Lower Back Pain - 7 Useful Herbs and Herbal Remedies for Treating Lower Backache

Lower back pain is a common medical condition that affects almost everybody at some point or another. It can be acute or chronic. The acute form of lower back pain is usually caused by heavy lifting or over-exercising. Using an inadequate mattress for sleeping or constantly having a wrong posture can easily lead to lower back pain. Sometimes degenerative diseases like arthritis are causing disc degeneration and thus pain in the lower section of the back. A sprained muscle, a herniated disc or an injury can easily provoke chronic low back pain.

Treatment can vary from over the counter analgesics to surgery in the worst cases. It is essential to see a physician in order to determine the root cause of the pain and to make sure you are taking the appropriate treatment. There are specific exercises that can be done for relieving lower back pain. Depending on what is causing the problem in the first place, there are many treatment methods available.

Herbal remedies have proven their efficacy in what concerns alleviation of lower back pain. Here is a non-exhaustive list of useful herbs -

1. Bromelain - It is a substances extracted from pineapple with a great anti-inflammatory action. Start taking 2-3 grams daily and when the pain becomes milder, reduce the dose to 1-2 grams daily.

2. Chamomile - It is known for its pain killing properties. You can either take a few capsules a day, or 10-20 drops of extract, mixed in a cup of water or tea.

3. Red pepper - It contains capsaicin, a strong pain killing agent. It interferes with the perception of pain we are having and it stimulates the body to produce endorphins. You can either mix smashed red pepper in any skin cream you have or make your own tincture from red pepper and rubbing alcohol. There are also capsaicin creams available on the market.

4. Cramp bark and black haw - The combination between these plants is highly effective in reducing pain. The first one has antispasmodic compounds and the other one contains aspirin-like substances. The tincture is the most effective form in which they can be consumed.

5. Burdock - It alleviates the pain and it also purifies the blood. The recommended dose is between 1 and 3 capsules a day.

6. Horsetail - It has a calming effect and it is very helpful in rebuilding damaged tissue.

7. Willow bark - It is used from ancient times in relieving pain and it helped researchers to discover aspirin.

Top 9 Epidural Side Effects for Back Pain Treatment

Epidural steroid injections are commonly used for the treatment of back pain. It injects a powerful anti-inflammatory with a local anesthetic pain relief medicine directly around the spinal nerves, providing immediate pain relief. However, even the best drugs in the world are not without the dreadful side effects. Side effects from epidural steroid injections are rare but not uncommon. No more than 3 doses of treatment should be given within a 12 months period with each treatment spaced at least 2 months apart from each other.

1. Infection -Infections occurring are rare nowadays due to the advanced technique and the usage of sterile needles. They are extremely unusual, occurring only less than 0.5%. However, patients suffering from diabetes are at a higher risk.


2. Bleeding -Bleeding is also unusual and patients who are suffering from bleeding disorders or taking blood thinning medications are not allowed to be given epidural steroid injections. Their spinal cord can be compressed and could lead to serious consequences, possibly even death.


3. Dural tears -It is a very common side effect which occurs in 1% to 2% of all reported cases. The dural is accidentally punctured with the needle and results in the patient suffering from headache. The needle punctured dural reduces the amount of cerebrospinal fluid pressure which in turns causes a spinal headache and is improved when the patient lies down. It will usually go away by itself in a couple of days.


4. Nerve damage -It is an extremely rare side effect but has been reported. The injection needle injures the spinal nerves which are compressed, resulting in either temporary or worse permanent damage.


5. Blood sugar -Blood sugar levels especially in patients suffering from diabetes have been reported.


6. Allergy reaction -Patients have reported to be allergic to the medication present in the injection and this is normally due to the preservative in the medication and not with the active ingredient itself.


7. Weakening of muscles -Steroid myopathy which is effectively the weakening of thigh muscles has been reported. Cases are rare.


8. Facial redness -Occasionally, patients have reported to suffer from facial redness after the injection. The effects usually subside in a couple of hours, at most a few days and are not serious.


9. Fevers -Patients have also reported having low grade fever after injection and this is due to the body's natural defence mechanism reacting with the steroid. It is nothing serious and will go away on this own.

