Aches and Pain in the Lower Back Can Become a Chronic Problem

For many individuals, the back may be their so-called "Achilles Heel". For them, pain in the area of the back may be related to an increase in emotional stress. Other causes are poor posture, improper footwear and walking habits, improper lifting, slouching when sitting, and sleeping on a mattress that is too soft.

Most back problems are associated with long-term habits that eventually result in an acute attack. Other causes of backache are arthritis, rheumatism, bone disease, a herniated disc, or an abnormal curvature of the spine. Kidney and bladder problems or female pelvic disorders may also produce backache. Fractures are rarely the cause of back ailments. Below are some recommendations for treatment.

VAX-D Spinal Decompression

Neck and Back Pain injuries can be treated using a sophisticated vertebral decompression system known as the Vertebral Axial Decompression or "VAX-D", a method that has been shown to be successful in over 86% of patients. VAX-D is a patented, non-surgical therapy clinically proven to be a successful conservative treatment for such conditions as chronic low back pain and sciatica, caused by bulging, herniated or degenerative discs, and facet syndrome. Even post-surgical patients and those suffering from stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal) have reported a significant pain relief from VAX-D treatments. These treatments are fully automated and specifically designed for each individual patient. This computerized system achieves decompression by minutely adjusting the pull, hold and release series that are repeated up to fifteen times over a 15 to 45-minute time period. Each series goes through a decompression phase, retraction phase, and a rest phase, allowing the tension to be directed to the injured disc, and achieves a negative pressure within the disc that creates a vacuum effect that draws nutrients and fluids into the injured area, thus promoting repair. This motion-controlled biofeedback system automatically administers the tension without injury and allows the area of injury to relax completely. In this way VAX-D intervention facilitates the body to repair damage, regenerate new tissue, attain relief from pain, and thus, return patients to their normal activities.

Hako-Med Electromedical Pain Relief

New Hope Medical Center (NHMC) uses an internationally patented technology, known as Hako-Med, for pain relief. Hako-Med is the most advance tool in the field of bioelectric medicine. For example, it has been proven to eliminate over 80% of pain in osteoarthritis. Hako-med essentially works by using a combination of AM and FM radio wave frequencies, which neutralize pain and stimulate repair by resonating with the area of injury. This non-invasive modality is safe, effective, and easy to use and has no negative side effects. Whereas a typical TENS unit creates a distraction from pain, Hako-Med actually increases energy in the body to promote healing and recovery from injury. This sophisticated technology, developed with German engineering, allows the physician the choice of 200 pre-programmed protocols or the ability to develop customized protocols based on specific NHMC patient parameters. The good news for NHMC patients is that almost all insurance carriers cover this excellent pain treatment. Clinical indications and usages of Hako-Med include chronic pain, muscular dysfunction (e.g., atrophy, range of motion limitations, spasms, weakness, etc.), peripheral nerve pain, poor circulation, post-traumatic injuries, and post-surgical pain and prevention of thrombophlebitis. Hako-Med can be used in conjunction with, in alternation to, or independently from any other therapy. A typical treatment session can last anywhere from 10 to 50 minutes. When used alone, the recommended protocol for Hako-Med is three times weekly for 4 to 8 weeks. However, when used in combination with other therapies, Hako-Med works synergistically to accelerate the healing response and reduce recovery time.

Additional Recommendations for treatment and prevention

1. For acute pain, alternate ice and moist heat applications every 15-30 minutes to keep the swelling down and minimize the injury. Once the initial pain has subsided, Chiropractic or Osteopathic treatment may help to insure proper alignment of the vertebral spine.

2. For chronic back pain, strengthen the back with exercises.Strengthening exercises for your back, known as "Back Exercises", are available for home use. Prior to exercising, warm up your muscles by walking, cycling, or swimming. Exercises should then be performed in both directions (such as flexion and extension) and in one continuous motion. Make them a part of your daily routine. At the conclusion of your exercises, take a hot bath or shower for 10 minutes. A list of specific exercises can be ordered at the end of this recording.

3. As a rule, never lift heavy objects! Lift light objects by bending your legs, keeping your back straight, and then straighten your legs. Do not make quick, jerky movements from the waist or hip. Move only in one direction at a time by turning your whole body in a smooth movement.

