Back pain sufferers need to find the root cause of their back pain before trying to fix it. This article identifies potential causes of back pain and then steers back pain sufferers toward finding their own specific cause(s) of back pain. Once the cause of back pain is identified, action must be taken to eliminate it for good. Read more ..................
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If you feel that back pain is completely overwhelming your life, you are not alone. So many people live with debilitating, even crippling back pain everyday seemingly with no end in sight.
It is a daily ritual for them to reach into the medicine cabinet and pop a pill of their favorite over-the-counter pain reliever or doctor prescribed medication.
Despite the publicized health risks for taking these drugs on a continuous basis, back pain sufferers continue to swallow pills even if the relief only lasts temporarily and is miniscule at best. A cycle of doctor visits, pick-ups at the local pharmacy and popping pills becomes a way of life.
But does it have to be this way? Are we truly limited to just a bottle of medication with potential side effects and the one-sided advice from a doctor?
ABSOLUTELY AND POSITIVELY NO WAY!!!
AND YES...YOU AND YOU ALONE CAN DEFEAT YOUR OWN BACK PAIN!
First, you must understand that everyone for the most part has access to a huge arsenal of tools for combating, eliminating and managing back pain. But not everyone has the same degree and cause of back pain.
It is so important to find and effectively use the right set of tools for your own particular situation.
For example, too much rest or relaxation (a tool for getting rid of back pain) has the potential to be detrimental to your health if weak and underdeveloped muscles are the underlying cause of your back pain.
On the other hand, if you suffer a herniated disk from playing a sport, rest and relaxation may play a larger role in a quick recovery.
So essentially, effectively treating your back pain first depends on identifying the primary cause(s) or origin(s) of your back pain.
The better you are at identifying the cause of back pain for your own particular situation, the more specific and exact your arsenal of tools will become to effectively eliminate your back pain for good.
So after all that, you must identify the cause(s) of your back pain. Let's look at some common causes of back pain.
Common Causes Of Back Pain
-Poor Posture
-Injury (Sports, Car Accident, Fall, etc.)
-Poor Genetics Or Congenital Disorder (Scoliosis, Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disk, etc.)
-Using Improper Lifting Techniques
-Obesity
-Frail Bone Structure/Osteoporosis/Osteoarthritis
-Muscle Weakness/Imbalances
-Lack Of Exercise/Sedentary Lifestyle
-Poor Nutrition
-Stress/Anxiety
-Poor Sleep
-Performing A Repetitive Motion That Puts Strain On Your Back
Take a good long look at the list above. Just about everyone who suffers with back pain can relate to one or several if not all of these common causes of back pain. I, personally, can relate to every single one.
And it's ok to have several causes or identifiers of your back pain. The more you can discover, the more weapons you will have to effectively combat and eliminate your back pain for good.
Back pain is similar to a weed. You can't just mow over the top of it and hope you never see it again. You have to find the root of the weed or the root of the problem in order to effectively treat it.
How do you do this?
Well, you need to examine your own lifestyle. I would like you to ask yourself these questions to help determine your cause(s) of back pain:
Questions To Determine Cause Of Back Pain/Circle All 'Yes' Answers
1. Do I suffer from a congenital condition or was I born with a spinal condition?
2. Do I not pay attention to my posture either sitting or standing?
3. Do I not practice good posture either sitting or standing?
4. Have I suffered from a recent car accident or fall and subsequently experienced back pain not long after?
5. Do I do a lot of heavy lifting or bending over in my job or at home?
6. Do I perform an unnatural repetitive motion at work or at home?
7. Do I not practice safe lifting techniques?
8. Am I 20 pounds or more overweight?
9. Do I not eat enough fruits and vegetables?
10. Do I not drink enough water? 8-12 glasses per day?
11. Do I eat too many sweets and foods containing sugar?
12. Have I been diagnosed with osteoporosis or arthritis?
13. Do I lead a sedentary lifestyle? Am I a couch potato?
14. Am I under a lot of stress? Do I suffer with anxiety?
15. Do I have trouble sleeping?
Of course, these are just a handful of questions you could ask yourself to discover the root cause(s) of your back pain. Please circle the questions that have a 'Yes' next to them if you have not already.
Take a good look at the questions you circled. This method is not foolproof but it is a great way to see all the potential causes or root origins of your back pain. You should see the things you need to improve in order to help you live free of back pain.
Once you know or at least have some idea of the cause(s) of your back pain, then you can delve deeper into the plethora of ways to combat and eliminate it once and for all.
