Sometimes, when someone hurts his or her back, he or she has a regular problem with back pain in general, or even if he or she completely throw their back out, as they say, rest can be very important. Nonetheless, movement is only going to be more difficult if the muscles are too stiffened by lack of strength due to extended periods of not being used. When you can, and to the measure at which you can, you will want to begin exercising regularly to prevent worsening back pain.
When you do certain exercises regularly they will maintain your comfort and quality of life, you can do specific stretches which will strengthen both your abdominal muscles as well as your back muscles. When you perform these exercises you will be surprised at how rapidly your back pain will be minimized. The key is to keep it up. Especially for a chronic condition, but even if only an occasional but repeated occurrence, the regularity of your exercises is essential.
Even when you back is feeling good, strengthening the muscles that support the spine and posture will keep your back in great condition all the time. One example, which I believe is perhaps the most important back stretch that anyone can do, is what is commonly referred to as the “child’s pose.” For this stretch, which can be used as a part of a warm-up exercise and / or as a cool-down exercise, you will kneel and bring your chest down towards the floor. If your head does not reach the floor comfortably, use one of your forearms to rest your forehead on. This is a relaxing position. Gravity will do almost all of the work for you. If your head does touch the floor, just bring your arms back to rest on your feet. This is a comfortable way to relax and will also help you relax your shoulders for a better curving of the back.
Another example of a simple but effective exercise that targets back pain is to lay flat on your back. Bend the knees so that your feet are about as wide as your hips, leaving a space between the knees, and your feet remain flat onto the floor. In this sequence you will begin with breathing exercises. Take deep breaths pushing your back into the floor and thinking of pulling your bellybutton towards your spine as you breathe in and relax as you exhale. Then breathe in and as you breathe out let your knees fall slowly to the right side. You will move or “walk” the feet then slowly across the floor – pulling and lengthening through your spine your arms will move out to the side, pulling directly from your shoulders. The most important thing to remember in this exercise is to keep both shoulders planted as you drop the knees and move your feet as far as you can toward the right hand. If you can grab your feet, do so. But be sure not to push yourself. Your head will be turned to the left side, and you will look to the left hand throughout the stretch. The objective is to be lengthening through the spine, allowing it to twist to a comfortable stretch – always remembering to lengthen through the torso. In addition, you will also be able to stretch the shoulders, arms, the legs and the upper back all in one simple sequence.
My third example may not be possible for many people in more serious pain than others to do right away. Nonetheless, once you can, the movement often called the plow is a wonderful, refreshing exercise. Lying on the floor you lift your legs over your head
One of my absolute favorite exercises to do (always at the end of my workout) is to roll up my mat or a towel, lay it on the floor and, as I lay down I line it up with my spinal cord. Gravity, like with the child’s pose, is your key factor in this stretch and it feels so good. Lie on top of the mat or towel for as long as you like. It is so relaxing – just don’t fall back to sleep if you have to get to work! Many more people are doing regular exercises to improve the condition of their backs, especially when he or she experiences regular back pain. Doctors are now (more and more often) suggesting gentle back exercise for even the worst of back pain patients. So give it a try – you may be able to significantly improve the quality of your life!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
5 Secrets That Eliminate Upper Back Pain Headaches
Upper back pain headaches are one of the most common types of headaches. The pain can be debilitating and even affect your concentration, enthusiasm and moods. Just ask those nearest to you what you become like when you have an upper back pain headache.
Upper back pain headaches are due to 5 main factors. Understand these and you also understand how you can eliminate your headaches quickly.
Secret 1 – one of the common causes of headaches in general is dehydration. Whether you suffer from upper back pain headaches or headaches in general, water is essential. You do not need to drown yourself in water, but 3-4 glasses of water a day can eliminate your headaches quickly.
Secret 2 – stress is a common cause of upper back pain headaches. Why? Stress, as the saying goes, “rides on your shoulders”. Stress affects the muscles in your upper back and neck areas. It is these muscles that refer to the head creating upper back pain headaches. You may think that eliminating stress may be impossible. In reality it isn’t, it is the simple and easy things you do to eliminate stress that matters. One of the best web sites on stress relief is fast-stress-relief dot com. Check it out as I do recommend it.
Secret 3 – stretch your upper back and neck. As it is the muscles around the upper back and neck that refer to the head, stretching them is a wise decision. If the muscles in this area remain relaxed, upper back pain headaches will not occur. As with any area of the spine, the entire spine should be assessed and corrected accordingly.
Secret 4 – posture affects your upper back. Prolonged sitting is the most common culprit. If you sit for extended periods of time, the upper back joints and muscles tighten, this leads to the upper back pain headaches. Changing your posture regularly is the best solution to postural stresses. Look at your chair position and height; alter your work space to ease any tensions that are created. Exercise and improving your posture will also help to remove and prevent your upper back pain headaches.
Secret 5 – this leads on from secret 4, you need to rest more. Rest means physically lying down more often. This is the only way to truly rest your spine and muscles. Live by a simple motto of “if you don’t have to sit or stand – don’t”. This way you will lie down more often and stop the effects of gravity, poor posture, it allows you to de-stress and take tension off the muscles that create your upper back pain headaches.
5 simple secrets that if you follow can not only remove, but prevent your upper back pain headaches. Back pain affects over 80-% of adults at some stage. There are numerous ways you can help your self and stop back pain and upper back pan headaches.
