Posts Tagged ‘acute lower back pain’

Lower Back Pain Causes, Lower Back Pain Exercises, Lower Back Pain Treatment and Back Pain Massage Therapy

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Lower Back Pain Causes: Common Causes of Lower Back Pain

There are many possible causes of lower back pain, and I’ll review the most common causes and symptoms here, as well as some good lower back pain exercises and lower back pain treatment that helps.  Lower back pain causes usually include over-using or over-straining the back, bad posture or positioning, lifting heavy objects or awkward movement, accidents, falls or other injuries or traumas to the back or spinal column, etc.

Lower back pain causes usually include muscle strain that can lead to overall imbalance of the muscles and spinal column.  This can lead to constant tension on muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and discs, which makes your back more prone to injury.  Many times these are cumulative, or add on to each other, because you’ll move differently to avoid the pain, or use muscles that aren’t sore.  This can cause you to overcompensate, straining these muscles in addition to the ones you’ve already strained or injured.

The most common causes of chronic lower back pain include what I indicated above:

  • Over-use, strain or injury to muscles, ligaments and joints including the sacroiliac joint.
  • Pressure on the nerves in the spinal column including the sciatic nerve, which can be caused by a herniated disc
  • Fractures to the vertebrae caused by an accident, fall or other trauma to the spine, compressing it
  • Osteoarthritis, which is a degeneration of the joints including the hips, usually when we get older
  • Vertebra defects that cause vertebrae to slide over each other (Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis)
  • Narrowing of the spinal canal which can also develop with age (Spinal Stenosis)
  • Spinal deformities that cause a curvature of the spine like Kyphosis or severe Scoliosis
  • Compression fractures most commonly found in post-menopausal women with Osteoporosis, which even a sneeze can cause a compression fracture, or after extended use of a “corticosteroid”.
  • Kidney or ovary problems, tumors and pregnancy and other less common issues can all contribute to lower back pain

Lower Back Pain Exercises

lower back pain exercisesLower back pain exercise is VERY helpful in alleviating most types of back pain, including chronic lower back pain and acute back pain.  Lower back pain exercises include stretching and strengthening the muscles of your stomach (abdomen) and back (spine), which help reduce and prevent back problems.  This will also help improve your posture, which is Key, and keep your spine in the correct position.

You should warm your muscle up with a light activity like walking before doing stretching or strengthening exercises.  Wear loose clothes and DON’T do any low back pain exercises that hurt unless you’ve talked with your doctor.  They can also help you develop an exercise program.  NOTE:  If you have a herniated disk or other disk problem, you should also check with them First.

Some good lower back pain exercises can be found at my Back Strengthening Exercises page and here: Lower Back Pain Exercises

Lower Back Pain Treatment

low back pain treatment

Other lower back pain treatment can include ice and heat, back pain massage therapy, back pain medicine including anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers or injections depending on the lower back pain cause, spinal decompression therapy, physical therapy or alternative back pain therapy like accupuncture for back pain, and other back pain therapies.  Electric muscle stimulators like a TENS unit (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is Great.  I still use mine when I need to.  Muscle strains including lower back muscle strains usually heal with Time (couple days to few weeks).  Resting for a couple of days helps, but no more than that.

Lower Back Pain Massage Therapy

Lower back pain massage therapy like the Homedics back massager, Jeannie Rub massager (hand held massager), a back massage chair, or car back massager are all great back pain massage options, and some include deep tissue massage therapy.

Back Pain Massage Therapy


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Back Pain Cause: Stop Your Back Pain Cause Now! Treating Lower Back Pain and a Lower Back Pain Remedy

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Back Pain Cause

Muscular back pain and back pain symptoms are some of the most commonly experienced health issues worldwide.  They say that 8 out of every 10 people will experience back pain at least once in their lives.  One of the possibly surprising causes of lower back pain is inactivity, lack of movement.  It’s believed that continued muscle strain can lead to an imbalance in the structure of the spine, which leads to constant tension on muscles, ligaments, discs and bones.  This makes the back more injury prone.

