Inversion therapy relieves back pain, and it works even better when it's part of a well-rounded therapy plan that addresses the specific muscle imbalances you have. But even by itself it is highly effective. A recent study done at Newcastle University found that over 70% of patients who performed inversion therapy were able to cancel their scheduled back surgeries.

LumbaCurve

LumbaCurve is a new effective lower back pain therapy product which may help to reduce disc compression, exercise and mobilise the muscles, joints and ligaments of the spine all at the same time. Painstakingly designed over 6 years in the UK and the Netherlands, this ingenious back pain therapy device combines both Western and Eastern therapy techniques. LumbaCurve incorporates specific shaping and design features which attempt to simulate a range of both occidental physiotherapy / chiropractic, and oriental acupressure techniques employed in mechanical lower back pain relief. LumbaCurve gently stretches the lower back, causing the vertebral discs to separate. This in turn relaxes the discs and frees up the spinal nerves, thus giving low back pain relief. LumbaCurve's design features also provide the benefits of shiatsu stimulation, yogic stretch, and acupressure massage from traditional oriental medicine. LumbaCurve is a is simplicity itself to use. Just lie on your back, slide it under your lumbar area, relax, and perform a few easy exercises.Manufactured in the UK, LumbaCurve comes with an instructional DVD of exercise routines.

CPM Mobilisers

Backlife

Backlife is designed to apply a Continuous Passive Movement (CPM) to the lower back pain sufferer in a similar way to how a healthcare professional, as part of his back pain therapy, would apply in order to help relieve pressure between the vertebrae, and therefore relieve pain in the lumbar region. In order to apply CPM the user would lie on the floor bending their knees over the upper section of the machine. As the upper section moves, it gently rotates the pelvis in a circular fashion, allowing the joints to move, whilst the joints remain relaxed. The advertised benefits of Backlife for pain relief are that it reduces the stress and pressure on the lower back, restores back mobility and improves stability. In addition it reduces lumbar pain with regular use, improves posture, and reduces muscle tension.

Back in action Mobiliser

The Back in Action Mobiliser is an extremely powerful medical grade spinal joint mobilisation system, available for home or professional use for back pain relief. It's described as usually very effective at decreasing the symptoms of long term and chronic musculo-skeletal problems. The system applies very localised pressure to the muscles either side of the spine, simulating a practitioners 'thumbing technique,whilst mobilising the spine, flexing and extending the spine, freeing up stubborn vertebrae. In addition to this the mobilise provides a continuous passive motion (CPM) considered to be beneficial to health and aid healing The mobilise has been used to treat conditions such as: lumbago; prolapse /slipped disc, sciatica; scoliosis, arthritic hips, sacro-iliac dysfunction, whiplash injuries; fibromyalgia and many other disabling conditions. It is also comprehensively tested and endorsed by medics, so that it is probably the most commended back pain therapy care system available. Its most significant disadvantage is that it is made in small numbers and is expensive to buy however they are available to hire.

Backstretcher

The Backstretcher, also known as the Rolastretcher provides relief with a combination of massage and stretching movements, allowing the user to move and stretch different parts of the spine by moving up and down the frame. The rollers also provide pressure (acupressure) on the back muscles either side of the spine where dysfunctional trigger points (knots) often occur. It provides back pain sufferers the opportunity to complement their therapeutic treatment with a device, which is portable, The effectiveness of this device has been confirmed by scientific study by the University of Iowa's Spine Centre.

Flexibak

Flexibak is back support cradle that is designed to ease lower back pain problems, reduce discomfort, and promote relief, by decompression of key joints, allowing natural movement to return to the user. Flexibak, developed by 2 leading British osteopaths, is designed to encourage the lumbar and sacroiliac joints to open up, and encourage the return of natural movement as pressure on inflamed muscles is relieved.

Back cushions and wedges and Supports Cushions

Back cushions

These are custom shaped soft cushions which are tailored to the natural shape of the user's lower back and designed to offer support whilst maintaining an ergonomic and comfortable posture whilst sat on a chair or in the car, thus providing an element of relief for low back pain.

Seat wedges

Seat wedges provide lumbar pain relief in a natural passive manner. Sitting on a seat wedge has the effect of moving forward the pelvis which has the effect of causing the users spine to adopt a more ergonomically correct upright posture. Seat wedges maybe useful for lumbar pain suffering car drivers by angling their backs into more comfortable driving positions, or in sedentary workplace situations where the back pain sufferer may be adopting a suiting position for several hours, for example call centre workers. Ideal for everybody working in a sitting position, especially PC users. A variant of the seat wedge is the coccyx wedge which incorporates a cut away section to reduce or avoid pressure on the sacrum or coccyx which could be causing lower back pain or tail bone pain.

Back Braces

These aim to constrict the affected area of low back pain low afflicted area, these strap-on body braces help reduce lower back pain and help to correct poor posture.

TENS units

TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is the application of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. In this case we are referring to portable stimulators used to help with back pain. The unit is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes or semi adhesive pads. Although the first units developed in the US for testing tolerance of chronic back pain sufferers to electrical stimulation in preparation for surgically invasive implants, many patients reported deriving relief from the TENS itself. A number of companies began manufacturing TENS units after the commercial success of the Meditronic device became known TENS is regarded as a non-invasive, safe nerve stimulation intended to reduce pain, both acute and chronic. Controversy does exist over its effectiveness in treating of chronic back pain. In 2007 a feature in the Pain Journal concluded that ENS was effective for chronic musculoskeletal pain whereas the journal Neurology advised against recommending TENS for chronic lower back pain,but other neurologists in the same journal suggested that in some patients TENS is useful. TENS units available from high street retailers Baxolve offers immediate relief for lower back pain through a combination of TENS therapy and lumbar support in one easy to use convenient belt.

Heat and cold back pain products

There is little empirical evidence that the application of hot and cold compresses actually effectively relieve back pain conditions, although the use of hot and cold compresses may provide relief by helping to reduce the lower back pain, spasms, and inflammation, in turn allowing for improved mobility for some back pain sufferers. Immediately after the trauma, the sufferer would apply a cold compress (generally ice packs or refrigerant gel) to the affected area of the lower back pain, maybe after a strain, for up to about 20 minutes a few time a day, for a couple of days to help reduce tissue inflammation. After a couple of days the back pain sufferer would then apply heat to the affected area, using a variety of methods such as heat pads, heat lamps etc for short durations. This has the effect of dilating the blood vessels which increase blood flow to the affected tissues, and encouraging the healing process. It also has the effect of relaxing the muscles similar to having a warm bath after exertion. As with any back pain treatment it's advisable to consult your GP before commencing a treatment. See a range at Back Pain Products

Magnet therapy Magnet therapy can be described as an alternative or pseudoscientific method of back pain treatment, using magnetic fields on the body to promote back pain relief and healing, with a perceived, though not understood positive effect on blood oxygen content. There is no scientific basis to conclude that small, static magnets can relieve pain It has its origins in Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) dating back some 2000 years, centered around 'Chi'or 'energy flows' around the body and instrumental in health and wellbeing, with magnetic wave therapy having associations with acupuncture or and acupressure. Although it is regarded with an element of scepticism due to seemingly physical and biological implausibility, in Eastern countries, therapeutic magnets are licensed as medical devices, and it does appear to be gaining some recognition within the US medical community, with an example of affirmative research of published in the MDBR Journal of Rheumatology. The downside to this is the difficulty associated with establishing true blind testing of magnets and associated 'placebo or Hawthorne' effects within test groups. By all means have a look at what's available but remain sceptical.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is often used as a method of pain relief by physios and therapists in combination with other pain treatments, such as manipulation, massage, ice treatment and interferential (electrotherapy). The ultrasound device causes millions of sound waves to penetrate deep into tissue in order to promote healing of inflamed or damaged muscles, tendons and ligaments. It's claimed that ultrasound can reduce tissue inflammation by stimulating blood flow, promote healing by stimulating soft tissue, and assist in the absorbtion uf analgesics, and reduce pain. Again there is conflict over the effectiveness for lower back pain treatment with both positive user testimonials offset by inconclusive meta analysis. See Physical Therapy article Jul 2001 and New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy Jul 2008

Ultralieve

Ultralieve Pro is a mains operated or portable hand held medical grade device designed for home use to help with pain and promote healing by conducting ultrasound waves into the damaged tissue. Although the device is easy its perhaps best if the user has received ultrasound treatment previously from a physio or healthcare professional, and again it's advisable to check with your GP or physio before using one to derive pain relief It should not be used as a replacement for conventional help with back pain but in conjunction with it in between sessions. Again there is conflict over the effectiveness to help with back pain with both positive user testimonials offset by inconclusive meta analysis.

David Pegg, from Manchester England, is a director with Lumbacurve International.
For more detail on the LumbaCurve lower back pain therapy device see Back Pain Relief

Discovering the Relationship Between Stress and Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

2011-06-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Stress is associated with a myriad of symptoms and conditions to include neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. Stress is also responsible for many other disorders of the mind and the body. Hans Bruno Hugo Seyle (1907-1982) is credited by many with being the first to recognize and document the existence and impact of biological stressors. Professor Seyle is often acknowledged as being responsible for much of our current understanding of stress and how it impacts the body.

Furthermore, stress researcher and author demonstrated that stress can be negative, as in what is referred to as distress, or positive, as in what is called eustress; and, that in either case there is a definite and profound effect on the body. Many conditions exhibited by the body are the result of stress, positive or negative. In fact, we now more fully understand the causal relationship between stress and ulcers, stress and headaches, and stress and many other psychosomatic disorders. Neck pain, back pain and sciatica are generally attributed to such things as trauma, disease, illness, and aging when, in fact, in a large number of instances, stress may be and often is the underlying cause.

Neck pain, or cervicalgia, is a fairly common complaint, one affecting two-thirds of the population at some point in their lives. Significantly, neck pain may be caused by a myriad of conditions and/or factors, not unlike the other two expressions of pain in what I refer to as the "back pain complex." Back pain, also known as dorsalgia, generally has its origins in a specific region of the spine. Back pain in the cervical curvature is, of course, neck pain. Pain predominantly felt in the thoracic curvature or region of the spine may be expressed as chest pain and/or upper back pain. And, what we often refer to as a "pain the back," is generally lower or simply low back pain, generally in the lumbar region but may also be felt in the buttocks and legs. Sciatica on the other hand, at times referred to as a type of radiculopathy (at or near the nerve route), may originate at any number of loci but generally at L4 and L-5 or at S1 through S-3. However, sciatic nerve pain may also present itself at any point along the nerve route. Sciatica is, as has been noted in previous articles, a symptom and not an ultimate diagnosis and may run from the lower back down across the buttocks and into the feet and toes.

One thing constant in all three of the above mentioned pain representations is that stress may cause or contribute significantly to the onset and level of any of these "back pain complex" expressions. Neck pain, back pain and sciatica, usually originate in the muscles and fascia, tendons and ligaments, or bones and joints. Of course it may be expressed in several at once, depending on the condition and duration of involvement. In any case, stress may cause and/or exacerbate the pain in any of the three pain expressions mentioned above.

In order to properly understand and treat neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica we must recognize the mind-body link. Stress, being a responsible for any number of possible pain expressions, as well as a number of other psychosomatic disorders, should never be overlooked or its impact underestimated. The link between stress and neck pain, back pain, and sciatica is now a given, the connection undeniable. Yet for years, this link was misunderstood and misdiagnosed because of our limited understanding of psychosomatic disorders and their impact on the body. Seyle's work was instrumental in providing a new, sharper image and understanding of the impact stress has on the body. Unfortunately, even today we see many cases of denial, as it applies to psychosomatic complaints and their diagnoses, due to the stigma attached to anything related to the mind, or psyche. The saying, "It's all in your head" may be true but it still carries with it negative connotations and a negative stereotype.

We often hear expressions like, "Mary is a pain in the neck" or "Jack's a real pain in the back side." Of course, instead of "back side," many use other, more descriptive words or phrases. These are simply expressions with origins in the recognized link between the mind, as in stress, and the body, as in pain. While we often trivialize such expressions, the underlying link cannot, nor should not, be trivialized or denied. Unfortunately, denial is one of the biggest impediments, the highest hurdle any medical practitioner has to overcome because of the immediate defense mechanism slammed into place when someone hears the term psychosomatic.

Unfortunately, the saying "it's all in your head" may be true but until we better understand and accept the link between the two, we are quite often doomed to a kind of "medical test limbo," where everything is tried and nothing works, nothing provides the answers we are seeking. The reason for this being, we have failed to understand the profound impact stress has on the body, in this case resulting in neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica...or worse.

If neck pain, back pain, and sciatica seem to be present only during periods of high stress, you may consider it a distinct possibility that stress is indeed a factor. How do you know? Ultimately, you don't! However, short of a visit to your family doctor, it may be advisable to begin a program of stretching and exercise.

The exercise program will do two things right away:

One, it will "burn off" some of that stress, replacing the harmful hormones dumped into your system during periods of peak stress and replacing them with natural opiates, known as endorphins. There are also other hormones produced that enter the blood stream during exercise but for the purposes of this article, let's just say they provide an amazing and totally natural high.

Two, it will take you to a place you may have not been in a while, and this place is a journey, not a destination. The journey is known as a healthy lifestyle.

A funny thing happens to people who begin to exercise, they begin to feel better, and then they begin to take care of themselves. This feeds back upon itself, a feedback loop, constantly fueling a healthier and happier state until neck pain, back pain, and sciatica are in the past. Should you ever use heat at any point? NO! I cannot stress this enough! Heat is the absolute wrong thing to apply to a painful neck or back. Take it from someone who has had fifteen major surgeries, fourteen on the spine, and did his doctoral research on the spine and sacroiliac joint. Never, and I mean never, use heat! If you have discomfort, associated with possible inflammation and/or swelling, ice is the only remedy. Ice beats out everything, including anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and NSAIDS.

If it is stress, while it may seem counter-intuitive, ice works wonders in a matter of as little as twenty minutes, a much shorter amount of time than it takes for the average oral medication to kick in. I use an ice-compression brace, just slip in the packet and kick back on the recliner for fifteen or twenty minutes and I'm good to go. A plastic baggie or even a grocery store bag will do in a pinch, just fill it up, wrap it in a thin, cloth towel, bang on it a few times so the ice breaks and there's greater surface area, and you have an ice pack made for the back. Once again, along with an exercise and stretching program, ice is a neck pain, back pain and sciatica sufferer's best friend for beating stress and creating a pain-free lifestyle for yourself.

For further information and a newly discovered and very intelligent program of treatment, one that works for neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica, guaranteed, go to:

For additional information and a link to an excellent resource for additional neck pain, back pain, and sciatica treatment programs; a source for New Balance running shoes, the best for back pain and sciatica sufferers due to awesome heel cushioning; ice-compression braces, great for inflammation, swelling, and pain reduction; orthotics, for the times when you need support and cushioning and you can't wear the New Balance running shoes; and, an excellent natural anti-inflammatory that works wonders:

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy

Leachco Back 'N Belly - Contoured Body Pillow, Ivory

2011-06-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

Product Description
Pregnant moms who struggle to find a comfortable position will love the Leachco Back 'N Belly Contoured Body Pillow. Moms-to-be can sleep well and wake up without aches! The big, roughly U-shaped pillow has two contoured "legs" so you can sleep on your back or either side, tuck the end of the pillow between your knees, and elevate your head to ease heartburn.

The Back N Belly provides support for the back and belly at the same time. Simply reverse the ends of the body pillow for a "double decker" head support. It elevates and aligns the hips to help ensure a natural position, which relieves stress on joints. This Leachco body pillow helps relieve carpal tunnel, sciatica, gastric reflux, and nasal congestion.

The Back 'N Belly is made of cozy, warm polyester and comes with a custom cover case which can be removed for washing. It can be used in positions not shown in the illustrations: Mothers of different sizes, shapes, and sleep preferences can experiment, as many have, to find just the right configuration.

Price: $59.99

How to Eliminate Your Back Pain

2011-06-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

The only physician-written, evidence-based guide to recovering from chronic low back pain with a whole new concept. Complete with pictures and step-by-step instructions. Additional graphics available on request.

Back Magic Multi-Level Adjustable Back Stretching Devise

2011-06-10T01:49:00.000-07:00

The Back Magic is a small lightwieght multi-level back stetching devise that helps you relax and immediately relieves back pain due to tight muscles, excessive flexion, and poor spinal alignment. Just lie down and relax for five minutes twice a day. The Back Magic is recommended and used by Physicians, Chiropractors, and Professional Athletes.

Price: $34.95

Back Pain Exercise-Natural Pain Relief

2011-06-09T14:35:00.000-07:00

Your back, just like the rest of your body, needs regular exercise to be healthy and strong. It needs a regular fitness regimen to keep it performing at peak efficiency.

Back pain exercise involves exercise of not only your back muscles, but also of those that support your back. The abdomen and thigh muscles are in the second group. You will want to exercise both groups to avoid or alleviate back pain. You may also want to add healthful fish oils to your daily diet to lubricate your joints. This is especially important as you age, since aging joints become more susceptible to painful problems.

Back Pain Exercise You Can Do At Home

A good physiotherapist or chiropractor will be able to teach you many useful exercises for reducing back pain, but these five will get you started.

1. Back, hip, and leg muscles. Stand with your back against a wall. Place your feet shoulder-width apart, your hands on your hips. Inhale and exhale deeply and evenly as you gently slide your back down the wall until your knees are at an angle of about 90 degrees. Count to five, and then gently and slowly slide back to your original position. Repeat five times. This will stretch and strengthen important back, hip, and leg muscles.

2. Abdomen muscles. Lie on your back on the floor. Firmly place your feet flat on the floor. Your knees should be bent and raised toward the ceiling. Lean forward until your head and shoulders leave the floor, trying to touch your knees with both hands. Hold the position as you count to 10. Relax and repeat 5 times. This will strengthen the abdominal muscles that help support your back.

3. Back muscles. Stand with hands on hips, feet slightly apart. Move your hand backward onto the small of your back. Keep your knees straight. Gently bend backwards at the waist as far as you can. Be careful not to bend so far that you increase your back pain. Hold the bend for 2 to 3 seconds. Return to your normal position. This back pain exercise will strengthen the muscles in your back itself. It will also loosen tight back muscles.

4. Hip and back muscles. Use a straight back kitchen or dining chair for this exercise. Stand behind the chair, holding the chair back with both hands. Lift one leg up and back, keeping its knee straight. Return it slowly to position, and lift the other leg up and back in the same way. Repeat 5 times with each leg. This exercise will strengthen hip muscles that support your back, as well as the back muscles themselves.