Upper back pain headaches are due to 5 main factors. Understand these and you also understand how you can eliminate your headaches quickly.
Secret 1 – one of the common causes of headaches in general is dehydration. Whether you suffer from upper back pain headaches or headaches in general, water is essential. You do not need to drown yourself in water, but 3-4 glasses of water a day can eliminate your headaches quickly.
Secret 2 – stress is a common cause of upper back pain headaches. Why? Stress, as the saying goes, “rides on your shoulders”. Stress affects the muscles in your upper back and neck areas. It is these muscles that refer to the head creating upper back pain headaches. You may think that eliminating stress may be impossible. In reality it isn’t, it is the simple and easy things you do to eliminate stress that matters. One of the best web sites on stress relief is fast-stress-relief dot com. Check it out as I do recommend it.
Secret 3 – stretch your upper back and neck. As it is the muscles around the upper back and neck that refer to the head, stretching them is a wise decision. If the muscles in this area remain relaxed, upper back pain headaches will not occur. As with any area of the spine, the entire spine should be assessed and corrected accordingly.
Secret 4 – posture affects your upper back. Prolonged sitting is the most common culprit. If you sit for extended periods of time, the upper back joints and muscles tighten, this leads to the upper back pain headaches. Changing your posture regularly is the best solution to postural stresses. Look at your chair position and height; alter your work space to ease any tensions that are created. Exercise and improving your posture will also help to remove and prevent your upper back pain headaches.
Secret 5 – this leads on from secret 4, you need to rest more. Rest means physically lying down more often. This is the only way to truly rest your spine and muscles. Live by a simple motto of “if you don’t have to sit or stand – don’t”. This way you will lie down more often and stop the effects of gravity, poor posture, it allows you to de-stress and take tension off the muscles that create your upper back pain headaches.
5 simple secrets that if you follow can not only remove, but prevent your upper back pain headaches. Back pain affects over 80-% of adults at some stage. There are numerous ways you can help your self and stop back pain and upper back pan headaches.
Construction Injuries-Effective Pain Management and Rapid Care
Summer is in full swing; it’s the busiest season for the construction industry and painful injuries abound. More than 7.3 million people (approximately 6% of the nation’s work force) work in the US construction industry and painful and debilitating construction injuries are a leading source of occupational injury.
Experts say there is a direct link between effective pain management and rapid care following an injury.
According to Lawrence Gorfine, M.D., Board Certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management and co-founder of Palm Beach Spine & Pain Institute, effective Pain Management for injuries can depend upon rapid care following the injury. “It is essential that patients seek rapid treatment after an injury in order to limit the inflammatory processes that can lead to chronic pain and disability,” says Dr. Gorfine.
Inflammation occurs rapidly in the acute stage following an injury, quickly building up as the body attempts to neutralize toxins and begin the repair process. Pain can escalate after the acute phase of an injury, and continue as a result of damaged tissue and other injuries, and if not treated, can often lead to inflammatory conditions known as chronic pain.
Common construction related injuries include slip and fall accidents, crane and scaffolding accidents, welding rod accidents and dangerous or defective equipment accidents. Other causes of accidents are vehicular injuries while operating vehicles and machinery or from driving to and from the workplace.
By far, the most common accident at construction sites is a fall, either on the same level or from significant height. While the most serious construction injuries are caused by falling from great heights, strained or sprained arms, legs, and backs are very common construction injuries; usually a result of lifting heavy objects. In fact, the back is the part of the body most frequently injured at work accounting for nearly 25 percent of all work-related injuries.
Effective diagnosis and pain management techniques
Over the last twenty years, many chemical and anatomic pain pathways have been identified and studied, helping to diagnose and treat painful injuries. The Board Certified Anesthesiologist and Pain Medicine Specialist can perform diagnostic injections, usually with enhanced fluoroscopic guidance, to isolate and confirm the source of the patient’s pain. Once identified, these painful structures are medically treated.
Epiduroscopy is the insertion of a fiber optic filament through a needle directly into the spine. This is connected to a television monitor to visualize the inside of the spinal canal, spinal cord and spinal nerves. This procedure has been effective in making accurate diagnosis, accomplishing precise injections, cutting of epidural adhesions and scar tissue and in the removal of toxins liberated by injured discs.
Pioneering pain management techniques performed by Board Certified Pain Management physicians include highly specific injection procedures eliminating pain at its source by isolating the nerve ending to the painful spot. Medication can be injected at the exact site of the injury or compressive lesion, eliminating the pain and allowing the injured party to return to a level of previous activity.
How many are injured in Construction Accidents?
According to the National Center for Personal Injury Protection and Control, one out of every 10 US construction workers is accidentally injured every year. In 2003, 400,000 people suffered construction accident injuries so severe that they were forced to miss work that same year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2005 a total of 4.2 million injuries and illnesses were reported in private industry workplaces, and about 2.2 million of these required days off work or restricted duties.
Who Pays for Care when a Worker is Injured?
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), nine out of 10 people in the nation’s workforce are protected by workers compensation insurance, which is required for nearly all employees. Injured workers receive all approved medically necessary and appropriate treatment from the first day of injury or illness.
Treatment will be provided at no cost to the injured for medically necessary care approved and provided by authorized health care providers. Approved treatment can include doctor appointments, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospital and physician care, mileage reimbursement to and from all medical providers, and any other medical items or treatment ordered by your authorized physician.
