Browse Back and Neck Pain

There are four simple steps for lower back pain relief. However, fail to complete all four steps and you will only ever get temporary relief. Why? Unless you remove both the symptoms and the cause of your pain, it will return. In fact, the latest statistics point out that only 25% of those in pain now will be pain free in one year. The rest are worse or just the same. The reason is simple enough… If all you do is remove symptoms only, whether it is through medication or ot

You may have never put the two together but acid reflux and back pain ncan be connected. Whether they present themselves together or nseparately, the pain can be excruciating. Understanding the connection nwill help alleviate symptoms. Acid reflux is the result of acid rising up the esophagus from the nstomach. The acid is necessary aid to digestion but it is supposed to nstay in the stomach where it is produced. When the flap at the top of nthe stomach is not working to kee

I’m sure you already know that the average person sleeps about 8 hours per day. That is one third of your life right there. Doesn’t it make sense then that we should put some thought into how we sleep? If you’ve been suffering from back pain, have you considered that it might be the result of how you sleep--how you spend one third of your life? Most people’s mattresses are very soft and comfortable, but is that really what i best for your spine? Many people have an ac

I sometimes hear people complain that their sciatica won’t go away despite the fact that they have done “everything” to get rid of it. Why is this? Are some people cursed to live in pain for the rest of their lives? I personally don’t think so. There is usually a much more common problem behind it all. Here are a few of the common reasons why that sciatica just won’t go away no matter what you do. Inflammation - Not many people realize this, but inflammation can act

Many people I meet are conce ed about getting more rounded and stooped over as they get older. This condition is called Kyphosis or ‘Dowager’s Hump’. It’s when the thoracic vertebrae in the upper spine curve forward excessively. This can lead to back and neck pain, due to strain on the muscles that occurs with misaligned posture, and loss of height. Over time, this change in bony alignment can even compromise the function of the organs, including negative effects on the circulatory system.

Over the past years, full sit ups have fallen out of favor with personal trainers, and crunches have taken over as the most popular stomach exercise. The main reason crunches have taken over is the belief that full sit ups are bad for your back, and in this article we’ll explore the difference between the 2 exercises. The big difference between the 2 exercises is the joints that are involved. In crunches, only your spine moves; however, in sit ups your spine and your hips m

What is Lordosis? Lordosis is also known as Hyperlordosis or Swayback or Saddleback. It is an abnormal excessive front-to-back curvature of the lower back Lumbar Spine. Hyperlordosis is one of the most common causes of Lower Back Pain yet is a correctable condition if addressed properly. What causes Lordosis? Anything that causes the pelvis to rotate forward will move the body’s center of gravity forward. The body will compensate by moving the upper torso backward to reposition the center of gravity in a vertically balanced position.

A lot of people don't know this, but sciatica isn't a disease. It is actually a symptom of some other kind of problem. It is sort of a clue that something else is wrong, so to speak. You probably have sciatica, if you have a stabbing or shooting pain in your legs, buttocks, hips, or lower back. There's a nerve in your body called the sciatic nerve, and sciatica is the result of this nerve being irritated on compressed. There are quite a few things that could cause trouble wit

If you’re reading this, then I’m guessing you probably already know what sciatica is. Heck, I’d even be willing to wager that you probably even have it yourself. If you do, I’m sorry. I know how painful sciatica can be. Not only does the pain keep you from doing simple daily activities like walking, but it can even interfere with your life as well keeping you from going to work, playing with your children, or other things you enjoy doing. Sciatica can be painful, and

Okay, this is another odd-ball article topic here, but please bear with me. Have you ever wondered if the coffee you grab in the morning on the way to work might be causing your back pain and sciatica? Well, of course there are foods that you can eat that either hurt or help inflammation in your body, which may contribute to back pain. Foods like junk food, fast food, red meats, fried foods, pastries, and cakes are of course not good for you. These foods are loaded with trans

This article is definitely a little off the beaten path, so before I dive into this, I just want to clear up that I am not a medical professional and you should not use this information as a substitute for the advice of a qualified health care provider. But, if it seems like nothing else is working, then maybe you can experiment with what I’m going to describe here. I know how very real and painful back pain or sciatica can be. I’ve been there myself, so you can imagine w

Sacroiliitis is a disorder that is far more complex than back pain and it is important to seek medical attention early if you develop the symptoms. The condition is complicated with a variety of causes; it may be secondary to an injury or pregnancy but this is not a disorder to gamble with. ...