5. Back and hip muscles. You may want a mat under you for this one. Lying face down on the floor, tighten the muscles in one leg and raise it from the floor. Hold the leg up while you count to ten, and then lower it slowly to the floor. Lift the other leg, count to 10, and lower it slowly to the floor. Repeat 5 times with each leg to give added strength to your back muscles and the hip muscles that support them.

CAUTION: Back Pain Exercise Demands Warm-up!

You've heard it before, but this word of caution is important. Before beginning your back pain exercise, talk to your physician about what you plan to do. You may want to show these exercises to him or her and get advice. Then set aside time to exercise regularly, at least every other day.

Back pain exercise demands warm-up, so schedule at least five minutes at the start of your exercise period for that. Warming up lowers blood pressure, improves blood flow to the heart, increases muscle temperature and makes muscles more pliable. Warm up with some type of slow, rhythmic movement. Walking is a good warm-up for your back pain exercises. Use an easy walking pace, inhaling and exhaling evenly and deeply to send oxygen to your muscles.

Back pain exercise has benefits for the rest of your body also. Think of your back as the main core of a healthy body. By giving it simple, low impact exercise each day or every other day, you will strengthen your muscles, preparing them to protect and support the painful area throughout the day.

Get Even More Help for Back Pain

While back pain exercise is a long-term solution to your back pain, you want to reduce your pain right now. You don't want to wait. You want treatments that will give relief while you make muscles stronger.

? 2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about back pain at http://www.backpainreliefblog.com. You?ll read about back pain treatments you can do at home ? and natural ways to get back pain relief.

Do You Have Lower Back Pain?

2011-06-09T03:23:00.000-07:00

The back pain is on the rise due the lifestyles we are living in. The back pain affects about 90% of Americans in their life at some point. But that is a matter of time as the pain resolves on its own after a few days to weeks. There are other back pains that do not resolve but becomes lifelong pains. The former is called acute back pain while the latter one is chronic back pain. The pain can be of the upper or the lower region of the back.

SYMPTOMS OF LOWER BACK PAIN

The warning signs that indicate the presence of back pain and there severity depends on the type of conditions that causes it, but essentially the symptoms are similar. Persistent back pain that more often has been present for than a few days. Back pain that wakes the person at night is indicative of the disorder. The pain makes the control of the bowel or bladder difficult in many instances. Presence of a fever, chills, sweats, or other signs of infection or any other unusual symptoms also warns of a back strain or disorder. The lower limbs are also affected by the lower back pain as the pain sensations radiate in many cases down the leg. Pain may worsen while bending the back.

CAUSES

There are many causes of the back pains we often experience. The short term or acute back pain is usually caused by arthritis or injured lower back structures. The pain of chronic nature is usually caused by the inflamed joints, muscles or ligaments of the back region. More often the pain is due the person's lifestyle. Poor posture, obesity, lifting anything the wrong way, sitting or standing in the same posture for a long time can also be the causes. Other factors include physical and mental stress on the person.

Many diseases can also cause severe back pain. Herniated disc, sciatic nerve compression or spinal stenosis may also be the cause of severe backaches as the symptoms of these disorders are generally associated with back pain.

TREATMENT APPROACHES

The treatment of these pains is usually available as over-the-counter (OTC) medications. In many cases the physicians prescribe the drugs for specific conditions as well. The basic function is to relieve pain and reduction of the severity of inflammation. The medications that are used for the treatment of back pains are available as Pain relievers, Muscle relaxants and steroidal medications. In some cases it also requires Physical therapy or even Surgery in severe conditions.

There are many pain killers or pain relievers that are used for back aches. The most common OTC pain killers available are aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) from the NSAIDs. The most popular of these is aspirin as it can reduce both the inflammation and relieves the associated pain. It is easily available under a variety of brand names. It should however be checked for safety in cases of allergy, stomach ulcers or when used in children due to risks of aspirin use in such cases. Acetaminophen is a safe drug in this aspect. However it is associated with risks for patients suffering from liver disorders where it can harm the liver as well as the kidneys.

Other important nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that relieve pain as well as inflammation, which are more commonly used include; Diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), Flurbiprofen (Ansaid), Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Indomethacin (Indocin), Ketoprofen (Actron), Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn), Piroxicam (Feldene), The less common NSAIDs for this purpose include Diflunisal (Dolobid), Etodolac (Lodine), Meclofenamate (Meclomen), Nabumetone (Relafen), Orudis, Oruvail, Oxaprozin (Daypro), Phenylbutazone, Salsalate (Disalcid), Sulindac (Clinoril) and Tolmetin (Tolectin).

Muscle relaxants

These are centrally acting drugs that are usually prescribed for back ache relief when the muscle spasm is contributing to the pain.

These are available as prescription only medicines in the USA but some are available in Canada without a prescription. Most are available in tablet forms and are prescribed usually along with rest, exercise, physical therapy, or other treatments. Only methocarbamol (Robaxin) is available in both tablet and injectable forms. It is important to note that these muscle relaxing drugs should never be considered as a substitute for the other more important forms of treatment. Carisoprodol (Soma), Chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte DSC), Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), Methocarbamol (Robaxin)

Steroids

In some severe cases the steroids are given as epidural injections to ease the pain. These cases include Herniated disc, sciatic nerve compression or spinal stenosis which involve the nerve compressions where steroids are effective. The effects are temporary but are beneficial to patients of acute episodes of back or leg pain. This also helps in the rehabilitation of the patient by relieving pain.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy may be prescribed by your doctor, which is very effective in healing the pain. This therapy includes;For 20 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day during the first few days of a muscle sprain or spasm the effected person should use ice packs on his back. A hot bath or heating pad can help reduce pain and stiffness of the back muscles as well. Maintain good posture to keep your body's weight aligned and reduce stress on the back muscles thus causing pain relief. For the prevention of future problems weight loss is important. Avoid lifting heavy objects and repeated bending and twisting. Change positions often during the day and use a chair with good lower back support. It should also be noted that if the back pain is not relieved in 3 days by any of the treatments it is better to consult the health care provider.

Surgery

Fewer than 1 in 100 people ever require surgery for back pain.

Generally it is considered after months of an ineffective treatment by the physician but rarely used for this purpose. Surgery is an option in the case of a proven herniated disc that is causing the pain. Treating a herniated disc involves decompressing the nerve in the back that is causing the pain. If herniated disc is causing the pain surgery is an option in that case only which involves decompressing the nerve in the back. Tr aumatic conditions such as fractures of the spine, dislocations, painful spondylolisthesis where one vertebra slips forward on the one beneath it, neurological deficits caused by nerve compression or instability are the rare cases that requires surgery

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Some tips to maintain a healthy back and avoid causes of low back pain are given below:

Lift an object only by bending your knees and squatting to pick up the object. Always keeping the back straight and holding the object close to the body. By avoiding twists on the body while lifting anything the pain can be prevented. Rather than pulling when moving heavy objects it is always better to push them to avoid any strain on the back muscles.

By stopping or taking intervals while driving a car or truck for long hours. By sitting at a desk the pain is avoided by sitting on a chair that has a good support for the spine. By wearing flat shoes or shoes with low heels (1 inch or lower) to provide a straight stature to the body. An inactive lifestyle contributes to low back pain thus exercising regularly is important. Maintenance of weight is also very important, by putting down the weight the stress on the lower back is reduced.

When the back hurts, the best position for relief is to lie on the back on the floor with pillows under knees, with hips and knees bent and feet on a chair or just with hips and knees bent. This takes the pressure and weight off the back muscles and vertebrae. Resting for 1 to 2 days on the bed can relieve the back pain. Muscles may weaken if rest is more than that and recovery is slowed down so for avoiding this a few minutes walk is recommended.

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Back Pain Free Days - Ultimate 10 Day Recovery Blueprint

2011-06-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

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How You Can Prevent Lower Back Pain

2011-06-07T23:05:00.000-07:00

Lower back pain is created by your normal day to day activity. You bend and lift, you twist and turn and then you wake up or stand up and can't move. You now are a victim of lower back pain.

Your lower back pain can stop you from enjoying your leisure times and family times. You aren't able to get into your garden or do your household chores easily.

So you need to learn ways to help prevent this occurring.

Lower back pain is commonly caused by your normal daily activity, if you look at what you do the solution are very simple.

Each activity you do, whether it is bending or lifting or twisting, is working your lower back and other areas of your body. It is just like going to a gym for a work-out. The big difference is this...

Most gym work-outs last about an hour - yet you will spend three hours gardening. You may take two hours to vacuum your floor and do the housework. When you go to the gym you are told before you do any exercise you should warm up and when you are completed you need to warm down.

What would your gym instructor say if you decided to just get into your weights routine without a warm up? Would they sit back and say - "go for it, warm ups are over rated". Or are they more likely to encourage you to warm up, to prepare your self for the activity you are about to perform. The same for warm downs, they are wanting you to ease the muscles you have used to help them recover and to become stronger with time. All designed to limit injuries and aches and pains, including lower back pain.

My question is this - if you spend more time doing work around your house, if it involves lifting, bending and twisting, why do you not warm up or down?

As these activities are the most common cause of lower back pain, surely it is wise to prepare for them.

Warming up for household activity is easy. All you need to do is go for a five minute walk, simulate the task you are about to do - just without resistance. If you are going to garden then bend and twist like you intend to do, if you are going to vacuum, then lean over and simulate vacuuming just without the machine.

A few minutes doing this before the activity and a few after the activity will prevent a lot of lower back pain. A few minutes spent warming up and down can save you weeks of lower back pain.

A simple task to do that can help to easily prevent lower back pain. All you need to do now is implement it into your daily routines. Lower back pain does not need to be a common household problem. Remember, 80% of the adult population suffers from lower back pain, a simple warm up and warm down can reduce the lower back pain percentages dramatically.

Dr Graeme Teague is an expert in the structural field, and has been in practice since 1991. His newly launched web site The Back Pain Advisor - http://www.back-pain-advisor.com - strives to give you valuable and expert advice, tips and information on your back pain issues.

For more information on back stretches, just visit Back stretches- http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/back-stretches.html

Subscribe to your free e-course on solutions to your back pain, just click here -Back Solutions - [http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/back-solutions-masters-course.html] or for the ideal e-book on all the many structural techniques you can use at home to remove all back pain, visit http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/back-pain-advice.html

Does My Neck Pain Have Anything to Do With My Back Pain? If So, How?

2011-06-07T01:05:00.000-07:00

I you happen to suffer with neck and back pain, you are going to love this article.

Questions you may ask yourself (if this is you) are:

"If I have neck pain, does that automatically mean I will have back pain too? Or if I already do have back and neck pain, are the two even related"? If you don't ask yourself those questions, then those are two excellent questions any back pain sufferer, neck pain sufferer or both, should ask.

I think that they are excellent questions to ask because if they are related, and you happen to suffer with neck and back pain, then the answers may help you solve your own pain, and better yet, help you learn the reasons why you seem unable to lose your neck pain once and for all.

One of the best reference books relating to the anatomy and functioning of the spine ever published is aptly named:

THE SPINE

Edited by two highly renowned doctors, Richard Rothman MD, PhD and Frederick Simeone MD, both were past Professors at Pennsylvania Medical School, Rothman for Orthopedic surgery, and Simeone for Neurosurgery.

In this reference book called "The Spine", the second chapter is called "Applied Anatomy of the Spine".

In that chapter, the author basically related how the "23 or 24 individual motor segments", affect the entire spine. These 23 motor segments being referred to are better known as the bones of the spine and everything else that makes them complete, in terms of joint mechanics and electrical "wiring" (if you will).

The chapter explains how that no:

"Disorder of a single major component of a unit can exist without affecting: a) the function of the other components of the same unit, and b) the functions of the other levels of the spine.

That complex yet simple statement could very well hold a secret as to how neck and back pain are related, and more importantly what we can do about it.

In that quote above, the author is trying to get across two points. Firstly, when a problem develops in one area of the spine, then the spine will have a problem in the same area, but with the other components of the spine.

Seems like common sense actually.

By saying "components of the spine" the author is referring to having a problem with all the aspects of the structure and function of the spine. The bones, the nerves, the joints, the discs, the ligaments, the tendons, the cartilage, and anything else that helps make up the components in that area.

But the second more interesting point of that quote is the fact that when a problem develops with a major component of one unit" in the spine, then a problem will develop with the functioning of "another levels of the spine"

Very interesting finding, indeed.

The main take away idea of that entire quote is the fact that a problem in one component of the spine will affect the other components or "functions" of the same area, and the functions of "other" areas.

So picture this, if you have functional problems in your lower back (one component), like not being able to bend as far as you use to do, not being as flexible, having pain with sitting, pain with standing, changing positions, and pain with walking, then the problem can very likely be coming from the neck.

Other functional problems that can develop as a result of problems of the neck are the even more familiar activities of daily living, things like washing the dishes, cleaning up around the house, vacuuming, being on the computer, trying to get comfortable while watching television and trying to sleep comfortably.

If you have pain with doing any of these activities, you may be surprised to learn that you problem may very well start from your neck!

As well, similar problems and pains that you have in your neck, not being able to turn very far, pain into the upper shoulders, even weakness into the neck, arms and shoulders all may be as a result of the components of the lower back.

This idea that the entire spine can act like a singularly related "functioning entity" sounds kind of spooky I realize. Probably even harder to believe, but I assure you that this idea is supported by a vast array of literature, doctors, and references as you shall soon see.

For example, another reference text is entitled "Disorders of the Cervical Spine"

In regards to this references book, the authors tend to be a bit more specific. In this book, Dr. Bland a Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, states that "we tend to divide the examination of the spine into the regions: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine...this is a mistake"

Dr. Bland goes on to explain why this is a mistake, by stating the cervical spine may "be symptomatic because of a thoracic or lumbar spine abnormality, and vice versa!"

Over the decades, numerous other publications point to the fact that the cervical spine and its problems can influence movements, perception of pain and the neurology of the lower back.

If you actually just stop to think about it though, the neck and back affecting one another should make complete sense.

The signals that go up and down the spine into the lower back must ultimately pass through the neck to get to the brain. As well, all the information travelling down from the brain to the back, must travel through the neck on its way down to arms, trunk, lower back, and legs in order to make them move (and what not).

Mechanical problems of the neck unfortunately can really "mess" with both the signals originating in the spine going to the brain (called afferents) and the signals originating or being relayed from the brain to the spine ( called motor function).

Something I find equally interesting about this phenomenon is the fact that it is not new.

In 1942 the only neurosurgeon in the Hawaiian Islands during Pearl Harbor was Dr. Ralph Cloward.

Operating endlessly and saving countless lives, Dr. Cloward pioneered numerous diagnostic and spinal surgical techniques.

He published an article entitled "Cervical Diskography" and notes that spinal cord compression by a midline cervical disc protrusion can cause "pain extending down to the feet".

Several years later, and as early as 1946, Some of the best clinical observations as it relates to the spine comes from Herman Kabat, MD, PhD, published in a book entitled "Low Back and Leg Pain From Herniated Cervical Disc"

Dr Kabat explains that herniated discs in the neck is usually as a result of trauma, but he goes on to say that the compression of the cervical spinal cord by herniated discs in the neck is "the most common cause of low back and leg pain"

The other interesting finding in this presentation of lower back and leg pain as a result of neck herniations is the fact that these symptoms are

"indistinguishable from the characteristics symptoms of a herniated lumbar disc"

IF you have ever suffered with lower back pain, and have not been able to find any relief, or very little relief, all of the above findings should be a complete paradigm shift.

A paradigm shift because, while you have been focusing on back exercises, epidurals in the back, physical therapy and chiropractic in the back, and even surgery in the back, they may have been all for not, because the real problem, the real source of your pain, is in the neck.

Dr. Kabat confirms this fact when he suggests that "conservative treatment exclusively of the herniated cervical disc in a large series of cases has routinely produced complete and lasting relief of pain in the low back and leg"

Sometimes too, with herniated discs in the neck, pain in the low back and leg is the only complaint, without experiencing any pain in the neck or arm. When this is the case, it is easy to see how we can miss the true cause of the pain.

So what happens when we miss the true cause of lower back pain, especially if the true cause is coming from the herniated disc material in the neck?

Well for one, doctors often recommend lumbar spine surgery. I know that if that were me, and doctors recommended that I have back surgery to relive my back pain, and the real cause of my back pain was coming from my neck, I certainly would want to know that.

Wouldn't you?

Well Dr. Kabat found that patients that did not get any relief from back surgery were found to have a herniated cervical disc which was "exclusively responsible for the low back and leg pain"

I know that that statement above in the very least raises several concerns that must be addressed.

Number one, you must be thinking how the two, the neck and lower back, anatomically, actually relate to each other? Better yet, how in fact can a herniated disc in the neck, result in function problems, pain, and problems in the back? Explain it to me.

Number two, if the neck and the compression that occurs there can cause low back pain and leg pain, why have I never heard about it until now? Why is it not included and considered in the management of people like me, people that suffer with lower back pain?

In part two of this series "How does my neck pain relate to my back pain", I will be discussing the above concerns, and hopefully shed some light on why you keep suffering with lower back and neck pain.

In the last installment, I will give you a simple do at home exercise and stretching program that you can do own your home, to help relieve the compression in your neck, and ultimately live a pain free life.

Till next time, watching your back and neck.

Dr Joel Rosen, D.C. BPE, BA (Psych), is a Doctor of Chiroprrtic as well as a lifestyle & conditioning coach in Boca Raton, author of Lose the Neck Pain System, a contributing author to a number of article directories and magazines

Dr. Joel's neck pain elimination system websites feature his best-selling Lose the Neck Pain System for neck pain, upper back pain, headache pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even lower back pain and his membership site offers access to all of Dr Joel's Lose the Neck Pain System and video clips for men and women and discussion forums.

Dr. Joel Rosen also has an advanced education background, completing a Master's of Science Degree in Exercise Physiology from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and completing a Psychology from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Joel Rosen combines both disciplines as well as his doctorate in chiropractic to give his patients the cutting edge rehab strategies and techniques for obtaining optimal health and ending years of pain and suffering. Dr. Joel continues to study the latest training, supplementation, and nutrition research that will help improve client's health and wellness as well as their physical and mental performance.