Long term side effects from epidural steroid injections are uncommon and the side effects are usually non critical, however do not be complacent and always seek the help of a qualified medical practitioner if any complication arises.

Your Job and Low Back Pain: The Occupational Factors Affecting Your Health

A common misconception about work-related injury is that it only happens in jobs that require heavy manual labor, like construction and freight handling. The truth is that there are so many factors affecting the musculoskeletal system that nearly every occupation poses some risk of injury. The correlation between musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and the workplace is so significant that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) devoted nearly 600 pages to examine the epidemiologic evidence of this relationship. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most non-fatal injuries are a result of overexertion (pushing, pulling, lifting, holding, carrying, turning) and/or repetitive motion. These injuries occur in several body structures. Here we'll focus on the low back: what occupational factors contribute to the risk of low back injury?

The most frequently reported back injuries are strains, sprains, disc herniation, joint inflammation, contusions, and sciatic issues. Low back pain can be chronic or acute and may be felt in the lumbar, gluteal, upper leg, or sciatic regions. MSDs may originate in the muscle, ligament, joint, disc, or nerve. These injuries are not always the result of one specific incident; commonly, the body wears down from physical factors over time, creating weakness and vulnerability in the structures of the body. Activity at home contributes to this wearing; however, physical factors on the job make the most significant impact on structural health.

Specifically, back pain and injury from occupational stress are a result of different "forces" applied to the spine. These include bending (or rotation), compression (stress applied perpendicular to the spine), or shear force (stress applied parallel to spine.) The amount of stress imposed on the spine depends on the weight of the object lifted, how the worker handles his body, and how the spine moves during activity. Injury occurs when these factors create forces that surpass capabilities of the discs and supporting tissues recruited to counteract these movements.

NIOSH's study focused on 5 common factors that create these loading forces on the spine. They found significant associations between injury and all of the following occupational elements amongst many jobs:

• Heavy physical work - nursing, personal care, air transportation, construction, etc. This is the most obvious correlation between work and injury. Note that disc degeneration happens at an earlier age in people who engage in regular heavy physical work.


• Lifting and forceful movements - auto workers, electronics manufacturing, hospital employees, nursing aids, baggage handlers, manual materials handlers, etc. Industries that rank the highest in time-loss injuries here are nursing and personal care facilities.


• Bending and twisting (awkward postures) - jobs identified include those listed previously. These movements are closely related to sciatic pain symptoms and slipped discs, especially when combined with lifting.


• Whole body vibration (WBV) - bus drivers, tractor drivers, fork-lift operators, etc. These vibrations fatigue the tissues around the spine and may cause disc fiber strain and disc herniation amongst other problems. WBV may cause lower back instability that can make the body more prone to other injury.


• Static work postures - crane operators, etc. This is experienced in jobs where workers sustain cramped or inactive postures. It is found that disc pressure is greater in unsupported seated positions than in standing.

Looking at the factors contributing to back pain, it is clear that a huge variety of workers are incurring some kind of physical trauma every day. By compromising the structure of the body, not only is injury more likely, but also product damage and other costly consequences of time-loss MSDs. Understanding spinal loading can improve work conditions by allowing a true assessment of what can be done to minimize risk of injury. Whether this involves ergonomic restructuring, manual handling aids, safety training, or any other form of prevention, minimizing MSDs benefits both company and employee. For more information on self care to prevent injury on the job, see the article, "Preventing Injury in Manual Material Handling: Uncommon Common Sense."

An Odd Way to Achieve Back Pain Relief

Over $5 billion is spent each year for back pain relief products, treatment and diagnosis. It is estimated that approximately eight out of ten people experiences backache at some point in their lives. If you are scared of dealing with harmful side effects from pain relief drugs, then you may want to consider using natural pain relief to ease your pain.

Possible Causes of Backache: Believe it or Not.

Ever tried checking if your legs have the same length? One of the possible causes of backache is having one leg shorter or longer than the other. If you are not sure if your legs are even in length, ask someone to measure it using a tape measure.