Rather than simply administering pain medication, Board Certified Interventional Pain Management physicians diagnose the sources of pain and provide immediate pain relief through minimally invasive techniques. These techniques arrest the inflammatory process and limit further tissue damage, returning the injured structure to normal function. Board Certified Pain Management Physicians are an important resource for the both the patient and the employer, helping the injured quickly return to productive employment and pre-injury activity levels.
Experts say there is a direct link between effective pain management and rapid care following an injury.
According to Lawrence Gorfine, M.D., Board Certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management and co-founder of Palm Beach Spine & Pain Institute, effective Pain Management for injuries can depend upon rapid care following the injury. “It is essential that patients seek rapid treatment after an injury in order to limit the inflammatory processes that can lead to chronic pain and disability,” says Dr. Gorfine.
Inflammation occurs rapidly in the acute stage following an injury, quickly building up as the body attempts to neutralize toxins and begin the repair process. Pain can escalate after the acute phase of an injury, and continue as a result of damaged tissue and other injuries, and if not treated, can often lead to inflammatory conditions known as chronic pain.
Common construction related injuries include slip and fall accidents, crane and scaffolding accidents, welding rod accidents and dangerous or defective equipment accidents. Other causes of accidents are vehicular injuries while operating vehicles and machinery or from driving to and from the workplace.
By far, the most common accident at construction sites is a fall, either on the same level or from significant height. While the most serious construction injuries are caused by falling from great heights, strained or sprained arms, legs, and backs are very common construction injuries; usually a result of lifting heavy objects. In fact, the back is the part of the body most frequently injured at work accounting for nearly 25 percent of all work-related injuries.
Effective diagnosis and pain management techniques
Over the last twenty years, many chemical and anatomic pain pathways have been identified and studied, helping to diagnose and treat painful injuries. The Board Certified Anesthesiologist and Pain Medicine Specialist can perform diagnostic injections, usually with enhanced fluoroscopic guidance, to isolate and confirm the source of the patient’s pain. Once identified, these painful structures are medically treated.
Epiduroscopy is the insertion of a fiber optic filament through a needle directly into the spine. This is connected to a television monitor to visualize the inside of the spinal canal, spinal cord and spinal nerves. This procedure has been effective in making accurate diagnosis, accomplishing precise injections, cutting of epidural adhesions and scar tissue and in the removal of toxins liberated by injured discs.
Pioneering pain management techniques performed by Board Certified Pain Management physicians include highly specific injection procedures eliminating pain at its source by isolating the nerve ending to the painful spot. Medication can be injected at the exact site of the injury or compressive lesion, eliminating the pain and allowing the injured party to return to a level of previous activity.
How many are injured in Construction Accidents?
According to the National Center for Personal Injury Protection and Control, one out of every 10 US construction workers is accidentally injured every year. In 2003, 400,000 people suffered construction accident injuries so severe that they were forced to miss work that same year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2005 a total of 4.2 million injuries and illnesses were reported in private industry workplaces, and about 2.2 million of these required days off work or restricted duties.
Who Pays for Care when a Worker is Injured?
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), nine out of 10 people in the nation’s workforce are protected by workers compensation insurance, which is required for nearly all employees. Injured workers receive all approved medically necessary and appropriate treatment from the first day of injury or illness.
Treatment will be provided at no cost to the injured for medically necessary care approved and provided by authorized health care providers. Approved treatment can include doctor appointments, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospital and physician care, mileage reimbursement to and from all medical providers, and any other medical items or treatment ordered by your authorized physician.
Rather than simply administering pain medication, Board Certified Interventional Pain Management physicians diagnose the sources of pain and provide immediate pain relief through minimally invasive techniques. These techniques arrest the inflammatory process and limit further tissue damage, returning the injured structure to normal function. Board Certified Pain Management Physicians are an important resource for the both the patient and the employer, helping the injured quickly return to productive employment and pre-injury activity levels.
Back Pain Symptoms & Treatment
Here’s one problem you can’t turn your back on! But you can get some relief from knowing that very few people turn out to have a major problem or a dangerous medical condition involving the bones or joints of the back. In fact, often the exact cause of a person’s back pain can’t be pinpointed exactly. Many causes result from everyday activities and clear up by themselves within a relatively short time period. Whether your back pain requires a doctor’s care or not, chances are you’ll be “back” to normal in no time.
Back pain may be blamed on poor muscles tone in the back, muscle tension or spasm, back strains, ligament or muscle tears, bone weakness and/or joint problems. If you have a so called “slipped disc” in your spinal column, you may suffer buttock of leg pain, numbness, tingling of weakness in the bones of legs due to irritation of nerves from the spinal cord. Emotional stress of long periods of inactivity may worsen back pain.
People in poor physical condition (including obesity) or those who do work that includes heavy labor or long periods of sitting or standing have a higher risk of developing low back problems; they also get better more slowly.
Occasionally back pain can be due to other conditions. These include arthritis, ulcers or other intestinal problems, kidney disease, pregnancy or other gynecological conditions, heart diseases, bone injuries and cancer. If back pain seems unrelated to an injury or activity, or is in any other way unusual, a visit to the doctor is recommended.
Symptoms
Back pain is usually confined to the lower back, but it may extend to other areas, particularly the legs. Affected parts of the back may feel tender or sore to the touch and the pain may increase with movement. Pain can be felt as sharp of knife-like, a burning sensation or as a dull muscular ache. Symptoms can range from mildly uncomfortable to completely disabling.