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Mike Saros is a former back pain sufferer and author of The No More Back Pain newsletter found at http://www.BackReliefElite.com . He will instruct you how to end your own lower back pain at http://www.SecretsToAPainFreeBack.com/Secrets_Discount.htm
Showing posts with label back pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label back pain. Show all posts
Monday, February 5, 2007
Information You Should Not Ignore If You Are Worried About Poor Posture Causing Your Back Pain
When it comes to preventing back pain, proper posture is one of the best ways to maintain a pain-free back. Getting in this habit offers your spine more of the benefits of a neutral position that takes pressure off vertebrae, muscles, disks, nerves, cartilage and other structures in the back. Read more ....................
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Proper posture is important because it keeps your spine in a more neutral position that does not put pressure on bones, muscles, disks, soft tissue, nerves and other structures in the back.
Now I know what you are thinking already. "I practice good posture and I don't need to read this." Ahhh...but do you really pay attention to your posture? Can you honestly say when you sit down or take a walk that you are reminding yourself about your posture?
I bet the only time you really pay attention to your posture is when you sit up after slouching in your seat and then tell yourself, "I am practicing good posture." Now think about all the times that you practice bad posture and don't even realize it.
And you wonder why you have back pain? Look, unless you are a robot, you can't practice perfect posture all the time. Whether sitting or standing, just try to be more aware of your overall posture.
But what can you do to practice better posture besides just sitting up straight?
One of the easiest ways to fall into a habit of poor posture is typing at a computer. Your hands reach for the keyboard which causes your shoulders to slump forward. This promotes poor posture and can lead to back problems.
Here's a trick. Get a yard stick and place it across the center of your sternum just below your clavicle bones. As you are sitting and holding the yard stick (or you could have someone hold it for you) try to keep your shoulders from touching it. You shouldn't feel like you have to hold your shoulders back either.
Good posture should always be comfortable. This will teach you to keep your shoulders from slumping forward and causing you to have poor posture. Practice this a few times with the yard stick. Do it long enough until it is reinforced in your mind and you are trained to keep your shoulders back without having to use a yard stick.
Also, try not to lean to one side while either sitting or standing. It's so easy to just lean to one side and let your elbow rest on a table while sitting or lean your body weight to one side while standing in one place. These tiny shifts albeit small and seemingly insignificant put a gradual strain on the muscles, ligaments and vertebrae in your back.
You can also analyze your own posture while sitting in front of a mirror. Look in the mirror and see if you are sitting all the way back in your chair. See if your shoulders are slumped forward? Does the lower lumbar area of your back fit snug up against your chair if it has a lumbar support? Are you sitting straight in the chair instead of at an angle? Are you leaning too much against the back of the chair which can promote the sagging of back muscles and poor posture? These are just some of the observations you can make to better analyze faults so you can make the necessary adjustments for better overall posture.
Do you own a good pair of shoes?
It is so important to have a relatively new pair of comfortable running shoes or casual shoes or boots to maintain good posture. I once owned a pair of rubber-soled boots that I wore for about 2 years. One of the rubber soles of the boots was completely worn down making one of my legs essentially longer than the other and throwing my spine completely out of alignment.
Moral of the story: Check your shoes and make sure you don't have the same problem. If you have a pair of running shoes, you might want to consider buying a new pair every 3-6 months depending on how much you run.
One more thought that immediately comes to mind while we are on the subject of leg length is short-leg syndrome. Many people may have one leg slightly shorter than the other and not even know it. If you suspect this might be the cause of your back pain, you might want to see a chiropractor or an orthapaedist to make a proper evaluation. A simple lift or insert in your shoe might be all you need to correct this problem and end your back pain.
If you really have a hard time maintaining good posture you can try a support or lumbar device such as a lumbar roll. Since many sofas or pieces of furniture are so poorly designed for your back anatomically, a lumbar roll should certainly be used on a chair or especially a couch that really doesn't offer any lumbar support.
When it comes to preventing back pain, proper posture is one of the best ways to maintain a pain-free back. Getting in this habit offers your spine more of the benefits of a neutral position that takes pressure off vertebrae, muscles, disks, nerves, cartilage and other structures in the back.
------------------------
Mike Saros is a former back pain sufferer and author of The No More Back Pain newsletter found at http://www.BackReliefElite.com
He will instruct you how to end your own lower back pain at http://www.SecretsToAPainFreeBack.com/Secrets_Discount.htm
-----------------------------------------
Proper posture is important because it keeps your spine in a more neutral position that does not put pressure on bones, muscles, disks, soft tissue, nerves and other structures in the back.
Now I know what you are thinking already. "I practice good posture and I don't need to read this." Ahhh...but do you really pay attention to your posture? Can you honestly say when you sit down or take a walk that you are reminding yourself about your posture?
I bet the only time you really pay attention to your posture is when you sit up after slouching in your seat and then tell yourself, "I am practicing good posture." Now think about all the times that you practice bad posture and don't even realize it.
And you wonder why you have back pain? Look, unless you are a robot, you can't practice perfect posture all the time. Whether sitting or standing, just try to be more aware of your overall posture.
