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Most people know to lift with your knees and to sit up straight, but there is a lot more you can do to aid in avoiding back pain.  Even if you already have back issues, it is possible to avoid further injury and pain by doing a few relatively small things.

• Don’t bend over without supporting your back.
• Do: wear comfortable shoes with proper support.
• Do: Try to control your weight.
• Do: Drink milk or take a calcium supplement (strong bones go a long way for avoiding injuries).
• Don’t: Slouch when sitting or standing.
• Switch sitting positions often.  (Change the way you are crossing your legs, adjust in general).

If you are having problems sitting for extended periods of time, getting up and walking every half hour or so may help.  If you don’t have back problems, you can go for longer and more extended times, but even so- occasionally getting up and walking around can still benefit you.

Another way to prevent back pain is stretching before lifting, and anything else that may potentially cause you to stretch and possibly strain your back. 

It may seem extreme to stretch before doing anything that may require you to use your back, but many people report that their own injuries came from the seemingly easiest and simplest of tasks.  Simply bending over may cause a back injury, just picking up a dropped item for example, may cause a problem.  It is really easy to bend the wrong way, and in the end may be more difficult and time consuming to help the injury heal.  That alone is the primary reason you should take preventative measure to avoid injuries.

Massage is an art that has been around for centuries.  In the hands of someone trained in the art of proper massage, your back pain (or many other types of pain) may be able to be relieved.

Massage can work with any existing therapies to help out your pains and some say that this is how it works best.  Sometimes all it may take is a short while in the skilled hands of your doctor, other times it may take a bit more to ease away more severe pain.

If your pain is minor, there is a fair chance that it may be eased away with the use of massage alone.  While massage is considered an alternative therapy, many swear by it.  Even those with much more severe back pain may experience relief with a proper massage.

If you pain however is more severe, it may be eased a bit with massage.  Severe back pain may require more treatments in conjunction with the massage, only you and your doctor can really decide what approach may work the best. 

While it may depend on your doctor, there really are a variety of options for almost anyone, and with almost any needs.  The door is really wide open for looking into alternative treatments and taking the right steps and working with your doctor is a great way to get started on the road to treating your back pain problems.

The only real way to find out if massage may benefit you is to talk to someone knowledgeable who may be able to give you personalized recommendations.  Most locals have someone nearby that may be able to help.

Back pain effects one of four people, and it can easily effect your day to day life is some very harmful ways.  If you are one of the many who’s back pain symptoms are worse when sitting, or especially while you are driving, there may be a new product that could help you.  It’s called the RevitaBack and it’s being talked about at length.  It is a belt you wear for back pain.

Dr. D.M. Whiting

My wife had chronic back pain on every car trip lasting longer than a half hour. The Revitaback™ has completely eliminated her pain and allows her to sit comfortably for the duration of the trip. Road trips are fun again!

VIA: RevitaBack testimonials page.

The above is just one example of the reviews the RevitaBack has been receiving.  It has been featured on the CBS Health Blog, among many others.  While you may want to talk to your chiropractor or doctor before trying it, if you have back pain that is aggravated by sitting for extended periods, it may help.

"It was the first time I drove home in almost three years with no numbness. When I got out of the car, I could actually walk straight up and go up the stairs," said Heckman.
However, she admits that it's a little tricky to use in a car and feels like a girdle.
"Once you're in the chair and it's attached, it's really comfortable," she added.

While the RevitaBack may not be for everyone, if you are one of the people effected by back pain that worsens while sitting, it may be a solution to consider.  At $79.95 it does cost a bit less than many of the medications already on the market.  However, only you and your doctor will know if it will work for you.

Many people are looking hard for alternatives to medications for their back pain.  Many pills either don’t work as well as they should, or may have some incredibly unpleasant side effects (including addiction, drowsiness, and the inability to concentrate).  While finding the alternative that will work for you may seem difficult, there are indeed some alternatives that may help you and show success (especially if kept with).

Especially when one considers the possibility of becoming addicted, something that is in the news it seems all the time- and the other potentially dangerous side effects- it’s not surprising that so many are looking and hoping to find an alternative that will work for them.