Treatment
Most episodes of mild back pain will improve without any medical intervention. Over the counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can provide temporary relief. It’s a good idea to avoid overly strenuous or repetitive activity, but bed rest should generally be avoided. In fact, numerous clinical trials have confirmed that continued activity and prescribed exercises reduce back discomfort and result in more rapid recovery. Exercise and healthy diet can be followed to make bones healthy. In addition, a good exercise program may help prevent recurrence-common with back pain. Check with your doctor if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve rapidly.
Other helpful back pain treatments include physical therapy, massage and spinal manipulation. In addition, a panel from the National Institutes of Health has concluded that acupuncture may be useful as one form of treatment in a comprehensive management program for back pain. Surgical treatment of back pain is dictated but by the type of structural problem that is causing the pain. In some cases, surgery can be a highly effective option.
Back pain may be blamed on poor muscles tone in the back, muscle tension or spasm, back strains, ligament or muscle tears, bone weakness and/or joint problems. If you have a so called “slipped disc” in your spinal column, you may suffer buttock of leg pain, numbness, tingling of weakness in the bones of legs due to irritation of nerves from the spinal cord. Emotional stress of long periods of inactivity may worsen back pain.
People in poor physical condition (including obesity) or those who do work that includes heavy labor or long periods of sitting or standing have a higher risk of developing low back problems; they also get better more slowly.
Occasionally back pain can be due to other conditions. These include arthritis, ulcers or other intestinal problems, kidney disease, pregnancy or other gynecological conditions, heart diseases, bone injuries and cancer. If back pain seems unrelated to an injury or activity, or is in any other way unusual, a visit to the doctor is recommended.
Symptoms
Back pain is usually confined to the lower back, but it may extend to other areas, particularly the legs. Affected parts of the back may feel tender or sore to the touch and the pain may increase with movement. Pain can be felt as sharp of knife-like, a burning sensation or as a dull muscular ache. Symptoms can range from mildly uncomfortable to completely disabling.
Treatment
Most episodes of mild back pain will improve without any medical intervention. Over the counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can provide temporary relief. It’s a good idea to avoid overly strenuous or repetitive activity, but bed rest should generally be avoided. In fact, numerous clinical trials have confirmed that continued activity and prescribed exercises reduce back discomfort and result in more rapid recovery. Exercise and healthy diet can be followed to make bones healthy. In addition, a good exercise program may help prevent recurrence-common with back pain. Check with your doctor if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve rapidly.
Other helpful back pain treatments include physical therapy, massage and spinal manipulation. In addition, a panel from the National Institutes of Health has concluded that acupuncture may be useful as one form of treatment in a comprehensive management program for back pain. Surgical treatment of back pain is dictated but by the type of structural problem that is causing the pain. In some cases, surgery can be a highly effective option.
Herniated Discs
Herniated discs are very common spinal abnormalities. They are so common in fact; that they might actually be called “normal”, since a large percentage of the general population has one or more disc herniations in their spines. Herniated discs have been vilified by the traditional and alternative medical systems. However, learning the truth about disc herniations will demonstrate that they are rarely the cause of serious chronic pain conditions.
Herniated discs are also known by a variety of terminologies including bulging discs, extruded discs, slipped discs, and ruptured discs. Regardless of the nomenclature used, herniated discs inspire fear in orthopedic patients around the world. Intervertebral discs are the shock absorbers of the spinal column. They reside between the individual spinal bones known as vertebrae. The discs are designed to be soft and pliable in order to cushion the vertebral bones, absorb shock in the spine and increase general spinal flexibility. Intervertebral discs are also known as spinal discs or simply discs. They are composed of a thick and durable outer wall known as the annulus fibrosus and a softer inner core known as the nucleus pulposus.
Herniated Discs occur when the disc wall bulges outwards. This bulge can occur towards the front of the spine, the rear, or either side. Sometimes the outer wall actually tears open, leaking some of the disc nucleus into the body cavity. Discs can herniated or rupture from a variety of causes including traumatic injury, related spinal conditions or degenerative processes. It is completely normal for discs to dry out and lose thickness as we age. While medicine calls this process Degenerative Disc Disease, it is not a disease at all, but merely a universal and expected part of the aging process.
The vast majority of doctors, regardless of specialty, theorize that herniated discs cause pain mostly by compressing spinal nerve roots in their vicinity. As the disc bulges, the outer disc wall can press on the thecal sac which surrounds the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Herniated discs can also compress individual spinal nerve roots as they exit through the vertebral foramen on either side of the spine. These instances of nerve impingement can create a host of symptoms throughout the local area, as well as the anatomical region served by the affected nerve. These symptoms can affect the sensory, motor or autonomic capabilities of the bodily region served by the impinged nerve. All this talk of neurological blockage and dysfunction can have a powerful nocebo effect on any diagnosed patient. It is no surprise that most patients’ pain gets far worse after a positive diagnosis of disc herniation. All the blame residing on these poor herniated discs has certainly given them a fearsome reputation as a major contributor to long term chronic back pain problems. However, this is only half the story…
Here are some random facts about herniated discs which are not common knowledge. A sizeable amount of the population has one or more herniated discs and does not even know it. These people do not experience any pain or related symptoms and usually discover their disc abnormalities during routine imaging studies performed for a completely unrelated condition. Most patients who have herniated discs do not suffer any pain. There is very little direct proof that disc herniations are indeed the source of long term pain. Although herniated disc injuries can be painful for a time, they usually resolve themselves in a matter of weeks and do not require any special medical treatment. Continued compression of a spinal nerve will not create lasting pain; it will instead create numbness, as the nerve will cease the function altogether after a short time. Finally, the symptoms experienced by patients often do not correspond to the clinical impression of the disc injury. Patients often have pain and related neurological symptoms in areas not affected by the herniated disc.