Check out his website at http://doctorjoelrosen.com/

How to Deal With Chronic Pain & Depression - Back Pain & Failed Treatment Strategies

2011-06-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

Chronic back pain is a condition that affects millions of Americans every year. Chronic pain of any kind leads to depression in as high as 85% of all individuals diagnosed with the disorder. Chronic back pain may result from any number of factors and is in fact one of the least understood conditions affecting millions of back pain and sciatica sufferers worldwide. The often insidious and frequently misunderstood complex of chronic back pain and depression leads to its own set of conditions and consequences. The combination of depression and chronic pain often leads to total disability, with little hope of a real solution or cure.

Back pain, in fact pain in general, often falls into one of two categories. The two types of pain are nociceptive pain and neuropathy or neuropathic pain. Nociceptive pain is sensed by what are called nociceptor sensory fibers. Neuropathic pain or neuropathy is a term used to describe damage to a nerve or nerve tissue. With nociceptive pain, messages are sent to the brain signaling an injury to the skin, muscles, connective tissue such as ligaments and tendons, bones and joints or other vital organs. Nociceptive pain may be described in terms of trauma or a specific injury that often heals with time and treatment. Examples of this type of pain include the pain after spine surgery, the pain due to a fall or an accident, stubbing your toe, and arthritis pain, just to name a few. Neuropathy or neuropathic pain is generally a deep sensation, whether aching, throbbing or soreness. Neuropathy is generally associated with back pain and sciatica but may also indicate damage in other areas, such as pain in the neck extending into the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. It is believed that in cases where the nociceptive pain is prolonged, with no clear resolution or outcome, it may evolve or progress into neuropathic pain. It is not uncommon for a patient to have a constellation of conditions in which both categories, both classifications of pain are present.

Within the context of nociceptive pain and neuropathy, there are gradations ranging from mild to acute and from short term or abrupt manifestations to a chronic, long term state. While pain is a subjective state and classification next to impossible, we will define it as falling into one of two basic expressions, acute and chronic. Acute pain and chronic pain are very different, not only in terms of the actual sensation or expression, but in terms what the sensation or sensations are "telling" us, as well. Acute pain generally reflects the degree of damage at a specific location on or in the body. In cases of acute pain, there is a positive correlation, a relationship, between the sensation and the amount of actual damage. As a result, pain is considered a protective mechanism, an adaptive response allowing us to remove the cause or cease the behavior, thus interrupting the pain and minimizing the damage. Thus, acute pain is an expression of nociceptive pain. Chronic pain, on the other hand, does not send the same message acute pain does. Nor is chronic pain protective or adaptive, it serves no real biological function either. In fact, you could almost say that the signal is a mistake. The reason? Chronic pain, or neuropathic pain, continues to send impulses to the brain long after the event is over and there is no longer tissue damage to report.

It is chronic back pain, with no clear causality, pathology or otherwise, that is so difficult to treat and leads so many of its sufferers into depression, debilitation, and disability. Depression and chronic back pain are inextricably linked and treatment is difficult, if not impossible. The typical chronic pain sufferer with depression also experiences a loss of appetite, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and a myriad of other mental and physical maladies, all linked back to chronic back pain. Unfortunately, it is at this point the pain management practitioner usually steps in and medicates the patient with an amazing array of narcotics, exacerbating the situation further. Now we have an individual suffering from chronic back pain and depression, probably disabled and unable to work; and, if he or she does work, they have been completely marginalized by the stigma and their inability to function at optimal levels. The addition of narcotics serves to fully debilitate the chronic pain sufferer, usually addicting them to pain medication in the process. The spiral continues downward into worsening depression, hopelessness, loss of identity, loss of self-esteem, and, very possibly, loss of everything around them that was ever important to them.

Pretty grim, huh? Well, it's not without hope and certainly not without resolution. However, it takes a concerted effort including, at times, treatment to get off the pain medication. But it can be done! More and more chronic pain sufferers every day are seeking alternative "bad back" or chronic back pain treatment strategies. Many people suffering from the devastating and deadly complex of chronic pain and depression, addicted to narcotics, are starting to understand that traditional pain management, with its "let's thrown medication at it" mentality is a black hole from which, if not fully extricated from in time, will completely suck the life out of the individual at risk, literally and figuratively.

The program? Exercise, get off the medication, education, and re-entry into your life. Sounds simple but it's not. The chronic back pain may continue for quite a while and medication may be required to alleviate the symptoms of depression. However, if an individual really wants help, it is available. The result may be a new life, one far from the devastating reality of the old one. Exercise, get off the meds, education, and re-entry. Stare with a good, individualized exercise program, get treatment if necessary to get off the pain killers, go back to school or begin to educate yourself, it does wonders for your self-esteem, and re-enter your life, become involved with your family again, with friends, with your dog if you have one. And then? Take life as it comes, one day at a time, as they say. The results will be worth it. The journey? Fantastic!

For further information and an intelligent program of treatment for neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, what I refer to as the "back pain complex" try the program below:

For additional resources dealing with neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, including additional treatment plans and a community for support; an awesome resource for New Balance running shoes, great for heel cushioning and a must for anyone suffering from neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica; ice-compression braces, crucial for inflammation and swelling; orthotics for the times when the New Balance can't be worn; and, natural antinflammatories for the back pain complex:

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Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy

The Biggest Cause of Lower Back Pain - And Its Second Cure!

2011-06-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine being able to get out of bed in the morning feeling 100%, yes no more lower back pain to hold you back. Just think of all the things you could do again once your lower back pain had vanished. You would have time to read more...

Wait up, read more, why??

Well if you missed the first part to this article, it would pay to read it first. So go back to the search area and put in "The Biggest Cause of Lower Back Pain... and its' Cure!" to find the first part of this series.

Welcome back...

As I was saying, imagine being free of lower back pain. Being able to go to work pain free, come home pain free, and enjoy life without lower back pain. It is simple and you can have this seemingly unavailable dream.

Firstly you have corrected those pesky weak abdominal muscles, and now you need to release those persistent tight hip flexor muscles. After all they are just as much a cause of your lower back pain as your weak abdominal muscles.

If you don't want to know why these tight muscles cause lower back pain, just skip the next paragraph or two and go straight to how to release them...

The hip flexor muscles attach into the front of your lower spine and then reattach in your hip (where your leg attaches to your pelvis - not the area you call your hip in the side of your lower back). If they tighten they increase the curve of your lower back. This places pressure on your spine and then leads to lower back pain.

The hip flexor muscles are commonly irritated by a few things - performing sit-ups wrong is a good one, especially if you have been doing thousands of them in your aim to get those wash-board abdominals or to remove lower back pain. Sitting too long allows them to contract and shorten, which is the biggest cause today. Most of you reading this are sitting down and possibly have spent a few hours searching the internet already.

The way to release them is easy though. No doubt you will have come across many hip flexor stretches before. You now are sitting in hope that I am going to give you a 'miracle' stretch to remove your tight hip flexors once and for ever. But I'm not...

In fact the way to stretch the hip flexors is the same as always. You kneel on the ground, keep your back straight, have the front leg bent with the foot flat on the ground, and then move your pelvis forward so that you stretch the hip flexor of the back leg. Simple, you see these all the time.

The 'miracle part' is when to stretch. When you stretch, your aim is to release the tight muscle, and most of all keep it relaxed all the time. This way your lower back pain will ease and disappear. To achieve this you need to stretch three times each day...

When you wake up, once in the day and just before bed. The night time stretch is the most important as you stretch then relax the muscle by sleeping. This is the ideal way to train your muscle to stay relaxed. The other most important aspect is how to stretch.

Knowing what to stretch is essential, knowing when to stretch is imperative; knowing how to stretch is the fail-safe.

You are most likely reading this with lower back pain. You want to be able to get out of your chair and enjoy life, free of lower back pain. This is achievable and all you have to do is increase the strength of your abdominal muscles and release the tension in your hip flexors... simple.

Lower back pain can disappear and remain that way. Life becomes the way you always dreamed it would...

Dr Graeme Teague is an expert in the structural field, and has been in practice since 1991. His newly launched web site The Back Pain Advisor - http://www.back-pain-advisor.com - strives to give you valuable and expert advice, tips and information on your back pain issues.

For more information on lower back pain issues just visit - http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/lower-back-pain.html

Receive a free e-book on back pain when you subscribe to our newsletter, just click here - [http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/back-pain-adviser.html]

Understanding Chronic Treatment-Resistant Pain - Psychosomatic Back Pain

2011-06-04T23:39:00.000-07:00

Science has demonstrated that there is an incredibly powerful link between the mind and the body. In many instances, the underlying cause of neck pain, back pain and sciatica, also referred to as the back pain complex, may be psychological. Many times, when an individual is in pain and told that it may be psychological or psychosomatic, the patient immediately becomes defensive, often stating, "It is not in my mind, the pain is real!" The fact is, it is indeed very real, regardless of whether the pain is labeled as psychosomatic or not. When dealing with treatment-resistant, chronic pain the mind/body link must be explored, so it can be ruled out. In this article, we will discuss psychological pain, psychosomatic pain, and chronic psychological back pain. While discussed in a previous article, we will also address, once again but briefly, the link between chronic back pain and depression. Chronic pain, in any form, can be the most insidious, debilitating, and disabling of any medical complaint. In order to fully treat the condition, underlying causality must be explored and diagnosed thoroughly. It is true that most cases of neck pain, back pain, and sciatica are or have their basis in an actual pathology or other physiological condition. However, psychological back pain is quite common and in fact is one of the primary causes of treatment-resistant chronic pain.

Unfortunately, when an illness is labeled psychosomatic there is often an immediate stigma or negative perception associated with it. Very often, when an individual suffering from neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica hears the term psychosomatic, they immediately respond defensively. When a condition is labeled as psychosomatic the connotation attached is that the condition is "all in the mind" or somehow "imaginary." There is even a mental illness stigma attached, with the patient protesting, "I am not crazy, this pain is real!" Even people close, at times members of the individual's own family, will say unkind things like, "I knew he was faking it" or "I knew she was just trying to get attention, I felt sorry for her!" For these reasons and others, the resistance to a psychosomatic diagnosis is considerable, often socially and culturally based.

As discussed in a previous article, there is a powerful link between stress and psychosomatic illness, in this case neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica; or treatment-resistant chronic back pain. Additionally, the link between depression and psychosomatic illness, particularly as we age, is often quite powerful. Individuals suffering from psychosomatic illness may experience incredible pain or other physical manifestations or symptoms, with no physical diagnosis. Paradoxically, there are a number of physical conditions, such as brain injuries and vitamin deficiencies just to name two, which may exhibit profound psychological symptoms. However, it is often the case that many individuals exhibiting treatment-resistant chronic pain, with no underlying medical diagnosis, may have a psychological or psychosomatic condition.

Contrary to commonly held beliefs, pain that is the result of a psychosomatic condition, of an emotional or psychological process, is actually quite real. Psychosomatic pain, in this case treatment-resistant chronic back pain, is not imaginary, it is not "in our heads," it is not the result of a delusional or a sick mind, and it is not the consequence of mental illness. The fact is that anyone suffering from tension headaches, ulcers, colitis, tension backaches, and a myriad of other stress-related illnesses has a psychosomatic condition. Clearly, all of these individuals are not "crazy." I suppose the best way for an individual to understand just how real psychosomatic pain can be is to have them think back to their last tension headache and ask a single, quite simple question: "Was the pain real?"

Psychological back pain is simply another name for psychosomatic back pain and is sometimes referred to as stress-induced back pain. Once again, pain associated with this condition is indeed very real. While the pain may ultimately be linked to the mind/body link, the physical expression of pain, whether the pain is neck pain, back pain or sciatica, may be debilitating and disabling. Consequently, dealing with psychosomatic, treatment-resistance chronic pain is often difficult, if not close to impossible, without effectively dealing with the underlying condition. As a noted evolutionary scientist once pointed out, psychosomatic pain may be considered an evolutionary anomaly but it is completely human and utterly normal. As our system, and that includes our mind, becomes overloaded, it seeks to alleviate or eliminate the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible. Unfortunately for the patient, it does this by shifting focus away from the actual cause, the real danger, expressing it in a very uncomfortable, often intense fashion; and, in this case through chronic treatment-resistant back pain.

Psychosomatic pain is the most frequently diagnosed and least understood form of both acute and chronic back pain. Significantly, most treatment-resistant chronic back pain sufferers, those with unresolved back pain, meaning that there is no clear diagnosis, by definition suffer from an underlying and misdiagnosed psychological ailment or condition. While medical schools are beginning to address this very significant medical issue, psychosomatic illness has long been relegated to the back burner of medical education. Consequently, medical practitioners are simply not prepared for or able to understand, much less treat, this condition. As a result, many individuals are misdiagnosed with this "scapegoat condition," leaving individuals with very real physiological, structural, and medical conditions undiagnosed.

Unfortunately, while solutions are available, they are still relatively unknown. As the medical community begins to educate itself, so they can be better prepared to deal with this condition, we are beginning to see the first steps towards a holistic approach to this problem. Psychosomatic medicine has been talked about for centuries, even Sigmund Freud was fascinated by it in his time, yet it is only in the last few years that we see a real movement to deal with this ongoing epidemic. Treatment-resistance chronic pain sufferers, particularly those individuals with an extended history of unresolved and undiagnosed pain, are most likely to exhibit a myriad of medical complaints to include ulcers, colitis, and depression, just to name a few. The combination of unresolved neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica and depression leads to profound consequences for the individual, the family, the community, and even the state. The impact of this poorly understood and often misdiagnosed condition or set of conditions ripples throughout the system with consequences far beyond those of a medical nature.

Ultimately, and until such time as the underlying condition has been diagnosed, treated, and eliminated, symptoms must be recognized and alleviated. For this reason, it is advisable for the individual to begin a wide-ranging, individualized, and medically supervised program to deal with both symptoms expressed and causality yet undetermined. Exercise, in and of itself, will have a remarkable and immediate impact on most individuals. Not only will an exercise program, properly administered and supervised, do wonders to alleviate stress, it will also serve to improve self-esteem and self-confidence. With exercise, particularly until the musculature adapts and adjusts to the new routine, certain other measures will need to be taken. The additional treatment strategies to be initiated, along with the exercise program, should include a stretching program, 2 to 3 times a day (see: "Simple and Easy Program of Exercise for Sciatica Relief... Part I & Part II"). Self-education, both individually and in a group setting, will also enhance understanding, self-knowledge, and self-esteem. Most importantly, either individual or group therapy should be initiated in order to comes to grips with the underlying issues contributing to the unresolved and/or misdiagnosed psychosomatic pain condition. The concert of bad back strategies will do wonders to alleviate symptoms, ultimately leading to a resolution when used along side of a solid therapy program to understand underlying stressors which resulted in the back pain complex of neck pain, back pain, and sciatica.

For further information and an intelligent program of treatment for neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, what I refer to as the "back pain complex" try the program below:

Go to:

John P. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy

How to Relieve Lower Back Pain - 6 Simple Tips For Your Back Pain

2011-06-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

How to relieve lower back pain is the use of interventions and therapies which involve blocking the conduction of nerves between specific areas of the brain and the body to alleviate pain, medications for short- term relief, exercises for strengthening and pain relief, surgery for relief of chronic pain and other disabilities.

Low back pain is very common among adults and it is often caused by overused of muscles causing strain or injury. Long hours of sitting and standing can also aggravate the condition. Since the lower part of your back makes the most of your movement in everything you do, it can also be the most affected when stressed and injured. As such, when people have such condition, they feel as if they want that pain to disappear in a second.

In the advance of technology these days, there are treatments to help relieve pain in the lower back that varies depending on the severity of the case. There some key points that we have to remember when dealing with the treatment options:

Different treatments can help you stay as active as possible as it will help you understand that some continued or repeated back pain is not surprising or dangerous at all. Most low back pain can get better if you stay active, you avoid positions and activities that may be exhausting to your lower back, use ice for pain and inflammation, and take nonprescription pain relievers when you need them. Doctor's advice is necessary.

When pain is no longer severe, you may be ready for gentle strengthening exercises for your back, necks, legs and to some different areas of the body.. Exercise may not only help decrease low back pain, but it may also help you recover faster, prevent recurrence injury to your back, and reduce the risk of permanent disability.

Exercises to reduce low back pain may not be complicated and can be done at the comforts of your home without any special equipment.

Don't be afraid of the pain and let it stop you from trying gentle activity. You should try to be active soon to prevent pain recurrence and other disabilities. Remember, too little activity can lead to loss of flexibility, strength, and endurance, thus causing more pain.

How To Relieve Lower Back Pain

1. Introduce lower back pain stretching exercises

Some relief from the early stages of lower back pain can be accomplished by performing simple stretches which are often advised by your therapist. Lower back strengthening exercises, along with cardio training exercises are keys to get rid of lower back pain. These will enable your body to become stronger and increase movement and flexibility.

The gentle motions of aerobic exercises such as swimming or riding a stationary bicycle will encourage blood flow through the muscles, increase your flexibility, and enable your body to release natural pain killers of the body into the blood stream thus relieving pain. Aim for 20 to 30 minutes of these exercises each day and you'll notice a significant difference in not only your lower back, but you'll feel better overall.

Aerobic exercise - this is done to condition your heart and other muscles, maintain health, and increase oxygenation to the different parts of the body

Tread milling, swimming, riding on a stationary bike, brisk walking, jogging, aerobics.

Strengthening exercises - this focuses on your back, stomach, and leg muscles.

Prone hold, chest life, opposite arm leg raises, roll outs, super man.

Stretching exercises - this is done to keep your muscles and other supporting tissues flexible and less prone to injury.

If you have low back pain, avoid:

X Straight leg sit-ups.

X Lifting both legs while lying on your back (leg lifts).

X Lifting heavy weights above the waist.

2. Hot and cold treatment

The early stage of lower back pain can be treated with Alternate hot and cold compress. You have to try out whether ice will work better for you than heat. Experiment to determine which one do you prefer and which one is more effective for you. Try to use ice pack for pain and inflammation for at least 10-15 minutes. Once the pain has subsided, apply some hot pack and do it for another 10-15 minutes.

3. Medications

The most common medications for back pain is the over the counter pain killers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These are highly recommended to alleviate back pain. They both work differently so they usually are taken at the same time. Prescribed drugs such as muscle relaxant, anti- depressants are used for prolong relief of pain.

Pain killer such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the single most effective non prescription drugs for lower back pain and it has fewer side effects. It relieves pain by working its action into the brain to turn off the pain perception.

