10 Steps To A Better Back
January 5, 2009 by soreback · Comments Off
YOUR 10-STEP CURE FOR BACK PAIN
So you have back pain and just want the executive summary of how to fix it? Okay, we’ll do our best to sum up home treatments in these 10 steps.
STEP 1 – GET AN EXAM.
Chances are your back problems are due to poor posture, excess body weight, everyday stresses, and common causes such as these.
However chronic back pain can also be caused by serious conditions such as slipped or herniated disks, fibromyalgia, injuries to the neck or spine, and rarely other conditions such as cancer, kidney infection, and so on.
It’s important to know exactly what you’re dealing with whenever you have any type of pain, and this means back pain as well. Hopefully your back pain can be easily corrected with some home remedies but just in case it’s something more serious, you should see your doctor for a complete exam.
STEP 2 – PREVENTION IS THE KEY!
Sometimes you’ve already done damage to your back and obviously we can’t go back in time and fix whatever has happened to us, but preventing injuries and doing what you can to stop irritating those injuries further is very important.
Everyday problems and activities can cause back problems and pain. This might mean being aware of what you’re lifting, whether it’s something at work or your children and groceries. You also need to avoid jarring injuries such as when you hit your brakes while driving.
Be mindful of your desk and chair at work. Try them out and see if they’re not putting undue pressure on your back. Put that footstool under your desk and make sure you get up and walk around as much as possible.
Exercising and lifting weights is another area where many people injure their backs. Don’t overdo it at the gym and be aware of your form. Ask a personal trainer for help and if you notice that your back hurts when you’re doing exercising, keep in mind that you’re probably doing something wrong. Be patient with yourself and your fitness goals so that you don’t do more damage than good.
Click Here to Get Your Free Back Pain Relief Guide
STEP 3 – MIND YOUR POSTURE.
Probably the majority of people today slouch, whether it’s because of never being taught to sit up straight or just plain laziness. Our furniture, cars, and beds don’t always help either as they’re rarely designed to encourage good posture. We slump over desks and computer screens and drape ourselves over the couch without a thought as to how our bodies are contorted and to what pressure we’re putting on what muscles.
In the old days people were taught proper posture by being made to walk with books on their head. It was considered incredibly bad manners to slouch at the table and children were corrected on their posture at school. While these things are somewhat extreme there’s no reason you can’t work on it by yourself. Practice standing up straight and correct yourself when you notice that you’re slouching over the dinner table or desk. Get yourself some posture correcting clothing and wear it whenever possible. Get into the habit of sitting and standing with good posture and soon enough it will just be part of your routine.
Tip from the experts: One good way to improve your posture is to get into your car and sit up straight, then adjust your seat and mirrors to that position. When you notice that you can’t see in a mirror or are peering over the steering wheel, adjust your posture rather than the seat or mirrors. Leave them where they are as a reminder of how you need to keep yourself sitting up straight.
Read more
Back Pain Medication
January 2, 2009 by soreback · Comments Off
MEDICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR CHRONIC BACK PAIN
Maybe you’ve tried everything else and are ready for some medications or are considering surgery for back pain. Your doctor is no doubt rushed and busy helping other patients and many doctors don’t take the time anyway to explain different medication options and how they work exactly, so we’re going to cover those here. We’ll also discuss the common surgeries for back problems so that you have a better understanding of what’s involved and can make an informed decision overall.
Click Here to Get Your Free Back Pain Relief Guide
NSAIDS
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce swelling in any area of the body and are often used to treat muscle spasms and irritation in the area of the back. They work by blocking proteins and enzymes in the body that cause swelling.
They are often thought to be the most effective treatment option. NSAIDs include:
- Bayer, Bufferin – aspirin
- Advil, Motrin – ibuprofen
- Aleve, Anaprox – naproxen sodium
- Lodine – etodolac
- Relafen – nabumetone
- Feldene – piroxicam
- Disalcid, Salsitab – salsalate
Common side effects
Most who take NSAIDs experience upset stomach, heartburn, ulcers, skin rashes, some swelling of the face or legs, and a decrease in the amount of urine.
EPIDURAL INJECTIONS
Women in labor often get epidural injections; this is meant to numb the area of the spinal column that is receiving the pain signals from her contractions. In the same way some who get chronic back pain find that epidural injections are helpful for their condition. The epidural numbs the area of the body where there is pain and helps the muscles to relax and loosen, and the patient to resume normal activities which in turn also help to alleviate pain.
These injections can be done by an orthopedist, an anesthesiologist, a neurologist, a physiatrist, a pain management specialist, or a rheumatologist.