These back pain causes can exacerbate each another, meaning that if you strain a muscle, you’ll walk or move differently to avoid the pain or tightness.  This can cause a strain of other muscles that don’t usually work that way.

Some of the most common back pain causes can be one or more of the following issues:

  • Misuse or overuse of a muscle (muscle strain), ligament or joint
  • Injury or re-injury
  • Pressure on nerve roots which could be a herniated disc or osteoarthritis (degeneration of the joint)
  • Spondylolysis or Spondylolisthesis: vertebra slide over each other when aggravated by doing certain things
  • Spinal stenosis: a narrowing of the spinal canal which usually develops with age
  • Vertebrae fractures caused by a lot of force like a car accident or other intense blow to the spine, or a compression of the spine by falling on your head or buttocks
  • Spinal deformities include a curvature of the spine such as scoliosis (side curvature) or kyphosis (outward curvature)
  • Compression fractures are more common with postmenopausal women with Osteoporosis or men or women after long-term use of corticosteroids (psoriasis treatment)
  • Inactivity or sitting.  You sit at home, you sit in your car, you sit at work, you come home and sit, and you go to bed

Treating Lower Back Pain

treating lower back pain

Treating lower back pain can vary depending on your back pain cause and symptoms.  As I’ve indicated in prior articles, a lower back pain remedy could include some of the following treatments:

  • Heat or Ice
  • Back pain medicine such as pain killers and anti inflammatories, back pain ointments and creams
  • Massage therapy
  • Accupuncture
  • Muscle stretching exercises and/or back strengthening exercises
  • Physical therapy
  • Steroid injections

In May, 2009 the American Pain Society issued new guidelines on treating lower back pain, indicating that noninvasive procedures are recommended over surgical procedures.  Surgery should be a last resort as a treatment for chronic back pain.

Lower Back Pain Remedy

To find the right lower back pain remedy for you, I’ve listed several of the best options including some treatments above:

  • Muscle stretches, lower back stretches
  • Back strengthening exercises, lower back strengthening 
  • Massage therapies and muscle balance therapy
  • Accupuncture
  • Natural herbal back pain remedies
  • Ointments, liniments and plasters
  • Movement!  Stay loosened up, move around
  • Spinal decompression (inversion tables)
  • A total treatment approach that focuses on stabilization, focusing locally on the muscles, then training and conditioning muscles to increase function and decrease disability
  • Laser therapy for disc herniations
  • Back pain relief products
  • Body and back supports, braces and belts
  • Ergonomic chairs and seating like massage and heat chairs and zero gravity recliners
  • Exercise equipment and inversion tables
  • Car and travel back pain and mobility aids
  • Foot health (big cause of back pain) and orthopedic footwear
  • Hot and cold therapy
  • Lumbar supports and pillows
  • Therapeutic beds and sleeping aids
  • Magnetic therapy
  • Electronic stimulation – TENS unit (I Love mine).  See it at the Back Pain Relief Products link above

lower back pain remedy

There are many options available in treating lower back pain depending on your back pain cause.  Finding a lower back pain remedy that works for you and your situation is key.  Obviously, if you suffer from acute lower back pain or chronic lower back pain (three to six months or more), you need to see your doctor to make sure there’s nothing more serious going on.

There are a lot of very helpful back pain relief products available for temporary and long-term back pain relief and sciatic nerve relief.  However there are only a few quality, highly reputable back pain specific providers I recommend:

Contour Living – Save on quality back and neck products

Innovative back and joint pain products including health tips, latest research and therapies. Discover smart solutions in ergonomics, supports, exercise, massage products and much more!

Relax The Back – the best back care, core strengthening and relaxation products on the market

I hope this information is helpful to you.  Being a prior back pain sufferer myself, I know how difficult and frustrating it can be to find a back pain product that works for you.  Please let me know if you have any questions or specific issues that you’d like help with.  I will work with you personally to find the best answers and back pain solution for you.