4. Do not slouch! When walking, imagine yourself being pulled up and forward by a string attached to your breastbone (e.g. like a puppet on a string).

5. Sleep on a hard, preferably orthopedic, mattress or place a board under your own mattress. When sleeping, sleep on your back or on your side with your legs pulled up in the fetal position to reduce the pressure on your back. Upon arising in the morning, roll over on your side, let your legs come off the bed first, and then push yourself up--avoid doing a "sit-up."

6. When watching long hours of television, lie comfortably on a hard surface supported by pillows under your neck and in the small of your back or sit up straight in a good firm chair with your knees above your hips and your feet flat on the ground.

7. For back pain, use moist heat, such as a wet cloth around a hot water bottle. This increases circulation to the painful area and relaxes the spasm that caused the pain.

8. Supplements to consider include: Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, and Bioflavonoids and B-complex for stress relief; minerals such as magnesium aspartate as a natural muscle relaxant, zinc and manganese for tissue repair. DL-Phenylalanine, an amino acid, helps with alleviation of pain. The herb horsetail (e.g., Silica) aids in calcium absorption and white willow bark is a natural anti-inflammatory.

9. Homeopathics for back pain are: Arnica (especially if the pain results from acute trauma), Bryonia (if the pain is worse with movement), Rhus Tox. (if pain is worse after exposure to cold and after having been immobile), Ruta Graveolens (for lower lumbar pain made worse by sitting and lying down), and Calcarea Fluorica (when pain is burning, better with movement and worse after rest). Combination remedies such as Traumeel by BHI and Body Healing by Bioenergetics are excellent. Homeopathics are available in creams and oils for topical application as well.

10. Get prolotherapy. This involves the injection of a natural solution (e.g., dextrose or saline) with anesthetic into the areas of the ligaments that hold the bones together and the tendons that attach the muscles to the bones. This, in turn, sets in motion a healing response to stimulate the body to develop new tissues in weakened areas and hold the joints together more firmly. It also helps bulging discs to return by strengthening the posterior vertebral attachments, which weakness makes a disc more prone to protrude. This approach is usually given weekly and can help to avoid surgery by stimulating the body to do its own repair.

11. Gentle relaxation and rejuvenation therapy through use of a medical spa with steam sauna, infrared sauna, and/or contrast shower.

Reasons to seek medical advice for back pain include: pain that comes on suddenly for no apparent reason, pain that is accompanied by chest pain, pain that lasts more than three days in an acute attack or more than two weeks without relief in chronic cases, or pain that radiates down your leg. To learn more about healing and health optimizing therapies, go to NHMC or call (866) HEAL-NOW!

Get Six Pack Abs Without Lower Back Pain

Lots of fitness enthusiasts swear by ab exercises such as crunches, ab machines, and sit ups. Little do they know how much damage these types of exercises do to your lower spine. Even ab exercises that you think are effective may not be as effective as you thought.

For example I thought that doing crunches on an exercise ball would prevent lower back pain since your body has more range of motion than doing them on the floor. But even crunches on an exercise ball will stretch your back out of shape over time.

Then there are lower ab exercises such as reverse crunches that seem like a good idea since you are moving your lower body rather than your upper body. These are no good for your lower spine either. Just about any ab exercise that involves contracting your spine is not good for your back.

Think about it. The more you bend your back and stretch it the more pain you will develop over time. This is why everyone always says to have good posture like a soldier even if you have a desk job.

Exercises that isolate the abs will make matters worse. The truth about six pack abs is that you don't need to do a single ab exercise although they can certainly help. But before I get into the few effective ab exercises I recommend I want to explain something.

You can get six pack abs with just diet, compound exercises, and cardio. There is no need for so-called effective ab exercises. The most important aspect here is diet. You cannot expect to eat a lot of junk food and have ripped abs. You have to eat clean almost all of the time. Abs are built in the kitchen.

The key to six pack abs is lowering your body fat while preserving the muscle mass. This is done by eating healthy natural foods like lean meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans. You can allow yourself some cheat meals each week but it should only be done in moderation.