Yoga is a series of movements that stretch your body out, while many still think of the amazing positions that masters may do, the typical yoga isn’t nearly as dramatic.  Yoga focuses on stretches and holding postures.   There are some yoga moves that may be able to help you based on your back pain location.

Look for a place near you, typically most gyms offer yoga classes, and either join or watch until you feel comfortable.

There are also more traditional exercises that may help with pain and pain management.  Back pain may seem to prevent you from exercising, but as mentioned in a prior post (Exercise Doesn’t Have to be Verboten, Even With Back Pain)- there are exercises you can do to start and when you are felling more comfortable, you can extend that workout.

Exercise in general releases endorphins, these feel-good and natural chemicals can help you and your pain be both more manageable and to help feel better overall.

Thinking of the people you know, and the way they handle aches and pains- one out of them is sure to soldier through it and take is as if it is nothing.  However, another may have to lay down and would be more likely moaning and groaning their way through the same exact thing.

Researchers have been studying these reactions in people, stemming from research originally being done on children with a genetic alteration in the SCN9A gene, which totally takes away their ability to feel any pain what so ever, and have found that these same alterations may effect the way you process pain as well. 

This could also have an effect on pain management, treatments, and other parts of healing.

While the typical alterations of SCN9A is much less dramatic that the total loss of pain feelings- researchers have noticed that those with similar set ups in the SCN9A gene as those with the disorder have also been self-assessed as feeling a level pain that is less than those who report higher levels of pain.

Researchers have found that the way this same gene is in an individual effects how quickly pain signals travel through the body, and they have found that those with a lower pain tolerance and those with a higher pain tolerance have a different overall ‘set-up’ in the SCN9A gene.

What does this mean for back pain sufferers?

By studying this, they have also discovered that people who suffer from back problems and sciatica (and similar pain-oriented issues) may have specific issue directly related to the way SCN9A is set up in them when compared to someone without the same conditions.  In those suffering from  back pain issues, the SCN9A gene may actually be forcing the pain signals from cell membranes to hit harder and more fiercely. 

This discovery may help find new ways of treating common back ailments, and more successful treatment plans in the long run.  All of these new discoveries, may help many of those feeling hopeless about their back pain finally receive a treatment that may help.

If you are one of the millions suffering from pain, you don’t need to be told that it’s real.  You can feel it, and your pain’s impact on your life can be felt as well.  There’s no doubt that it is indeed there. 

However one possible cause for many pain sufferer’s is something that seems as if your pain may not be real, and that alone may prolong suffering.  Depression can effect anyone, and one of it’s many symptoms can be moderate to severe pain.  A typical body may develop severe back pain due to the depression as well.

When depression causes back pain, it may be harder to find relief due to it not being considered as a cause.  Some sufferers of depression caused back pain may not even realize themselves that the root cause of their pain is actually their depression.  Those with depression may not seek treatment, or even realize how severe that they may need it.  

Common Symptoms of Depression Are:

• difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• fatigue and decreased energy
• feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
• feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• irritability, restlessness
• loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• overeating or appetite loss
• persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
• persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
• thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

List from WebMD

If the above sounds like you, you may be suffering from depression caused back pain, and the treatment options available are vast, including talk therapy and medication.  You can work with your doctor to find one that suits you the best.  Roughly 14.8 million people suffer from clinical depression in the United States alone, worldwide the statistics are even larger.   It can occur on it’s own, or alongside other issues and diseases.  You don’t need to suffer, and talk to your doctor about treatment or their help in finding someone you are comfortable with.

Depression can sometimes be ‘minimized’ and thought of as ‘just being sad’ when the reality is far, far different.  Depression is a serious medical disorder that can make life difficult and cause many other issues that ‘just being under the weather’. Do not hesitate to call your local suicide hotline immediately. Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or the deaf hotline at 1-800-4889.

Back pain (especially severe back pain) can change how you do even the most mundane of tasks. 