 

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Stop Back Pain Cause Now

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009


Back Pain Cause: Stop Your Back Pain Cause Now

back pain causeEveryone experiences occasional back pain at some point in their lives. But, for those who suffer from acute lower back pain or lower back muscle spasms, it can be very debilitating, and greatly affects the quality of life. Muscular back pain or lumbar back pain may be a result of back pain causes like injury, sciatica symptoms, or muscle spasms. Or, it can be a result of a more general condition like arthritis. It can range in intensity from infrequent aches and pains to burning back pain, sharp back pain, or chronic, disabling pain. Lower back muscle pain and back pain symptoms are linked to physical exertion, misuse, overuse, or injury. It can include herniated disks, sciatica symptoms, and other serious back problems. Tension can also result in muscular back pain.

It’s estimated that 4 out of every 5 adults suffer from back pain at least once during their life. It’s also one of the main causes of absence from work. General muscle pain is the second highest reason for doctor visits, where an estimated 80% of Americans have muscle pain of some type. Too many times, we abuse our backs and muscles, pushing them to or beyond their limit. This is how so many of back pain cause issues begin. There are many exercises, therapies, and medicines that can provide back pain relief, but you must first determine the cause of the pain, the severity of the pain, and what you and your doctor determine as the best treatment for lower back pain.

There is good news. Low back pain exercises will help most people if they do their exercises consistently and correctly. Aside from ‘targeted’ back pain exercises, if you just stretch regularly, particularly before performing strenuous activity, it will help your back pain cause greatly. There are also natural therapies and back pain medicine that will help alleviate your back pain.

Chronic Back Pain Relief

You can help improve the strength, resilience, and flexibility of your lower back and spine by remaining aware of these things for chronic back pain relief:

Posture: Always be conscientious about your posture. Good posture is a key in helping your spine and strengthening your back (and stomach, which supports your spine).

Lifting, Turning, and Bending: Always crouch down and use your legs to lift things, rather than put that strain on your back. Be aware of your movements while carrying things, or turning, such as awkward angles and jerking when lifting or moving things. You can help prevent chronic back pain.

Nutrition: If you do not do this already, taking vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium, can play a big part in strengthening your back. Calcium, magnesium, and protein-based nutrition help strengthen your back, and magnesium and calcium supplements can also help leg cramps.

Footwear: You should always wear appropriate footwear, particularly if you have back problems, as high heels, narrow shoe heels, etc. are the worst things for your back.

lower back pain exercise

Back Strengthening Exercises and Muscle Stretching Exercises

If you want to increase the strength, flexibility, and resilience of your back, muscle stretching exercises and back strengthening exercises are necessary to keep your bones and muscles strong and flexible. As with any other type of exercise, low back pain exercises should be done gradually to prevent injury or furthering a current injury. You must condition your back, as any other part of your body, to promote healing, health, and function.

Your doctor or physical therapist can prescribe targeted exercises, and there are physical therapy courses that help to educate you about the importance of using ergonomic tools such as proper desk, computer, and chair height, ergonomic computer keyboards, ergo chairs, etc. All of the ergonomic tools help to reduce all types of muscle strain. The therapist can also teach you the correct ways of sitting, standing (i.e., one leg cocked, which offsets your spine & pelvis), walking, lifting, and repetitive motion, which are also back pain causes, and cause a lot of injuries. All of these things will help prevent future problems from arising.

You should always stretch prior to doing any exercise or exertive physical activity, particularly if you are not very active, or in the best physical condition.

back pain relief products

Lose the Back Pain

There are may ways you can lose the back pain.  Besides low back pain exercises, a lower back pain remedy can include physical therapy treatments like massage, heat, ice, electrical stimulation (i.e., ultrasound), and other techniques can be used to help relieve muscle or back pain. Acupuncture for back pain, chiropractic care, and natural therapies can also help. There are physical aids available, such as back braces, to help support and strengthen your spine by holding your stomach in, and keeping your spine in the correct position. This also helps reduce back strain.

