Health n’ Fitness

Sciatica is a medical issue that results in pain that starts in a person’s hip and can move down through the leg. It has a tendency to bring pain or pain to the knees and lower portions of the legs. Sciatic nerve pain can be a moderate or extremely severe pain that sometimes causes numbness.

The human body is made up of a number of systems that help keep it healthy, which in turn lets individuals live their lives to the fullest. Reproduction, respiration, the digestive system, and the circulatory system are just some of the functions that are critical to a healthy life. Another important aspect of the body’s ability to function is the nervous system. This is a complex system of nerves that run through the body and send messages through the spine to the brain. It is one of the body’s most important systems.

There are times, however, when the nerves are pinched or pressed in such a way that sends excruciating pain to various body parts. When this compression takes place, it usually results in a disorder named sciatica. If you’re concerned that this applies to you, it’s vital that you realize what sciatica is and what can cause it.

Sciatica is a condition impacting at least one of the sciatic nerves. As the longest nerves in the human body, these extend all the way down the lower spine into both the right and left legs.

Although there are quite a few causes of sciatica nerve pain, one of the most frequent is simply old age. This is because a certain amount of deterioration takes place when the body grows older. A crucial component of the human body which is disturbed by this innate progression is the spine. Subsequently, as the spine is damaged, the collapse of the vertebrae causes damage to the sciatic nerves that are situated there, causing sciatica.

Difficulties with herniated discs can aggravate sciatic nerve pain. If there is physical trauma, improper exercise, or even if you lift heavy objects incorrectly, this condition can be the result. If herniation is present, the discs situated between the vertebrae will protrude. It might eventually impact on the sciatic nerve and lead to sciatica.

Sciatica is a painful condition that affects the lower body from the hips through the legs. It’s the result of pressure being placed on the sciatic nerve, located at the base of the spine. Learn more about the causes of sciatica nerve problems and how to treat the condition at Sciatic Nerve Pain Treatment.

If you woke up one morning and your back pain never stops do not think it is just from your everyday duties at your job, or the everyday hustle and bustle of our daily lives, or that the springs in your bed is what is causing your back pain, Go to a doctor.Then what we do is check with all the doctors to find out what is causing this arthritis back pain, with the latest technology in all medicine we have the latest and greatest cures, treatments and pain management.

For those of you who are still clueless about what causes arthritis back pain, here are numerous reasons why you have such.  Also, here are some things you could do for arthritis back pain management to help you deal with it that to help minimize the “ouch” factor.

Possible Causes

They say that determining the real cause of arthritis back pain is difficult and it requires a rigorous medical research and tests as each patient is different from the other.  But, one of the possible causes of which is the genetics though they say that there may be some genetic variations that leads you to have arthritis back pain.  Another of the possible reasons is the age of a person since we all know that as we get older, our cartilage becomes more brittle and decreased its capacity to repair itself. 

Weight also is a contributing factor since other parts of the body relies so much on our joints, therefore, excess body weight could lead to arthritis.Job hazards, particular illnesses, previous injuries, and infections that may have affect some of your joints and/or numorous battles with gout could very well lead to back pain and other arthritis.

For Pain Management

Tylenol is the name that you have trusted for years now when you are experiencing headache, flu, or fever and right now, they have formulated a special kind of medicine to help you with managing your pain especially back pain.  But above all, what you may first want to do is call the right doctor and a rheumatologist to find out what kind of arthritis you have and at least, you have the help of the right people with the help of your family doctor.

And surely, if you are going to ask for something to help you manage your arthritis back pain, Tylenol for Arthritis is the number one brand if you want to manage your pain.  For more details or information, log on to tylenol.com for you to have an overview about the best in arthritis pain management.

Now that you know common causes of back pain you may have a better understanding of how to prevent and treat it in the first place.  Losing a few pounds may seem like an impossible option but of course it can be well worth the effort when you get some relief for that pain. A big part of relief for your back is using correct posture and lifting with your legs.

But sometimes you need to do something more than all of this.  You take all the precautions possible and still you have back pain – after all, you can’t very well live your life in a recliner or refuse to pick up your children just to keep yourself safe from potential injury!  So when you have soreness and pain, what can you do?

PRESSURE RELIEF

Sometimes the pain you feel is simply muscles cramping up to protect themselves so that they can heal and repair minor injuriesves.  If you relieve the pressure on your back this can go a long way toward helping it heal on its own.