A lot of people report that they feel more relaxed or numb once the “buzz” of a few drinks hits their system. But does this mean that alcohol can help relieve back pain? Other report that they actually experience and increase in back pain when they enjoy an alcoholic beverage. What’s really going on here? To be honest, it really depends on what the cause of your back pain is. If the pain is due to a tense or contracted muscle that is putting pressure on the Sciatic nerv

Most people will experience some type of back pain at some point in their lives but for most, it lasts only a few days or weeks. It could result from moving furniture, gardening, or even turning the wrong way. Usually the pain responds to home remedies such as ice packs, rest, and over the counter pain medication. Chronic upper back pain is very different because it is pain lasting three or more months and never completely goes away. Some of the causes of chronic pain include

Sciatica, I’m sure you know, is a real “pain in the butt”. It affects your day to day life and stops you enjoying your work and leisure times.n At times pin is constant and you may even get numbness in your legs. You may be frustrated that you can’t even tie your own shoe laces, or play with your kids, let alone perform totally at work.n You may have fears that it will become worse and that you may end up having surgery. Or worse become permanently disabled due to the pain, a

Do you love horses but fear that you will never be able to ride with a bulging disc or herniated disc?rnA back or herniated disc injury does not mean your passion for riding horses needs to end. Like any injury, a recovery time is required and it may be a lesson in patience, but there is no reason why you can't eventually get back on a horse again.rnAfter herniating my L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs causing severe sciatic pain, I was told surgery was my only hope and that there'd be m

Something that many people know is that sitting too much causes sciatica. After all, one thing that many cases of sciatica have in common is that the people that suffer from it generally have jobs or lifestyles that involve sitting for a good portion of the day, whether it be working at a desk in an office, being a truck driver, or a student sitting in school for many hours a day. But surly this can’t be the whole story, can it? There are so many other people out there that

Everything old is new again. That old adage certainly applies when it comes to negative heel shoes. This popular trend from the 1970s is back and more popular than ever. After years of suffering wearing high heels or other elevated shoes, many people are experiencing the relaxation and rejuvenation that can be experienced when wearing negative heel shoes.nnThe philosophy behind negative heel shoe design is simple: instead of forcing the body into an unnatural state, why not a

Do you have Sacrum pain? Your sacrum is located at the bottom of your spine and it is what many people refer to as your tail bone. A lot of muscle attach into your sacrum including your Gluteus Maximus (your buttocks) and many smaller and deeper internal rotator muscles such as your Piriformis. Plus, your pelvis also attaches to abdominal muscles and leg muscles as well. There is a lot going on in that area of the body, but here I’m going to discuss some of the most common

When someone tells you that you have a bulging disk, or you read it on your MRI report, you may wonder what that means. Is that what is causing my pain? Will it go away? Do I need surgery? How can I fix it? These are all good questions that need to be answered before you decide what treatment is right for you. Understanding your bulging disc begins with understanding your anatomy, where the disc is, and what the disc does. What is it? Commonly called, the disc or the disk, th

The term 'ergonomic' is a label that applies to the study of the workplace environment for efficiency, safety and productivity. People who study this area usually have a professional background in ergonomics and apply their own understanding to the employment environment through their knowledge in ergonomics. However, the working environment is not exclusively the employment domain; because many people now use their employment skills in the home environment, since the adven

A harsh squeal of brakes. The smell of burnt rubber. The crunch and bang of twisted metal. From fender benders to pile ups, getting rear-ended is unfortunately a common driving risk. Do you know what five things you should do immediately after getting rear-ended? Commit these to memory to minimize stress at the scene and alleviate potential future problems. 1. If possible, move your vehicles off the main road to a safe place away from heavy traffic and call the police. Regar

Sleeping is an essential function of our everyday lives. Most people never take into account the effects it may have on the health and stability of the upper back and neck. If you are in the wrong position, you could be causing trauma or injury to your upper back area. Of the three sleeping positions that we can use at night (back, side, stomach), sleeping on your stomach is the least desirable for several different reasons. When you sleep on your stomach, you have to turn yo

Whiplash is an injury to the neck caused by a sudden movement back, forward or sideways of the head and neck. Depending upon the severity, it is also called a neck sprain or strain, cervical sprain or strain. The injury often involves the muscles, discs, tendons, and nerves. Causesn • Most ...

Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain complexities? Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain are the 2 most common forms of pain in the human anatomy, yet the cause of either can be complex at times due to so many different causes. One of those is often very difficult to diagnose, frequently overlooked, and is therefore labeled as a secret or hidden cause. That hidden cause or secret source of Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain is known as Facet Joint Pain or Facet Syndrome. Facet Joint Pain or Facet Syndrome, is a chronic pain syndrome or condition directly related to pain in the facet joints.

Back pain can be triggered by a number of things, one of them being the foods you eat or don’t eat. Here is some information about the types of foods you should be eating and those which you should stay away from. Most importantly, you should drink plenty of water on a daily basis to hydrate yourself. Flushing the body with plenty of water can rid your body of the toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis. Indoor toxins can affect you at home or work. In certain individuals

Orthopedic pillows are not just like any other ordinary pillow. These products are specially made to fulfill a specific function. People buy orthopedic pillows for several reasons. Sometimes people even buy this type of pillow because their doctor has specifically recommended for them to do so as part of a treatment and management plan for neck, back, or bone problems. People have become more aware of the science behind orthopedic pillows in recent years, which may account fo

In Germany about 36 years ago was a spine healing method developed and presented by a layman-healer. Dieter Dorn used this therapy for his family at first. It then grows to the situation, through the visible success and word of mouth, that every evening around 15-20 people asked for a ...

Does this scenario sound familiar?nnnnYou bend over to pick a Kleenex off the floor. Your back locks up. You begin to experience lower back pain radiating into the buttocks and down the leg. You consult with your doctor who orders an MRI. The MRI report identifies a herniated disc. nnnnBad news? nnnnMaybe but in all likelihood, it's not as bad as you may think. nnnnYou may have heard people say they have a "slipped" or "ruptured" disc in the back. You may have even heard term

Concussion is a mild, traumatic injury to the brain. It is not a life-threatening injury, but it can cause short and long term problems. Concussions do not include injuries where there is tearing or bleeding in the brain. People who had multiple concussions, might suffer cumulative neurological damage that can lead later in life to dementia, depression, Alzheimer... "A large segment of society thinks that concussions are innocuous and everybody recovers from them, and the life is going to be merry ever after. That is absolutely not true." Dr. Robert Cantu, neurosurgeon.

Coccydynia is pain in the coccyx, the tailbone, which can cause a great amount of discomfort and limit mobility. Sometimes, this pain is not taken seriously by general practitioners but it is important to learn the cause if the pain persists. In some cases, the cause is obvious as pain develops ...

Maybe you’ve heard before that people with achy joints or arthritis can predict a cold snap coming long before the local weather man. Have you ever wondered why this is? Or maybe you yourself suffer from back pain that seems to get worse every time winter strikes and the temperature drops below freezing. What exactly is happening in the body here? Well, first of all the technical name for this condition is “cold allodynia” and scientists have not been able to pinpoint t

Reading in bed may be the cause of why you are experiencing upper back, neck and even possibly shoulder pain. When you sustain a position for 20 or so minutes, the muscles that are creating the actions are shortening. In the case of sitting up or lying down in bed and reading, the pecs and the biceps are being used the most. When those muscles tighten without being allowed to re-lengthen, they create a scenario known as disproportionate muscle tension or DMT. DMT is caused by

If you’re like most of us, you probably have a little extra padding around your middle that you’ve been meaning to get rid of for a while now. But did you know that extra weight might actually be causing your back pain and sciatica? In fact, when most people go to see a doctor about back pain, the first thing they are usually told is to lose some weight. Extra weight can put added pressure and stress on your back and spine. This will cause your posture to change for the w

Inversion tables were quite popular in the 80’s, but then they fell into the background as other treatments for relieving back pain replaced them. However recently they have begun to resurface into popular treatments for back pain. Regardless of the skepticism and division in the medical community over the effectiveness of inversion tables, you can’t argue with the countless testimonials from people claiming that inverting has significantly reduced or even eliminated thei

Why is it called a hidden source of Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain? There is a source of Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain that can be difficult to pinpoint, because the pain is felt in a location that is not the source of the problem, and if not treated properly is oftentimes difficult to resolve. That is why it has been deemed as a “Hidden Source of Pain”.

Finding a solution to back pain or sciatica can be a real dilemma for many people. Often the conventional treatments readily available don’t provide the relief you need and pretty soon the pain starts to impact on your lifestyle to the point where you can’t function normally and get through all the things you have to do in a day without debilitating back Pain or worse, sciatic nerve pain down the leg.