You want to get plenty of protein, healthy fats, and carbs in your diet to fuel your body for your workouts. Sure you may have to sacrifice taste to look good in a bathing suit but it will be well worth it once you start to see the results in the mirror. Nothing tastes as good as looking sexy.

Now that you understand diet is the most important part of building a six pack let's talk about proper exercise. The main exercises you should be performing are compound exercises such as squats, dead lifts, lunges, chin ups rows, chest presses, and shoulder presses. Performing such exercises is known as resistance training.

Resistance training is important because you want to keep your hard earned muscle while losing the belly fat. Cardio is what will really help you burn the fat. So with these two types of exercise in mind I will now explain the two strategies in which to perform your workouts.

You can either perform resistance training and cardio separately. Or you can combine the two into what is known as circuit training which I highly recommend for people who have little time to work out.

Deadlift and Lower Back Injury - How To Help Reduce Your Pain

Can deadlifts cause low back pain?

Does this exercise do more harm than good?

1.) Introduction

Deadlifts are a physical exercise that can be of great benefit to you, if you do it right. It works all the muscles in the body when accompanied by squats. Many people do this exercise enthusiastically but without proper guidance. The tragedy happens when you get low back pain from a deadlift. What you can be sure about is that if you experience pain while doing deadlift exercises, you are most probably exercising the wrong way.

2.) Technique

You can technically classify deadlifts as an exercise that involves pulling. If you do not pull without involving the hips and glutes, what you are doing in effect is placing stress on the lower back. The correct way to do the exercise is to extend the hips when you pull yourself back up. Start by using the heels to push. When you have brought the bar to your knees, push the hips to the front. This is a more safe way to do the exercise.

3.) When Lifting Any Weights, Remember This...

When lifting a weight, any weight, your spine gets the full impact of the weight. A human being will always place all the weight on the spine and cause lower back injury as a result, in many cases. Keep your back straight while you lift the barbell. Hold your upper back in a neutral position to remedy this situation.

An exaggerated lockout that results from leaning back is not good. All the arching and rounding could cause stress being put on the lower back. A repeat of this many times may bring on hernias. Keep the bar as close to you as possible, thereby giving better leverage.

4.) Supporting Your Lower Back

When it comes to protecting your back and promoting good posture in general, it is a good idea to think about a brace. These braces will promote good posture and help to stop you from doing movements that can cause you pain. If you have pain before, during or after exercising, it is time to contact your local, licensed orthotist. These individuals can get you a high quality brace support that can help to keep you health. This kind of support should not be overlooked.

Note: This is health information. When it comes to medical advice on lifting then you should primarily consult a trainer. When it comes to braces for support it is best to get medical advice from your local, licensed orthotist.

Four Secrets to Relieving Back Pain by Releasing Hidden Painful Emotions

If you live with back pain, you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) "nearly everyone at some point has back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation".
Over twenty five years ago I strained my back while moving a piano up a staircase in student housing at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City where I was attending law school.
The pain persisted and finally, many years later, I sought the help of my first chiropractor Clyde Keller in Sandy, Utah.
Dr. Keller's adjustments gave me a lot of relief.
Still the pain returned periodically and so I returned to see Dr. Keller.

STRESS AND LOW BACK PAIN
As time passed I began to see that pain in my back and neck coincided with times of high stress in my career as a personal injury attorney. When I realized that stress was a factor and worked to reduce my stress levels my visits to the chiropractor become less frequent.
This was my first introduction to the relationship between feelings and physical malaise and pain.

SEDONA METHOD
About three years ago I was introduced to the Sedona Method which is a tool that teaches you how to release negative emotions, including those associated with physical pain. I began exploring and releasing years of accumulated negative emotion. In law school we were taught to work with our intellects and so, years after law school, I found myself virtually numb with repressed emotions.
The feelings came off in layers. I peeled them off one by one like the layers of an onion. Little by little I felt more alive.
"Most chronic back pain has a strong emotional component," says Hale Dwoskin author of the Sedona Method and Director of Training at Sedona Training Associates in Sedona, Arizona.
"When you release the stress and tension that is either causing your back pain or simply magnifying it, even long-standing pain in your back can easily dissolve," Dwoskin says. "Either way you will feel a lot better emotionally, which usually translates to profound physical relief as well."

YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE
Later I read Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life." This book offers a list of maladies with their probable causes and a recommended new thought pattern
For "lower back problems" it offers as the probable cause: "Fear of money. Lack of financial support." The recommended new thought pattern is "I trust the process of life. All I need is always taken care of. I am safe."
Repeating the new thought pattern provided relief not just for pain in my lower back but also for any feeling of discomfort or tension in that area.
Another principle I learned from Hay's book is that we don't let go of a problem until we let go of the need for that problem. And that applies to illness. So, I began to use an additional new thought pattern or affirmation in relation to my low back pain: "I am willing to release the need for low back pain."
Try out this simple process in area of your life. You will find that releasing the need for the problem will go a long way toward resolving it.

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE
Recently I was introduced to the emotional freedom technique (EFT). This method uses tapping on specific areas of the body to release negative emotional energy.
Though it sounded bizarre I tried it and found it to be very powerful. It even released energy or charge that did not release with the other methods.
You can download a free guide to EFT at http://www.emofree.com. There you can also find a list of practitioners.
The best overall guide to the subject of EFT is "Getting Through to Your Emotions" by Phillip and Jane Mountrose.

CONCLUSION
Try these methods. Hopefully, releasing negative feelings will lead your to better health and a pain free back.

Severe Lower Back Pain Treatment - Special Report

How is your lower back feeling these days?

Do you have severe pain that is causing you a lot of problems?

1.) Introduction to This Article

Do you want to help reduce your lumbar back pain without spending a ton of money? - Lower back pain can be the worst. Can you relate? - It can really reduce your ability to perform activities of daily living and can be something that is constantly on your mind, sucking up all of your emotional energy! Remember, you do not deserve to live with this problem. We have studied back pain and we can help you reduce yours...

2.) Common Back Pain Triggers

• Obesity


• Poor body mechanics


• Previous lower back issues that are not completely resolved.


• Degenerative Ailments

Each of the aforementioned issues can contribute to your lower back pain. We all know that we mean well, but being over weight does not help. We all also know that body mechanics are very important, but in the sake of saving time we sometimes forget them. Degenerative ailments and previous issues that have not healed can also contribute to low back problems that exist for you today. Some common problems that people suffer from are herniated discs, pinched nerves and muscle strains, for example.

3.) Treat Lower Back Problems, While Saving Money!

We all know that surgery for your lower back is not cheap. Let's face it, sometimes surgery is our only and best option though... However, your spine doctor will tell you that they will try to exhaust all conservative treatment options prior to having you come in for surgery though.

Rest is free, however it is something that is not always easily to accomplish. Although we would like to take a load off and rest for several hours at a time, you already know that as we become adults, the world is constantly asking more and more of us. What this means is that rest is easier said than done. Unfortunate, but true.

4.) Back Supports For Pain Relief

One very good treatment option, that is considered to be conservative in nature is the use of back supports for your lower back. These supports can help reduce pain by biomechanically off loading your lower back ailments. It can help with disc problems, muscle strains and arthritis, just to name a couple of problems. However, they are not the best for kidney problems. - When you wear a lower back brace they can be easily hidden by a t-shirt and so cosmetic problems are not really an issue. Lastly, quality lower back supports can be very good in helping to keep you from making unwanted movements that will further your current pain and injury levels. - If you have back problems, you should consider using one today.

*This is health information. Although we really believe in the use of lumbar back supports, you should consult your physician regarding medical advice for your particular situation.

Low Back Pain Or Sciatica in the Morning?

I'm sure you are familiar with it. You wake up in the morning, go to get out of bed BUT are stopped in your tracks by the pain and stiffness in your lower back or sciatic nerve. It can then take a few minutes or much longer to straighten up and become more mobile again... Why is your back so stiff and painful in the morning?

Well, contrary to popular belief, it is more than likely NOT due to the bed/mattress you are sleeping on! That's right, I believe this is a myth well worth busting, as it may save you a fortune by avoiding the unnecessary replacement of your current bed.