Ok, so if herniated discs are rarely the cause of lasting symptoms, what is causing all these diagnosed patients to suffer endlessly with horrific torturous pain? The most logical and widely accepted theory says that most herniated disc pain conditions are misdiagnosed as the actual causation of symptoms. The disc irregularity exists, but is completely coincidental and innocent of causing any problems. This is the case for millions of patients who have been led down the wrong path when it comes to their back pain diagnosis. This is the primary reason for the dismal treatment results offered by most medical disc therapies. The sad reality is that back pain which lasts more than 2 months is more likely to continue forever than it is to be cured. Now that is truly frightening!
If the majority of disc conditions are innocent and asymptomatic, then what is causing all this pain? Once again, there are varying theories, but the most accepted and logical states that ischemia is the likely culprit. Oxygen deprivation of the muscles, nerves and other spinal structures can create serious pain and spasms which will bring the strongest patient to their knees. Ischemia leaves almost no telltale evidence, unless the individually affected cells can be dissected and studied in the laboratory. Oxygen deprivation can be caused by many purely physical processes, but is far more often created by a psychosomatic pain syndrome. Psycho-emotional pain is completely real, physical, and universal. The only variables are the location, duration and severity of symptoms. For patients with severe psychosomatic back pain, there is little hope for a cure, since their true underlying causative condition has never been correctly diagnosed.
I have extensive experience with herniated discs. After all, I have 2 of them, myself. I was diagnosed with multiple disc injuries in my early twenties after suffering with severe back pain since the age of 16. After diagnosis, my symptoms worsened and began a battle to control my very life. I tried every conceivable traditional, alternative and complementary treatment for disc pain with extremely poor results. After suffering in agony for 18 years, I finally ended my back pain for good. Learning the true and actual facts about herniated discs was a huge contributor to my cure. Do the research for yourself and read the clinical studies. You will also see that there is little correlation between herniated discs and chronic back pain. For every patient with a painful herniated disc, there are 10 patients with disc herniations, yet no pain. Learn the truth and become free…PAIN FREE.
Herniated discs are also known by a variety of terminologies including bulging discs, extruded discs, slipped discs, and ruptured discs. Regardless of the nomenclature used, herniated discs inspire fear in orthopedic patients around the world. Intervertebral discs are the shock absorbers of the spinal column. They reside between the individual spinal bones known as vertebrae. The discs are designed to be soft and pliable in order to cushion the vertebral bones, absorb shock in the spine and increase general spinal flexibility. Intervertebral discs are also known as spinal discs or simply discs. They are composed of a thick and durable outer wall known as the annulus fibrosus and a softer inner core known as the nucleus pulposus.
Herniated Discs occur when the disc wall bulges outwards. This bulge can occur towards the front of the spine, the rear, or either side. Sometimes the outer wall actually tears open, leaking some of the disc nucleus into the body cavity. Discs can herniated or rupture from a variety of causes including traumatic injury, related spinal conditions or degenerative processes. It is completely normal for discs to dry out and lose thickness as we age. While medicine calls this process Degenerative Disc Disease, it is not a disease at all, but merely a universal and expected part of the aging process.
The vast majority of doctors, regardless of specialty, theorize that herniated discs cause pain mostly by compressing spinal nerve roots in their vicinity. As the disc bulges, the outer disc wall can press on the thecal sac which surrounds the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Herniated discs can also compress individual spinal nerve roots as they exit through the vertebral foramen on either side of the spine. These instances of nerve impingement can create a host of symptoms throughout the local area, as well as the anatomical region served by the affected nerve. These symptoms can affect the sensory, motor or autonomic capabilities of the bodily region served by the impinged nerve. All this talk of neurological blockage and dysfunction can have a powerful nocebo effect on any diagnosed patient. It is no surprise that most patients’ pain gets far worse after a positive diagnosis of disc herniation. All the blame residing on these poor herniated discs has certainly given them a fearsome reputation as a major contributor to long term chronic back pain problems. However, this is only half the story…
Here are some random facts about herniated discs which are not common knowledge. A sizeable amount of the population has one or more herniated discs and does not even know it. These people do not experience any pain or related symptoms and usually discover their disc abnormalities during routine imaging studies performed for a completely unrelated condition. Most patients who have herniated discs do not suffer any pain. There is very little direct proof that disc herniations are indeed the source of long term pain. Although herniated disc injuries can be painful for a time, they usually resolve themselves in a matter of weeks and do not require any special medical treatment. Continued compression of a spinal nerve will not create lasting pain; it will instead create numbness, as the nerve will cease the function altogether after a short time. Finally, the symptoms experienced by patients often do not correspond to the clinical impression of the disc injury. Patients often have pain and related neurological symptoms in areas not affected by the herniated disc.
Ok, so if herniated discs are rarely the cause of lasting symptoms, what is causing all these diagnosed patients to suffer endlessly with horrific torturous pain? The most logical and widely accepted theory says that most herniated disc pain conditions are misdiagnosed as the actual causation of symptoms. The disc irregularity exists, but is completely coincidental and innocent of causing any problems. This is the case for millions of patients who have been led down the wrong path when it comes to their back pain diagnosis. This is the primary reason for the dismal treatment results offered by most medical disc therapies. The sad reality is that back pain which lasts more than 2 months is more likely to continue forever than it is to be cured. Now that is truly frightening!