But what can you do to practice better posture besides just sitting up straight?
One of the easiest ways to fall into a habit of poor posture is typing at a computer. Your hands reach for the keyboard which causes your shoulders to slump forward. This promotes poor posture and can lead to back problems.
Here's a trick. Get a yard stick and place it across the center of your sternum just below your clavicle bones. As you are sitting and holding the yard stick (or you could have someone hold it for you) try to keep your shoulders from touching it. You shouldn't feel like you have to hold your shoulders back either.
Good posture should always be comfortable. This will teach you to keep your shoulders from slumping forward and causing you to have poor posture. Practice this a few times with the yard stick. Do it long enough until it is reinforced in your mind and you are trained to keep your shoulders back without having to use a yard stick.
Also, try not to lean to one side while either sitting or standing. It's so easy to just lean to one side and let your elbow rest on a table while sitting or lean your body weight to one side while standing in one place. These tiny shifts albeit small and seemingly insignificant put a gradual strain on the muscles, ligaments and vertebrae in your back.
You can also analyze your own posture while sitting in front of a mirror. Look in the mirror and see if you are sitting all the way back in your chair. See if your shoulders are slumped forward? Does the lower lumbar area of your back fit snug up against your chair if it has a lumbar support? Are you sitting straight in the chair instead of at an angle? Are you leaning too much against the back of the chair which can promote the sagging of back muscles and poor posture? These are just some of the observations you can make to better analyze faults so you can make the necessary adjustments for better overall posture.
Do you own a good pair of shoes?
It is so important to have a relatively new pair of comfortable running shoes or casual shoes or boots to maintain good posture. I once owned a pair of rubber-soled boots that I wore for about 2 years. One of the rubber soles of the boots was completely worn down making one of my legs essentially longer than the other and throwing my spine completely out of alignment.
Moral of the story: Check your shoes and make sure you don't have the same problem. If you have a pair of running shoes, you might want to consider buying a new pair every 3-6 months depending on how much you run.
One more thought that immediately comes to mind while we are on the subject of leg length is short-leg syndrome. Many people may have one leg slightly shorter than the other and not even know it. If you suspect this might be the cause of your back pain, you might want to see a chiropractor or an orthapaedist to make a proper evaluation. A simple lift or insert in your shoe might be all you need to correct this problem and end your back pain.
If you really have a hard time maintaining good posture you can try a support or lumbar device such as a lumbar roll. Since many sofas or pieces of furniture are so poorly designed for your back anatomically, a lumbar roll should certainly be used on a chair or especially a couch that really doesn't offer any lumbar support.
When it comes to preventing back pain, proper posture is one of the best ways to maintain a pain-free back. Getting in this habit offers your spine more of the benefits of a neutral position that takes pressure off vertebrae, muscles, disks, nerves, cartilage and other structures in the back.
------------------------
Mike Saros is a former back pain sufferer and author of The No More Back Pain newsletter found at http://www.BackReliefElite.com
He will instruct you how to end your own lower back pain at http://www.SecretsToAPainFreeBack.com/Secrets_Discount.htm
Massage Therapy and Back Pain
With inflammation, the back muscles can spasm, thus causing both lower back pain and difficulty in moving. Massage therapy helps to relieve muscle spasm, improve body circulation and promote healing injuries. It can also help prevent injury. The large upper back muscles are also prone to irritation, either due to weakness or overuse. Read more .............
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Registered massage therapists are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of injuries of the soft tissue and joints of the body. They use a blend of modern science and ancient philosophies to treat many conditions. Massage therapy is becoming more widely accepted in the medical community as a credible treatment for many types of back pain. Studies have shown that massage therapy can benefit chronic back pain sufferers by increasing blood flow and circulation, decreasing tension in the muscles, reducing pain caused by tight muscles and even improving sleep. Massage therapy can provide relief for many common conditions that cause back pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and various other soft tissue sprains and strains.
Massage is non-invasive and considered very low risk for most people. In addition to physical benefits, massage is usually relaxing. This can have profound psychologically benefits, particularly to someone suffering from chronic back pain. Depression is a symptom of chronic pain. Massage is thought to release endorphins, natural chemicals in the body that make you feel good and act as pain suppressors.
It is estimated that 75% of healthcare providers have sent their patients to massage therapists. If appropriate, you may want to ask your physician for a referral to a massage therapy professional in your area.
Most episodes of acute lower back pain are caused by muscle strain, such as from lifting a heavy object, or a traumatic injury like a sudden movement or a fall. The lower back pain can be severe and last anywhere from several hours to a couple of weeks. When back muscles are strained or torn, they can become inflamed.
With inflammation, the back muscles can spasm, thus causing both lower back pain and difficulty in moving. Massage therapy helps to relieve muscle spasm, improve body circulation and promote healing injuries. It can also help prevent injury. The large upper back muscles are also prone to irritation, either due to weakness or overuse.
