2011年6月10日 星期五

Back Magic Multi-Level Adjustable Back Stretching Devise

Back Magic Multi-Level Adjustable Back Stretching DeviseThe 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


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2011年6月9日 星期四

Back Pain Exercise-Natural Pain Relief


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?


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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2011年6月8日 星期三

Back Pain Free Days - Ultimate 10 Day Recovery Blueprint

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2011年6月7日 星期二

How You Can Prevent Lower Back Pain


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

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


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/


2011年6月6日 星期一

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


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:

http://www.TheBackPainGuy.info

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:

Go to:

http://www.UltimateBadBackStrategies.com

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