Exercise is no different, and back pain can create problems with something that should be a beneficial and positive experience into something dreaded and painful.  This is one of the reasons that so many with back pain instead choose to forgo exercise altogether as opposed to dealing with the pain. 

However, there are some thing that one can do to help them exercise even with back pain.  While they may not have the same effect as a full blown aerobic routine, they can help take you a few more steps into better health. In fact many doctors are researching ways that even those with severe back problems may actually be able to do more exercise than once thought.

While you should start slowly, and in graduating time frames exercise may actually help you feel better.  At least, that’s what the studies are seeming to suggest.  While there is still a lot of research that is needed, so far the studies being done are suggesting that regular exercise may help your back pain feel better.  

Please keep in mind that before attempting any new exercise routines you should talk to your doctor first to assure that you are in good enough health.  You may also want to make absolutely sure  that any potential exercises you may do won’t damage (or, further damage) any injuries you may have.

You can work with your doctor to develop a safe and easy routine that suits you and your circumstances the best.  Taking it easy at first, you will be able to gradually work up to more.

Even if you don’t regularly suffer from back pain, it can certainly creep up on women during pregnancy. With the increased weight gain you can begin to walk in a different way and put pressure on weaker points of the spine. But luckily this pain is more easily relieved than if it was a more serious condition.

First, you may notice that the excess weight is shifting your gravity forward and you may be over-compensating to stand straight. The best thing to do is keep note of your posture and try to stand with your shoulders back and down.

Although you may have a tendency to change positions frequently while pregnant, it is crucial that you maintain a correct distribution of weight. In this sense, keeping your back in a proper position should also be transferred to your sleeping and sitting posture as. Sleeping on your side will alleviate the most pain since it will keep your spine is an aligned position. While sitting, make sure to align your back with the chair or, if possible, rest a small pillow at the base of your back. This will support your weight better and give you a greater amount of comfort.

And last but not least, the proper attire for pregnancy cannot be underestimated. Wearing shoes with good support, especially in the arch, will keep the stress on your spine low. Even doing some simple pelvic lift exercises may help strengthen areas that have become impacted.

Hopefully your back pain will begin to subside after pregnancy, but this will become less likely if you do not practice these prevention and relief tips. So good luck, and congratulations!

Back pain is a common ailment that affects the young and the old. Some people go to physicians regularly but without any effect. Sometimes the pain just goes away without any treatment.  Most often back pains are caused due to injuries and strains which would not just go away without any treatment. People use conventional methods to cure their back pain. The new therapy of chiropractic care is as safe and effective as any other conventional treatment.

Now, what is this chiropractic treatment or what does a chiropractor do?  This treatment is based on the concept of spinal manipulation or spinal adjustment. Chiropractors believe that restricted movement in the spine would lead to reduction and pain in the lower back. Their treatment consists of restoring spinal movement to improve function and decrease back pain.

They use their hand to make an adjustment or apply a sudden controlled force to a joint, pushing it beyond its normal range of motion, which will result in a popping or cracking sound.  They may also use massage and stretching exercises to relax the muscles.  Ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and other exercises are also used to bring the pain under control.

Chiropractic care has been helpful in curing many low back pain ailments, but it is not considered safe for everyone.  It is always wise to consult your practitioner and have the opinion of one or two more of them before you decide on treatment.  Chiropractic care is not advisable if you have osteoporosis, nerve damage, numbness or loss of strength in one arm or leg.  Also before resorting to chiropractic care you have to make sure you have no spinal injury or an infection.

Chiropractic care has fewer risks for treatment with back pain, but adjustment of the neck has resulted in injury to the blood vessels or even a stroke in certain cases.  Hence it is very important that you make consultations with your doctors and a number of other chiropractic practitioners before you opt for chiropractic care.  Many people who have undergone chiropractic care have had good results but it depends on your health and other factors. 

Back pains can normally be kept at bay with a little care and proper exercises.  Just as it is said ‘Prevention is better than cure’, it is best if you treat minor injuries immediately so that it does not lead to continuous back pain.  Also while working at office, always maintain a healthy posture and make it a point to walk after sitting for a long time.  Try to keep your weight also under control and you can have a life rid of back pains.