Spinal arthritis is the inflammation of the joints of the spine. It can cause the breakdown of cartilage between the aligning facet joints in the back portion of the spine. As the facet joints become inflamed they create frictional pain as bone rubs on bone. Massage therapy can help to reduce osteoarthritis pain by improving circulation, reducing stress and muscle tension. However, it is important to seek a professional who is specifically trained in treating people with arthritis.
It is important to obtain a proper diagnosis on the cause of your back pain from a medical practitioner before beginning massage therapy. This is to ensure you receive the appropriate treatments and to rule out potentially serious conditions.
------------------------
For back pain sufferers, it is important obtain an accurate medical diagnosis of the cause of back pain. Massage therapy can effectively treat many types of back pain on its own or when combined with medical treatment. More revealing facts and resources about causes and treatment of back pain is available at
http://www.guidetobackpain.com/art-massage
--------------------------------------
Registered massage therapists are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of injuries of the soft tissue and joints of the body. They use a blend of modern science and ancient philosophies to treat many conditions. Massage therapy is becoming more widely accepted in the medical community as a credible treatment for many types of back pain. Studies have shown that massage therapy can benefit chronic back pain sufferers by increasing blood flow and circulation, decreasing tension in the muscles, reducing pain caused by tight muscles and even improving sleep. Massage therapy can provide relief for many common conditions that cause back pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and various other soft tissue sprains and strains.
Massage is non-invasive and considered very low risk for most people. In addition to physical benefits, massage is usually relaxing. This can have profound psychologically benefits, particularly to someone suffering from chronic back pain. Depression is a symptom of chronic pain. Massage is thought to release endorphins, natural chemicals in the body that make you feel good and act as pain suppressors.
It is estimated that 75% of healthcare providers have sent their patients to massage therapists. If appropriate, you may want to ask your physician for a referral to a massage therapy professional in your area.
Most episodes of acute lower back pain are caused by muscle strain, such as from lifting a heavy object, or a traumatic injury like a sudden movement or a fall. The lower back pain can be severe and last anywhere from several hours to a couple of weeks. When back muscles are strained or torn, they can become inflamed.
With inflammation, the back muscles can spasm, thus causing both lower back pain and difficulty in moving. Massage therapy helps to relieve muscle spasm, improve body circulation and promote healing injuries. It can also help prevent injury. The large upper back muscles are also prone to irritation, either due to weakness or overuse.
Spinal arthritis is the inflammation of the joints of the spine. It can cause the breakdown of cartilage between the aligning facet joints in the back portion of the spine. As the facet joints become inflamed they create frictional pain as bone rubs on bone. Massage therapy can help to reduce osteoarthritis pain by improving circulation, reducing stress and muscle tension. However, it is important to seek a professional who is specifically trained in treating people with arthritis.
It is important to obtain a proper diagnosis on the cause of your back pain from a medical practitioner before beginning massage therapy. This is to ensure you receive the appropriate treatments and to rule out potentially serious conditions.
------------------------
For back pain sufferers, it is important obtain an accurate medical diagnosis of the cause of back pain. Massage therapy can effectively treat many types of back pain on its own or when combined with medical treatment. More revealing facts and resources about causes and treatment of back pain is available at
http://www.guidetobackpain.com/art-massage
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Why most health professionals can only give temporary back pain relief
Physical therapists and manipulators have a lot of expertise in pushing vertebrae back into place. Some do it by gentle manipulation; others may use a lot of accelerative force. Some warm up the area beforehand, others just go straight for it. In most cases, the vertebrae are restored into alignment, and that awful back pain stops. Temporarily.
__________________________________________________
Why most health professionals can only give temporary back pain relief
Copyright © 2007 Rick Rakauskas
In the last article, one of the key points was: When muscles along our spine are injured, the nerve paths to those muscles in many cases are NOT restored without undue delay. (We at the Better Back system believe this happens because most of us most of the time DON’T use our backs as Nature intended.)
So when our muscles are out of balance … pulling strongly on one side of the spine … when there is little or no resistance on the other side … because the muscles have been switched off by the brain … and have not yet been switched back on again (sometimes years later) … is it any wonder we experience constant or regularly recurring back pain? Now to answer this question:
Why do doctors, chiropractors or other health professionals in most cases provide temporary relief at best? Scenario
Picture yourself looking at your own spine from behind. Take yourself out of your body and imagine standing behind yourself.You may have injured an area of your lower back because you picked up a heavy object awkwardly.Or you bent over to tie up your shoelace and twisted your back and the pain still nags occasionally. So your brain has switched off the injured muscle(s) along your vertebra, just like it’s supposed to do. But the muscles on the other side of your spine weren’t injured, so they are still active.