If the majority of disc conditions are innocent and asymptomatic, then what is causing all this pain? Once again, there are varying theories, but the most accepted and logical states that ischemia is the likely culprit. Oxygen deprivation of the muscles, nerves and other spinal structures can create serious pain and spasms which will bring the strongest patient to their knees. Ischemia leaves almost no telltale evidence, unless the individually affected cells can be dissected and studied in the laboratory. Oxygen deprivation can be caused by many purely physical processes, but is far more often created by a psychosomatic pain syndrome. Psycho-emotional pain is completely real, physical, and universal. The only variables are the location, duration and severity of symptoms. For patients with severe psychosomatic back pain, there is little hope for a cure, since their true underlying causative condition has never been correctly diagnosed.
I have extensive experience with herniated discs. After all, I have 2 of them, myself. I was diagnosed with multiple disc injuries in my early twenties after suffering with severe back pain since the age of 16. After diagnosis, my symptoms worsened and began a battle to control my very life. I tried every conceivable traditional, alternative and complementary treatment for disc pain with extremely poor results. After suffering in agony for 18 years, I finally ended my back pain for good. Learning the true and actual facts about herniated discs was a huge contributor to my cure. Do the research for yourself and read the clinical studies. You will also see that there is little correlation between herniated discs and chronic back pain. For every patient with a painful herniated disc, there are 10 patients with disc herniations, yet no pain. Learn the truth and become free…PAIN FREE.
Herbal Cure for Backache
Back ache can be caused by an accident or an injury to the spine. Backache is generally a gripping pain near the inward curve of the back above the base of the spine. Back problems affect all kinds of people, men as much as women and young as well as old. Back is an important organ that bears the entire body weight. In the contemporary times. Sedentary living habits, hazardous work patterns and psychological conditions associated with emotional stress, which bring about spasm of the muscles, cause backaches. As the back bears the weight of the entire body, overweight persons feel the strain on the back when they have to carry an extra load.
In most cases of backache, the pain is usually felt either in the middle of the back or lower down. It may spread to both sides of the waist and the hips. In a condition of acute pain, the patient is unable to move and is bedridden. Many people experience back pain as they age and their joint tissues deteriorate or shift. Psychological tension, stress, or anxiety about everyday problems can also lead to backache. In addition, back pain can result from diseases of the kidneys, heart, lungs, intestinal tract, or reproductive organs. Other causes include stress and strain resulting from sitting for a long time, improper lifting of weights, high heels, and emotional problems which may cause painful muscle cramping.
Backache caused is degenerative disease, metabolic diseases or congenital. Acute or chronic illnesses like kidney or prostate problems, female disorders, Influenza, and arthritis, may also lead to backache. It can be the result of developmental problems or a tumour. Use this list as a basis of the possible causes of back pain. Backaches occasionally stem from a congenital (present from birth) malformation. In such cases, pain generally results from the unusual stresses that the deformity imposes on surrounding muscular structures rather than from the abnormality itself. Severe back pain may also be accompanied by pain or numbness radiating down one or both legs. Though most muscular back pains disappear within a week or two of their onset, some can last one to two months. Pain may recur unless preventive measures are taken. Usually the pain is felt in the middle of the back or in the lower back. When the pain aggravates, it tends to spread to both sides of the waist and hips. When the pain becomes very acute, the patient is recommended bed rest for sometime. Most patients suffer from a problem referred to as cervical and lumbar spondylosis, in which the spine tends to lose its flexibility.
Herbal Remedies Cure for Backache
1.Use of garlic. Two or three cloves should be taken every morning to get results. An oil prepared from garlic and rubbed on the back will give great relief.
2.Lemon is another useful remedy for backache.
3.Raw potato is an ancient home remedy for backache, characterised by incapacitating pain in the lumbar region, especially in the lower part of the back.
4.Fish oil taken daily, is the least expensive and most effective manner in which to eliminate backache, joint pain, pains in the wrists.
5.Mixture of powdered sonth, sweet soda and salt if consumed with hot milk or water can alleviate your backache problems.
6.While sleeping, sleep on a firm mattress. Avoid sleeping face down.
7.Heat may be applied with hot water bottle or infrared lamp for temporary relief in the area.
8.Drink some hot milk or water with powdered sonth, meetha soda, and namak.
9.Colchicine - may help with back pain caused by a herniated disc (note: colchicine may have adverse side effects).
10.Willow Bark - used when experiencing pain due to inflammation.
11.Cayenne Pepper - can be applied topically to areas of pain (a counter irritant).
12.Devil's Claw - may reduce accute lower back pain.
13.Ginger - used to decrease inflammation and associated back pain.
14.Eucalyptus and Peppermint Oil - a combination of eucalyptus and peppermint oil applied topically to area of pain (a counter irritant).
15.Turmeric - has anti-inflammatory effects with possible treatment of low back pain.
In most cases of backache, the pain is usually felt either in the middle of the back or lower down. It may spread to both sides of the waist and the hips. In a condition of acute pain, the patient is unable to move and is bedridden. Many people experience back pain as they age and their joint tissues deteriorate or shift. Psychological tension, stress, or anxiety about everyday problems can also lead to backache. In addition, back pain can result from diseases of the kidneys, heart, lungs, intestinal tract, or reproductive organs. Other causes include stress and strain resulting from sitting for a long time, improper lifting of weights, high heels, and emotional problems which may cause painful muscle cramping.