Obviously it’s virtually impossible to make a movement that doesn’t affect the back. Even while you are sitting, the back muscles are working to keep your upper body straight and supported.

Keeping this in mind, you realize how important it is to be in a reclined position that tilts your body back and relieves that pressure on your midsection.  When your feet are higher than your pelvic area then you have less pressure on your back and it can heal. Never put pillows under your feet, but placing pillows under your knees can be a big help when stretching out on the floor.  This puts added pressure on the area of the hips and this causes the back muscles to tense up even more.

If you’re laying flat on your stomach your back is still working as the front of your body collapses and your back keeps you straight.  You can instead use cushions or pillows under your stomach and upper body area to support yourself so that the back is not working as hard.

HEAT

Why does heat relieve so much pain in the body? Because heat draws blood to the vicinity it assists in getting nutrients and healing elements to where they are required.  When you apply heat to your muscles they relax because the increased blood flow forces them to “unclench” themselves, and especially in areas of the back can this be important.

When your back is in pain you don’t want to go overboard with the heat and of course there are injuries and other ailments that won’t be responsive to heat – for example if you have a herniated disk that’s not going to be healed with a heating pad! – but often muscles that have been overworked and strained can relax with a simple application of heat. If you’re at work all day see if it is somehow possible to arrange a heating pad behind you for the duration of the day.  When you notice your back getting tense, lean back and stay that way for a few minutes so that the heat has a chance to work.

Care needs to be taken with hot heating pads on bare skin.  Never sleep on top of one or turn it up too high. It pays to keep some protective material between the heating pad and your skin so if the pad is not covered be sure to wrap it in cloth or similar.

Moist heat can also help the body to relax as the moisture loosens the muscles and skin as well.  You can get a thin towel or washcloth wet and put it between the heating pad and your back.

A hot shower or bath can also go a long way toward relieving that pressure.  A shower massage especially can work those muscles like a massage and force them to loosen up and soothe back pain.

STRETCHING

By making those back muscles relax when they want to clamp up you can reduce the pain. Stretching both your back and sides is a good method to reduce your pain.

This however is a place where caution is also needed. Overextending yourself could cause more damage. Don’t forget to stretch properly so that you don’t put added strain on your back.  Many bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts actually do a lot of damage to their back when stretching and working out simply because they don’t support it the way they should.

Just sit on the floor with your hands behind you and stretch your back slightly.  This will give it support as you pull those muscles loose.  Moving forward carefully and slowly until your body is extended out in front of you can also loosen those muscles.

Flexion and extension

In terms of stretching, flexion means bending forward and extension means moving backwards.Stretching forward helps to relieve pressure on the vertebrae and creates more space between them which helps to alleviate the pressure and grinding that is common with back pain. Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and then bending straight forward to touch your toes is often enough to relieve pressure and pain in the back.  You need to watch your posture even as you do this so that you’re not curling yourself up and putting more pressure on your spine, but a simple stretch like this can help to loosen those tight and sore muscles.

Be careful when bending backwards that you watch your posture and make sure you don’t overextend.  Some have a tendency to think of a particular area they want to touch or span they want to reach, but you need to be mindful of your body’s own flexibility.

EXERCISE

Is exercise a goal for the average person?  Sure, there are some who do but not everyone is like this. unfortunately many people see exercise as boring and something to be dreaded and instead prefer to spend their free time stretched out in a favorite chair in front of the television or movie screen.

There are innumerable benefits to regular physical activity for humans, no matter what your physical situation. The increase in blood circulation due to exercise is what brings the required oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body.  The digestive system, skin, bones, and major organs all benefit in this way from increased blood circulation. Exercise makes the heart and lungs work harder which in turn makes them stronger and a person is less likely to suffer from asthma, shortness of breath, heart disease, and conditions such as this. A primary benefit of exercise is weight control and a healthy weight has additional benefits.

But exercise can help repair back problems and prevent a person from having painful back problems.  How so?

The first connection has to do with one’s weight; as we’ve mentioned excess body weight means more stress and strain on the back as it needs to work harder to move that weight around and to keep the body steady and upright.  Many who are overweight also find that their posture suffers quite a bit as this excessive weight pulls them forward, and this too keeps the back muscles tense and painful.