Epidural injections can be expensive and need to be done properly. They can also be a bit painful themselves, but those who have them regularly report consistent relief from their back problems.
Possible side effects
Some who are very sensitive to injections may experience swelling at the injection site. Rarely do patients experience infection, headache and fever, although these have been reported.
MUSCLE RELAXANTS
These are probably the most commonly used medications to treat back pain. When the muscles are tense they are not only painful, they are unable to heal themselves properly. Muscle relaxants can help them to heal on their own and can allow a patient to resume physical activity so that blood and oxygen flow is increased.
Common muscle relaxants include:
- Soma – carisoprodol
- Flexeril – cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride
- Valium – diazepam
- Skelaxin – metaxalone
- Robaxin – methocarbamol
Muscle relaxants and sedatives calm the central nervous system so that it is not as susceptible to the pain triggers and signals that an injured back will send it.
Possible side effects
While muscle relaxants are often used and can be very effective if there has been an injury or if they are meant for the short-term, they can result in serious side effects if overused. Addiction or abuse, dry mouth, and urinary problems are common side effects for those who use them too often and in too great of a quantity.
It is vital for anyone considering muscle relaxants or sedatives that they follow their doctor’s advice closely. They should not be used before driving or operating heavy machinery.
BOTOX
It might be the miracle that everyone in Hollywood swears by, but many in the medical professions are finding that Botox can do more for a body than just treat wrinkles. Because it paralyzes nerves and muscles under the skin, it is being used by some to treat migraines, arthritis, and now even back pain.
Botox works on back muscles by paralyzing the tiny spasms that send pain signals up the spine. When injected into the back, Botox can provide relief from injured muscles or damaged ligaments and tendons. Many who use it report relief from the back pain although they do sometimes have discomfort from the paralyzing effect it has on the area of injection.
The effectiveness of Botox on spasms has reported to be so successful that some with cerebral palsy are using it as a treatment option for their spasms as well.
A recent study of those who have tried Botox for back pain along with some who received saline injections or a placebo instead reports that:
- 3 weeks after treatment, about 73% of Botox toxin recipients reported pain relief of 50% or more, while only 25% of the saline group did.
- 8 weeks after treatment, 60% of Botox recipients reported pain relief of 50% or more, while only 12% of the saline group did.
- Pain relief was reported by most people as lasting 3 to 4 months.
Potential side effects
Long-term studies of the use of Botox have not yielded conclusive results as it has been in use for only a decade or so. Some who are very sensitive to injections report swelling at the injection site. Botox injections are also only temporary and somewhat expensive; they need to be reported every 3-6 months and can cost around $500 each or more.
Read more
9 Tips To Soothe Back Pain
December 31, 2008 by soreback · Comments Off
TIPS, TRICKS AND TECHNIQUES THAT YOUR DOCTOR WILL NEVER TELL YOU ABOUT
Maybe you’ve already considered putting heat on your back and try to exercise when you can. You’re not a fan of medication or have a sensitive stomach so you’re not going to keep popping pills every time your back hurts. So now what? You’re just out of luck?
Fortunately there are many small tips, tricks and techniques you can consider when dealing with back pain. Because these tips and tricks aren’t exactly what you would call exact medical science your doctor will probably never mention these things to you. There are reasons behind each of these tips and techniques and we’ll try to explain each of them to you.
THE BASKETBALL TRICK
Your muscles are cramped and stiff and nothing seems to work. You can stretch and stretch but they’re just not loosening up. Now what?
Get yourself a basketball and put it on a flat surface such as your living room floor. Make sure you’ve moved the furniture out of the way, and lay down on it and roll it around the area of the back.
Sound strange? A basketball is nice and stiff, unlike a volleyball or Pilates ball or other type of ball, and so it presses against those muscles. As you roll yourself on the basketball it’s forcing those muscles to be loosened just like a good massage. It can also work to increase the blood circulation in the back which of course helps to get the muscles healed on their own.
You might find that you eventually push the air right out of the basket ball as you do this and you can either pump it back up or buy a new one but this is a small price to pay for getting some relief on your back. And remember, you need to use a basketball and not something soft that’s going to collapse under your weight.
Click Here to Get Your Free Back Pain Relief Guide
INVERSION
Because the back muscles need to work when you’re standing or even sitting, you need to get all the pressure off that area of your body in order for the muscles and nerves to heal themselves. How can you do that?
Some doctors prescribe their patients a system of counterweights for a person to hang from. You may have seen this type of contraption that you put over a room door and literally hang yourself from; these things work but can be difficult to use and somewhat dangerous for those who live alone!