Body, back, and muscle therapy is very useful in helping to providing pain relief and body function. Massage is regularly recommended, and used to relieve tension and pain. It helps increase circulation, which brings nutrients and oxygen to the affected muscles, and helps carry the toxins away. There are other body, muscle, and back pain therapies that are effective, such as Reflexology (pressure is applied to “reflex” points on the hands and feet), Shiatsu (pressure applied to the meridians of the body to improve circulation and ease pain), Rolfing (connective tissue and muscles are manipulated), and the Feldenkrais method (new ways of moving your body to relax tense or cramped muscles). However, these methods must be performed by trained practitioners.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils from herbs and plants for muscle pain relief, and inflammation or muscle spasms associated with it. Some common essential oils for muscle pain include ginger, peppermint, marjoram, and thyme. These oils can be applied with gentle massages or compresses, and some can be added to a warm bath.

If your back pain does not go away in spite of exercise and other non-invasive treatments, surgery may be a necessary option. It is very important that you see a professional back pain doctor (orthopedic surgeon or other spinal/back specialist) to get expert advice and diagnosis of your back pain cause. This can help you understand different treatment options, and the amount of chronic back pain relief they can provide to lose the back pain.

Back Pain Relief Products

The main focus of muscular back pain is to bring proper function and conditioning back to your spine, and eliminate worsening or future problems. For most people, back pain can be treated without surgery. Common back pain relief products include back pain medicine may include over-the-counter (OTC) medicines such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or non-steriod anti-inflammatory durgs (NSAIDs), used for milder pain. Both acetaminophen and NSAIDs relieve pain caused by stiffness and muscle aches, but NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation. There are also topical pain relievers such as sprays, creams, and lotions that you can apply directly to the skin to relieve the pain. If these non-prescription, OTC medicines don’t provide relief, treatment may have to include stronger medications like muscle relaxants, prescription NSAIDs, anti-anxiety drugs, or anti-depressants, among others.

There are a lot of choices in back pain relief products.  But, selecting the right one for you is key.  You want a reputable leader that works with top brand name leaders and prides itself on providing a variety of quality back-specific back pain products and guarantees like the one above.  It’s also very important that you use correct posture, be conscientious when turning, lifting, and bending.  Proper nutrition, footwear, and muscle stretching exercises and back strengthening exercises are also key, and you have control over all of these.  A natural lower back pain remedy like massage, aromatherapy or yoga, and various natural and professional therapies like acpuncture back pain treatment can all help you lose the back pain.

*Always consult with your physician regarding lower back muscle pain, as you should with any physical condition.

You can see my article at Blog Catalog: Stop Your Back Pain Cause Now

 

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Back Pain Symptoms: Relieve Back Pain Symptoms Now

Monday, April 13th, 2009

Back Pain Symptoms

This article reviews the most common back pain symptoms, and how to get rid of back pain.  Some of the primary causes of acute lower back pain are mis-using or straining your back, poor physical condition, lack of exercise or back strengthening exercises, dehydration, and poor posture.  There are many symptoms of muscular back pain including a sudden back pain, burning back pain, chest back pain, thoracic back pain, sharp back pain, referred back pain, back hip pain, back shoulder pain, sciatic back pain, lower back and leg pain, lumbar back pain, back leg pain and lower back muscle spasms, herniated discs, bulging discs, degenerated discs, and ruptured discs. The various suggested treatments include: physical therapy, cox lumbar distraction, conventional chiropractic care, to vertebral axial decompression or VAX-D. 

Over 80% of Americans will develop lower back pain at some point in their lives. A sizeable percentage of those people will have disc problems that cause the back pain. Some low back pain causes are due to sprains and strains which involve overstretching and/or tearing of the muscles, tendons and ligaments that connect into the spine. Ligaments connect bone to bone over a joint. Tendons connect muscles to bone. When they get overstretched or torn, the pain can be excruciating. Rest and physical therapy modalities such as ice, heat, ultrasound, diathermy, and electrical muscle stimulation can enhance the healing process.