There is more to the association between exercise and back problems than just weight.  That increased blood circulation means that your back muscles are also getting those important nutrients and healing agents that are delivered by the blood. Oxygen is one of the most important ingredients the body needs and uses when healing a wound or injury, and oxygen is delivered by the blood.  When your back muscles are overused, injured or tense, that oxygen is desperately important for it to heal itself.

Exercise helps those back muscles stay loose and relaxed. When you participate in activities like walking, cycling and dancing then the back muscles come into use and are loosened up.  This means that they’re relaxed and less likely to be pulled or cramped when in use.

They also become that much stronger when exercised, just as other muscles in the body do as well.  When the back muscles are stronger they’re more resistant to pulls, tears, and overuse.  Regular exercise is good for the back muscles in this way and can help to alleviate pain from these types of injuries.

Regular exercise has been proven to strengthen the bones. This may be because the increased blood circulation also helps the bones to strengthen themselves, and so when the bones in the back are stronger then the back is more supported.

One of the reasons for the continued rise and growth of chiropractic care in the medical field is due to the wide array of benefits that can be derived from it. Plus, many recommend this particular treatment method due to the non-invasive approach and its insistence on awakening the body’s natural ability to heal.

Common Chiropractic Benefits

Dysfunction in your muscoskeletal system does not exclude anyone. Therefore, anyone will benefit from the healing ability of chiropractic care to provide relief from any form of discomfort that one undergoes when they have misaligned spine, back, or neck. But for individuals who are required to remain active, the presence of such dysfunction disables them from performing well and limit their motor capacity. This is due to the fact that any form of movement on the traumatized area of the body can result to pain or discomfort.

Regardless of the cause of your initial discomfort, among the benefits you can enjoy are as follows:

• Improved circulation
• Reduction or elimination of lactic acid
• Smoother travel of oxygen and nutrients in the body
• More flexibility
• Elimination of any pain or soreness
• Faster recovery time
• Reduced muscle spasm
• Prevention of future injury
• More relaxed feeling

Combination Treatments

If you want to enhance the benefits of chiropractic care, it is best to combine your efforts with natural techniques. Even chiropractors recommend it in order to help your body adjust to the treatment provided. The relief from any pressure or source of discomfort will allow your body to attain maximum mobility and better performance.

To enhance the results, you must try to develop a routine that incorporates the following physical activities:

• Keep your body properly hydrated.

• Follow a healthy nutritional plan.

• Practice some stretching exercises and develop a healthy exercise routine.

Additional Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Several people have misconceptions about chiropractic care. One of them being that it is not a valid form of treatment and is used only for mild cases of back pain, headaches, and the like. However, this form of treatment method offer adjustment benefits even to those suffering from extreme cases of spinal or vertebral misalignment. But the benefits extend beyond muscoskeletal and different people who suffer from these illnesses experience varying results as well:

• For pregnant women, they are able to deliver much easier.

• For babies, they have improved developmental abilities and prevent the possibility of acquiring scoliosis.

• For kids, it helps prevent asthma, ear infection, bedwetting, among other things.

• For adults, they are able to generate more energy and increase productivity.

• Better balance and less injury is attained by senior citizens.

Meanwhile, overall results and benefits reported from patients who’ve undergone chiropractic care includes the following:

• Boost in the functions of the immune and nervous system.

• Patients attain improved vitality.

• Breathing becomes easier.

• Sound digestive function.

• flawless vision.

• Improved overall health.

When Do Results Become Evident?

Following chiropractic treatment, your body will start to realign and relieve yourself from any pressure that is causing pain in your joints. In mild cases, a patient will immediately experience relief soon after undergoing chiropractic care. Hence, this is one of the advantages of opting for chiropractic care over surgical or medical procedures that often require a long recovery period.

In other cases, there might be a slight feeling of soreness or aching that can be felt with chiropractic treatment. The reason for this is that your body has to readjust to the realignment done after being misaligned for a while.

However, it shouldn’t take long either before your body can regain its normal function and mobility.

Often, even the best of us can make poor decisions in our desire to stay competitve in the athletic world. Many of us chose to simply practice harder, for longer. All too often, you and I and everyone like us are driven to believe that steroids are the only way to go about improving your body and its performance. Not only are steroids illegal, but they’re also dangerous to your body. Here at BioSync LLC, we don’t want people turning to steroids to gain an unfair and unhealthy advantage on the field of athletic competition. Our muscle strength patch is designed to provide you with the safest boost to your athletic abilities possible.