Backache caused is degenerative disease, metabolic diseases or congenital. Acute or chronic illnesses like kidney or prostate problems, female disorders, Influenza, and arthritis, may also lead to backache. It can be the result of developmental problems or a tumour. Use this list as a basis of the possible causes of back pain. Backaches occasionally stem from a congenital (present from birth) malformation. In such cases, pain generally results from the unusual stresses that the deformity imposes on surrounding muscular structures rather than from the abnormality itself. Severe back pain may also be accompanied by pain or numbness radiating down one or both legs. Though most muscular back pains disappear within a week or two of their onset, some can last one to two months. Pain may recur unless preventive measures are taken. Usually the pain is felt in the middle of the back or in the lower back. When the pain aggravates, it tends to spread to both sides of the waist and hips. When the pain becomes very acute, the patient is recommended bed rest for sometime. Most patients suffer from a problem referred to as cervical and lumbar spondylosis, in which the spine tends to lose its flexibility.
Herbal Remedies Cure for Backache
1.Use of garlic. Two or three cloves should be taken every morning to get results. An oil prepared from garlic and rubbed on the back will give great relief.
2.Lemon is another useful remedy for backache.
3.Raw potato is an ancient home remedy for backache, characterised by incapacitating pain in the lumbar region, especially in the lower part of the back.
4.Fish oil taken daily, is the least expensive and most effective manner in which to eliminate backache, joint pain, pains in the wrists.
5.Mixture of powdered sonth, sweet soda and salt if consumed with hot milk or water can alleviate your backache problems.
6.While sleeping, sleep on a firm mattress. Avoid sleeping face down.
7.Heat may be applied with hot water bottle or infrared lamp for temporary relief in the area.
8.Drink some hot milk or water with powdered sonth, meetha soda, and namak.
9.Colchicine - may help with back pain caused by a herniated disc (note: colchicine may have adverse side effects).
10.Willow Bark - used when experiencing pain due to inflammation.
11.Cayenne Pepper - can be applied topically to areas of pain (a counter irritant).
12.Devil's Claw - may reduce accute lower back pain.
13.Ginger - used to decrease inflammation and associated back pain.
14.Eucalyptus and Peppermint Oil - a combination of eucalyptus and peppermint oil applied topically to area of pain (a counter irritant).
15.Turmeric - has anti-inflammatory effects with possible treatment of low back pain.
Low Back Pain Relief
There are many reasons as to why a person may find themselves suffering from low back pain. It could be because they have strained some muscles in their back or even some ligaments. It may be caused by them having problems with the disks in their spine. But the most common cause for a person to suffer from low back pain is that their muscles have become weak through inactivity or if a person does something such as lift a heavy box or carrying out some work in the garden.
But there are certain things a person can use or do in order to help with relieving the pain in the lower part of their back. In this article I will take a look at some different kind of low back pain relief you may want to consider using in the future.
One of the first things a person can try is to lay on the floor on their back and get someone to place under their knees. Or they could try instead laying on the floor on their back with their hips and knees bent and then place their feet on a chair in front of them. By doing this a person is actually taking pressure and weight off of their back.
It is important to note when using this method for helping to relief the back pain, you will need to use this for a couple of days. Plus do not rest for any longer than this or you will find that your muscle become much weaker and so the time it takes to recover will end up taking a lot longer. Therefore although it may hurt in the beginning it is best if you walk around for a few minutes each hour each day as well.
Another way of helping to relieve the pain felt when a person has a problem with their back is to use heating pads. This is ideal for helping to relieve the pain felt when the muscles in the back spasm. This particular kind of low back pain relief treatment should be used for 20 to 30 minutes at a time and work by helping to relieve the tension in the muscles when they go into spasm.
Above we have looked at some of the more natural ways to help with low back pain relief however there are medications that a person can use instead. These can either be purchased over the counter at your local drug store or will need to be prescribed by your doctor.
But there are certain things a person can use or do in order to help with relieving the pain in the lower part of their back. In this article I will take a look at some different kind of low back pain relief you may want to consider using in the future.
One of the first things a person can try is to lay on the floor on their back and get someone to place under their knees. Or they could try instead laying on the floor on their back with their hips and knees bent and then place their feet on a chair in front of them. By doing this a person is actually taking pressure and weight off of their back.
It is important to note when using this method for helping to relief the back pain, you will need to use this for a couple of days. Plus do not rest for any longer than this or you will find that your muscle become much weaker and so the time it takes to recover will end up taking a lot longer. Therefore although it may hurt in the beginning it is best if you walk around for a few minutes each hour each day as well.
Another way of helping to relieve the pain felt when a person has a problem with their back is to use heating pads. This is ideal for helping to relieve the pain felt when the muscles in the back spasm. This particular kind of low back pain relief treatment should be used for 20 to 30 minutes at a time and work by helping to relieve the tension in the muscles when they go into spasm.
Above we have looked at some of the more natural ways to help with low back pain relief however there are medications that a person can use instead. These can either be purchased over the counter at your local drug store or will need to be prescribed by your doctor.
Relieving Pain in Joints, Back, Hips and Legs
After hearing your description, I feel the best way to deal with your pain is on another level.