NSAIDs such as Aspirin decreases swelling on the affected area. However, aspirin is not usually taken because of its life threatening effects.

Prescribed Steroids which are effective in treating swelling; however, these drugs have a lot of adverse effects so the dose should be exact and be given regularly and on time.

For the dose, frequency and duration of the drug, consult your health care provider for safety.

4. Transcutaneous electrical nerve simulation is a method employed to bring lower back pain relief. A battery-powered device is used to send mild electric pulses going to the nerve fibers in order to block pain signals to the brain thus alleviating the pain.

5. Ultrasound is a non-invasive method that works by warming the internal tissues of the body that results in the relaxation of muscles at the back.

6. Surgical therapy is one of the many methods on how to relieve lower back pain but it is the least thing to do when the patient does not respond to therapies. It is depending on the doctor's advice if surgery is really needed and consent from the patient must also be considered.

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Learn How To Strengthen Lower Back once and for all with the tips that is shared on our get rid of back pains site.

The Growing Epidemic of Low Back Pain in Children

2011-06-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Low Back Pain Is Not Just For Adults

In years past, low back pain was thought to be a malady afflicting only the elderly. Well, it's not just your granddad's disorder any longer. Once considered a rare pediatric condition, low back pain in children has become a growing concern among many in the medical community.

Children's skeletal structures are continuously growing until late adolescence. Combined with the stress of sports activities including contact sports, the incidence of low back pain in children is skyrocketing. In a recent study, it was determined that low back pain was responsible for approximately 23% of most school absenteeism, and when sports injuries were thrown into the mix, that number jumped to 29%. Even more surprising, researchers discovered that in 75% of reported cases, childhood low back pain triggered depression and other psychological problems. This constitutes a serious concern that demands the attention of parents and health care providers alike.

What Causes Low Back Pain In Children?

It seems that many of the same health issues that initiate low back pain in adults, such as poor posture, misalignment of vertebrae, trauma, emotional stress and sports injuries, have the same affect on children. Add to these issues the fact that most school-age children carry backpacks that weigh 10-20% of their body weight, and you have a recipe for life-long health concerns and back pain.

Emotional stress is also an important factor to consider. Adolescents are subject to wildly varying emotions sometimes compared to a rollercoaster ride. It can be terrifying and exhilarating at the same time; filled with soaring, sky-high excitement only to suddenly plummet into a downward spiral. Interestingly, these rollercoaster emotions have been associated with lower back pain. Research in England involving children between the ages of 11 and 14 revealed that children with higher levels of psychological and social difficulties are much more likely to experience low back pain than their peers.

The Good News Is That Chiropractic Can Help

When spinal vertebrae become misaligned, whether in an adult or in a child, the diagnosis is called vertebral subluxation. This may sound like a frightening medical condition, but it is one that a professional chiropractic doctor can address with great success. However, when left untreated, vertebral subluxation can lead to frequent earaches, headaches, infant colic, neck pain and carpel tunnel syndrome.

Chiropractic care also addresses the nervous system which, among a myriad of other miraculous functions, governs the way in which our bodies react physically to stress. Chiropractic adjustments actually help your body release pent-up stress, relieving tight muscles, tendons and ligaments, and helping to prevent low back pain.

Chiropractic treatment is a wonderful, highly effective way to enjoy natural relief of back pain. Your child's chiropractor will painlessly adjust the vertebral column in order to correct any vertebral misalignment, without potentially harmful drugs or invasive surgery. There is no recovery time; instead, your child will most likely experience an immediate relief from pain and restoration of movement. Additionally, your chiropractor can recommend exercises to relieve low back pain.

What Are The Three D's, And Is Your Child At Risk?

DDD, or degenerative disc disease, is actually a form of arthritis and has been proven to be a common cause of lower back and leg pain in children. Surprisingly, DDD has even been diagnosed in infants. And yet, degenerative disc disease is not typically identified by traditional medical practitioners. Rather, highly-skilled and well-trained chiropractic doctors are leading the way into this new medical frontier.

Degenerative disc disease sounds like a progressive, very frightening disease that could certainly alarm any parent, so here is a brief explanation of DDD. Changes in the water and protein content of the body's cartilage results in weaker, more fragile and thin cartilage. This more typically occurs as we get older. Now, because both the discs and the joints that stack the vertebrae are partly composed of cartilage, these areas are, unfortunately, subject to degenerative changes. The deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae is referred to as degenerative disc disease, and makes the disc tissue more susceptible to herniation.

Natural Remedies For Degenerative Disc Disease Are Available The important thing to remember is that chiropractic care offers you and your child gentle, effective treatment of degenerative disc disease. Early detection and treatment is key to optimum recovery, however. Research at St. Louis University led by Francis W. Smith, MD revealed that degenerative changes in the spines of pediatric study participants occurred much earlier than previously suspected, creating a predisposition to muscle and muscle and ligament sprains and strains, as well as arthritis of the spinal joints.

DDD is not always accompanied by lower back or leg pain, so the wisest course of action is to seek preventative chiropractic care for you and your children. Further, Dr. Smith advises that degenerative disc disease preventative care should begin prior to puberty. Be sure to ask your chiropractic doctor about symptoms of degenerative disc disease and what treatments are available.

Be Proactive - Protect Your Child's Health

A wealth of scientific research confirms that chiropractic care provides safe, effective, and drug-free relief from back and neck pain ... regardless of the cause. So if your child complains of low back pain, if you notice a difference in the way he walks, stands or sits, if your child appears overly clumsy or if you suspect a sport-related trauma, do not ignore these symptoms. Protect your child's physical and emotional health by contacting a chiropractic care professional today.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Drs. Brenda and Erik Slovin are board certified Chiropractic physicians at http://www.SlovinChiropractic.com in Norwalk, Connecticut. Drs. Slovin specialize in teaching people how to get rid of their headache, migraine and neck and shoulder pain, quickly and easily, without the use of drugs or surgery.

To get instant access to all their most successful health strategies and secrets, as well as a free Chronic Pain Report that lets you know why, what most people don't know about chronic pain can actually hurt you!, visit them at: http://www.headache-neck-pain-relief.com and sign-up to receive their monthly newsletter "Live Well".

Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain

2011-06-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

Pete Egoscue learned a lot about pain when, as a Marine officer, he was wounded in Vietnam. He segued from patient to physical therapist, and now runs a famous clinic in San Diego, where he claims he's helped 95 percent of his patients cure chronic pain--including Jack Nicklaus and Charles Barkley, whose athletic careers he helped prolong. At the heart of his program are stretches and motion exercises to restore proper function to muscles and joints. His methods are often surprising and counterintuitive. For example, for foot pain, he suggests a series of hip exercises. In fact, this is one of the most startling books you'll read about the human organism. Egoscue has strong opinions about how modern life is changing the way our bodies function, reducing the tasks we must perform and thus reducing the functional range of motion of our muscles and joints. Fortunately, he offers movement exercises to restore what nature meant us to have.

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How to Diagnose Lower Back Pain

2011-06-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

Lower back pain is a common affliction, with millions each year visiting physicians for relief. Not only will they seek relief, they will want a diagnosis.

It is not always easy to diagnose lower back pain. Many body structures can cause it. There are muscles, ligaments, and tendons; spinal column bones; joints, discs and nerves. In addition to these structures, there may be underlying medical conditions your physician needs to evaluate.

Whether you initially diagnose lower back pain yourself, or leave that to your physician, the diagnosis will need to consider both the location and symptoms of your pain.

Step 1 - Location

The first step is to decide the location. "Where does it hurt?"

1. Axial lower back pain: This lower back pain hurts only in the low back. Pain does not travel into any other area.

2. Radicular lower back pain: This lower back pain hurts in the low back, and also radiates down the backs of the thighs into one or both legs.

3. Lower back pain with referred pain: Diagnose lower back pain with referred pain if it hurts in the low back area, and tends to radiate into the groin, buttocks, and upper thighs. The pain will rarely radiate below the knee, but may seem to move around.

Step 2 - Symptoms

Once you diagnose lower back pain as to location, you will consider symptoms. "How does it feel?"

1. Worsens with certain activities: If you play football, for example, the pain is worse.

2. Worsens in certain positions: Perhaps it gets worse if you stand for too long. Or it is more painful after you sit in a car.

3. Feels better after rest: Resting from the activity or position usually reduces the lower back pain.

4. Deep and steady: Not a sharp muscle catch, this pain is constant and deep within the affected areas.

5. Severe: The pain is excruciating, possibly more so in the calf than the lower back.

6. Numbness and tingling: There may be "pins and needles" within the area.

7. Fleeting pain: Pain may seem to come and go, leaving you unsure at times just how it feels.

8. Achy and dull: Like the flu, this pain is sore and dull, though sometimes intensifying.

9. Migratory: It hurts in one spot, then another.

Diagnosis

AXIAL: If location is best described by number 1 above, and symptoms are a combination of 1, 2, and 3, you can probably diagnose lower back pain as being axial - the most common type. This is also called "mechanical" lower back pain. A variety of back structures can cause axial lower back pain, and it is difficult to identify which is the cause. Axial pain gets better on its own, and about 90% of patients recover within six weeks.

RADICULAR: If location is best described by number 2 above, and symptoms are a combination of 4, 5, and 6, you can probably diagnose lower back pain as being radicular - commonly called sciatica. This lower back pain is caused by compression of a lower spinal nerve, usually the sciatica nerve that runs from the spinal column, down the back of the thighs to the feet. Doctors usually recommend conservative treatment such as physical therapy exercises, medications, and possibly spinal injections, for six to eight weeks.

REFERRED: If location is best described by number 3 above, and symptoms are a combination of 7, 8, and 9, you can probably diagnose your pain as being lower back pain with referred pain - the least common type. This lower back pain is treated the same as axial back pain and frequently goes away as the problem resolves on its own.

How do you diagnose lower back pain?

Diagnose lower back pain with care. You need an accurate diagnosis, which your physician can best make, to be sure no underlying causes need attention. It is not enough to know you have sciatica. You need to know the underlying cause of the sciatica to determine treatment options.

If you do diagnose lower back pain, check the diagnosis with your physician.

?2007, Anna Hart. Anna herself is a back pain sufferer, and can sympathize with your problem. She invites you to read more of her articles about back pain at http://www.backpainreliefblog.com Anna has posted additional information on that site about the lower back. If you want to fend off lower back pain, please visit Anna.

Back Pain Relief: Desired By All

2011-06-01T04:45:00.000-07:00

Back pain relief is desired by most of us since back pain is a common phenomenon. Most of us suffer from back pain from one or the other point in our life, but a majority of us are unaware of the true reason or the cause of this ailment. A poor posture or a strain in the back muscles generally leads to pain. Activities such as lifting, bending and twisting can result in back pain. Although back pain may emerge suddenly, it may be caused by a problem which has plagued us for a long time.

Appropriate back pain relief can be provided only after finding out the exact cause or the identification of the situations that result in back pain. Back pain can be acute, recurrent or chronic. Most of the people suffering from back pain fall in the first category wherein the pain vanishes in about six weeks and home remedies prove to be very effective. In the case of the recurrent category, the pain reappears after some time while chronic pain lasts for a longer period of time.

Simple exercises or massage can provide adequate back pain relief in cases where the pain is not severe or is caused by a poor posture or a simple strain in the back muscles. However, in cases where the pain stays on for a longer time and is accompanied by other symptoms such as the difficulty in passing urine or numbness in the back or the genital area, weakness and a shooting pain in the leg or feeling unstable while standing, one should consult a specialist rather than rely on home medicines or remedies.

Bed rest is not an effective method to provide back pain relief. Evidence has shown that rest does not aid in the recovery of a person suffering from back pain. It is much better if we continue with our normal activities while taking some measures for relieving the pain.

Massage and regular exercise are the two effective methods of providing back pain relief. Yoga is considered to be one of the best ways to reduce back pain. However, some Yoga positions may aggravate the pain. So it is essential that we carry on these Yoga exercises under the supervision of a trained instructor. Many a times, non prescription medicines such as aspirin or other pain killers provide adequate back pain relief. Application of a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel to the affected area for five to ten minutes also reduces the pain.

It is also essential that we avoid sudden movements which can hinder back pain relief. We also need to maintain a proper posture at all times and avoid slouching. It is said that prevention is the best cure. So it is important that we identify the various factors or activities that result in back pain and than try to restrict their happening. The best way to ensure adequate back pain relief is to identify and solve the factors causing the pain.

Paul Osborne is the executive editor of http://backpain-resources-online.com & http://lowerbackpainrelief.org Both sites offer a host of information, tips and advice for lower back pain relief.

Back Pain In Children - Go To The Root Cause

2011-05-31T08:51:00.000-07:00

Children suffer from many diseases and disorders in their childhood days, but chronic back pain is a rare disorder that is found in them. The general cause of a child's back pain is an injury or sitting and standing in bad postures. But if there occurred no injury and still your child is suffering from a consistent back pain, do you know what to do? Well, your child needs an immediate medical attention.

Back pain in children not just come with a constant and harrowing pain, but is also accompanied with many other symptoms like high fever, loss of weight, behavioral changes, weakness, sleeplessness and nausea. You need to keep a constant tap on any of these symptoms and report immediately to a nearby doctor if the conditions do not improve.

The only way to get to the root of your child's back pain is with a proper medical attention. You should get a spine X-ray test done and find out the accurate cause of the suffering. Right diagnosis will only lead to a right treatment. The other tests that may help you find the reasons of back pain are MRI, a bone scan, CT scan, blood tests and ESR.

Your child can suffer due to back pain due to the following reasons:

Bad Postures: Children have a habit to sit in bad postures while studying, reading, eating and watching TV. It is the biggest cause of back pain in children. You need to take a regular notice of that and correct your child whenever he follows a bad posture.

Injuries: Injuries remain the most common cause of back pain in children. A minor fall can cause a muscle pull or even strain a ligament. If not taken seriously, the problem can aggravate. Pain due an injury can be treated with anti-inflammatory medicines, effectively. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is commonly used. But these medicines should be under the medical supervision of a good doctor only.

Spondylolysis: Over five per cent of children suffer due to back pain that falls in this category of spondylolysis. In this disease there occurs a fracture in the lower vertebra of the spinal cord. If not taken care of properly, the pain may aggravate. In such situations, surgery and bracing remains the last option. The problem with this disorder is that, in children it does not come up with any symptoms. Therefore sometimes it becomes difficult to find out if the child is suffering from this disorder.

Herniation of the disk: Herniated disk is a rare cause of back pain in children. If it occurs, it causes weakness and numbness in the child's body. The only treatment to this type of back pain is bed rest and surgery in rarest-of-rare cases.

Pott's Disease: This disease occurs due to TB of spine in children. The disorder can be cured with the administration of antibiotics like, third generation cephlaosporins and ceftriaxone.

Diskitis: This disorder occurs due to infections in the disk. Infection leads to high fever, back pain, muscle spasms coupled with behavioral irritability. If not taken care of the disorder at the early stages, there can occur acute complications in the later years of life. Treatment of this disorder includes bed rest coupled with a supervised course of antibiotics.

Pyelonephritis: If you were thinking that back pain could only occur due to some dysfunctionality in the spine, you were wrong. There also occurs a kidney infection that is a cause of back pain. In Pyelonephritis, children suffer due to a sharp pain that is usually on one side of the back. The pain is accompanied with high fever and nauseatic feelings. The child may also feel pain or a burning sensation while urinating.

Scheurman's kyphosis: This disorder is common in adolescents, especially males. The upper back takes a round shape, thus bending the whole spine. There are two forms of this disease. One is flexible kyphosis and the other is non-flexible kyphosis. The treatment requires bracing up of the back.

Spondylolisthesis: Children who suffer from spondylolysis have a slip of their 5th vertebra. The sacrum also dislocates. The severe cases of this disorder can only be corrected with a surgery.

Besides these, there are other causes of back pain in children. They are tumors or neoplasms, malnutrition, suffering due to trauma, muscle weakness, arthritis and some of the other infections. But theses reasons are generally rare.

To get more information visit causes of back pain, back pain treatment & [http://www.backpaindetails.com/pain/magazine/edition/Backpain-Guide.htm]

Philips AVENT Range BPA-Free Front Teeth Teether, Animal

2011-05-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

Helps soothe teething pain
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Bed Prism Spectacles

2011-05-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

Enjoy Reading in Bed or Watching TV While Reclining -- Read a book without eye fatigue or physical strain or watch TV in horizontal comfort. Precisely aligned glass prisms show half a page of an average hard-cover book. Bed specs are lightweight - you will hardly know you are wearing them! -- Ideal for traveling or patients in bed. --

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WWE: Smackdown! Just Bring It!

2011-05-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

As the style of professional wrestling on TV has changed, so have the video games. Gone are the days of simple bouts between two men in tights. Wrestling is now a violent soap opera full of plot twists, romance, and intrigue. WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It accordingly contains as much story as it does action. The game features more than 40 WWF wrestlers who participate in 70 types of matches. Superstars like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock, and Kurt Angle are joined by characters like Stephanie McMahon, Fred Durst, and Tajiri. Special matches include Falls Count Anywhere, Royal Rumble, Last Man Standing, and TLC (Tables, Ladders, Chairs). Plus there are plenty of secret wrestlers, rings, and matches that can be unlocked, adding to the replay value.

Gamers familiar with the controls of the Smackdown series will feel right at home. The game plays largely the same, with some additional moves and finishers. While having familiar and responsive controls is definitely a good thing, the graphics should not be too familiar on a next-generation system. Unfortunately, the game's character models haven't progressed much from the PlayStation version. However, the improvements in animations and ring entrances are fantastic.

The biggest flaw in the game is the commentary by Tazz and Michael Cole. There are several instances in which the commentary is disjointed and unnatural, and it often fluctuates severely in volume. This is a shame, as the announcers are a big part of pro wrestling's storytelling. Despite this problem, WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It packs more than enough quality gameplay and variety to thrill any WWF fan. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

Classic gameplay with some nice refinements
Lots of features to unlock
Great multiplayer fun

Cons:

Disjointed commentary is distracting and annoying
Story mode is limited
Unimpressive character models

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Do You Really Need A Back Pain Specialist?

2011-05-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

Since back pain is such a common illness, one might assume that your general practitioner or internist is an expert when it comes to treating your back. This isn't necessarily true. Nevertheless, starting with your primary physician is the place to rule out other problems that may affect your spine, such as pain originating elsewhere in your body that may afflict the back. While a general practitioner is not a back pain specialist, he can diagnose a pinched nerve or disease that may produce back pain. Many times, a trip to your primary caregiver resolves the backache issues. But if the back pain still persists, you will most probably be referred to a specialist.