There are also those that may say you are stiff and painful first thing in the morning due to the fact you have moved relatively little for the previous few hours. Although I would agree that there is an element of truth in this last statement, once again I do not believe it is likely to be the main cause.

So why is your back so stiff and painful in the morning?

More often than not, it is not due to the bed itself, but rather the position you are sleeping in or what you have been doing the few hours before retiring to bed which is the problem... it is the former which I am going to be discussing with this article.

So what is the best position for me to sleep in then?

The best position for you to adopt would primarily depend upon what is the cause of your low back/sciatic pain. However, as a rule of thumb, the most comfortable position to sleep in is usually side lying (either side) with your bottom leg fairly straight and your top leg bent at the knee and supported by a couple of pillows, so that this top leg is more or less parallel with the bed.

By sleeping in this position, keeping the bottom leg straight is encouraging your lower back to be in a neutral position. Yet with the top leg being supported by pillows, it is preventing it from dropping 'across & down' and therefore twisting your low back and stretching your sciatic nerve in the process.

If you were to lay on your side but forget to support your top leg, this would just place a twisting stress upon the lower back which would be maintained for several hours while you were asleep. Therefore it should come as no surprise that your low back or sciatic nerve may be stiff and painful first thing when you wake up.

As I alluded to above, there are other positions which could be more beneficial, but this depends upon the cause of your pain, but side lying with pillows supporting your top leg is usually a good comfortable position to get in no matter what your diagnosis.

It is also important to realise that it may not necessarily be your sleeping position which is the problem, but rather the things you are doing to your lower back or sciatic nerve before going to bed. If you try different sleeping positions, including the one given here and yet you are still having difficulty sleeping, it is likely what you are doing before going to bed is also a problem. This will need to be assessed before thinking of replacing your bed.

10 Tips For Fast Back Pain Relief

As we all know, back pain can occur at the most unexpected and inconvenient times. Here are 10 tips to reduce back pain until you can arrange a doctor appointment:

1. First the obvious - over-the-counter medications, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID''s), are commonly recommended to alleviate low back pain. They range in type from broad-spectrum pain reducers to some that are marketed specifically as back pain medications. As always, use any medication with caution, consult a doctor first and always use as directed. The only problem with using pain medication is that it tends to mask or numb the pain but does not treat the underlying cause of the soreness or pain.
2. Alternate applying heat for 20 minutes and then a cold pack for 10 minutes several times. If the pain occurred very recently, finish with the cold pack.
3. Use a "hot patch." Looking like a large bandage or Ace wrap, apply it to the affected area. The patch stays hot for a few hours, with the heat working to stimulate blood flow and helping to speed up healing. Fortunately the patch also helps to soothe sore back muscles
4. Lay down on your back with your legs raised over a chair or cushion with hips and knees at 90 degrees, for 30 minutes twice a day. This will help relax the muscles in your spine.
5. Deep breathing exercises can provide fast back pain relief in two important ways. Firstly it accelerates the intake of oxygen and puts more oxygen into your bloodstream to feed your cells, and secondly it helps the lymph system eliminate the waste products produced by the cells by removing toxins and fueling your cells. It also helps to relax your tense muscles.
6. Make sure you drink lots of water. This will help to hydrate the muscles and discs in the spine.
7. Take a short walk, several times per day. Movement will help loosen your back and in fact too much laying down will make your back stiffer.
8. Cat stretch: Get on hands and knees and do a cat back stretch, by rounding your spine and holding the position for 30 seconds, then relaxing. Repeat several times.
9. Back stretch: Lie on your back with your feet flat on the ground and knees bent. Then lift your buttocks off the ground so that you are resting on your upper back. Next squeeze your muscles in your stomach and buttocks tightly and hold for 30 seconds, then relax. Repeat several times.
10. Side stretch: Lie on your right side with legs extended, feet stacked. Support your upper body on your right forearm and lift hips. Hold for 6 seconds, lower, and repeat. Switch sides.

Use one or a combination of these tips to get fast relief from back pain. Make an appointment with your chiropractor or medical doctor if the pain persists for more than 3 days or if the pain gets progressively worse.