There are many cases of acute back pain being cured by Chiropractors. More and more people are now taking about the services of a chiropractor for getting rid of back pain.  But before you select chiropractic care for your back pain you should be certain you have selected the best chiropractor.  There are certain steps you can take to know that you have got the best chiropractor.

First of all, get first hand information of chiropractors and their ways of treatment through friends, neighbors, relatives and most important through your regular doctor.  Find out what type of qualifications a chiropractor is supposed to have and see that your chiropractor meets the requirements.  Most of the chiropractors would have their own website which would give you an insight of the type of treatments, the way they treat, the scientific evidence related to their treatment etc, which would he helpful in making a decision. 

While selecting a chiropractor for back pain, see that you don’t go in for long periods of treatment.  If your pain persists and you are asked to take continuous x-rays, it is a warning sign that you have to change your chiropractor.

You should be comfortable with the treatment. There might be a soreness or pain immediately after the treatment which might persist for a day or two.   But if it is not ceasing, then you have to contact a specialist. You should get better care and improvement in your pain as the treatment progresses.

Another most important thing before you take chiropractic treatment is that you should make sure you have no problems regarding bowel or bladder function, no pain associated with fever, chills etc, nerve or spinal cord disorder. This can be understood through a thorough physical examination and history of the patient.  Selecting a chiropractor can be bewildering, but it is necessary that you get the best treatment available. Chiropractic care has few risks for treatment of back pain and is very effective in most cases but before selecting a chiropractor, it is better you find the best physician in the field before starting the treatment.

Chiropractic is a branch of medicine and health care that deals with health practices, disease control, skeleton, bone and nervous system. It is an alternative medicine for many ailments. It was founded by Palmer in early 1890s and his son expanded the knowledge to several parts of the world. The practitioners of chiropractors are doctors of chiropractors or physicians who diagnose various diseases and treat problems on nervous system, musculoskeletal system and general health. This approach mainly focuses on overall health of a patient. The advantage of chiropractor is that it provides natural care. It is a drugless vaccination and a nonsurgical health treatment which will not be prone to any side effects hence forth.

The complete body is tested using X-rays to diagnose a patient’s health problems. The complete health history is studied to get a better picture of the body. The most commonly observed practices during chiropractor are therapies using light, water, heat, massage, acupuncture and ultrasound with varying amounts of electric currents. Chiropractors are also specialized in injuries which occur during sports, accidents, fire, water, natural calamities, neurology, internal disorders, nutrition lacking, pediatrics, etc. Chiropractic doctors work on an average for 40 hours per week and normally work in a group.

In order to be qualified as a chiropractor doctor, one needs to undertake the chiropractic course which is minimum of 4,200 combined hours of classroom including laboratory and clinical experience. The subject matter includes public health, microbiology, pathology, and biochemistry. Licenses are granted for those who complete the course successfully. Some states in US have agreements to obtain chiropractic license. There were roughly 50,000 jobs in this field in 2008 in US. There are many chiropractors located in groups and small communities. Approximately 45% of chiropractors are self employed but still prefer to work in groups as it mutually benefits them. On an average, chiropractors earn about $65,000 per year. Salaried ones receive health and general insurance form their employers. One should be able to choose chiropractor based on experience in the relevant field.

When we think of a person who is beautiful and graceful, we tend to attribute this perception to that person’s eyes, hair, or smile. However the most crucial component to looking your best is also the most often overlooked—posture. If you recall the movies where princesses are balancing textbooks on their heads as they strut around the castle, then you have the right idea.

Correct posture can add grace to and eloquence to anyone’s stride and while it is improving your image, it is also improving your health. Standing straight with your shoulders back allows your spine to relieve the stress that is often forced onto it by the heavy forward shrug of the head. This stress is not only damaging to the spine itself, but it can often lead to permanent damage of the surrounding muscles as well.