In most cases, your family doctor is likely to refer you to a chiropractor, a back pain specialist who is capable of treating acute back pain. One of the benefits of seeing a chiropractor is that he doesn't emphasize on drugs to mask pain symptoms and often offers non-surgical treatments.

Another type of back pain specialist that is recommended for back pain relief, is osteopaths. An osteopath looks at a patient's environment, such as stress and accidents, along with the psychosocial as well as the physical factors. Even though an osteopath may prescribe medication or surgery, his emphasis is on correcting the structural problems in the body.

Back pain sufferers prefer physiatrists, as they are adept at treating back and neck pain with a variety of non-surgical options, including physical therapy and injections. Some physiatrists have a subspecialty in sports medicine while others can administer injections, such as epidural braces. These back pain specialists are also likely to tailor an exercise program for your backache.

In addition, an orthopedist is a specialist that often treat a range of maladies, from the simple back pain, herniated disk with a pinched nerve to intense spine abnormality and disorders. They may prescribe drugs or request a complete workup to include a standard orthopedic test, a CAT scan or an MRI. If you need surgery of any kind or a ruptured disc, seeing an orthopedist is your best option.

For more information on effective back pain remedies, quick cures for back pain or fun back pain exercises, you can visit this site: Back Pain Clinic

?Skyjoe. All rights reserved. This article may be freely distributed as long as it remains unaltered inclusive of the active links and the copyright notice. No alteration is allowed without express written permission from the author.

Belkin Core Laptop Backpack (Pitch Black/Soft Gray) fits up to 15.6-Inch laptops

2011-05-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

Belkin Core Notebook Backpack F8N116-KSG Laptop & Notebook Cases

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Back Pain Solutions Without Surgery

2011-05-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

Acute back pain may begin suddenly and usually lasts around 3 months. Chronic back pain sometimes lasts throughout life.

The most common back pain is low back pain (LBP). It is is often described as sudden, sharp, persistent, or dull pain felt below the waist. LBP is very common and affects the majority of people at some point during their life. Up to 70%--85% of all people have back pain at some time in their lives. LBP is the most common cause of a limitation of activity in people younger than 45 years of age. It is the second most frequent reason for visits to a physician, and the third most common indication for surgery. It is the fifth-ranking cause of hospital admissions and is one of the leading causes of disability.

Low back pain is most commonly caused by muscle strain associated with heavy physical work, lifting or forceful movement, bending or twisting, awkward positions, or standing in one position too long. Any of these movements can exacerbate a prior or existing back disorder. Other conditions that can cause low back pain include spinal stenosis, arthritis (osteoarthritis), spinal infection (osteomyelitis), spinal tumors (benign and malignant), spondylolisthesis, and vertebral fractures (e.g. burst fracture).

Low back pain is either acute or chronic. Acute LBP may begin suddenly with intense pain usually lasting fewer than three months. Chronic pain is persistent long-term pain, sometimes lasting throughout life. Even chronic pain may present episodes of acute pain. Other symptoms include localized pain in a specific area of the low back, general aching, and/or pain that radiates into the low back, general aching, and/or pain that radiates into the low back, buttocks and leg(s). Sometimes pain is accompanied by neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness. Neurological symptoms requiring immediate medical attention include bowel or bladder dysfunction, groin or leg weakness or numbness, severe symptoms that do not subside after a few days, or pain prohibiting everyday activities.

Pain felt in the low back is not always indicative of a spinal problem. A thorough physical and neurological assessment may reveal the cause of the low back pain. The physical examination begins with the patient's current condition and medical history. Examination of a patient with low back pain involves examining the patient's range of spinal motion while standing straight, bending forward, and to the side. Asymmetry, posture, and leg length is noted. Methodical palpation of the spine can reveal muscle spasm, possible bony displacement, and tender points. Abdominal palpation is performed to determine if the cause of low back pain is possibly organ related (e.g. pancreas). The neurological assessment evaluates weakness, absence of reflexes, tingling, burning, pain, diminished function, and other signs that may indicate nerve involvement.

If infection, malignancy, fracture, or other risk factors are suspected, routine lab tests may be ordered. These tests may include complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR), and urinalysis. In some cases electrodiagnostic studies such as electromyography (EMG) or nerve condition velocity (NCV) are performed to confirm a diagnosis or localize the site of nerve injury. Plain radiographs (x-rays), CT Scan, and/or MRI studies are performed when fracture or neurological dysfunction is suspected. A MRI represents the gold standard in imaging today. A MRI renders high-resolution images of spinal tissues such as the spinal cord and intervertebral discs. X-rays are still the imaging methods of choice to study the bony elements in the low back. The results of the physical and neurological examinations combines with test results are carefully evaluated to confirm a diagnosis.

Most patients with low back pain are treated without surgery. A conventional treatment plan may include bed rest for a day or two combines with medication to reduce inflammation and pain. Medications recommended by the physician are based on the patient's medical condition, age, other drugs the patient currently takes, and safety. The first choice for pain relief is often nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs should be taken with food to prevent stomach upset and stomach bleeding. Muscle relaxants may provide relief from muscle spasm but are actually benign sedatives, which often cause drowsiness. Narcotic pain relievers are prescribed for use during the acute phase and often for chronic pain management in appropriate patients.

Other modalities to treat low back pain might include physical therapy (PT), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) trial, ultrasound therapy, acupuncture and massage therapy. A managed PT program can help build muscle strength and flexibility, improve mobility, coordination, stability and balance, and promote relaxation. Patients who participate in a structured physical therapy program often progress to wellness more rapidly than those who do not. This includes low back maintenance through a home exercise program developed for the patient by the physical therapist.

Although the number of spinal surgeries done every year is on the rise, it is rarely required to treat low back pain. Surgery may be considered if the patient is experiencing bowel or bladder dysfunction, increased nerve impairment, progressive weakness, incapacitating pain, or spinal instability. The surgical procedure depends on the diagnosis or the cause of low back pain. To prevent low back pain, first and foremost, follow the treatment plan outlined by the physician. To enhance recovery from an episode of low back pain, or to help prevent future exacerbation, try to maintain good posture, be consistent in a home exercise program, and eat sensibly to maintain proper body weight.

Hemant Yagnick, M.D., is an Interventional Pain Specialist and Medical Director of the Walton Pain Center in Augusta, GA. Dr. Yagnick believes that chronic pain is a complex medical condition influenced by biological, physical, behavioral, environmental and social forces. His new two-week comprehensive inpatient program helps patients receive relief from pain while becoming trained in coping techniques, speeds up their return to work and improves their quality of life. Dr. Yagnick earned his medical degree from JN Medical College and Hospital. He completed his residency in anesthesiology and an Interventional Pain Fellowship at Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. For more information visit http://www.wrh.org

Pilates: Relief For Back And Joint Pain

2011-05-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Pilates Exercise Photos And Detailed Descriptions For Back and Joint Pain Relief!

support@losethebackpain.com

Traditional Treatments for Back Pain... Which Ones Work and Which Ones Don't?

2011-05-26T00:49:00.000-07:00

When Dorothy followed the yellow brick road, she was told to do so by those who wanted her to get where she wanted go. Well as humans when we blindly follow recommendations even by individuals who have good intentions, it may not always be your best option. So I'm preparing this article to compare and contrast what are known as traditional treatments vs. complementary or alternative treatments for back pain. Remember there is rarely only one reason for your back pain and almost never one silver bullet fix... you may need to try several approaches till you find what works for you.

So when reading this article and thinking back on your visits to medical professionals, did you have the big picture or were you just following that yellow brick road? If you have been down that road, or if you are just starting to suffer from back pain it's never too late to seek out new and more encompassing information about your condition when trying to find a solution that works for you. Don't say you've tried everything because you haven't... your solution is out there and you just have to find it!

Orthopedic Care

One of the first places many people go when they experience back pain is the orthopedic specialist (surgeon) and a visit usually last 5-10 minutes. They will typically look at the problem/symptomatic area and often fail to look at the body as a whole. If you've been to an orthopedic specialist for your back pain, did they do a full body physical evaluation (takes 30 mins. or more)??? Not likely.

Here are some of the common treatments used / prescribed by orthopedic specialists:

Cortisone Shots

Cortisone is a catabolic steroid which is intended to reduce inflammation by killing off the tissue in the inflamed area... now let me ask you, does that make any sense to you at all?

Not only are these injections quite painful, but they rarely result in any pain relief and if they do it is short lived, usually 1-2 weeks if at all. Plus, it does NOTHING to identify or address the cause of the pain... it is only intended to treat the symptom. It's for those reasons that we do not recommend them.

Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Just the name should scare you away... just like cortisone shots, anti-inflammatory medications do not identify or address the cause of your pain and for many people, they deliver little pain relief. These medications also deliver serious side effects! The main reason they are prescribed is money... and if you don't believe me, do the research and you'll see for yourself. The drug industry is huge and unfortunately, they have a huge influence on the whole medical community, including the doctors.

I challenge you to find a drug that will fix your back problem... you'll be looking forever because there is no way a medication can fix a physical problem so avoid medications at all costs!

Back Surgery

Surgery for back pain is very common and more often than not, the individual still has pain afterwards (or it returns within weeks) and sometimes even new problems! Very rarely is a surgery the answer...

for example, many people have surgery for herniated discs. The logic behind the surgery is if you remove the piece/portion of the disc that is putting pressure on the nerve the problem is solved. Unfortunately, the same forces that forced that disc to protrude or bulge will likely force more of the disc out, or another disc out.

Surgery should always be the last resort... and even then I'd question it!

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy is traditionally the next step after seeing an Orthopedic Doctor. That is if surgery is not recommended. So what should you expect? The process will start with an evaluation and here may be the start of the problem... here is why.... the doctor has to write a prescription with a diagnosis on it. You give the prescription to the PT and he or she will perform an evaluation... chances are the PT will simply confirm the diagnosis from the doctor, however the hope should be that they take the extra step to look for the root cause of your pain. They may but chances are they have several other clients in the office at the same time and simply do not have the time.

So without a comprehensive evaluation to identify the root cause of you pain they will simply treat your symptoms. We have just identified the second problem. The health care industry is required to show improvement with each and every session so the push is to reduce your symptoms to show progress in order for them to get paid. The long and short of it is that yes your pain can be reduced but the root cause rarely gets addressed, meaning that the pain and your suffering will return again and again.

So what should you do? When selecting a Physical Therapy office you may want to ask how many patients the office sees in a day and how many PTs they have on staff... then ask how many patients can a PT work with in an hour. Do not be surprised to hear that a PT can see up to three patients in an hour. That's you and two others at the same time. Do you think you will get the attention and proper treatments you need? I doubt it.

There is a little joke in Physical Therapy when treating patients and it has to do with what course of modalities you will get. The joke is called Shake and Bake and it refers to everyone gets the same treatment protocol... that way it can be timed so that your PT can see other people simultaneously. What goes into a shake and bake treatment? It may start with a spin on a stationary bike or a trot a treadmill than you will get a 3 to 5 minute Ultrasound over the effected area followed by Electrical Stimulation to the area with a little Ice strapped to your body and to finish off your session you will get a hand out with exercises you should do at home. Certainly not a recipe for success!

Chiropractic Care

One of the most common treatments for back pain is Chiropractic Care. The approach consists of physical manipulations of bones and joints in an attempt to line things back up and it's recommended typically 2-3 times per week.

The problem with this approach is that the same forces (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) will likely pull the bones and joints right back out of place again. Also, most (not all) chiropractors will spend 15 minutes with you if your lucky.

Ask people who see a chiropractor how long they've been going... I hear of people who have been going for 10-15 years and still don't have a healthy back. Look, the fact is chiropractic care is lacking...

Unless the chiropractor combines the two approaches, it doesn't make sense...

The ONLY way chiropractic care makes sense is if you are addressing the muscle imbalances that are pulling the bones and joints out of place to begin with and that requires strengthening and stretching exercises that are chosen specifically to correct your muscle imbalances.

Alternative Treatments for Treating and Eliminating Back Pain

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy, if done correctly can work wonders for people with back pain. This is not to say that it is the best choice and that it will work for everyone... however, most people will get great results from it if the massage therapist has a good understanding of muscle imbalances and how to work on them.

NOTE: Not all massage therapists are the same! Just like any profession, there are varying degrees of training and qualifications. When selecting a massage therapist please check to see if they are licensed and insured in the state where you will be seeing them. You should also ask the massage therapist if they have training in one of the following areas: Orthopedic massage, Medical massage, St. Johns technique and/or has a comprehensive knowledge of muscle imbalances relating to back pain. With that said the benefits are as follows. The root cause will be identified, your discomfort will be addressed and you root cause will be corrected all in an attempt to make you pain free and give you the tools you need to keep you that way. What to expect when you see a massage therapist.

All massage sessions are one on one allowing you the opportunity to converse with the therapist as well as get the attention you need to get results. You can ask questions about how you compare to other people. Feel free to ask the therapist what approach they will be taking so that you know what to expect. The massage therapist has many different techniques they can use when to dealing with you back pain and some are better than others. On the down side sometimes a therapist can get distracted with other problem areas, it is in your best interest to keep them focused on you back and associated problem areas. Like anything else you may need to try several different therapists before finding the one that works best for you and with you.

Post-rehabilitation Fitness Training

Another overlooked form of treatment that is very effective is post-rehabilitation fitness training. This includes targeted strength and flexibility work to correct / improve the individuals muscle imbalances. This service can only be performed by certified post-rehab fitness trainers and there are limitations to what they can do for you. For example, they can not diagnose a condition, prescribe any medications take x-rays, etc... however, if they are well trained they can pinpoint your muscle imbalances quickly and get you started on a fitness program that will restore balance to your body and likely eliminate your back pain.

Often times this can be combined with massage therapy and/or manual physical therapy for a total solution. If you decide to go this route, which I recommend you do, be sure to thoroughly check out the fitness trainer and ask to see their certification, insurance, references, etc.

Manual Physical (muscle) Therapy

Manual Physical Therapy is NOT the same as regular physical therapy... there are some major differences and here are just a few:

1. Manual therapy consists of hands on muscle work primarily whereas traditional physical therapy consists of heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, etc

2. Manual therapist will typically perform a much more thorough physical evaluation

3. Manual therapists will usually be able to spend more time with each patient

4. Manual therapy is more holistic in it's approach and focuses the body as a whole unit... something lacking from nearly all traditional treatments for back pain.

So before you say, "I've already tried physical therapy"... did you try manual physical therapy? They are two very different treatment approaches and I highly recommend you consider manual physical therapy.

Conclusion

As you can see traditional treatments are the main stay of modern medicine... not necessarily for the patients benefit, but it's just how the system works best for itself. The system will not change until the system is confronted with a very powerful competitive force. That force may well be complementary or alternative care from the likes of Personal Trainers, Acupuncturists, Massage Therapists, Manual Physical Therapists, and the like.

So that's what we've tried to do... force change. The traditional treatments that people have been receiving for decades just doesn't work, and we have found a combination approach that not only works the best, but it's safe, natural, and inexpensive. Check out our "Lose the Back Pain" video now... it will show you how to identify the cause of your back pain and the show you the exact combination of steps to take to eliminate it.

If you have tried other treatments with little or no relief/improvement, you owe it to yourself to try this approach... so take charge of your health and get started now working towards not only a pain free back, but a healthy and balanced body! Only you can fix your back... all you need is the right approach!

Warning: This article is not intended to be medical advice however its intent is to make you a better, smatter and more informed client. The more you know and understand about your medical condition the better off you will be when it comes time to make the hard choices. As well as communicating with medical professionals.... believe me it will make a world of difference.

About The Author

Article by Jesse Cannone of http://www.losethebackpain.com. Jesse is a certified personal fitness trainer and post-rehab specialist and he has helped hundreds of individuals to eliminate their back pain. Visit his site now and be sure to sign up for his free email course on eliminating back pain.

How to Relieve Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica in 3 Easy Steps - Weight Loss and the Bad Back

2011-05-25T14:11:00.000-07:00

It is a fact that most of us will suffer from neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica at some point in our lives. In fact, for some bad back sufferers it is an ongoing problem, one that may put them out of commission completely, leading to complete and permanent disability. A "bad back" may be caused by a myriad of factors to include: tight muscles; muscle imbalance; herniated discs; weak muscles; pregnancy; and, even stress. In many cases, these injuries or conditions are the result of daily movement, things we do in our every day lives. Movements, such as reaching for objects, bending the wrong way, improper posture, attempting to do "too much," etc often lead to problems.

In some instances, back pain and sciatica may be caused by carrying heavy objects or carrying them improperly. One of the biggest issues related to what I refer to as the "bad back complex" or "back pain complex," is excess weight. Excess weight may mean anything from carrying just a few too many pounds, to being clinically obese. Many of us struggle with weight issues throughout our lives and obesity, combined with any number of other factors, often exacerbates neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. Obesity and the resultant damage to the musculoskeletal system often results in pronounced, life-altering changes to the anatomy, morphology, physiology, and function of the spine, the associated nervous system, and the supporting musculature.

If you are just a few pounds overweight, you may still be placing undue stress on your spine, pulling it out of its natural alignment and profoundly altering the curvatures of the neck (cervical), chest (thoracic), and lower back (lumbar), as a result. The best place to start to lose weight is with an intelligent, individualized, and medically approved, and in some cases medically supervised, exercise program. Cardiovascular exercise, at least 20 minutes a day, will improve and increase weight loss, also increasing muscle mass and improving muscle tone.

Lean muscle burns at a higher rate than fat or fatty muscle, therefore, you will burn more calories and improve overall basal metabolic rate (BMR). Ultimately, extending your aerobic workout to 30 minutes will yield amazing results in short order. Not only will you witness a significant drop in inches, and pounds, you will experience an amazing, often total, relief from neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. Many people can find relief from the symptoms of a bad back simply by losing 5 or 10 pounds.

In addition to cardiovascular or aerobic exercise, stretch everyday for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Upon rising in the morning, stretch your back by slowly, and with complete concentration, bending forward and attempting to put your nose on your knee. Yes, I know, it is impossible right now but continue to do it, slow and easy does it, in the morning and before bed at night. Eventually, you will be amazed at how limber you become, particularly as you begin to reduce your "middle." Muscle tone, and flexibility, will help reduce neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. Good muscle tone and strength will also reduce the incidence of injuries.