Many people believe that in order to make progress with your training, you need to add things to your body. Really, the opposite is almost always true. Our bodies are highly complicated electrical conduents that often get miss aligned and don’t fire effeciently causing our bodies performance to run less effectively. Taking steroids and even some herbal supplements can damage the way your body transfers energy, leaving your body in much worse condition than it was originally. While you might look good superficially, your body is actually deteriorating quite fast on the interior as a result of the steroids many people turn to.

BioSync patches help your body work more efficiently transfering energy much more freely throughout your body. As a result, this patch allows you to work harder and stronger for longer, while not injuring your body, or changing anything about its chemistry. Our patches were specifically engineered to allow your body to function better, by re-aligning your body’s natural energy, upon contact with your skin. The increased function provided by our product is what is responsible for its success. Because of the way our patches work, we’re able to design to main patches. One of them works by relieving pain, appropriately named our Releve Pain Management patch, it deals with all sorts of physical pain, including, but not limited to neck pain relief . We also offer an energy patch called Revive. We designed this particular patch to provide you with more energy, and to help with all parts of your trainingl increase strength

Click on anyone of our websites to be taken to one of our pages and find out more about the ways you can make a difference in your athletic training.

SLM Back Pain & Sciatica Program: Product Review

If you have ever suffered back pain then this combination program may be what you have been looking for. Steve Lockhart with over 20 years experience is a muscle therapist and back pain specialist, including lower back muscle pain. He has been enormously successful treating every known back condition, using a little known but effective therapy method called SLM Bodywork.

SLM Bodywork is not for all intensive purposes considered a a fix for lower back muscle back pain, but it is considered an ancient system that over time has proven itself. Steve has been one of the lucky few people in the world to be taught the ancient art of bodywork by John Guttenbiel who in SLM circles is considered a true master.Originally from Tonga, John Guttenbiel was trained by a Japanese man on the Island while he was growing up.

Most underlying problems for back pain are usually related to muscle imbalance. The SLM program gives you an understanding of the issues and there potential underlying problems it helps to teach you how to correct the issues.

The combined SLM program teachings include some of the following:

• Self diagnosis’s  of your own back condition and exactly which approaches will provide the best chance of fixing it. 
• What therapies won’t help your pain and why – (This alone can save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary costs.) 
• Some of the exercises you should be doing and which ones you should avoid for the best results. 
• When and how you should do particular exercises to maximise their benefit. Useful information such as how you can spend one hour in front of TV in the evening to ensure a good nights sleep. 
• An understanding about your body and back pain that you are unlikely to get from a Doctor or conventional therapist. 
• Certain aspects of your lifestyle that may be worth addressing to minimize any pain you do get. 

To help your lower back muscle pain and find out more about this amazing program Click Here! I highly recommend having a look at Steve Lochart’s site and finding out more for yourself, don’t miss this great opportunity to rid yourself of lower back muscle pain! To find out more information on all types of back pain visit Your Back Health.

Spinal decompression is an advanced form of spinal traction used in the treatment of disc-related back pain and related conditions such as sciatica.  The primary difference between true spinal decompression and traction (and inversion) machines is that spinal decompression machines are set up to “trick” the spinal muscles into staying relaxed during treatment, allowing for greater changes in disc pressure than with regular traction, which has to fight the resistance of the muscles.  Spinal decompression treatment provides excellent results for many people, but some fail to get any improvement at all, and others may even feel worse.  I will attempt to explain the most common reasons for these treatment failures, and give suggestions for how to know when spinal decompression is and is not likely to help you.

I have been using spinal decompression in San Antonio for a few years now, and while it is a highly effective treatment for many people, it is not for everyone.  Unfortunately, the costs of providing spinal decompression services sometimes influences doctors to recommend it in cases where it may not be entirely appropriate.  Even with proper patient selection, spinal decompression is not 100% effective – no treatment is.  But when doctors are not as discriminating as they need to be in what patients they accept, the results can be far from ideal and some patients may even get worse with this form of treatment when doctors prescribe it inappropriately for financial reasons.

Judging from my experience in my San Antonio spinal decompression practice, the best patients for this form of treatment are the ones who have one or more bulging or herniated spinal discs and/or mild to moderate degeneration of the discs.  Those patients who have previously had disc surgery still make good candidates for spinal decompression, provided they do not have any specific issues that would exclude them, such as metal implants in the spine, spinal instability, and/or some form of healing impairment at the site of the surgery.  The large majority of patients who qualify under these criteria will typically get excellent results and be able to resume their daily activities without any major pain.