And you like to watch a lot of TV, lounging in your comfy chair. Or you work at a computer screen all day long sitting in an awkward chair with your shoulders tight and stressed most of the day. Or you do both! So because you aren’t using your back as Nature intended – or worse, you are actively misusing your back – your brain has not switched these injured muscles back on.
They are still inactive. Muscle Imbalance The result of the above scenario is that we finish up with strong, active muscles on one side of our vertebrae, while on the other side the muscles are switched-off and inactive. This resulting muscle imbalance will pull vertebrae out of position. Sometimes, only by a small amount, but often, when a group of muscles alongside each other are switched off, the vertebrae will be displaced quite considerably. In extreme cases, scoliosis can result. That’s when the serious trouble can start, and long-term pain can set in. Medical Treatments The better physicians at least have a go at checking for other conditions which may be causing the pain. These can include kidney and liver problems, spinal stenosis where the canal which carries the spinal cord gradually shrinks in diameter, infections, even cancer. Of course, you must make sure that these causes are eliminated from your diagnosis before you consider the Better Back system.
Sadly, most doctors when faced with back pain reach for the good old prescription pad and write out a script for a painkiller – usually a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). What’s wrong with that? The pain disappears, doesn’t it? And you can move freely again and get on with your daily activities. And all you have to do is pop a painkiller two or three time a day. Well, there’s plenty wrong with that. Some of you may not have heard about the withdrawal of several of the best-known NSAID painkillers, including Vioxx. The drugs had been found to be implicated in the deaths of many thousands of people. NSAIDS certainly can have many very serious side effects. Here’s what the website http://www.medicinenet.com/rofecoxib/article.htm has to say about Vioxx (I recommend you read the entire article if you are taking painkillers): “The most common side effects of rofecoxib (Vioxx) are headache, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, diarrhea, nausea, heartburn and water retention.
Other side effects (!! My emphasis) include insomnia, urinary retention (inability to urinate), heart failure, aggravation of hypertension, chest pain, ringing in the ears, stomach and intestinal ulcers, bleeding, blurred vision, anxiety, weight gain, flu-like symptoms, drowsiness and weakness.” Evidence for cardiovascular side effects was strongest for Vioxx and Bextra, intermediate for Celebrex, and weak for Naproxen. The best advice I can offer is to use painkillers very, very cautiously, and for short periods only, and to ease your way off them by following the suggestions I have in the manual which is part of the Better Back system. Manual Adjustments Physical therapists and manipulators have a lot of expertise in pushing vertebrae back into place. Some do it by gentle manipulation; others may use a lot of accelerative force. Some warm up the area beforehand, others just go straight for it. In most cases, the vertebrae are restored into alignment, and that awful back pain stops.
Temporarily. Can you now guess why most adjustments will not last? Yep, because the underlying cause has not been fixed.
The muscle imbalance is still there. So after a short time, the strong, active muscles overpower the weak non-functioning muscles and the spine is pulled out of shape once again.
Long-term Weakness Sets In As this cycle of manipulation is repeated week after week, month after month, a long-term weakness can set in. In particular, ligaments are stretched each time the strong muscles overpower the non-functioning muscles, and again when adjustment takes place. So What’s the Solution? Well, I think you may have guessed by now that a necessary long-term solution is to re-activate (or switch back on) the muscles so they can be balanced on both sides of the spine. And that just happens to be one of the key results from the Better Back systemm’s unique five-step, five-minute exercise routine. Note, this is a shameless plug for something that actually works:
You know, the word “unique” is thrown around a lot nowadays. It’s meant to mean “Radically distinctive and without equal” or “The single one of its kind”. In other words, there should be nothing else in the world that is the same. To the very best of my knowledge, there is NOTHING else in the world like this combination of exercises which are described and demonstrated vividly on the 40 minute DVD (or video – your choice) which comes with the Better Back system. For example, one of the effects of this five-step process is to provide regular – in fact, daily – self-adjustment of the vertebra in your spine. This means your spine has a chance to always be in tip-top condition. Another effect is to strengthen muscles in the spinal areas. And of course, the granddaddy of them all – the special movements apparently have the effect of restoring nerve signals to switched-off muscles. That’s why I believe I can honestly claim these exercises to be unique.
In the next article we explore how to restore healthy joints and cut inflammation.
Live life free of back pain! Rick Rakauskas
------------------------
Rick Rakauskas is a marketer who is passionate about natural health treatments.
You can get more details on how to conquer back pain here http://www.fixbackpainnow.com
__________________________________________________
Why most health professionals can only give temporary back pain relief
Copyright © 2007 Rick Rakauskas
In the last article, one of the key points was: When muscles along our spine are injured, the nerve paths to those muscles in many cases are NOT restored without undue delay. (We at the Better Back system believe this happens because most of us most of the time DON’T use our backs as Nature intended.)