Causes of Back Pain can be Complex
There are many causes of low back pain and very often a patient may be suffering from multiple causes. In other words, two or more causes may be superimposed resulting in pain either in full or in part. Perhaps a mechanical spinal problem causes lower back pain while disc pathology causes the pain in the buttock and leg. Or two problems cause similar overlapping pain in the same patient.

Subluxations: One of the most common causes of back pain is subluxations of the spinal vertebrae. This is a condition where the vertebrae move out of place and become locked in the misaligned position. Once this occurs, it places great stress on the spinal joints, the discs and the nerves. Treatment consists of chiropractic adjustments to correct the misalignments and relieve the stress on the joints, discs and nerves.

Facet syndrome is directly related to subluxations. The articular joints that are between the vertebrae are called facet joints. When facet joints are under stress, they can misalign and the vertebra can tip backwards, placing great pressure on the nerves. The joints can degenerate and the body reacts by developing bone spurs or osteophytes. This is called facet hypertrophy and arthrosis and is a permanent condition.

Degenerated disc usually develops as a result of stress on the spine. The discs cannot handle the stress and they gradually wear away. As the discs thin out, the vertebrae get closer together and the nerves can become compressed or irritated. The discs also have very small sinu vertebral nerves in them and when they become irritated, they can also cause pain.

Herniated discs can be compared to jelly donuts. There is a gel in the middle of the disc surrounded by annular ligaments. The gel can push out the annular fibers causing direct pressure to the nerves. This will cause pain along the course of the spinal nerves. If the irritated nerve travels down the buttock to the thigh and leg, then the symptoms will be in those areas. When nerves are irritated, symptoms can range from pain alone to pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in the leg. This is commonly referred to as sciatica. This simply means pain along the course of the sciatic nerve. This can be a very debilitating condition and if the weakness gets severe enough, it can result in what is known as "foot drop". The patient has difficulty lifting his toes and foot upward so the foot drags on the floor as he walks. As the condition worsens, he may require an assistive device and eventually, a wheel chair. Surgery may or may not be effective with foot drop, depending on the severity of nerve damage. This is determined with multiple tests called electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies.

A Ruptured Disc is a herniated disc where the gel (nucleus pulposus) has broken through the annular ligaments and presses on the nerve.

Sacroiliac Syndrome involves a slippage of the sacroiliac joint (SI). When the ilium or hip bone subluxates, it rotates and slips against the articular surface of the sacrum. The joint becomes inflamed and this can cause low back pain.

Stenosis is a condition where a protruding, herniated or ruptured disc and/or ligament hypertrophy (enlargement of the ligaments surrounding the spinal cord and vertebrae), facet arthrosis and osteophytes narrow the spinal canal and place pressure on the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves. In most cases, the patient will get relief sitting or standing and bending forwards because it slightly opens the space where the spinal cord and nerves are located.

Lower back pain requires a very extensive examination, consisting of a multitude of orthopedic, neurological and structural tests to help isolate the cause(s) of the pain. Sometimes xrays are necessary to further evaluate the condition. An MRI is valuable because it takes "minute cuts" of the spine in different directions in order to better visualize the joints and the discs.

Treatment Options
If the problems stems from soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons, joint capsules), then physical therapy is the most likely the best treatment. The extent of treatment depends on the damage to the soft tissues. If it involves an overstretching of the muscles, a few weeks of treatment should be sufficient. If there is tearing involved, then more treatment will be necessary to elicit the healing process. However, in most of these cases, due to spasms and or weakness in muscles, the vertebrae can subluxate, thereby complicating the problem.

If the disc is damaged and this is determined to be the cause of the back and/or leg pain, then there are two conservative treatments that may help. (The reason I say that the disc is determined to be the cause, is that 31% of all adults who do not have low back pain, have herniated discs according to MRI studies. The first is Cox lumber/cervical Distraction, which is a manual, painless, safe procedure performed by a chiropractor to remove the pressure and stress to the discs and nerves.