The best way to fix this future devastating damage is to walk as if you are being pulled up by string that is attached directly to the top of you head. This will encourage your spine to properly align itself and redevelop the muscle that will allow your posture improve over time without even thinking about it! Another easy tip is as simple as sitting in chairs with straight backs, making sure you sit all the way back and allow your spine to sit straight as well. Just like trying to grow a straight tree, your spine needs support to encourage its proper growth.

So next time you have the chance to watch an old princess movie, remember: you too can look just as graceful with the same perfected posture. 

If you are faced with the unfortunate decision of weather to have back surgery or to begin or continue a conservative course of treatment such as chiropractic or physical therapy, read on. For starters, If you choose to avoid surgery and continue exercise and manipulation in the form of chiropractic, there are a lot of factors to consider. For our purposes we will consider a disc herniation as the injury in question. Up at the top of the list is treating the injury as quickly as possible without causing further injury to the effected area. Another area of concern is medication. Here is where your situation could become sticky. For instance; If you are being treated by an M.D. such as an Orthopedic Physician, typically you will be given a course of oral steroids to reduce swelling. You could also be given oral pain medication to reduce pain. You could also be prescribed physical therapy along with the other two methods of treatment we just mentioned. If you are lucky, these methods alone will provide the right combination to get you up and running again within a few weeks. Let’s take a look at the other side of the coin.

Consequently, it is easily conceivable that you could do further damage to your already injured disc by attempting physical therapy while masking pain with powerful oral medications. There is a fine line between getting better and becoming injured even further. In contrast, there are some of us who would rather walk on hot coals all day long rather than take pain medication or have back surgery. If you happen to be one of these individuals who choose to treat with a chiropractor, you could possibly try Decompression Therapy. In theory, Decompression Therapy can provide the injured disc with blood and nutrients which can help the healing process. Additionally, decompression can help to create a “negative” pressure on the injured disc and help the herniated portion of the disc to retract just enough to back off of the nerve that is being aggravated. This along with Ultrasound, Electric Stimulation and Ice could be the answer. Another treatment that is gaining popularity is M.U.A. or Manipulation Under Anesthesia. In this procedure, the body is adjusted to levels that would be too difficult if someone were awake and their muscles were tense. Although controversial, this procedure has it’s advocates.

In either case, there are pros and cons to each method. The question is: What is right for you?

These methods of treatment that we have just discussed are regularly practiced with much success on both sides. There are many sufferers of back injuries who have been successfully treated both from conventional and alternative methods.

Discuss all of the methods of treatment available to you with your medical professional and make an informed and confident decision either way.

In Part-3 we will discuss further treatment such as Epidural Injections, Killing Nerve Endings and Surgical Procedures.

“Back surgery should be a last resort for back injuries”

If you have ever had a serious injury of the back such as a herniated disc, you have probably heard the above statement at some point. In this day and age of modern medicine and state of the art technology, surgical procedures involving the spine are still widely considered somewhat risky... even by those who advocate surgery! In the last post, we discussed how common back pain was in regards to documented missed work time. Moreover, back injuries sustained in the workplace pose an even dicier dilemma for the patient. That being said, it seems that it is not only in the interest of your employer to have you return to work as quickly as possible, it is in the interest of the insurance company to get you off of the dole as quickly as possible. So now that we’ve established both your employer’s and the insurance company’s main objectives, what should your main objective be?

The main objective for any patient should be to get well. Unfortunately, some patients are rushed or even persuaded into risky and costly surgeries when alternative methods of treatment are not only widely available, but far less expensive as well.

If you are reading this blog, you are probably aware of the benefits of Chiropractic and the alternatives that Chiropractic can offer us. In Part-2 of this series, we will explore some of these alternative treatments versus some of the more invasive procedures which are commonplace in traditional medicine. It would be foolish to suggest that surgical procedures are not a viable, and in some cases necessary treatment for a serious injury of a disc that was herniated or ruptured. However, it would be just as foolish to dismiss alternative, drug free treatments that have entered into, and proven successful to the mainstream in the last ten years.

Patients are becoming their own advocates these days opting for more and more non invasive procedures. Do not be afraid to be your own advocate. Learn about everything available to you... both traditional and alternative.

Continued on Wednesday