Although complete disc ruptures (disc extrusions) may sometimes be helped with spinal decompression, my experience has been that people with true disc ruptures (the term “rupture” is often used incorrectly even by doctors to describe disc bulges and herniations - actual disc ruptures are relatively rare) do not tend to get good results. 

In addition to the importance of applying spinal decompression only in the appropriate cases, it is extremely important for the doctor or technician operating the machine to set the patient up properly for the treatment.  Several factors are involved, and every spinal decompression system has its own unique set-up procedure.  Ongoing training of any personnel who operate this type of equipment is essential.  It is very easy to get sloppy with setting up patients on the equipment, and this leads to ineffective treatment.  Overall, because of the design of the better spinal decompression systems, even very poor patient set-ups rarely lead to patient injury, but mistakes in the use of the machine can definitely prevent the patient from getting the desired results and might cause a temporary flare-up in symptoms.  To help avoid this problem, I recommend asking any potential spinal decompression provider you may be considering seeking treatment with about his or her training for the operators of the equipment.  A one-time training done when the equipment was first received is simply not sufficient.  I strongly recommend working with providers who perform re-training on the equipment on at least a quarterly basis. 

One other consideration is the fact that some patients are not good candidates for spinal decompression treatment because of their inability or unwillingness to follow the recommended treatment protocol.  In my experience, the primary reasons why a patient can’t or won’t follow the treatment recommendations are usually related to money and/or time. 

A full spinal decompression treatment program that includes spinal decompression and other adjunctive treatments can seem somewhat expensive.  In actuality, it is a much lower-cost treatment option than surgery for most people and has a statistically much higher success rate, so it can be a very good value, but nonetheless, some people try to cut down their costs by trying to cut down the amount of treatment.  This can be a big mistake.  In my San Antonio office, most people who complete the recommended treatment plan get lasting relief and can safely return to their normal activities.  Those who discontinue care prematurely will often relapse, and may suffer worse pain and worse damage to the disc because they resume excessively exertive activities before the disc has stabilized.

The other reason that some people don’t follow the recommended spinal decompression protocol is time.  Some will frequently skip appointments or discontinue treatment altogether because they have busy schedules and just can’t or won’t take the time to get the treatment they need.  The key to lasting results with spinal decompression lies in having the recommended number of treatments at the recommended frequency to allow for maximum correction, stabilization, and healing of the disc.  The treatment just doesn’t work as well when patients don’t make it a priority for their time.  Some people can get away with neglecting themselves for a while, but in my experience, if you don’t make time for your health, sooner or later your health condition will absolutely force you to take the time (by means of a severe pain crisis), and this usually occurs when it is least convenient in your schedule.  You are far better off to simply make your treatment a high priority and get the problem taken care of properly. 

In summary, spinal decompression is a very effective means of treating the pain and disability associated with herniated and degenerated spinal discs, but there are some important factors in getting maximum results.  Doctors and patients alike are responsible for making sure the treament is done properly to get maximum results. 

Dr. George Best has been providing spinal decompression in San Antonio, Texas since 2006 with the DRX9000 system.  For additional infomation, visit his website at www.spinesanantonio.com.

It isn’t always fundamental for you to search for a conventional healing technique if you are experiencing back pain.  As a matter of fact, frequently when medical science is unable to help a person overcome pain, some natural approaches have been identified as being highly effective.  One of the reasons why is because natural methods tend to seek a cure for the genuine origin of the affliction while medical methods treat only the symptoms.  If you’re curious about natural techniques that have been shown to be effective in helping back pain and quite a few other problems, it isn’t necessary for you to look further than chiropractic and acupuncture.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.  Nowadays, a large number sufferers all over the world are experiencing relief from their back pain and other problems by going to see an acupuncturist on a regular basis.  In keeping with traditional Chinese acupuncture therapy, small needles are put into the body at specific points that are known to affect a number of different areas of the body.  Traditionally, only the needles are used, but at times and particularly in recent years, tiny electrical currents are directed through the needles into the body.  Even though it may seem like it would hurt, it seldom ever does and, actually, most people experience relaxation and pleasurable sensations whenever they are undergoing acupuncture treatments.