A better idea is to put yourself in a chair or position that gets your feet up and relieves the pressure from your hip area. If you can purchase a recliner get one that reclines far enough that your feet are higher than your hips. Putting yourself on a couch where you can drape your feet over the arms of the couch can also help.
Remember that you need to alleviate the pressure on the area of your hips so your legs and feet need to be that high to do so. A footstool is not going to do the trick but an inversion table will.
PROP YOURSELF UP WHILE SLEEPING
The body can go through so many distortions while sleeping – it’s estimated by many doctors that a person changes positions some 32 times during the night, or once every 15 minutes! Since we’re not conscious of these changes it’s no wonder that we may contort ourselves into something painful without realizing it, or may tense up during sleep and not allow ourselves to relax in any way.
This is probably one reason why so many people wake up in pain – they are very tense when they go to sleep and this tension affects their body positions while sleeping.
Many have found that elevating their feet can help to alleviate the tension in their back and to keep them in a position that is more at ease during the night. It’s very hard to curl up into a tense little ball when your feet are propped up!
This can be as easy as putting a few books under the feet of your bed or the mattress. You can use pillows and cushions but these have a tendency to slide. There are also props for the bed you can buy at a home supply store as well.
Sore Back – What Not To Do
December 27, 2008 by soreback · Comments Off
WHAT NOT TO DO
As important as it is to know what you should be doing to help your back pain, you also need to consider some common treatment methods that people often employ that actually make the situation worse.
Sleeping on the floor.
Imagine there are two pictures below. One of course is of a human being from the back view, and the other is of a few boards. Notice any difference?
Before you spend all day scratching your head and wondering what we’re getting at, the point is that a human body is not straight up and down the way a board is. There are curves and contours on every part of the body, front and back, men and women. We often forget about this; perhaps because we’re told to “sit up straight” or to keep our backs “ramrod” straight that we get the thought in our heads that the human back is flat and straight like a board.
No matter what your build – whether you’re as muscular or developed as this cartoon illustration or not – your back has curves and contours all up and down it, but especially in the area of the small of the back. This area, if not supported, will begin to collapse which then causes those muscles to tense up further to keep the back supported.
Click Here to Get Your Free Back Pain Relief Guide
It’s unfortunate that many people with back problems have a tendency to sleep on the floor or a flat surface, thinking that this gives them more support than their own bed or a cushion of any type. In reality this might relieve the pressure in some areas of the back but cause more pain in others as that flat surface is not giving support in these curved and contoured areas of the back.
If you find that sleeping in your bed causes you to wake up stiff and sore, it’s time to shop for a new mattress or to address the one you have. Some have found that putting a firm piece of foam between the mattress and box spring can keep it from sagging in the middle so that they have better support. Usually when your mattress is lumpy and old your back starts to hurt because it needs to tense up to support the body during sleep. By having a better sleeping surface you’re bound to have less pain in the morning – but the floor is not that sleeping surface! If you must sleep on the floor be sure to use a piece of foam or a thick sleeping bag, or a few thick sleeping bags, between you and it. Your body needs more support than a flat wooden surface can give it and chances are you might feel some relief in some areas of the back but are doing more damage than good when you sleep on the floor.
Read more
Remedy For Back Pain
December 24, 2008 by soreback · Comments Off
HOME REMEDIES FOR BACK PAIN
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. Minding your posture, training yourself to lift with your legs – these small changes can add up to big relief for your back.
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?
RELIEVE THE PRESSURE
The muscles of the back are usually able to heal and repair themselves from minor injury, and sometimes the pain you feel is simply those muscles cramping up to protect themselves so that they can heal. If you relieve the pressure on your back this can go a long way toward helping it heal on its own.
Of course, as we’ve already mentioned there is virtually no movement a human can make that doesn’t involve the back. Even when sitting, the back muscles are tensing up to keep your upper body straight and supported.
Click Here to Get Your Free Back Pain Relief Guide
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. Many have found that stretching out on the floor with pillows under the knees can help tremendously, however, do not put the pillows under your feet. 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.
Read more
Simple Treatments for Lower Back Pain Relief
December 1, 2008 by soreback · Leave a Comment
If you are one of those who suffer from chronic and consistent lower back pain, you’re not alone. There’s a surprisingly high number of people today that suffer from pain in their back. The lower back, since it seems to hold the most weight and be involved with the most movement, can be... read more
-
Recent Posts
-
Categories
-
Archives
-
Links
-
Meta
best hgh product
Where to Buy HGH
genf 20