So when our muscles are out of balance … pulling strongly on one side of the spine … when there is little or no resistance on the other side … because the muscles have been switched off by the brain … and have not yet been switched back on again (sometimes years later) … is it any wonder we experience constant or regularly recurring back pain? Now to answer this question:
Why do doctors, chiropractors or other health professionals in most cases provide temporary relief at best? Scenario
Picture yourself looking at your own spine from behind. Take yourself out of your body and imagine standing behind yourself.You may have injured an area of your lower back because you picked up a heavy object awkwardly.Or you bent over to tie up your shoelace and twisted your back and the pain still nags occasionally. So your brain has switched off the injured muscle(s) along your vertebra, just like it’s supposed to do. But the muscles on the other side of your spine weren’t injured, so they are still active.
And you like to watch a lot of TV, lounging in your comfy chair. Or you work at a computer screen all day long sitting in an awkward chair with your shoulders tight and stressed most of the day. Or you do both! So because you aren’t using your back as Nature intended – or worse, you are actively misusing your back – your brain has not switched these injured muscles back on.
They are still inactive. Muscle Imbalance The result of the above scenario is that we finish up with strong, active muscles on one side of our vertebrae, while on the other side the muscles are switched-off and inactive. This resulting muscle imbalance will pull vertebrae out of position. Sometimes, only by a small amount, but often, when a group of muscles alongside each other are switched off, the vertebrae will be displaced quite considerably. In extreme cases, scoliosis can result. That’s when the serious trouble can start, and long-term pain can set in. Medical Treatments The better physicians at least have a go at checking for other conditions which may be causing the pain. These can include kidney and liver problems, spinal stenosis where the canal which carries the spinal cord gradually shrinks in diameter, infections, even cancer. Of course, you must make sure that these causes are eliminated from your diagnosis before you consider the Better Back system.
Sadly, most doctors when faced with back pain reach for the good old prescription pad and write out a script for a painkiller – usually a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). What’s wrong with that? The pain disappears, doesn’t it? And you can move freely again and get on with your daily activities. And all you have to do is pop a painkiller two or three time a day. Well, there’s plenty wrong with that. Some of you may not have heard about the withdrawal of several of the best-known NSAID painkillers, including Vioxx. The drugs had been found to be implicated in the deaths of many thousands of people. NSAIDS certainly can have many very serious side effects. Here’s what the website http://www.medicinenet.com/rofecoxib/article.htm has to say about Vioxx (I recommend you read the entire article if you are taking painkillers): “The most common side effects of rofecoxib (Vioxx) are headache, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, diarrhea, nausea, heartburn and water retention.
Other side effects (!! My emphasis) include insomnia, urinary retention (inability to urinate), heart failure, aggravation of hypertension, chest pain, ringing in the ears, stomach and intestinal ulcers, bleeding, blurred vision, anxiety, weight gain, flu-like symptoms, drowsiness and weakness.” Evidence for cardiovascular side effects was strongest for Vioxx and Bextra, intermediate for Celebrex, and weak for Naproxen. The best advice I can offer is to use painkillers very, very cautiously, and for short periods only, and to ease your way off them by following the suggestions I have in the manual which is part of the Better Back system. Manual Adjustments Physical therapists and manipulators have a lot of expertise in pushing vertebrae back into place. Some do it by gentle manipulation; others may use a lot of accelerative force. Some warm up the area beforehand, others just go straight for it. In most cases, the vertebrae are restored into alignment, and that awful back pain stops.
Temporarily. Can you now guess why most adjustments will not last? Yep, because the underlying cause has not been fixed.
The muscle imbalance is still there. So after a short time, the strong, active muscles overpower the weak non-functioning muscles and the spine is pulled out of shape once again.
Long-term Weakness Sets In As this cycle of manipulation is repeated week after week, month after month, a long-term weakness can set in. In particular, ligaments are stretched each time the strong muscles overpower the non-functioning muscles, and again when adjustment takes place. So What’s the Solution? Well, I think you may have guessed by now that a necessary long-term solution is to re-activate (or switch back on) the muscles so they can be balanced on both sides of the spine. And that just happens to be one of the key results from the Better Back systemm’s unique five-step, five-minute exercise routine. Note, this is a shameless plug for something that actually works:
You know, the word “unique” is thrown around a lot nowadays. It’s meant to mean “Radically distinctive and without equal” or “The single one of its kind”. In other words, there should be nothing else in the world that is the same. To the very best of my knowledge, there is NOTHING else in the world like this combination of exercises which are described and demonstrated vividly on the 40 minute DVD (or video – your choice) which comes with the Better Back system. For example, one of the effects of this five-step process is to provide regular – in fact, daily – self-adjustment of the vertebra in your spine. This means your spine has a chance to always be in tip-top condition. Another effect is to strengthen muscles in the spinal areas. And of course, the granddaddy of them all – the special movements apparently have the effect of restoring nerve signals to switched-off muscles. That’s why I believe I can honestly claim these exercises to be unique.