Chiropractic

For over one hundred years, chiropractors, such as a Honolulu chiropractor, (also called doctors of chiropractic) have been treating individuals experiencing back pain and other health problems. A chiropractor offers therapy to individuals who are experiencing musculoskeletal and nervous system problems. Chiropractic medicine addresses the deviations of the vertebral column that hamper the operation of the nervous system. These misaligned vertebra can reduce resistance and immunity, hence producing new health difficulties. An effectual chiropractor has excellent observational and diagnostic skills that aid in discovering physical abnormalities and joint conditions. Many chiropractors employ neurological tests and orthopedic tests. Some will analyze the posture of a person in order to identify postural irregularities, and in addition may analyze someones gait to determine faulty movement patterns. Chiropractic therapy non-surgical, drug-free treatment as well as advice and education concerning the advantages of individual lifestyle changes, such as in exercise and nutrition.

So, if you are experiencing back pain, headaches, neck pain, hip pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, balance challenges, or arthritis, and you’ve tried a number of other things and they don’t seem to work, chiropractic and acupuncture may be able to help.  One way to find out  for sure is to go in to see a good chiropractor or acupuncturist, and to permit them to tell you precisely what they are going to be able to do for you.  It’s feasible that you will experience some relief from your suffering even after only one visit.  With subsequent visits, you will continue to make improvements, and it is likely that you will find that these natural treatments work best for your back pain.

LOWER BACK MUSCLE PAIN – AN INTRODUCTION

Many musculoskeletal painsare often easily diagnosed and successfully treated, unfortunately lower back muscle pain is not one of them. The cause can sometimes be elusive, therefore the diagnosis can be incorrect and then the wrong treatments ensues.

PAIN AND WHAT IT TELLS YOU

“Pain is a signal something is wrong.”

It the lower back muscle pain is short lasting and mild it may be nothing to worry about, on the flip side if it severe and lasts for a few days up to a week or more, you body is most likely trying to tell you something is incorrect. Failing to listen to your body’s signals can make issues worse, extending the duration of lower back muscle pain, often for unnecessary durations.

General rules as to when to refer to a doctor are:

If the pain is severe

If there is swelling

If you hear a cracking or snapping at the time of the injury

If you cannot perform your normal day to day duties

If there is disturbed function following an accident or injury such as nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, paralysis or weakness.

If the pain continues beyond 7-10 days.1

WHAT IS LOWER BACK MUSCLE PAIN?

Low back pain affects the back muscles in the lower part of the back. It can be described as:

· Acute if it is less than 6 weeks

· Sub-acute if it 6-12 weeks

· Chronic if it is more than 12 weeks

Many people suffer from lower back muscle pain, costing millions in lost work as well as medical and insurance resources. Lower back muscle pain is one of the most common back complaints and effects four out of five people at some point in their lives. Although most lower back muscle pain will heal out within a few days to a few weeks.

LOWER BACK PAIN – AMERICAN STATISTICS

·      80% of society will suffer back pain of some type

Lower back muscle pain

·      88% will be asymptomatic in 6 weeks

·      98% in 24 weeks

·      99% in 52 weeks

·      97% of causes are unknown

·      2% attributed to disc problems

·      29% will require conservative treatment only

·      1% will require surgery

·      The rest will recover spontaneously2

RISK FACTORS – LOWER BACK PAIN

Postural deformities and leg length, in general, don’t seem to predispose to lower back muscle pain. Studies of static work postures indicate an increased risk of lower back pain sitting with a bent over working posture seems to carry significant risk, for example sitting in a car for more than half a work day can lead to three times the risk of disc herniation.3

·      Physically heavy, static work postures

·      Frequent bending and twisting, lifting and forceful movements

·      Repetitive work and vibrations

·      Tallness leads to increased risk

·      Sciatica is more frequent in obese people

·      Weak trunk muscles and decreased endurance

·      Coughing – leading to decreased blood supply to essential areas

·      Social factors i.e alcoholism, history of divorce, level of education, history of depression.4

SYMPTOMS OF LOWER BACK MUSCLE PAIN

Lower back pain means a pain or ache somewhere between the bottom of the ribs at the back and the top of the legs. That may begin suddenly or follow obvious strain or injury or it can come ‘out of the blue’.

It is possible that pain may also travel for example down the buttocks to the foot. It can be worse bending and is often worse when sitting. Agonizing pain can be experienced when rolling over in bed or sitting up. Coughing or sneezing may aggravate the pain. Back muscles may also go into painful spasms.