Do you smoke? Do you suffer from an aching back? It was found out that smoking is related to backache. This pain is now termed as "smoker's back". Smokers tend to cough frequently because of the nicotine content from cigarettes that has a direct effect with the carbon monoxide in your blood. Coughing frequently can lead to severe back strain.

A Position for Prevention!

1. Lie down flat on the floor, near a sofa or chair.

2. Bend your knees and rest your legs (knees to feet) on the sofa or chair.

3. Thighs should be leaning against the front of sofa.

4. Stay on that position for 15 - 30 minutes.

The Rhyming Remedy: Black Bean for Backache

This recipe is intended for lower back pain relief. Soak a cup of black beans overnight to soften them. Boil the beans in 3 翻 cups of water and let it simmer in for a half hour in low flame. Remove the greyish foam that floats above the pot. Then cover the pot for 2 hours while cooking, remove excess water inside the pot. Eat 2 - 3 tablespoons of black beans daily for a month, and every other day on the next month. Within 2 months you should experience lower back pain relief.

Do not forget your herb.

For chronic back pain a flaxseed poultice is recommended. You have to soak 1 cup of flaxseeds in cold water for 10 hours. Boil the mixture in an enamel sauce pan. Once it cools down, enough to touch but still hot that won't cause scalding, make a poultice from the seeds and place it in the affected area. If you need to reapply the poultices the all you need to do is reheat it.

Aside from these natural remedies, you can also take a vitamin C supplement after each meal to speed up the healing. Back pain relief exercises are also effective in managing backaches. Also, remember that you should not apply heat to acute backache. If you are not sure if you are suffering from acute or chronic back pain, then do not use heat.

What Is Causing My Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain is one of the leading reasons people in the United States visit their doctors. It will inhibit the lives of millions of Americans this year. In fact, an average four out of five adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. So the question, "What is causing my lower back pain?" is not uncommon.

Lower back pain can be excruciating. It can be caused by a large variety of injuries or conditions, such as:

* lower back muscles may be strained

* discs between the vertebrae may be injured

* large nerve roots extending to arms and legs may be irritated

* smaller nerves that supply the lower back spine may be irritated

* joints, ligaments, or even bones may be injured

When lower back pain occurs with other symptoms such as fever and chills, a serious medical condition may be present. You should see a doctor immediately.

Three categories of lower back pain

Your lower back pain will fall into one of three categories, which your doctor bases on your description of the pain.

1. Axial lower back pain - mechanical or simple back pain

2. Radicular lower back pain - sciatica

3. Lower back pain with referred pain

1. Axial Lower Back Pain

Axial lower back pain is the most common of the three. It is felt only in the lower back area with no pain radiating to other parts of the body. It is sometimes called mechanical back pain or simple back pain.

* Description: Axial lower back pain can vary greatly. It may be sharp or dull, constant or intermittent. On a scale of 1 to 10, you may rate its intensity #1 or a full #10. It may increase with certain activity - when playing tennis, for example. It may worsen in certain positions - such as sitting at a desk. It may or may not be relieved by rest.

* Diagnosis: Axial lower back pain might be diagnosed by you rather than your physician. You know it started when you were helping a friend move a heavy couch. On the other hand, it may be your doctor who determines that you have strained or otherwise damaged back muscles, have a degenerated disc, etc.

* Treatment: The cause of your axial lower back pain does not matter when it comes to treatment. You will want to rest for a day or two. Follow this by gentle back pain exercises and stretching. If you have more pain after exercise, use a heating pad on low or medium setting. Take an appropriate over-the-counter pain medication. Follow your doctor's advice.

* Prognosis: Symptoms of axial lower back pain disappear with time, and about 90% of patients recover within four to six weeks. If you do not feel better within six to eight weeks, additional testing and/or injections may be needed to diagnose and treat the source of the pain.

* Caution: If your pain is chronic, or so severe that it awakens you during the night, see your doctor.

2. Radicular Lower Back Pain

Radicular lower back pain is commonly referred to as sciatica. It is felt in the lower back area, thighs, and legs.