Along with altering the curvature of the spine, forcing it out of alignment due to too much weight being carried forward, excess weight may also create a situation in which our hips (pelvis) tilt forward. The improper positioning of the hips also places pressure on the sciatic nerve, resulting in sciatica, in addition to lower back pain. Additionally, if the hips remain out of alignment, and the resulting pressure on the various joints, primarily the sacroiliac (sacrum to ilium) and the hip joint (femur/acetabulum) or socket, is not reduced and/or eliminated, profound and degenerative forces come into play, permanently altering the architecture of the joint and resulting in chronic pain.

It is difficult for many to empathize, much less understand, what a chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica sufferer experiences on a daily basis. The discomfort associated with a bad back, at times reaching fever pitch, may continue unabated for many years before the right bad back strategy is discovered and implemented. The real problem is that often the pain itself inhibits an individual from exercising and working out, which would help alleviate or eliminate the pain. Weight loss becomes an issue because of inactivity and the resultant sedentary lifestyle adopted as a pain relief strategy. Often, bad back sufferers simply give up, unable to confront or effectively deal with either issue, the obesity or the chronic pain. It is common for an individual to become depressed, leading to additional weight gain with overeating and a further reduction in activity and BMR.

When feeling overwhelmed, take a walk! Walk to the corner store. Walk to the mailbox! Walk the dogs! Heck, walk the cat! Just make sure you walk! Don't view your walk as exercise, look at it as an escape, private time, time with your thoughts, time alone. Change your focus and you will discover your walks getting longer and the neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, along with that nagging weight problem, and the resultant depression have simply walked right out of your life. Baby steps out the door! Baby steps down the stairs! Baby....You know the drill.

Having realistic goals and pursuits may actually make you feel better each and every step of the way. Focus on small goals, one at a time, and when you achieve them they will give you the added incentive to push on to the next. Always redefine and rest your goals in terms of your long term goals and strategies. Ultimately, you will achieve more if you simply focus on today.

The A.A. motto of "One Day at a Time!" may be just the mantra to help you through.

There are over 196,000,000 obese adults in the United States alone. That is a staggering fact, particularly when viewed in the context of the next fact, that more children and young adults are obese than at any point in our history. Ever! Of course, as we age bones lose density and muscles often become weaker. The age-progressive factors coming into play and putting pressure on the spine are myriad. Damage due to obesity is often irreversible, it is absolutely crucial to maintain optimal body weight and muscle tone. The above mentioned fact is but one more reason for initiating and maintaining an exercise routine. By becoming, then remaining, active our musculoskeletal system will remain healthy. The old adage that a healthy mind and a healthy body are inextricably linked is so obvious it barely needs to be stated.

While important, diet is actually secondary to a solid aerobic, cardiovascular exercise program. However, diet cannot be ignored, nor should it be. Along with exercising, at first simply walks, eventually leading to a more concerted program, the overweight individual suffering from neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica must change his or her diet, incorporating more fruits and vegetables, reducing fats. Again, stay away from fatty and processed foods if you want to be successful. Diet is not about eating less, it is about eating smart! Of course before you enter into any diet and weight loss program, you should seek the opinion of a medical specialist familiar with the complex issues experienced by, and facing, an overweight or obese "bad back" patient. However you start, and wherever you begin, one thing is of paramount importance, this should always remain your central focus:

In the words of Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never, give up!"

Ultimately, the steps you take to relieve neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain or sciatica, come down to a few easy to remember steps. One, get started in an aerobic, cardiovascular routine, first slow and then building with success. Remember, walk, walk, and walk! Two, stay mentally focused and don't allow the blues to get you down or stop you entirely. Remember, when feeling your worst, when in the most pain and feeling down, that's the time exercise will do the most good. Endorphins are amazing little critters and a brisk walk when it pain will send a charge of those natural opiates racing through your blood stream, providing amazing relief in minutes! Finally, change your focus not your diet. Dieting is not the answer, eating habits are.

There are several great programs out there, but a simple switch to fruits, vegetables, and low fat foods will yield amazing results without forcing you to eat less. Eat smart, not less! Finally, if you are overweight, obese or just packing a few extra pounds, you should begin exercising, at once. Any exercise routine should begin with stretching and end with stretching, in the middle you should be walking and engaged in an exercise routine to strengthen your core, spinal, and major back muscles, the abdominals, obliques, spinal erectors, latissimus dorsi, and trapezius, to name a few. Find what works best for you and relieve your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica once and for all. Take things as they come and remember, you have nothing to lose but the pain!

For further information and an intelligent program of treatment for neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, what I refer to as the "back pain complex" try the program below:

http://www.HowToStopSciatica.com

Go to:

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy

4 Wooden Wheel Massager

2011-05-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

The XpresSpa wood massager is compact and lightweight with an easy-to-grip handle that lets you reach all those nagging tension areas. The wheels do all the work. Slip into a bag or briefcase for a lunchtime pick-me-up at the office.

Price:

What Is The Cause And Effect Of Chronic And Acute Low Back Pain

2011-05-24T02:40:00.000-07:00

If you have ever suffered from low back pain you will know that it can be a very miserable experience. You may hurt so bad that you can't seem to do much of anything and it will set off the pain. It can get so severe, you want to tear your hair out. Low back pain can cause you to become someone you really aren't, if you don't control the pain level.

Pain can make you easily irritated and grouchy. It can cause depression which can make you want to isolate yourself from family, work and any other social activity. There are some things you can do to control the pain level and this article will talk about the different types of low back pain and how they can effect you and your loved ones.

There are two types of low back pain. One form is known as acute. This is a short term condition and will pass with time. It can be caused from numerous things such as a muscle spasm or herniated disc, but with time and treatment it will heal. The other form of low back pain is called chronic. It can last more than three months up to a lifetime. There are many things that can cause chronic low back pain that are similar to the acute causes such as herniated disc, or muscles spasms, but for some reason, these conditions don't heal quickly. It's a known fact that people can experience low back pain without any apparent reasons. Medically, the symptoms can't be explained, but the pain is very real to the person suffering.

Low back pain is one of the main reasons for missing work, and one of the leading causes for disability. Other causes for low back pain can be degenerative disc disease which can be a hereditary weakness in the spine. Obesity can also be a cause for back pain. With many Americans facing obesity these days it's no wonder that billions of dollars are spent on low back pain each year. Other causes of back pain can be stress, an uncomfortable bed and smoking. Did you know that smoking is a main cause for low back pain. That's right. Smoking causes a restriction in blood flow to the spine and can cause disc degeneration. It is important for blood to flow freely throughout the body because good blood flow promotes good cell growth, which provides healing to take place, not just from low back pain, but in the entire body.

There are many ways to treat low back pain and one of the first ways is to treat by medication, in order to relieve the pain. In order for someone to heal, they have to be able to relax. When we are tense or stressed, the muscles tend to tighten up which can cause blood flow to be restricted and not allow healing to take place. Other things such as the use of heat and cold can help inflammation of muscle tissue to be reduced. Some cases of low back pain may require surgery to repair or remove a piece of bone tissue that may have broken off from a disc. If you have low back pain and it isn't going away, you should seek medical attention because you can do more damage to the area the longer you wait. If you are experiencing numbness in the legs and feet along with low back pain, seek medical attention as without treatment, you can develop permanent damage to the nerves.

If you need more Back Pain answers then quickly head over to http://the-health-information-network.com where you will find helpful back pain tips, advice and resources including information on chronic back pain, and Low Back Pain information.

How To Seek Permanent Back Pain Relief

2011-05-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

Back pain is a terrible problem that has a potential to bring your entire schedule to a grinding halt leaving you almost crippled. You may find it extremely difficult to perform simplest of the tasks with this pain in the back. With pain on, you have just one thing in your mind and that is how to get rid of this excruciating pain. Most us would just like to be relieved of it, and the shortest route to this kind of relief is through medication.

Painkillers are not something particularly healthy but when the pain literally breaks your back, it's the only way out. Besides, it can provide a temporary relief from the pain and does not dispense with the cause of it. Pain in the back, after all, is a signal that something has gone wrong with the body. Therefore, alleviation of pain is not the remedy.

If you are among those who suffer from back pain, it is better that you thought beyond the painkillers and the temporary relief they provide. No amount of medicine, however effective, can be more effective than exercise because it is the most natural solution to back pain.

Most of the time, back pain is caused due to weak back muscles. Now, your muscles could be weak due to poor recovery from a back injury, but in most of the cases it is our modern, sedentary lifestyles that cause back pain.

All those hours that you spend hunched over a desk might bring a quick promotion but if you are not among those who take some time out for physical exercise, it may also bring back pain in tow.

So, if you are suffering from back pain, the first step towards betterment would be making up your mind to exercise regularly.

However, do not go exercising unattended. It is important that your exercise is supervised by a trained expert. Now, it could be your regular doctor or a chiropractor. You may also approach a medical professional to tailor your back pain exercise regimen so as to suit your particular condition.

The back pain exercise do not just comprise of the exercises for your back alone but also your front because a strong back means a back well supported by code abdominal muscles. When these muscles are strengthened they provide adequate support to your back and prevent back pain and back injury. You may also supplement your exercise program with stretching exercises and yoga. This would keep your muscles flexible enough to prevent injury to the back.

A little medical attention and regular physical exercise is very much capable of gifting you a life free of back pain.

To get more information visit causes of back pain, back pain treatment & [http://www.backpaindetails.com/pain/magazine/edition/Backpain-Guide.htm]

Back Pain Massages

2011-05-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

Back pain massages are becoming one of the best ways so as to relieve a person from experiencing back pain. Many people living in the United States are now trying this alternative to relieve or reduce back pain. After all, most of them have already tried the more commonly known solutions to back pain. These include chiropractors, medication, and even physical therapy.

Back pain massages seem to be working for most people who vouch for their effectiveness. Instead of employing expensive treatments and medications, people are now flocking towards massage therapists. Results of studies show that even healthcare providers are recognizing massage as an alternative solution to back problems.

What do back pain massages do? Back pain massages lessen lower back pain as well as depression and anxiety. Medical journals and studies show that this alternative treatment for back pain is indeed working well. Back pain massages actually assist in improving blood circulation. They also help sore muscles of arms, legs and back return to normal. Aside from these, back pain massages also provide relaxation to the body. After a good back massage, you will surely want to lie down and rest. Most of the time, you will even sleep soundly.

This kind of therapy also increases the endorphin level of the body. Endorphins are the body's chemicals that give you a good and light feeling. These chemicals are most effective in helping you manage pain. If you have a high endorphin level, you are most likely able to feel less pain.

If you are experiencing back pain and you would like to try back massages, ask first your health care provider or your physician about it. That way, you can be sure that there would be no complications once you get a massage.

Back Pain provides detailed information on Back Pain, Lower Back Pain, Back Pain Relief, Upper Back Pain and more. Back Pain is affiliated with Congenital Scoliosis.

End Back Pain Forever

2011-05-22T04:14:00.000-07:00

55% per sale. Brand new back pain relief exercise program developed by orthopaedic clinical specialist. Copy and paste professionally written sales copy, banner ads, email campaign, sample ads, and marketing strategies.

Holistic Approaches To Back Pain Relief

2011-05-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

Is your daily life burdened by constant back pain? Try relieving it with Holistic treatments.

Quite a few people suffer from back pain on a daily basis. Some people deal with mild soreness from stressed muscles while others deal with agonizing and debilitation conditions. No matter what level of pain you are dealing with, you may be able to get relief from your back pain by utilizing Holistic forms of treatment. This article will explain what holistic therapy is all about and introduce you to four treatments that have the potential to alleviate your back pain. Hopefully these treatments will allow you to take a more proactive approach at relieving your back pain and allow you to live your live to the fullest; PAIN FREE!

Recent statistics have indicated that almost half of all the pain related complaints in the workplace are due to back pain. And that's only for the United States alone. Due to its very nature spinal pain can affect virtually anyone regardless of job environment. Construction workers, office personnel, and even medical professionals can be affected by back pain while performing their job, and many times that pain follows them home as well.

The working population is not the only ones that have to deal with pain regularly. Work at home parents, retires, and even young adults who have yet to enter the workplace often times suffer from degenerative conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis. And of course you have those who may have led a perfectly pain free life and suddenly suffer some sort of back injury which causes them to have to deal with back pain the rest of their lives. Fact is, it doesn't matter whether you labor at a back breaking construction job, sit in an office chair all day, or just have fun and play all day you are still susceptible to pain.

You should familiarize yourself with what holistic treatments actually are if you plan on using them to treat your pain. Holistic therapies combine the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of life and apply them in specific ways to alleviate pain. There have even been some medical studies that have stated that an individual's social, economic, and even cultural background may play a role in determining who is more likely to suffer from back pain.

Acupuncture - This is a form of treatment that has been used by the Chinese for over 2,000 years. Many people have found Acupuncture to be very beneficial for treating pain. Acupuncture involves the use of needles to stimulate nerve pathways throughout the body. When used in the treatment of back pain the needles stimulate nerve pathways along the spinal cord from the base of the spine to the brain. In the process of stimulating these specific nerve pathways, the nerves release hormones which cause the brain to experience pain less intensely. Also in the process the body releases additional hormones which help the healing process. Contrary to the way it sounds, acupuncture is not a painful treatment at all.

Yoga - Another form of holistic treatment that can be used to alleviate back pain is yoga. Yoga is a form of spiritual healing that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It combines breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation to relax the body and calm the nervous system. One of the primary advantages of using yoga to relieve back pain is the belief that when in a meditative state the muscles of the body will relax and all stress will be eliminated. While some forms of yoga are more physically intensive than others, Hatha and Sivananda yoga are more reserved in their physical training and are well suited for back pain treatment.

Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) - NMT is a fairly new form of treatment which can be used to treat chronic pain. It is a form of massage that applies a somewhat constant pressure to specific areas of the body in order to relax muscle and calm nerves. Many clinics around the country employ trained practitioners of this form of therapy. Much like Acupuncture, NMT is used to stimulate various trigger points on the body to relax muscle and calm hyperactive nerves.

Herbal Treatment - There are various herbs that can be taken that have the ability to relieve pain and relax muscles. Boswellia for example acts as an anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant by increasing blood flow to inflamed areas of the body such as the back. Ginger is another useful herb which has the ability to inhibit the release of pain causing hormones in the body. Ginger can also be taken on a long-term basis. There are also various oils and herbs that when combined provide quite potent pain relieving properties. Many of the over the counter pain relievers that are marketed for back pain contain such herbs and oils. Another reason that herbs are becoming more popular for pain treatment are because they are non-addictive.

Always consult your doctor before you start any new treatments for your back pain. Although these treatments have helped many people relieve and even cure their back pain, they may not be safe for use on some specific back conditions.

If your doctor objects try not to get discouraged and keep in mind that many western doctors are not familiar with holistic practices and may even try to disprove their effectiveness. If your doctor insists only on prescribing traditional pain medications and treatments then try to get another opinion from someone who is more familiar with holistic treatments. It is your body and health after all, you are free to take care of it however you wish.

There are so many ways to relieve back pain that does not involve a doctor's visit or expensive prescription pain medications. You may even be able to prevent your back pain before it even occurs. B.M.Hayes is a freelance writer and avid alternative health enthusiast. You can visit his new website at [http://backpainexercises.org] for detailed information and products reviews relating to back pain exercises.

Could Magnetic Therapy Be The Answer To The Back Pain Insomniac's Dream?

2011-05-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Back Pain Sufferer,

Can you remember a time, when you actually had a good nights sleep and woke up feeling refreshed? If you're struggling to remember, then chances are, you can probably relate to Katie's story. Read on..

Katie Blake, age 39, a married mother of two from Somerset, UK, began suffering from chronic back pain after a near fatal car accident which occurred in January 2006. She has recently been feeling very low, due to lack of sleep caused by her back condition. When asked how her back pain had been affecting her sleep, here's what she had to say,

"Since suffering with chronic back pain after the accident, I've found that I constantly toss and turn from one side to another just to try and get some relief.

There are nights when the pain seems so unbearable, almost as though my lower back is splitting in two; that trying to change sides literally leaves me in tears. So, I prop myself up with cushions and try to force myself to lie still on my back, only to wake up as stiff as a board the next morning.

When you've got to get up early, to sort out two young kids on after virtually no sleep at all, well, what can I say, it's no laughing matter is it!"

Unfortunately, Katie's story is not an isolated one. In fact, just like you, she is among one of the thousands of chronic back pain sufferers, whose quality of sleep is affected in a negative way, by their pain.

Two Thirds Of Back Pain Sufferers Have Sleep Trouble

A recent study conducted by the National Sleep Federation revealed that:

* As many as two thirds of chronic back pain sufferers have sleep trouble.

* The more severe the pain, the more likely it is to affect sleep

* Disrupted sleep can make the pain feel worse

* Traditional pain relief medication, such as analgesics can disrupt the sleep patterns and make getting to sleep more difficult.

The Five Key Stages of Sleep

You may have heard the terms NREM ( Non Rapied Eye Movement) and REM (Rapid Eye Movement) used when describing sleep patterns. NREM accounts for around 75% of the sleep cycle in adults and 50% in infants.

NREM is often the most restful and also when the body's functions such as metabolism and blood pressure are reduced. The majority of dreams occur in the more active phase i.e. the REM cycle.

Stage One

This is the shortest phase of the sleep cycle. You will often feel overcome with the 'heavy lidded' sensation of drifiting off to sleep. Breathing and heart rate begin to slow down.

Stage Two

This is regarded as being the longest phase of the sleep cycle. Bodily functions such as brain waves, metabolism, and heart rate etc., continue to slow right down. You may find that you are easily roused by external interruptions during this period.

Stage Three

This phase is often referred to as the restorative phase. Research has shown that the chemical HGH (Human Growth Hormone) is usually released to promote the growth of intenal organs and the creation of new cells. Waking up suddenly from this phase can often leave you feeling groggy and disoriented for a few minutes.

Stage Four

This is known as the deepest phase of sleep. Your body temperature may fall, you may also begin to sweat during the this period. Studies have shown that problems such as Sleepwalking and Night Terrors can occur. The process of restoration will also continue throughout this part of the sleep cycle.

Stage Five

This is where the REM phase comes into play. Dreaming predominantly occurs during this cycle. Twitching in your fingers, face and toes may occur as your brain reacts to action being played out in your dreams. If suddenly awoken during this phase, you may find it difficult to separate dream from reality; as it takes a while for the brain to orientate itself.