Lower back muscle pain may be combined with pain in the leg traveling down the knee. This is otherwise known as sciatica, because the main nerve in the leg (the sciatica nerve) is being irritated by pressure on it..

If in doubt consult a health care person such as a doctor, chiropractor, physiotherapist an osteopath or myotherapist.

GUIDELINES

The first thing to rule out is other obvious conditions which may cause back pain. You really need to be on the watch out for ‘red flags’ or warning signs, which can be factors that may require more rapid treatment. They may point to something more serious than a mechanical problem. If any number of these apply to you it is recommended that you see your doctor.

·      You are younger than 2o when you first get back pain

·      You are older than 55 when you first get back pain

·      The pain follows a violent injury

·      The pain is constant and getting worse

·      You have had or have cancer

·      You are on steroids

·      You are drug abuser

·      You have HIV

·      You are generally unwell

·      You have significant and unexplained weight loss

·      You have significant trouble bending forward over a period of time

·      You have developed nervous system problems – numbness, loss of power etc

·      You have developed an obvious structural deformities

·      If the pain continues over 4 weeks

CONCLUSION

If you are concerned about lower back muscle pain please consult your health care practitioner or doctor. To find out more information please visit  YourBackHealth.com

1 Listen to Your Pain. B, Benjamin. Penguin Books. P6

2 Ibid

3 Ibid P543

4 Ibid P544

Introduction

One of the most commonly misunderstood conditions among patients is arthritis..When some people hear this word they envision a future with crippled and twisted joints.  However “arthritis” is a very general word that comprises many different conditions from the benign to the severe. For our purposes we will restrict this discourse to the most common forms of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care

Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the labels for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. Essentially, the condition is due to the deterioration of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces, and it is found not only in humans, but also in all mammals. When joint cartilage is injured, the sensitive bone tissue that is ordinarily guarded by the cartilage becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. Sometimes the bone around the joint will proliferate and make osteophytes, or what are often called bone spurs. These spurs can cause painful irritation to other tissues around the joint, therefore complicating the already hurtful condition. 

As a rule areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, principally in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Previous trauma, certain occupations and activities, weight, diet, and heredity all appear to affect both the onset and severity of DJD.

The symptoms of DJD invariably involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved. If the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or knees are involved, ones mobility can be affected notably in the more advanced stages of the condition.  As a last resort joints can be surgically replaced with synthetic devices. This should be done only in severe cases where the joint is sufficiently worn and movement is impossible without severe pain.

The best management of DJD is, naturally, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.

• Making sure that all injuries to joints are properly treated will help to avoid future problems.
• People involved in occupations that require standing or walking should wear proper shoes that provide good support and shock absorption.
• Excess body weight can create increased stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body.

• Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces, such as when doing housework, as this can put strain and create knee pain.

• Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables as they have natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are essential for the health of the joints, as well as the rest of the body.

Recent studies have shown that long-term use of the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can not only assist with DJD symptoms, but may actually help to rebuild joint cartilage.

Chiropractic adjustments are not only a smart idea, but an efficient treatment for arthritis, and can assist in restoring proper mobility and function to the spinal joints, thereby giving patients great relief. Your Chicago chiropractor has many of years of expertise in helping people with arthritis pain. Other forms of chiropractic care may include joint mobilization, massage, ultrasound, cold laser, or electro-therapy, all of which may be helpful in the relief of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally, a brace is necessary to secure the joint and relieve pain. Movement is vital to the maintenance of arthritic joints. A chiropractor often suggests gentle, mobilizing activities such as stretching, yoga, and tai chi can be beneficial.

Gout

An high level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints produce gouty arthritis. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by severe pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. Most people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are usually brought on by binge eating of the wrong foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that must be avoided include a natural substance called Purines that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Individuals with this condition cannot properly metabolize uric acid, thus the proliferation in the bloodstream and the subsequent joint problems. The foods most correlated with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meat, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including refraining from drinking alcohol.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The principal cause is not known, but it is thought to be associated with a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, though other areas of the body can be affected as well. The condition is usually associated with morning stiffness that is aggravated by motion. Many times people complain of general malaise and fatigue, and the disease in its more advanced forms can affect many of the other body systems. Rheumatoid arthritis can be easily identified through particularized blood tests. Management includes medication and vitamin and diet therapy, as well as chiropractic adjustments. In addition, joint mobilization and modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy and massage can help with the pain and stiffness associated the condition. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to assisting people in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.