The second disc treatment for the more problematic patients is Vertebral Axial Decompression or VAX-D. VAX-D decompresses the lumbar spine and discs to remove the pressure on the discs and nerves, not only relieving pain and other related symptoms, but elicits retraction of the nucleus pulposus, commonly called the "gel". The challenge is trying to get the "toothpaste back into the tube" and VAX-D has a 71% success rate. Be aware of simple traction devices that are promoted as "decompression". They are not equal by any means. Take your time to compare the research. VAX-D is performed by various types of doctors, including some neurologists and some chiropractors.

In my experience, physical therapy does not get great results with disc problems because it does not address the disc specifically. The goal of physical therapy is to reduce inflammation and pain with the modalities such as heat, ice, ultrasound and electrical muscle stimulation and then strengthen the muscles surrounding the spine. This approach just does not help the discs.

Acupuncture helps to assist the body in healing itself by harmonizing the energy patterns throughout the body. Some people claim it numbs the nerves. If it helps a patient, I encourage him to continue because it is not going to hurt him, except in one case, where there is nerve damage and the acupuncture delays treatment of the disc and allows it to get worse. The same can be said for physical therapy.

Subluxations and facet syndrome can be treated with chiropractic adjustments, which are gentle procedures performed with the chiropractor’s hands to move the subluxated vertebrae back into their normal functional positions. This takes the stress off of the nerves, joints and discs. Usually, a patient has to go for his adjustments several times per week for a few weeks to stabilize his condition.

VAX-D can help some cases of stenosis if the discs are involved. If VAX-D is not successful or not indicated, the only other option is surgery. There are several types of surgeries such as a discectomy, a laminectomy, natural fusion and prosthetic fusion. The various surgeries depend on the extent of the disc damage. I am not a surgeon and therefore these types of surgeries are beyond my scope and I prefer not to get into great detail about them. Suffice to say that a discectomy is the milder, least invasive surgery and fusion using hardware is the most invasive. The long term benefits are limited and should be carefully weighed when considering any form of surgery. However if cauda equina syndrome is present, usually immediate surgery is necessary because this causes bowel and/or urinary bladder dysfunction.

If you are suffering with constant low back pain or occasional low back pain, you should be examined by a specialist to determine the cause and the extent of your problem before it is too late! The earlier spinal problems are taken care of, the better chance for a successful outcome. Patients need to understand the potential causes and why certain testing may be necessary. Unfortunately, in these days of managed care, many insurance carriers insist on treatment without appropriate diagnostic testing.

This presents a challenge for both the patient and the doctor since a decision needs to be made as to whether guesswork should be used to care for the patient. If a diagnosis is wrong because the appropriate tests were not performed, then the correct problem will not be addressed and therefore a delay in the proper treatment for that condition will ensue. Patient education is in important component of this process.

Low Back Pain: The Real Scoop
Site for low back and neck pain caused by a herniated disc

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Is Back Pain Kidney Related?

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

Is Your Back Pain Kidney Related?

lower back muscle spasms

Are you concerned that your back pain cause might be a symptom of a kidney infection?  If you’re not sure, there are ways to tell if a back pain symptom is lower back muscle pain or a kidney infection.

Your kidneys are at the back of your stomach behind the liver and intestines in the small of your back on either side of your spine.  So, the pain from a kidney infection is usually in that area of the back to the sides of the spine, just above the hips.  There will usually be a tenderness in this area with kidney-related pain.

If you have a trauma or direct injury to the back over this area, it can cause direct injury to the kidneys.  This is where the phrase “kidney punch” comes from.

Kidney infection pain usually comes from the kidneys themselves, but it can often appear as muscular back pain. Kidney pain’s also tricky, because it can radiate to many different parts of the body. It’s acute lower back pain, meaning that it usually sets in very quickly, and normally doesn’t last longer than the infection lasts. The kidney infection pain goes away with the healing of the infection, or passing of a kidney stone.