According to John Zimmerman Ph.D., Laboratory of the Washoe Sleep Disorders Centre in Reno,US, " The quantity and quality of sleep varies from person to person, but how well and how lon one sleeps is ultimately the result of varying physical and psychological influences."

The Vicious Cycle

So as you can see, it's pretty much a vicious cycle where you find it difficult to get to sleep because of the pain and the less sleep you get, the worse the pain feels.

Assuming you've been in the position, where you've experienced insomnia; you're probably familiar with the effects it can have on your body, such as:

* Feeling un-refreshed and lacking in energy the next morning

* Poor concentration levels

* Feeling irritable and moody

* Impaired ability to think and speak

There has long been a medical debate as to whether prolonged insomnia can lead to depression or whether insomnia is a symptom of depression. Medical research has shown that is associated with depression and often occurs before a bout of depression. It could be argued that chronic insomnia, if left untreated, like back pain has the ability to affect every aspect of your daily living. Factors such as poor concentration levels and feelin irritable and moody can seriously affect your performance at work, as well as personal relationships. Thus by this stage, the issue becomes very difficult to dismiss.

In a moment, I would like to offer you a glimmer of hope in the form of a natural therapy that might just help you break 'the more pain equals less sleep cycle', that you've probably become accustomed to.

Therapeutic Powers

Today, I'd like to share information with you, about a therapy that promotes the deep and restorative sleep that has been eluding you all this time. I'm talking about the natural therapeutic powers of Magnetic Therapy or Bio-Magnetic Therapy as it is sometimes known.

You're probably wandering what Magnetic Therapy can do for you; well, let me begin by telling you what it is.

Magnetic therapy can be defined as a safe, natural and non-invasive method of applying high strength magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It is a form of complementary/alternative therapy based medicine used to treat certain medical conditions by exposure to permanent or pulsed magnetic fields. It is truly a time-tested therapy, which has been around since 2000 BC. The Ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Indians and Greeks were among the first to use it and give recognition to its' therapeutic benefits.

I feel it's important to say that Magnetic Therapy isn't used as some sort of mystical cure for ailments or diseases. Instead, it's natural forces are used to kick-start your bodies own systems in to action. Next, we look at how it does this.

When high strength magnets are placed directly above the site of injury or near a major artery, they generate a localised Magnetic Field that is powerful enough to penetrate right through the skin and bones, down to the cells.

This magnetic field also triggers a chemical response, which causes the iron content in your blood to become responsive to it. This reaction results in improved blood circulation. One of the functions of blood, is to transport oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the cells, tissues and vital organs in the body.

Consequently, as the blood circulation system begins to improve, the knock on effect is that more oxygen and nutrients are transported directly to where it's needed, i.e., to the damaged cells and soft tissues at the site of pain or injury.

On receiving the required fresh supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients, the bodies own healing processes can begin to work on repairing the damage to the cells and soft tissues at an accelerated rate. Whilst the bodies essential repair works get under way, the brain sends out signals to release the internal painkillers i.e. the Endorphins that get on with the job of relieving the pain.

As well as stimulating the bodies healing processes, the Magnetic Field also relieves pain, by tackling any inflammation present. It does this by drawing out excess fluid and toxins from the surrounding tissues and then expelling them on route via the Liver and Kidneys. Once the excess fluid and toxins are removed, the swelling will begin to reduce.

Now, you recall that earlier, I mentioned about Magnetic Therapy 'promoting deep restorative sleep', well stay tuned, because we're going to get into that next.

Magnetic Therapy In Your Sleep

Here's a fact for you,

Scientific research conducted by a key specialist in the area of Magnetic Therapy, namely, Dr. W.H. Philpott MD of Oklahoma has shown that effects of magnets are at their most powerful at NIGHT, and here's why. Every living thing on this Earth is dependent on Magnetic Energy. In fact, the earth itself is a huge magnet, and as such produces natural Negative Magnetic Energy force.

During the day, we are exposed to the Positive Magnetic Force from the Sun and Negative Magnetic Force at night from the Earth.

The following explains the effects that each type of energy has on the human body.

Effects of Magnetic Energy

Positive Magnetic Energy from the Sun

* Promotes deep and restorative sleep

* Supports the healing process

* Decreases inflammation and relieves pain

* Increases cellular oxygen

Negative Magnetic Energy from the Earth

* Stimulates wakefulness

* Inhibits the healing process

* Can increase inflammation and aggravate pain

* Decreases cellular oxygen

According to Dr. W.H. Philpott's theory on the effects of Magnetic Energy, the Pineal gland, located in the centre of the head, acts as a sort of control centre for the immune system, hormones, and enzymes in our bodies." This gland actually contains Magnetic crystals, and is acutely sensitive to the effects of Magnetic Energy.

The Pineal gland secretes the sleep hormone Melatonin throughout the night, when the Earth's Negative Magnetic force is dominant. The body requires high levels of Melatonin to enable a good night's sleep.

Studies conducted by Dwight K Kalita PH.D. who is a specialist at the Bio-Ecologic Research Centre, Ohio.US, and Dr Philpott have revealed that sleeping on a magnet pad can actually stimulate and increase the production of Melantonin. He also recommends sleeping in a completely darkened room as light actually stops Melantonin production.

Significant advances in magnet technology have enabled scientists to duplicate the Earths negative energy and harness it in form of high strength magnets.

Therefore, when you use magnets to surround yourself in a Magnetic Field at night, the effects are intensified for two reasons,

1) The Earth's Negative Magnetic Energy is at it's most powerful and

2) The body is in its' resting and healing phase. As such, you are able to benefit from:

* A deep restorative sleep that will leave you feeling energised and refreshed when you awake Improved circulation that will feed your cells with those vital nutrients and oxygen to enable faster healing

* Reduced if not eradicated aches, pains and inflammation

* The effects of the bodies resting stage, which allows the body to heal itself more efficiently at night.

Hopefully by now, you can see how using Magnetic Therapy could become 'the answer to the back pain insomniac's dream!' So, as I bring this article to an end I just want to say, don't let back pain continue rob you of the deep restorative sleep that your body so desperately needs. i've given you an overview of what Magnetic Therapy can do for you, but ultimately, the rest is up to up you.

DISCLAIMER

* The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. The author of this article is not a medically trained physician; therefore, any theories or suggestions put forward are intended to supplement and not replace the advice of medically or legally trained professionals.

* All matters concerning your health require medical supervision.

* Please ensure that you consult your GP prior to adopting any suggestions put forward by Magnetics 4 Back Pain, as well as about any condition that may require medical diagnosis or medical attention.

* Magnetics 4 Back Pain is not responsible in any manner whatsoever for any injury sustained either directly or indirectly from information put forward in this article.

Donna Gray set up Magnetics 4 Back Pain in the belief that Magnetic Therapy is a truly viable and natural alternative for pain relief. She personally witnessed how the pain-relieving powers of Magnetic Therapy helped her mom 'get her life back', after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Millenium Tanning New Paint It Black Auto-darkening Dark Tanning Lotion, 50X, 13.5-Ounce

2011-05-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

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What Is Causing My Lower Back Pain?

2011-05-19T00:15:00.000-07:00

Lower back pain is one of the leading reasons people in the United States visit their doctors. It will inhibit the lives of millions of Americans this year. In fact, an average four out of five adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. So the question, "What is causing my lower back pain?" is not uncommon.

Lower back pain can be excruciating. It can be caused by a large variety of injuries or conditions, such as:

* lower back muscles may be strained

* discs between the vertebrae may be injured

* large nerve roots extending to arms and legs may be irritated

* smaller nerves that supply the lower back spine may be irritated

* joints, ligaments, or even bones may be injured

When lower back pain occurs with other symptoms such as fever and chills, a serious medical condition may be present. You should see a doctor immediately.

Three categories of lower back pain

Your lower back pain will fall into one of three categories, which your doctor bases on your description of the pain.

1. Axial lower back pain - mechanical or simple back pain

2. Radicular lower back pain - sciatica

3. Lower back pain with referred pain

1. Axial Lower Back Pain

Axial lower back pain is the most common of the three. It is felt only in the lower back area with no pain radiating to other parts of the body. It is sometimes called mechanical back pain or simple back pain.

* Description: Axial lower back pain can vary greatly. It may be sharp or dull, constant or intermittent. On a scale of 1 to 10, you may rate its intensity #1 or a full #10. It may increase with certain activity - when playing tennis, for example. It may worsen in certain positions - such as sitting at a desk. It may or may not be relieved by rest.

* Diagnosis: Axial lower back pain might be diagnosed by you rather than your physician. You know it started when you were helping a friend move a heavy couch. On the other hand, it may be your doctor who determines that you have strained or otherwise damaged back muscles, have a degenerated disc, etc.

* Treatment: The cause of your axial lower back pain does not matter when it comes to treatment. You will want to rest for a day or two. Follow this by gentle back pain exercises and stretching. If you have more pain after exercise, use a heating pad on low or medium setting. Take an appropriate over-the-counter pain medication. Follow your doctor's advice.

* Prognosis: Symptoms of axial lower back pain disappear with time, and about 90% of patients recover within four to six weeks. If you do not feel better within six to eight weeks, additional testing and/or injections may be needed to diagnose and treat the source of the pain.

* Caution: If your pain is chronic, or so severe that it awakens you during the night, see your doctor.

2. Radicular Lower Back Pain

Radicular lower back pain is commonly referred to as sciatica. It is felt in the lower back area, thighs, and legs.

* Description: Radicular lower back pain often begins in the lower back, and then follows a specific nerve path into the thighs and legs. Your leg pain may be much worse than your back pain. It is often deep and steady. It may readily be reproduced with certain activities and positions, such as sitting or walking.

* Diagnosis: Radicular lower back pain is caused by compression of the lower spinal nerve. The most common cause is a herniated disc with compression of the nerve. Other causes might be diabetes or injury to the nerve root. If you had previous back surgery, scar tissue may be affecting the nerve root. Elderly adults may have a narrowing of the hole through which the spinal nerve exits.

* Treatment: Conservative treatment is the best place to begin. Rest for a few days in a bed or chair. Follow this by gradual introduction of gentle exercises specifically for back pain relief. Follow your exercise with additional rest, applying a heating pad on low to medium setting. Soak daily in Epsom salts baths. Take an appropriate over-the-counter pain medication. Your doctor may want to use selective spinal injections.

* Prognosis: Symptoms of radicular low back pain may decrease with the conservative treatment outlined above. Give your back and legs six to eight weeks to improve. If surgery is needed after that, it typically provides relief of the leg pain for 85% to 90% of patients. The back pain itself is more difficult to relieve.

* Caution: If an MRI or CT-myelogram does not definitely confirm nerve compression, back surgery is unlikely to be successful.

3. Lower Back Pain with Referred Pain

Lower back pain with referred pain is not as common as axial or radicular back pain. This pain, which does not radiate down the thighs and legs, may be caused by the same conditions that cause axial lower back pain.

* Description: You will usually feel referred pain in the low back area, radiating into your groin, buttocks, and upper thigh. The pain may move around, but it will rarely go below your knee. It often is an achy, dull pain. It tends to come and go. Sometimes it is very sharp, but other times it is only a dull sensation. It can be caused by the identical injury or problem that causes simple axial back pain. Often, it is no more serious.

* Diagnosis: It is very important to have a physician determine whether your pain is lower back pain with referred pain or radicular lower back pain, since the treatment varies considerably.

* Treatment: Once you know for sure that yours is lower back pain with referred pain, you can follow the treatment for axial lower back pain.

* Prognosis: Symptoms of lower back pain with referred pain disappear with time, usually within four to six weeks. If you do not feel better within six to eight weeks, ask your physician if additional testing and/or injections are needed.

* Caution: If your lower back pain is chronic, or so severe it awakens you during the night, you should see your doctor.

You will want to visit http://www.backpainreliefblog.com for more detailed information about lower back pain. Packed with articles about many kinds of back pain, Back Pain Relief Blog offers practical, down-to-earth advice on how to care for your back. Find back pain exercises to avoid back pain and to heal your aching back. Learn what natural remedies are available for back pain relief.

2007? Anna Hart. Read Anna's other articles about the causes of back pain at http://www.backpainreliefblog.com for more answers to your questions about lower back pain and its causes.

Lower Back Pain Relief - Simple Ways To Eliminate Lower Back Pain

2011-05-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

Lower back pain relief can be achieved in a variety of ways, but firstly it

is important to get an accurate diagnosis for your particular ailment, so

that lower back pain relief can be correctly administered. A doctor will usually

arrange for an MRI scan to detect the actual cause of your back pain.

In many cases lower back pain will be caused by a muscle spasm, this

can be caused by many reasons such as- sitting at a desk for several hours every

day, sleeping on an old or non supporting mattress. Even stress and tension can

lead to problems. In cases such as these lower back pain relief can usually be

obtained by over the counter medication such as aspirin, Tylenol, naproxen, ketoprofen, and ibuprofen. These medications will help to reduce pain and swelling.

In more serious instances back pain can be due to an injury to the spine,

usually caused by an accident, or perhaps by lifting and twisting at the same

time. In many cases an injury to the spine will result in a herniated disc which

in turn can lead to more serious lower back pain symptoms such as sciatica or

spinal stenosis, however, although these conditions may cause considerable

discomfort, lower back pain relief can again be obtained fairly easily.

If a lower back injury is recent, you may need a day or two of rest, however

rest for lower back pain is now known not to be a cure, as rest can cause the

muscles to become stiff, and will add to your recovery time. It is strongly

advised to get up and walk, even if it's for just a few minutes, at least once

every hour.

Although over the counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory treatments

help ease the pain, they should not be taken over a long period of time, as they

can cause other health problems, such as stomach ulcers, and in certain

medications, addiction. A preferred option for lower lower back pain relief is

exercise.

Exercises are one of the most important self treatments for lower back pain

relief. Exercises that are specific for your particular lower back pain symptom

will usually give you fast relief as they strengthen the core muscles that

support the spine, improve the flexibility in the spine and improve posture. Non

impact aerobic exercise also have many benefits, but the focus should be

on exercises that are safe, if you are unsure always consult a professional back

pain adviser.

Stretching exercises will also help in your quest for lower back pain relief.

Stretching should be carried out slowly, concentrating on the lower back, hips,

quadriceps and hamstrings. Stretching exercises will naturally cause pain, but

this should be pain from the muscle being stretched, if you feel pain in any

other areas you should immediately stop, but if done correctly stretching should

increase your flexibility in the region of 20% within the first month and reduce

lower back pain considerably.

If you would like further detailed information on

lower back pain relief,

including causes, symptoms and effective treatments, please feel free to visit

our website listed below.

Paul Osborne is the executive editor of http://lowerbackpainrelief.org a website dedicated to helping people find effective, natural and rapid lower back pain relief.

What is your Biggest Cause of Back Pain?

2011-05-17T22:45:00.000-07:00

Back pain affects over 80% of the adult population. It is the cause of numerous days of work and time away from activity you enjoy. Back pain is rife in th community yet the biggest cause of your back pain is the most misunderstood issue.

Most of you would list muscle spasm as the biggest cause - but you would be wrong.

Others may believe it is joint stiffness, inflammation, or muscle weakness that is the biggest causes of back pain.

All of these are the mechanisms that create your back pain, they are not the cause of it. Causes may include injuries, falls, over use and over exertion. However these are also not the biggest causes of back pain.

So by now you may be wondering... what is the biggest cause of back pain?

The answer is all around you, it is gravity.

Yes, gravity is the biggest cause of back pain. It puts your muscles under pressure. It allows your discs to compress with time. It is also the biggest cause of spinal degeneration and joint degeneration.

So why is gravity the biggest cause of back pain?

From the moment you wake up, you either sit or stand during the day - unless you are a child or teenager. Children are actually smarter than adults - they don't try to fight gravity. They lie down more.

As you are upright, gravity stresses your body. You need to use muscles to hold your self erect. These muscles tire and then joints fail to move freely. This then allows the muscles to tighten further until muscle spasms etc occur.

Your posture at work, the time you spend at your desk, the bending and twisting you do - are all fighting against gravity. And gravity wins!

Gravity allows you to continually hold onto tension in your body. Your structural system tires out. At it tires then the normal day to day activity becomes more stressful. This in turn allows the minor falls, irritations, bumps and scrapes to cause back pain.

Gravity is the biggest cause of back pain. You can also help to fight it.

The solutions to gravity back pain are simple!

You need to lie down more, take a load off your spine and rest. Change your posture at work regularly. Get and get moving to remove strain from one position. But most of all you need to lie down more.

This may be hard to do at work. Bt you can fit it into your lunch breaks. Have a few minutes or more lying down. IT helps to stop the tension building up, it also helps to build up energy stores, freshens the mind and relaxes you.

When you get home live by the motto - if you don't have to sit or stand... don't!

Lie down on the couch, floor or bed to listen to music, read a book or watch TV. On the weekend spend time outside lying down on the grass or wherever. Each minute you spend lying down is time not fighting gravity. You start to balance out the time fighting versus not fighting gravity.

If you can achieve a balance where you spend less time fighting gravity than fighting it - you are winning. Gravity will not cause your joints to degenerate, muscles will not tire out, your discs will not compress.

All from lying down more.

Back pain is common today. Gravity is the biggest cause of back pain and is something you need to address. It can be done simply by creating more and lying down. Then your back pain should ease and be less of a problem.

Dr Graeme Teague is an expert in the structural field, and has been in practice since 1991. His newly launched web site The Back Pain Advisor strives to give you valuable and expert advice, tips and information on your back pain isues.

For more information on back stretches, just visit Back stretches - http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/back-stretches.html

Subscribe to your free e-course on solutions to your back pain, just click here - [http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/back-solutions-masters-course.html] or for the ideal e-book on all the many structural techniques you can use at home to remove all back pain, visit http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/back-pain-advice.html

Back Pain Cushions

2011-05-17T04:14:00.000-07:00

Back pain cushions provide comfort as well as support to your back. These cushions are helpful especially if you suffer frequently from back pain.

Many people suffer from back pain for various reasons. A pregnant woman can experience aches in her back due to her condition. An office employee who sits in a chair all day long can also feel the effects of a strained back after a long day. A manual laborer who has to do a lot of heavy lifting in his job is also prone to back aches. Someone with scoliosis or even a person who drives a long distance can be plagued by nagging back pain.