In your detailed description you describe your broken dreams and I feel that these broken dreams are now the cause of the ever-increasing complexity of your external symptoms.
By learning to dream again - especially if you use your imagination, your creativity and passion for life - you can rebuild your body from the inside.
Your dreams directly affect the blueprint of your energy body, which your physical body grows into.
Every cell in your body changes: some change daily, some change weekly; so that nearly every cell in your body changes at least every seven years. Each cell of your body grows into the electromagnetic field or energy blueprint that you have created for your body by your dreams, visualizations, passion and desire.
When you dream, you connect your consciousness to the universal life force, which is flowing from your spiritual essence or source energy, outwards.
When you dream, your awareness is in a place where anything is possible. Therefore, forget your current reality and go deep into your heart and learn to dream your dreams as though anything were possible.
This is like working on a plant, on the level of the sap. The clear colourless sap is what forms the hard stem, the soft leaves and the beautiful flower. It is your spiritual essence - your dreams, your self-image and your self-love - that create your energy blueprint, which your physical body grows into.
Therefore, move your attention away from your pain and focus on your spiritual essence, creating in your mind's eye beautiful dreams and experiences that will bring you great joy and happiness.
You still have the ability to have beautiful music in your life. It may be that your energy has to flow in a different way - maybe by teaching others to become your fingers and your ears.
Through teaching others your dreams can be realized by blending them with those of other people who are in reality a part of you. Give yourself the freedom to dream the most wild and improbable dreams, knowing that you have the divine alchemy to create them as a Part of All That Is.
In your detailed description you describe your broken dreams and I feel that these broken dreams are now the cause of the ever-increasing complexity of your external symptoms.
By learning to dream again - especially if you use your imagination, your creativity and passion for life - you can rebuild your body from the inside.
Your dreams directly affect the blueprint of your energy body, which your physical body grows into.
Every cell in your body changes: some change daily, some change weekly; so that nearly every cell in your body changes at least every seven years. Each cell of your body grows into the electromagnetic field or energy blueprint that you have created for your body by your dreams, visualizations, passion and desire.
When you dream, you connect your consciousness to the universal life force, which is flowing from your spiritual essence or source energy, outwards.
When you dream, your awareness is in a place where anything is possible. Therefore, forget your current reality and go deep into your heart and learn to dream your dreams as though anything were possible.
This is like working on a plant, on the level of the sap. The clear colourless sap is what forms the hard stem, the soft leaves and the beautiful flower. It is your spiritual essence - your dreams, your self-image and your self-love - that create your energy blueprint, which your physical body grows into.
Therefore, move your attention away from your pain and focus on your spiritual essence, creating in your mind's eye beautiful dreams and experiences that will bring you great joy and happiness.
You still have the ability to have beautiful music in your life. It may be that your energy has to flow in a different way - maybe by teaching others to become your fingers and your ears.
Through teaching others your dreams can be realized by blending them with those of other people who are in reality a part of you. Give yourself the freedom to dream the most wild and improbable dreams, knowing that you have the divine alchemy to create them as a Part of All That Is.
Workplace Factors That Lead To Shoulder Pain
Studies are always trying to shed more and more light upon the question of joint pain, and the different contributing factors. In a recent article in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases by Bone and Tooper, looked at how prolonged exposure to repetitive activity at work contributes specifically to shoulder pain. In their study, they noted that population based studies suggest a lifetime prevalence of over 70 percent for neck and shoulder pain.
They found that shoulder pain was second only to back pain in workers’ compensation insurance claims. Their study also found that the risk of developing shoulder pain when starting a new job is related to the amount of over-the-head lifting and the monotonous nature of the work. They concluded that shoulder pain is a common problem among working age adults and is a large contributor to sick leave.
The study was able to identify some of the workplace factors that contribute to shoulder pain. The researchers were able to identify prolonged abnormal posture and repetition as significant contributors to shoulder pain. They also noted that more recent studies have considered the psycho-social influences such as monotony of work and the amount of stress might also contribute to shoulder pain.
In their conclusions, they call for more studies looking at psycho-social stressors as wells as repetative movement and how it can be modified in order to prevent further injuries to the shoulder in the workplace setting. Such a finding could greatly benefit the 70% of the population that suffers from some sort of work-induced joint pain.
Michael Carroll, MD is a board certified family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. He is the founding partner of Creekside Clinic, LLC, a progressive primary care center in Traverse City, Michigan and a member of both the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
They found that shoulder pain was second only to back pain in workers’ compensation insurance claims. Their study also found that the risk of developing shoulder pain when starting a new job is related to the amount of over-the-head lifting and the monotonous nature of the work. They concluded that shoulder pain is a common problem among working age adults and is a large contributor to sick leave.
The study was able to identify some of the workplace factors that contribute to shoulder pain. The researchers were able to identify prolonged abnormal posture and repetition as significant contributors to shoulder pain. They also noted that more recent studies have considered the psycho-social influences such as monotony of work and the amount of stress might also contribute to shoulder pain.
In their conclusions, they call for more studies looking at psycho-social stressors as wells as repetative movement and how it can be modified in order to prevent further injuries to the shoulder in the workplace setting. Such a finding could greatly benefit the 70% of the population that suffers from some sort of work-induced joint pain.
Michael Carroll, MD is a board certified family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. He is the founding partner of Creekside Clinic, LLC, a progressive primary care center in Traverse City, Michigan and a member of both the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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