In the next article we explore how to restore healthy joints and cut inflammation.
Live life free of back pain! Rick Rakauskas
------------------------
Rick Rakauskas is a marketer who is passionate about natural health treatments.
You can get more details on how to conquer back pain here http://www.fixbackpainnow.com
Monday, January 29, 2007
Identifying The Common Causes Of Back Pain
Understanding the Causes of Back Pain
An aching back is a problem suffered by more than 50% of
American adults. According to the American Chiropractic
Association, it is estimated that over 80% of Americans will
suffer from back pain at some time in their life. Becoming
familiar with the causes of back pain and their subsequent
treatment protocols can be of great help should you ever find
yourself suffering from back pain. While both men and women can
develop back problems, there are some causes that primarily
affect women. Other groups susceptible to chronic back pain
include the elderly, athletes, the overweight and people with a
genetic disposition to back problems.
Typical Causes of Back Pain
The primary causes of back pain are related to muscular sprains
and strains, spinal disc injuries and diseases which affect the
joints, such as arthritis. Acute back pain stems from a short
term injury or strain and can be treated with rest and
readjustment. Chronic causes of back pain are generally more
difficult to identify and treat. While many of the symptoms are
similar, identifying the underlying causes is the key to finding
effective treatment.
Coccydynia – Considered fairly rare among the causes of back
pain, Coccydynia is a localized pain that stems from the coccyx
or tailbone. This condition can manifest as the result of a
fall, or from giving birth. Lower back pain caused by
Coccydynia is almost always aggravated by sitting. Treatment
for severe cases of this condition can include a surgical
removal of the coccyx.
Pregnancy-Related Back Pain – It is commonly known that
pregnancy is one of the main causes of back pain in women. The
additional weight combined with birth related hormones can
result in moderate to severe back pain in pregnant women. The
best treatment for pregnancy-related back pain is exercise.
Osteoarthritis – One of the most well documented, but least
understood causes of back pain is degenerative arthritis of the
spine. While most frequently seen in elderly patients,
Osteoarthritis can affect younger patients as well. Arthritis
causes the disintegration of cartilage, the cushioning material
that supports spinal vertebrae. While there is no cure for
Osteoarthritis, patients can receive treatments for pain
management.
Muscle Strain – Arguably one of the most common causes, muscle
strain can be the result of stress, bad posture, repetitive
activities or applying too much force to the back muscles.
Muscle strain injuries are typically treated with a combination
of exercise and rest.
Herniated Disc – One of the most painful causes of back pain is
a herniated disc. When spinal cartilage is pushed up against the
sensitive nerves in your back, the result is a herniated or
bulging disc. If the affected never is the Sciatic nerve that
runs down your spinal column, pain can extend down into your
legs and feet. Treatment for back pain stemming from spinal
vertebrae issues can include medication, physical therapy, and
occasionally, surgery.
About The Author: P. Basauri is an expert author who writes for
http://www.back-pain-relief-bed.com
An aching back is a problem suffered by more than 50% of
American adults. According to the American Chiropractic
Association, it is estimated that over 80% of Americans will
suffer from back pain at some time in their life. Becoming
familiar with the causes of back pain and their subsequent
treatment protocols can be of great help should you ever find
yourself suffering from back pain. While both men and women can
develop back problems, there are some causes that primarily
affect women. Other groups susceptible to chronic back pain
include the elderly, athletes, the overweight and people with a
genetic disposition to back problems.
Typical Causes of Back Pain
The primary causes of back pain are related to muscular sprains
and strains, spinal disc injuries and diseases which affect the
joints, such as arthritis. Acute back pain stems from a short
term injury or strain and can be treated with rest and
readjustment. Chronic causes of back pain are generally more
difficult to identify and treat. While many of the symptoms are
similar, identifying the underlying causes is the key to finding
effective treatment.
Coccydynia – Considered fairly rare among the causes of back
pain, Coccydynia is a localized pain that stems from the coccyx
or tailbone. This condition can manifest as the result of a
fall, or from giving birth. Lower back pain caused by
Coccydynia is almost always aggravated by sitting. Treatment
for severe cases of this condition can include a surgical
removal of the coccyx.
Pregnancy-Related Back Pain – It is commonly known that
pregnancy is one of the main causes of back pain in women. The
additional weight combined with birth related hormones can
result in moderate to severe back pain in pregnant women. The
best treatment for pregnancy-related back pain is exercise.