Back pain is largely a result of stress that builds in the body bringing physical imbalances into play and causing irritation to nerves, joints, muscles or ligaments. Stress has three main origins, physical, chemical and emotional so a poor diet which upsets the chemical balance has the potential to cause or heighten a person’s back pain.

I was having a conversation with my girlfriend this morning and she wanted to know if chocolate can cure back pain. At first I thought that this was a really stupid question, and just a desperate excuse to each chocolate. But let’s take a look at some facts. First though, I want you to understand that most back pain problems are caused by poor posture or muscular imbalances and that by correcting these issues you will probably notice the most significant improvement in back

Muscle imbalances and herniated or bulging discs cause most cases of back pain or Sciatica. But what if you don’t suffer from either of these problems? There are some other unusual causes to back pain. Here I’m going to share 5 less common things that could be causing your back pain. Shingles - Singles is caused by a virus called Herpes Zoster. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles affects the nerves that provide sensation to the skin. After you fight o

A lot of us work in an office or at a desk for 8 hours a day. We sit in front of computers and do our job. But can this sort of lifestyle actually cause your sciatica? And more importantly, what can you do about it without getting a new job? If you don’t already know, sciatica is caused when there is pressure placed on your sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down to your legs and feet. Sciatica is not a condition, but rather a symptom of another problem. Here ar

For as long as I can remember people have been told to stretch as a warm up or warm down to prevent injuries and for just as long physiotherapists have been using stretching, along with exercises, as the basis for their treatment of painful conditions. Everyone has jumped on the band wagon from doctors to personal trainers and most therapists and whenever someone complains of feeling tight or sore there are invariable asked ‘have you been doing enough stretching’ or ‘I know a good stretch that will help you’.

n n Back pain (also known "dorsalgia") is pain felt in the back that may originate from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.nnThe pain may be have a sudden onset or it can be a chronic pain, it can be felt constantly or intermittently, stay in one place or refer or radiate to other areas. It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation. The pain may be felt in the neck (and might radiate into the arm and hand), in the upper b

If you are bothered by neck pain problems, then an orthopedic pillow is one of the simple products that can be a big help. An orthopedic pillow is a wise investment only if you know how to make use of them properly. Remember that this special pillow is offered in a variety of types, each serving a specific purpose. If you do not use the pillow according to the purpose for which it has been made, then tendency is you would not be able to enjoy using the item. In this regard, y

The term chiropractors refer a profession that is related to the healthcare & is recommended for the non-surgical methods of disorders of the brain & the nervous system & is sometimes associated with the musculoskeletal system. These chiropractors make a complete & detailed observation on the manipulation of the spinal cord & helping to cure its nearby structures. They mainly treat the middle & lower pain in the back, pain in the neck, headache, ache in the joints located in

As we age, our bodies go through many changes associated with aging. We often find that we are unable to do the things that we could do even just 10 years ago. It is normal as we get older to not be as strong or agile as we used to be. We may not walk as steady as when we were younger, or we may have difficulty controlling our bladder. We may begin having aches and pains that we haven't had before, or it may be more difficult to stand up straight. All of these can be perfectl

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental and emotional condition that can develop following a traumatic event so overwhelming and frightening that the mind and body are in shock. Soldiers in military combat, natural disasters, kidnapping, rape, sexual abuse or living in an alcoholic home… to name just a few.

We have all been conditioned to accept that physical pain means something is wrong with our body. This is because the phenomena of pain disorders appear so much like a physical injury that it is difficult for any of us to accept that the pain could be caused by something other than a body that ...

Lately I’ve seen patients with a lot of muscle tension in their neck and shoulders. Their shoulders are hunched up under their ears, and their necks so stiff they can barely move them. Severe neck and shoulder stiffness and pain may require physical therapy to alleviate symptoms, but I’d like to share with you the things you can do to both prevent and alleviate neck and shoulder pain. Causes of Neck and Shoulder Pain My patients are surprised when I tell them that most ne

The sacroiliac joint (or SI joint) connects the base of the spine with the pelvis. Not surprisingly, the sacroiliac joint rests between the sacrum (S1 - S5 vertebrae) and the ilia bones (hips). The SI joint helps to protect your pelvis from fracture or damage due to the stress and torsion that using our legs on a daily basis can cause. Many people may experience pain from their SI joint. This often manifests as lower back pain above the buttocks. And the vast majority of thes