* Description: Radicular lower back pain often begins in the lower back, and then follows a specific nerve path into the thighs and legs. Your leg pain may be much worse than your back pain. It is often deep and steady. It may readily be reproduced with certain activities and positions, such as sitting or walking.

* Diagnosis: Radicular lower back pain is caused by compression of the lower spinal nerve. The most common cause is a herniated disc with compression of the nerve. Other causes might be diabetes or injury to the nerve root. If you had previous back surgery, scar tissue may be affecting the nerve root. Elderly adults may have a narrowing of the hole through which the spinal nerve exits.

* Treatment: Conservative treatment is the best place to begin. Rest for a few days in a bed or chair. Follow this by gradual introduction of gentle exercises specifically for back pain relief. Follow your exercise with additional rest, applying a heating pad on low to medium setting. Soak daily in Epsom salts baths. Take an appropriate over-the-counter pain medication. Your doctor may want to use selective spinal injections.

* Prognosis: Symptoms of radicular low back pain may decrease with the conservative treatment outlined above. Give your back and legs six to eight weeks to improve. If surgery is needed after that, it typically provides relief of the leg pain for 85% to 90% of patients. The back pain itself is more difficult to relieve.

* Caution: If an MRI or CT-myelogram does not definitely confirm nerve compression, back surgery is unlikely to be successful.

3. Lower Back Pain with Referred Pain

Lower back pain with referred pain is not as common as axial or radicular back pain. This pain, which does not radiate down the thighs and legs, may be caused by the same conditions that cause axial lower back pain.

* Description: You will usually feel referred pain in the low back area, radiating into your groin, buttocks, and upper thigh. The pain may move around, but it will rarely go below your knee. It often is an achy, dull pain. It tends to come and go. Sometimes it is very sharp, but other times it is only a dull sensation. It can be caused by the identical injury or problem that causes simple axial back pain. Often, it is no more serious.

* Diagnosis: It is very important to have a physician determine whether your pain is lower back pain with referred pain or radicular lower back pain, since the treatment varies considerably.

* Treatment: Once you know for sure that yours is lower back pain with referred pain, you can follow the treatment for axial lower back pain.

* Prognosis: Symptoms of lower back pain with referred pain disappear with time, usually within four to six weeks. If you do not feel better within six to eight weeks, ask your physician if additional testing and/or injections are needed.

* Caution: If your lower back pain is chronic, or so severe it awakens you during the night, you should see your doctor.

You will want to visit http://www.backpainreliefblog.com for more detailed information about lower back pain. Packed with articles about many kinds of back pain, Back Pain Relief Blog offers practical, down-to-earth advice on how to care for your back. Find back pain exercises to avoid back pain and to heal your aching back. Learn what natural remedies are available for back pain relief.

Causes of Back Pain After Using A Trampoline

Internet forums are full of questions concerning the connection between back pain and trampoline use. There are many different types of injuries that can occur from jumping on a trampoline, from pulled muscles to head trauma. The types of injury below may cause back pain.

Pulled Muscle

Back pain after trampolining may be caused by muscle strain. Jumping on a trampoline works muscles throughout the legs, pelvis and back, particularly stabilizer muscles. Stabilizer muscles work to protect the spine; they engage before you perform an activity, bracing the spine against harmful compression. Ideally, this bracing protects spinal discs and joints by keeping the spine aligned and absorbing some of the impact exerted on the body by movements like jumping up and down.

If your stabilizer muscles are weak, they will likely become strained (or "pulled") from trampolining. Strained muscles suffer small tears that normally heal within three days. Localized inflammation causes pain, swelling and tenderness to the touch. A pulled muscle also hurts when it is used. Since the muscles of the back are used in nearly every motion, they can cause a significant amount of pain when pulled and take a little extra time to heal.

It is particularly easy to strain stabilizer muscles if you have an awkward or uncontrolled movement on a trampoline. As mentioned above, stabilizers engage before movement to protect the spine. If a movement occurs unexpectedly, your body doesn't have time to prepare; the stabilizers will tense up suddenly in a last-second attempt to protect the spine. This sudden tensing can cause muscle strain.