Osteoarthritis – One of the most well documented, but least
understood causes of back pain is degenerative arthritis of the
spine. While most frequently seen in elderly patients,
Osteoarthritis can affect younger patients as well. Arthritis
causes the disintegration of cartilage, the cushioning material
that supports spinal vertebrae. While there is no cure for
Osteoarthritis, patients can receive treatments for pain
management.
Muscle Strain – Arguably one of the most common causes, muscle
strain can be the result of stress, bad posture, repetitive
activities or applying too much force to the back muscles.
Muscle strain injuries are typically treated with a combination
of exercise and rest.
Herniated Disc – One of the most painful causes of back pain is
a herniated disc. When spinal cartilage is pushed up against the
sensitive nerves in your back, the result is a herniated or
bulging disc. If the affected never is the Sciatic nerve that
runs down your spinal column, pain can extend down into your
legs and feet. Treatment for back pain stemming from spinal
vertebrae issues can include medication, physical therapy, and
occasionally, surgery.
About The Author: P. Basauri is an expert author who writes for
http://www.back-pain-relief-bed.com
Facts vs Myths About Back Pain
Let’s begin by learning some facts in order to separate truth
from myth with regards to back pain. First of all, under one
percent of acute lower back pain is the result of a serious
infection or condition like cancer or a spinal injury. For
those under 50, the rate is even lower. Back pain is the number
one disability for those under age 45. And it runs second, after
the common cold, as the top reason for visiting a healthcare
provider in the United States.
“There is nothing really wrong with you.” Myth! Chronic pain
sufferers report that doctors generally tell this to about 90
percent of them and it is incorrect. In reality, the majority
of low back pain cases or some 90 percent generally come from
an unknown cause, like an infection or a particular injury. And
the duration of the pain runs generally from four to six weeks.
“People don’t die from chronic back pain.” Wrong! The pain
combined with depression and anxiety in long-term cases places
sufferers at risk for suicide, which does happen from time to
time.
“Most back pain requires surgery.” Myth! On the contrary, under
two percent of patients with back pain need surgery. However,
back pain is the third top reason for surgery. “Only a small
percentage of workers suffer back pain on the job.” Wrong! The
top occupational hazard in the USA is back pain.
“Lie down and rest for back pain.” Au contraire. Contrary to
popular believe, bed rest can hinder recovery. Health care
providers recommend remaining active to decrease down time for
patients.
“Men suffer back pain more than women.” Not! With regards to
gender issues and back pain, it is a myth that men suffer back
pain more than women. In reality, the only main difference is
with secondary pain to disk disorders during middle age.
However, with regards to race, low back pain is reported more
frequently among Caucasians than other races including African
Americans. “If a patient’s pain description lacks a regular,
consistent pattern, it’s probably imagined or exaggerated.”
Myth! No two people, no two cases are totally 100 percent
identical. Activities, events, pain and people themselves vary
from day to day and there is no 100 percent correct way to
describe pain in words to fit a perfectly accurate diagnosis.
About The Author: There is finally Relief for Back Pain!
http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/backpainrelief
from myth with regards to back pain. First of all, under one
percent of acute lower back pain is the result of a serious
infection or condition like cancer or a spinal injury. For
those under 50, the rate is even lower. Back pain is the number
one disability for those under age 45. And it runs second, after
the common cold, as the top reason for visiting a healthcare
provider in the United States.
“There is nothing really wrong with you.” Myth! Chronic pain
sufferers report that doctors generally tell this to about 90
percent of them and it is incorrect. In reality, the majority
of low back pain cases or some 90 percent generally come from
an unknown cause, like an infection or a particular injury. And
the duration of the pain runs generally from four to six weeks.
“People don’t die from chronic back pain.” Wrong! The pain
combined with depression and anxiety in long-term cases places
sufferers at risk for suicide, which does happen from time to
time.
“Most back pain requires surgery.” Myth! On the contrary, under
two percent of patients with back pain need surgery. However,
back pain is the third top reason for surgery. “Only a small
percentage of workers suffer back pain on the job.” Wrong! The
top occupational hazard in the USA is back pain.
“Lie down and rest for back pain.” Au contraire. Contrary to
popular believe, bed rest can hinder recovery. Health care
providers recommend remaining active to decrease down time for
patients.
“Men suffer back pain more than women.” Not! With regards to
gender issues and back pain, it is a myth that men suffer back
pain more than women. In reality, the only main difference is
with secondary pain to disk disorders during middle age.
However, with regards to race, low back pain is reported more
frequently among Caucasians than other races including African
Americans. “If a patient’s pain description lacks a regular,
consistent pattern, it’s probably imagined or exaggerated.”
Myth! No two people, no two cases are totally 100 percent
identical. Activities, events, pain and people themselves vary
from day to day and there is no 100 percent correct way to
describe pain in words to fit a perfectly accurate diagnosis.
About The Author: There is finally Relief for Back Pain!
http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/backpainrelief
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