Back pain cushions were invented to ease back pain. These innovations have proved to be very helpful in helping people go about their daily routine without being bothered by a strained back. These cushions are comfortable add-ons to any chair. Neither too soft nor too firm, back pain cushions have been designed to fit the natural contours of your back. But aside from their ergonomic feel, they support your back and help keep your body upright, so you don't slouch.

There is a wide range of back pain cushions available on the market today. Most of them are handy, so you can always bring one around with you. Now, a back pain sufferer can take his cushion from home to the office to the car and back.

Back pain cushions also come in heated varieties. This is an innovative idea especially during the cold and snowy months. Heat is helpful in easing back pain. It also provides extra comfort to one who wants to relax.

For people who love a customized, personalized look to anything they own, back pain cushions come in a miscellany of colors, shapes, sizes and designs.

Back Pain provides detailed information on Back Pain, Lower Back Pain, Back Pain Relief, Upper Back Pain and more. Back Pain is affiliated with Congenital Scoliosis.

Yoga for Beginners (Yoga for Stress Relief / AM/PM Yoga for Beginners / Essential Yoga for Inflexible People)

2011-05-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

YOGA FOR BEGINNERS AND BEYOND - DVD Movie

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The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition

2011-05-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

The first edition of this workbook is regarded as a classic in its field, and was the first book to introduce trigger point therapy to the general public as a self-care tool for alleviating chronic pain caused by a variety of conditions, including arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headache, muscle ache, and repetitive strain injuries. As the author makes clear, all such conditions are related to lack of oxygen in exhausted or injured muscle tissue. Trigger point therapy has been used for decades by doctors, pain specialists, and massage therapists to quickly stimulate the flow of oxygen and promote rapid pain reduction. This book makes the same techniques available to the general public with instructions that are easy to follow, and abetted by an extensive collection of charts and corresponding illustrations.

The author?s interest in trigger point therapy began when he used it to successfully treat his frozen shoulder. Since that time, he has dedicated himself to teaching others the same techniques. That dedication is obvious throughout his writing and the care he takes to make the therapy understandable to the lay public. Also included in this new edition is updated information that should be of great interest to pain specialists and bodyworkers, as well as useful instruction in a variety of relaxation techniques. Overall, this book is an excellent self-care resource for anyone interested in pain relief.--Larry Trivieri Jr.

Price: $22.95

Physical Therapy for the Lower Back: How to Prevent and Treat Lower Back Pain

2011-05-15T03:09:00.000-07:00

Lower back pain is one of the most common causes of job-related disability and why some people miss work. It is also the second most common neurological ailment in the United States, second only to headache. In fact, approximately 80% of adults in Western countries have, at some point, experienced lower back pain.

For some fortunate people, pain in the lower back may be resolved by itself or with the aid of medication within two to four weeks. However, there are some cases of lower back pain that may last for more than a few weeks, during which case the condition is termed as "chronic" and "progressive," meaning it can only grow worse over time.

Moreover, 60-80% of those patients who suffer their first episode of lower back pain may experience recurring pain within one year.

According to current research, there are certain muscles in the back that work to stabilize the spine. When the spine or the back suffers an injury, these muscles are reflexively inhibited or shutdown. Worse still, these muscles do not spontaneously recover, and this is true even if patients do not feel pain and are able to return to normal activity levels.

As a result of the inhibition of these muscles, called lumbar multifidi and the transversus abdominus, lower back pain occurs. However, there are steps you can take to prevent the same thing from happening to you.

Lower Back Pain and Physical Therapy

One way to prevent the inhibition of the lumbar multifidi and transversus abdominus is through a series of physical therapy exercises.

Designed to strengthen the muscles of the lower back and keep the spine healthy, these physical therapy exercises may range from back stabilization exercises to muscle strength development and several wide variety of techniques.

In addition, a physical therapist may also recommend such methods as heat therapy, ultrasound, massage, mobilization, and education about posture and body mechanics in order to prevent lower back pain from recurring.

Some of these methods will be discussed later on. You will also find some practical self-help tips provided by experts to help you avoid lower back pain or prevent the condition from worsening.

However, before we head on to learning how lower back pain is treated through physical therapy, it is important that we first understand what causes lower back pain.

Lower Back Pain: CAUSES

There are actually many types of back pain, but the most common is pain in the lower back. Why? You might ask. The reason is simple: you carry most of your weight in the lower back. Thus, it is highly likely that a person would suffer pain in that area.

There is no definitive cause of lower back pain. Sometimes, the causes of the condition are so complex that it is difficult to pinpoint just a single one.

However, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals have observed that lower back pain is often a result of strained back muscles and ligaments due to any of the following activities:

o Improper posture

o Heavy lifting

o Sudden awkward movement

o Muscle spasm

o Stress

We could all be guilty of the above activities. We may not suffer any back pains now, but it is likely that as we get older and the degree of inhibition of the back muscles as a result of these activities increases, back pain becomes a very distinct possibility.

In addition to these common activities, lower back pain may also result from specific conditions, such as:

o Herniated disk (when the disk material presses on a nerve)

o Sciatica (when a herniated disk presses on the sciatic nerve. The condition causes sharp, shooting pain through the buttocks and the back of the leg.)

o Spinal stenosis (when the space around the spinal cord and nerve roots becomes narrow. This is caused by arthritis and bone overgrowth, the pain resulting from when a nerve gets pinched in the narrow space.)

o Spondylosis (a type of arthritis affecting the spine due to degenerative changes brought on by aging)

o Spondylolisthesis (when one vertebra in the spinal column slips forward over another)

Lower Back Pain: TREATMENT

The treatment of lower back pain depends on several factors, including the specific type of lower back pain (whether it is chronic or acute) and the purported cause.

For instance, acute lower back pain is commonly treated with pain relieving drugs, such as analgesics, or some forms of exercises that can help relax the muscles.

On the other hand, chronic back pain - or one that lasts for more than two weeks and is progressive - may be caused by some underlying condition, during which case the treatment plan may consist of resolving the underlying condition to treat the back pain.

Lower Back Pain and Physical Therapy Exercise

Physical therapy exercise is one of the most common methods of treating lower back pain. In fact, many home remedies for lower back pain consist of exercise, because the general theory is that if you remain active, you remain healthy. This is true in most cases.

However, for purposes of this article, the exercises featured here will be those that are practiced by physical therapists to treat patients with lower back pain.

Generally, in physical therapy exercises, the exercise program for back pain should encompass a set of stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, and low impact aerobics. Read below for more on these exercises:

-Stretching

The back of a person is composed of the spinal column and contiguous muscles, ligaments and tendons. All these are designed to move in consonance with each other so that any limitation in the range of motion in any of these components of the back result in back pain.

Stretching for lower back pain specifically targets soft tissues, such as muscles, ligaments and tendons, found in the back and around the spine. By stretching, the spine and soft tissues are mobilized, increasing motion and thus, relieving pain.

There are many kinds of stretching exercises employed by physical therapists. One is the Hamstring Stretching Exercise which works to relax tight hamstrings, a common symptom of lower back pain. This exercise is said to help decrease the intensity of lower back pain among sufferers.

-Strengthening

Physical therapists generally use two forms of strengthening and back pain relief exercises, usually depending on the specific condition of the patient. These are the McKenzie exercises and dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises. However, the two forms of strengthening exercises may also be combined should the therapist find it appropriate to do so.

-McKenzie Exercises

Named after a physical therapist in New Zealand, McKenzie exercises are primarily extension exercises that could help reduce pain generated from the disc space and also may help reduce the symptoms of herniated disc by reducing pressure on a nerve root.

For acute pain, the McKenzie exercises should be done frequently, at least once every two hours. In addition, patients are advised to avoid flexing their spine when exercising.

-Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization Exercises

Using this back exercise technique, the first thing that a physical therapist does is to look for the patient's "neutral" spine. This refers to the position that allows the patient to feel the most comfortable.

Afterwards, when the patient is in that position, the back muscles are then exercised in order to "teach" the spine how to stay in this position.

Performing these exercises on a regular basis can help strengthen the back muscles and keep the spine well-positioned.

Low Impact Aerobic Exercises

The purpose of low impact aerobic exercise is to recondition the back. Patients who undergo reconditioning of the back through low impact aerobic exercise will have fewer episodes of lower back pain.

In addition, whenever an episode of lower back pain does occur, the pain is less intense and lasts only for a short period.

Another benefit of low impact aerobic exercise is that patients tend to stay functional - that is, they can continue with their regular work and carry on with recreational activities. In contrast, patients who do not undergo low impact aerobic exercises typically experience the gradual loss of their functional abilities.

For low impact aerobic exercises to achieve their desired results, they should be continuous. This will increase the heart rate and keep it elevated as well as increase the production of endorphins, which are pain fighting hormones released by the body.

Here are some examples of low impact aerobic exercises that you may want to try in order to lessen or reduce lower back pain:

-Walking

One of the simplest forms of aerobic exercises, walking is generally considered as very gentle on the back. To get the maximum benefit from walking as a form of low impact aerobic exercise, walk two to three miles three times per week.

-Stationary Bicycling

This form of aerobic exercise is less painful on the back since there is lower impact produced. This is beneficial for patients with lower back pain who may find walking too painful.

-Water Therapy

Sometimes referred to as aquatherapy, water therapy is simply doing exercise in the water. The buoyancy works to provide effective conditioning at the same time stress on the back is reduced.

Nishanth Reddy is an author and publisher of many health related websites. Visit his website for more information about lower back pain relief and treatment methods. Learn different treatment methods used for back pain relief.

Lower Back Pain Relief

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2011-05-14T07:51:00.000-07:00

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Understanding and Overcoming Back Pain

2011-05-13T04:46:00.000-07:00

According to the reports of the mass communications media, back pain afflicts eight out of ten of us sometime in our lives. That's old news.

You may have tried the traditional medical solutions -- strengthening, stretching, pillows, braces, a special bed, pain relievers, muscle relaxants, massage, exotic surgeries, or other approaches -- acupuncture, biofeedback, relaxation techniques. For the good these approaches do, many people still have back pain after treatment and expect to have to live with it. It's either that, dependence on ongoing therapy, or muscle-relaxant drugs, which nobody likes because they dull mental clarity.

There's been nothing better, until now.

From your own experience, you probably know that traditional therapies often produce only short-term, partial relief or require regular -- even lifelong -- care. But it need not be that way.

There is something better available -- a new discipline in the field of health care: clinical somatic education. Most back pain sufferers who resort to clinical somatic education should expect full recovery in a space of days or weeks.

Clinical somatic education is not education of the thinking mind, but of the brain as master control center for the muscular system. Clients rapidly improve their muscular control and freedom of movement through a mind-brain-movement training process. Clinical somatic education affects the brain the way biofeedback does, but with importance differences, one being speed of results and the other being the durability of the improvement. Changes are usually definitive and need no further professional help.

Clinical somatic education recovers fitness for the activities of daily living.

New Information on Back Pain

Somatic educators are likely tell you something unusual: your back muscles are not weak, but musclebound -- tight by habit, not by disease. You can free yourself from back spasms by improving your muscular control of your back; you can relax back spasms and have them stay relaxed with a few minutes of structured movements, each day -- which beats paying your [fill in your favorite therapist]. This statement applies as much to people with degenerative disc disease and herniated discs to those who have only a twinge, now and then. The underlying cause is the same: muscle tension.

"If that's true," you may ask, "why doesn't my doctor (or therapist) know about it?"

The answer is that until recently, no method existed that could rapidly improve muscular control rapidly enough to be clinically practical. Word takes time to spread and gain credibility.

You may think, "Back spasms are too painful, too serious to be dismissed that quickly, or that easily."

That's understandable -- but a misunderstanding of your situation.

Conventional Therapeutics and Back Muscle Spasms

Conventional treatment methods, as you already know, are not effective enough for many people. Most therapies try to strengthen, stretch, or adjust people out of back trouble by working on muscles or the skeletal system. But bones go where muscles pull them, the control center for the muscular system is the brain (not the therapist), and these approaches don't address the brain's control of muscle action, so the problem remains or returns. The problem isn't in your muscles; it's in your brain, the organ of learning and the center of long-term reflex actions, such as postural reflexes.

That's why the relief obtained by conventional therapeutic approaches to back spasms is usually temporary and you remains subject to re-injury and to prescribed limitations to movement.

Habits, including muscular tension habits, exist as patterns of brain programming. They're learned or acquired. Tension habits can be unlearned, and actually, relearning muscular control is the only approach that works for long term relief of back pain. You must overcome the reflexes that underlie back pain and gain control of your back muscles, to the degree of being able to relax them.

Medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, osteopaths, and bodyworkers use predominantly manipulative methods. They mean well, but temporary or incomplete improvements are common; cures are rare.

Problems arising from muscle tension cannot be "cured" by manipulation because muscle tension is not a disease, but a habit maintained in the brain. Habits can't be "cured"; they can be changed through retraining.

A Correct Understanding of 'Strengthening and Stretching'

The idea behind the common "strengthening and stretching" regimen for back spasms is usually based on a misunderstanding; it's a misunderstanding because the muscles involved are almost never weak, but tired; it's a misunderstanding because the muscles involved are not "short" and in need of stretching, but "in contraction" and in need of relaxation. Sore muscles don't need strengthening; they need rest and refreshment. They don't need stretching; they need to relax and lengthen.

You need to regain your ability to relax, something you can't regain by being manipulated by someone else; you regain it by relearning to relax -- a form of learning, albeit a specialized one for which you will probably need training.

Back Muscle Spasms May be Painful, but Not Themselves an Injury

One of the automatic reactions of the body to injury is to tighten up. That's part of the pain of most injuries, particularly of musculo-skeletal injuries. It's a reaction that protects the body from further injury. There are cases where the tightening up of back muscles is such a protective reaction, and a necessary one -- where actual damage has occurred, such as a ruptured disc or a violent accident. In such situations, surgery may be necessary and somatic education will either not help or produce only temporary relief, at least until after surgery, unhappy news for some, but realistic.

If you've seen a doctor for your back spasms, he or she has either discovered that you need surgery or that you don't. Surgery is a last, desperate resort and most doctors are reluctant to recommend it. If you have been sent for therapy or given drugs, yours is not a surgical situation, meaning that your spasms are not a protective reaction against injury, but a reflex-conditioning problem.

In the majority of back spasms, there is no injury. The back spasms are just a movement malfunction -- a tension habit formed under stress. It's the "tension" part of "nervous tension."

So, why do back spasms occur? You now have part of the answer. Let's look a little more closely.

Your muscles obey your brain. Except for momentary reflexes controlled in the spinal cord (tested by your doctor's hammer tap), that's the whole story. So, if you have tight, spastic muscles, they're caused by your brain.

This answer is a "good news/bad news" type of answer. The bad news is that your muscles are out of control, and it's your brain's fault! Your brain isn't broken, just trapped by the memory of stress or injury in your history. The good news is that your brain can be relearn to relax those muscles.

Where do Back Muscle Spasms Come from?

One thing you will almost always notice about people with back spasms, if you exercise your powers of observation, is their high shoulders and swayback. Touch the muscles of their lower back, and you will find the same thing: hard, contracted muscles, not soft, weak, flabby muscles.

The major source of back spasms is the lifestyle of being "on the go" -- driven, driving, productive, on time, and responsive to every situation. This is a new idea for most people, so here's the explanation.

Our post-modern lifestyle triggers an ancient neuromuscular (bodily) response (known to developmental physiologists as the Landau Reaction); this reaction involves a tightening of the muscles of the spine in preparation for arising from rest (sitting or lying down) into activity (sitting, standing, walking, running). The Landau Reaction consists of the muscular responses involved in coming to a heightened state of alertness in preparation for moving into action; triggered incessantly for years, it becomes a tension habit -- one that often outlasts the moment (or stage of life) when it was necessary.

(The general viewpoint taught in physical therapy, it should be noted, is that the Landau Reaction is a temporary developmental response seen in infants, that does not persist into maturity. However, the muscular action pattern seen in mature adults under stressful conditions is identical to that seen in infants experiencing Landau Reaction -- shoulders, back, and hamstrings go into action (get tight).

Many Back Pain Issues Come from the Same Cause

Somatic educators usually find, upon examination of a person's musculature, that their pain comes not from an injury, but from overworked muscles; is not a medical problem or an injury, but a conditioning problem that often causes diagnosable medical problems. Their clients have back muscles conditioned into a painfully high state of tension. Most of the time, people can be brought to relax back spasms through brain-muscle training, and when they do, the pain and the problem disappear.

Though injuries from traffic accidents, falls, etc., also trigger muscular reactions that can become habitual, the Landau Reaction is behind most of the back-spasm epidemic in our society. It's a consequence of accumulated stress.

While you can't avoid the Landau Reaction (it's a necessary and appropriate part of life), you can avoid getting stuck in it. If your lifestyle puts you habitually in a state of reaction, you have to "de-habituate" yourself from it, so that your rise in tension occurs only as a momentary response to situations and does not become your chronic state.

Attempts to De-habituate the Landau Reaction

Most therapeutic approaches to back spasms are -- without knowing it -- attempts to de-habituate the Landau Reaction.

Cures for the tension and stress associated with the Landau Reaction include relaxation techniques, hypnosis, massage, skeletal adjustments, electrical stimulation, muscle relaxant drugs, and at last (as at first) pain medications.

Until recently, there was nothing better. Now, a clinical somatic education can rapidly improve muscular control, freedom of movement, and physical comfort. Once you have gained control of your Landau Reaction, a brief daily regimen of certain movements is sufficient to keep you from accumulating the daily tensions of a driven and overloaded life. You can keep refreshing yourself.

If you have numbness or tingling in your extremities, your problem is more severe and requires a medical evaluation to rule out serious conditions. Even if you have surgery, you will still need to learn to relax the tight muscles that initially caused the problem. If yours is not a surgical situation, then somatic education is probably viable for you.

The new methods used to de-habituate Landau Reaction are highly reliable and have no adverse side effects, apart from occasional temporary soreness the day after a session, soreness that fades out in a day or two, leaving you flexible, comfortable and stronger than before.

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Lawrence Gold is a long-time practicing clinical somatic educator certified in The Rolf Method of Structural Integration and in Hanna Somatic Education, with two years' hospital rehab center experience (Watsonville Community Hospital Wellness and Rehabilitation Center: 1997-1999) and articles published in The American Journal of Pain Management (Pain Relief through Movement Education: January, 1996, Vol. 6, no. 1, pg. 30) and in The Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients (A Functional Look at Back Pain and Treatment Methods: November, 1994, #136, pg. 1186 ).

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