Back pain from trauma or injury usually doesn’t go away this quickly. Lower back and leg pain from an injury can initially seem very similar to pain from a kidney infection. However, an injured back usually doesn’t get worse if you gently push on the part of the back directly over the kidneys. There are usually other signs that distinguish the difference between the pain from a kidney infection and back injury.  Symptoms from a kidney infection might include pain with urination, fever, and chills, and you might also be able to see blood in the urine or by labwork.

If you question whether you have a kidney infection or back pain symptom, you should consult your doctor for further evaluation.  You should always seek treatment for lower back pain.  There can be other attributing factors, and it’s better to diagnose it correctly, and find a solution sooner rather than later.

 

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Back Pain Causes and Relief

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Back Pain Causes and Relief

A back pain symptom and spinal cord problems are the most frequent complaints in the world today.  To get rid of this pain, and get relief immediately is the first thought that comes to the mind of the sufferer.  Most of the back pain medications available in the market today do just that – namely, giving temporary relief, and not addressing the root cause.  Of course, there are a wide variety of prescribed medications, as well as over the counter back pain medicine available that promise to help the cause of acute lower back pain.  But, in actuality, they just mask the symptoms, and don t tackle the root cause of the pain.

lower back muscle spasms

The reason behind the common occurrence of your back problem is that its so easy to injure your spine, and once an injury has happened, it usually stays for a longer period than expected.  At times, it remains with you for a lifetime.  Part of the spinal problems is a result of lifting of heavy objects, sometimes even lighter objects.  It can also be due to bad posture while sitting, and it affects mostly the lower back.  Thankfully, for a natural back pain remedy, there’s a large selection to choose from in getting back pain relief that you can trust and use, and leave the prescription drugs aside for a while.

Simple movements and exercises can also help in giving you the much needed chronic back pain relief, and it doesn t require much effort on your part.  Just simple movements like stretching your back gently relaxes your back muscles, and helps to make you feel better.

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Stop Back Pain Cause Now

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Stop Your Back Pain Cause Now!

back pain causesEveryone experiences occasional back pain at some point in their lives. But, for those who suffer from acute lower back pain or lower back muscle spasms, it can be very debilitating, and greatly affects the quality of life. Muscular back pain or a lumbar back pain may be caused by an injury, sciatica symptoms, or muscle spasms. Or, it can be a result of a more general condition like arthritis. It can range in intensity from infrequent aches and pains to burning back pain, sharp back pain, or chronic, disabling pain. Lower back muscle pain and back pain symptoms are linked to physical exertion, misuse, overuse, or injury. Your back pain cause could include herniated disks, sciatica symptoms, and other serious back problems. Tension can also result in muscular back pain.

It’s estimated that 4 out of every 5 adults suffer from back pain at least once during their life. It s also one of the main causes of absence from work. General muscle pain is the second highest reason for doctor visits, where an estimated 80% of Americans have muscle pain of some type. Too many times, we abuse our backs and muscles, pushing them to or beyond their limit. This is how so many of these issues begin. There are many exercises, therapies, and medicines that can provide back pain relief, but you must first determine the cause of the pain, the severity of the pain, and what you and your doctor determine as the best treatment for lower back pain.

There is good news - Lower back pain exercise will help if exercises consistently and correctly. Aside from targeted back pain exercises, if you just stretch regularly, particularly before strenuous activity, it will help greatly. There are also natural therapies and back pain medicine that will help.

Lower Back Pain Remedy

You can help improve the strength, resilience, and flexibility of your lower back and spine by remaining aware of these things:

Posture: Always be conscientious about your posture. Good posture is a key in helping your spine and strengthening your back (and stomach, which supports your spine).

Lifting, Turning, and Bending: Always crouch down and use your legs to lift things, rather than put that strain on your back. Be aware of your movements while carrying things, or turning, such as awkward angles and jerking when lifting or moving things. You can help prevent chronic back pain.