Trampolining is generally viewed as a leisure activity, but it is also exercise. As such, it is important to warm up with dynamic stretches prior to jumping and to cool down with static stretches after jumping. It is a good idea to develop core strength before spending prolonged periods of time on a trampoline; stronger muscles suffer less strain.

Spinal Injury

It is also possible for a more severe injury to the spine to occur. This is mostly a concern if you fell off the trampoline, hit the side of it or already have a degenerative spinal issue.

If you fall off a trampoline, you may incur a dislocation of a spinal joint (subluxation) or a vertebral fracture. These may occur in spinal segments from the lower back to the neck, though subluxation is less common in the thoracic spine. Symptoms of subluxation are pain, tenderness and soreness surrounding the affected segment, muscles spasms, stiffness and weakness in the surrounding area, reduced spinal mobility and/or pain, weakness or numbness in the extremities. Vertebral fracture causes sudden and severe pain that is worsened by standing, walking, bending and twisting. If you or your child experiences any of these symptoms after an awkward landing or fall on the trampoline, seek examination by a medical professional.

The jarring associated with jumping on a trampoline can exacerbate preexisting disc degeneration. Discs work to absorb shock between vertebrae; when a disc is worn, bulging or herniated, it fails to cushion the bones around it. Herniated or bulging discs may compress nerves as they exit the spine, causing pain, numbness and weakness along the nerve pathway into an arm or leg. Jumping on a trampoline can cause asymptomatic disc abnormalities to become symptomatic or can make already-present symptoms worse. Though disc wear can occur in younger people, it is more of a concern for people over 30.

The above injuries are not the only concerns associated with trampolining. Statistics of severe injuries, mostly incurred by children, have spurred the American Academy of Pediatrics to call for a ban on trampolines for backyard use. For a list of statistics and other injury types, see http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Article/Bouncing-Back-Treating-Trampoline-Injuries.aspx.

If you choose to assume the risks of trampolining, make sure any children using the trampoline are supervised and following basic safety guidelines provided at http://www.livestrong.com/article/134355-trampoline-safety-rules/.

Leg Tingling and Lower Back Pain - Reducing Discomfort - Braces For Support

Have you been experiencing a funny feeling of tingling in your legs?

Does this tingling also cause you pain sometimes?

1.) Introduction

There are a great number of people living with lower back pain. Lower back pain (LBP) can extend down to the upper thighs and beyond, down to your feet and toes. The pain may not give you any warning before coming on. The onset of pain can also be sudden. You may know this all to well! The pain can also follow an injury involving your back. Many times, you may not be able to pinpoint the reasons behind the pain.

- Lower back pain, leg tingling and numbness might precede, succeed or accompany the pain. You may not be able to turn over while laying in bed either, because if you do, this may result in sharp pain. Moreover, the seemingly unconnected activities like a sneeze will accentuate the pain and so will a cough.

2.) The Tingling Sensation You Get

The tingling may subside in a few minutes and the numbness may go away too after a flare up occurs. The pain, however, may remain. It may sometimes take some weeks to recover, but the pain, while it lasts, can be unbearable. A ruptured disc, a lumber muscle strain or a herniated disc could all be reasons behind lower back pain. Pain in the spine can bring on lower back pain and leg tingling. When the pain persists and does not go away after a regimen of treatment, you might experience weakness in your upper and lower legs. If the affected person is comparatively old, the pain will be acute and the lower back pain and leg tingling will keep recurring with increasing regularity.

While it is only irritating to some to have this tingling, to most people it is more than irritating. There are a number of people who had tried to get up and lost their balance and fallen down. Lower back and a tingling leg is the culprit.

3.) Treatment

Doctors treat the condition with data collected from blood tests, x-rays (sparingly used) and scans. Medications are fine, but physical exercises can do a lot to alleviate the pain. Aerobic exercises have proved to be effective in reducing the pain, but vigorous exercises should be avoided to avoid lower leg pain and leg tingling.

Another effective form of conservative treatment is the use of a low profile back support. Back braces can help promote good posture and can also promote the healing process. When it comes to getting the support you need, it is important to work with a local, licensed orthotist. These are brace professionals that can help take the pain away if you are currently suffering.