Nutrition: If you do not do this already, taking vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium, can play a big part in strengthening your back. Calcium, magnesium, and protein-based nutrition help strengthen your back, and magnesium and calcium supplements can also help leg cramps.

Footwear: You should always wear appropriate footwear, particularly if you have back problems, as high heels, narrow shoe heels, etc. are the worst things for your back.

Back Strengthening Exercises

If you want to increase the strength, flexibility, and resilience of your back, back strengthening exercises are necessary to keep your bones and muscles strong and flexible. As with any other type of exercise, exercises for low back pain should be done gradually to prevent injury or furthering a current injury. You must condition your back, as any other part of your body, to promote healing, health, and function.

Your doctor or physical therapist can prescribe targeted exercises, and there are physical therapy courses that help to educate you about the importance of using ergonomic tools such as proper desk, computer, and chair height, ergonomic computer keyboards, ergo chairs, etc. All of the ergonomic tools help to reduce all types of muscle strain. The therapist can also teach you the correct ways of sitting, standing (i.e., one leg cocked, which offsets your spine & pelvis), walking, lifting, and repetitive motion, which also causes a lot of injuries. All of these things will help prevent future problems from arising.

You should always stretch prior to doing any exercise or exertive physical activity, particularly if you are not very active, or in the best physical condition.

Lose the Back Pain

Besides lower back pain exercises, physical therapy treatments like massage, heat, ice, electrical stimulation (i.e., ultrasound), and other techniques can be used to help relieve muscle or back pain. Acupuncture, chiropractic care, and natural therapies can also help. There are physical aids available, such as back braces, to help support and strengthen your spine by holding your stomach in, and keeping your spine in the correct position. This also helps reduce back strain.

Body, back, and muscle therapy isvery useful in helping to providing pain relief and body function. Massage is regularly recommended, and used to relieve tension and pain. It helps increase circulation, which brings nutrients and oxygen to the affected muscles, and helps carry the toxins away. There are other body, muscle, and back pain therapies that are effective, such as Reflexology (pressure is applied to reflex points on the hands and feet), Shiatsu (pressure applied to the meridians of the body to improve circulation and ease pain), Rolfing (connective tissue and muscles are manipulated), and the Feldenkrais method (new ways of moving your body to relax tense or cramped muscles). However, these methods must be performed by trained practitioners.

lower back pain remedy

Aromatherapy uses essential oils from herbs and plants for muscle pain relief, and inflammation or muscle spasms associated with it. Some common essential oils for muscle pain include ginger, peppermint, marjoram, and thyme. These oils can be applied with gentle massages or compresses, and some can be added to a warm bath.

If the back pain does not go away in spite of exercise and other non-invasive treatments, surgery may be a necessary option. It is very important that you see a professional back pain doctor (orthopedic surgeon or other spinal/back specialist) to get expert advice and diagnosis of your back pain cause. This can help you understand different treatment options, and the amount of chronic back pain relief they can provide.

Back Pain Relief Products

The main focus of muscular back pain is to bring proper function and conditioning back to your spine, and eliminate worsening or future problems. For most people, back pain can be treated without surgery. Common back pain relief medicine may include over-the-counter (OTC) medicines such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or non-steriod anti-inflammatory durgs (NSAIDs), used for milder pain. Both acetaminophen and NSAIDs relieve pain caused by stiffness and muscle aches, but NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation. There are also topical pain relievers such as sprays, creams, and lotions that you can apply directly to the skin to relieve the pain. If these non-prescription, OTC medicines don t provide relief, treatment may have to include stronger medications like muscle relaxants, prescription NSAIDs, anti-anxiety drugs, or anti-depressants, among others.

There are a wide variety of back pain solutions at your disposal. Using correct posture, turning, lifting, and bending, proper nutrition, footwear, and back strengthening exercises are all things you have control of. Natural back pain remedies like massage, aromatherapy, yoga, and professional therapy will all help you lose the back pain!

*Always consult with your physician regarding lower back muscle pain, as you should with any physical condition.

 

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