Archive for the 'Back Pain' Category

End Neck Pain By Improving Posture How Proper Posture Improves Your Spine Relieving Nerve Pressure

How does posture have anything to do with neck pain?–Neck pain comes from pressure on the nerves. How does this happen?–Usually pressure from a misaligned neck spine. When your spine is misaligned (some call that subluxated) it does not move like it should and in turn creates inflammation in that area. Either out-of-alignment spinal vertebrae (spinal bones) put direst pressure on nerves or the inflammation, or built up degeneration causes the pressure.

The most common misaligned postural pattern in the neck that will result in neck pain, stiffness and lack of mobility is forward head carriage. This is when the head posture is forward of the shoulders and almost always reveals loss of the normal neck alignment or curvature.

In the neck spine we should have a well defined neck C-curve of approximately 40-60 degrees. Anything less and there is unwanted pressure on the nerves. Pain is often a sign that there is pressure on the nervous system but not all of that system is designed to feel pain so you may be pain free yet still have improper alignment.

With people today, more than ever we are seeing a misaligned neck posture of the neck curve flattening or straightening and protruding out forward. One of the reasons is that more and more people these days are on computers for long hours. Many jobs now require you to be on a computer continually, and even the people without a desk job are on the computer for hours on end; nights, weekends, mornings, you name it.

Also, more people are on the road driving. When driving, the majority of people’s heads, over the time traveling, drift forward. Some people are affected worse than others. Just recently I looked to my left while at a light and the woman next to me had both hands on the wheel with what looked like a death grip, and she just looked like her muscles were extremely tense and her head was about 6 inches forward of her shoulders. These are just a couple examples, others are: Poor sleeping habits, holding a phone on your shoulder for long periods, reading or studying with your head down often, etc…

Guilty of some of these examples or often suffer from neck pain?

Here’s how to improve your neck posture-

Postural exercises for the neck

Eliminating bad posture as much as possible

A good support neck pillow for sleeping.

These to do’s all help correct and maintain the proper alignment of the spine. Our spines are ergonomically built to withstand the forces of gravity. When looking at an individual from the front or back, the spine is straight should be up and down. From the side however we have distinct curvatures that are there for a reason – so our spinal cord is relaxed with no tension and our nerve roots coming off the spinal cord have no pressure and interference. Our spine is at it’s strongest position with this alignment as well. And don’t forget, why is it important we are in optimal alignment? Not only because it is the most beneficial for strength of our spine but because it is the healthiest position as well. Putting any pressure on nerves will decrease the bodies ability to perform at it’s maximum. Any pressure on nerves decreases your body’s function and therefore health.

The best postural exercise to eliminate forward head posture are Head Retractions. Pretend your head is on a sliding track and pull your head back keeping it level. For example sit fully back against a wall or chair pull your head straight back without tilting or extending your head until you touch the wall, top of chair or headrest in your car.

Eliminate forward head posture as much as possible. Notice if your head is drifting forward; usually you may feel strain in the muscles of the back of your neck. Read with books propped up against something, take periodic breaks when working on the computer or driving for long periods. Sit up staighter, and keep your head up-right.

At night, you can not only protect yourself from poor posture but also can literally improve it as well, while you sleep. If you use a good support pillow like the Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow you can correct neck posture while resting comfortably. Sleeping on your back or side is perfectly fine. Stomach sleeping is not good because you have to crank your head to on side or another to breathe. Individuals who commonly sleep on their stomachs will find themselves waking up often with a sore, stiff, painful neck.

Be more aware of your posture. Poor posture means a poor spine and therefore pressure on nerves that will not only just cause neck pain but can cause other problems as well. The easiest way to start improving neck pain and neck posture is to use the proper neck pillow. The Cervical Linear Traction Pillow can be found at www.arc4life.com .

Back Pain Medications for Back Injury Relief

Anyone who has ever suffered some form of back injury has sought relief through the use of back pain medications at some point in their life. In fact back issues are one of the most common conditions that doctors see every year. If you do go to the doctor there are a number of medications he or she may prescribe to help keep the pain under control.

There is a general understanding within the medical community that pain relief is an important part of the healing process. For this reason the chances of being prescribed a drug for back pain when you visit the doctor are rather good. Part of healing from an injury of any sort involves being able to move around, even it it’s to only get out of bed for a few minutes several times a day. A degree of mobility is important to the general well being of anyone with back problems.

There are several classes of back pain medications that are in use today and these include anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s), acetaminophen, muscle relaxants, and opioids. These can be used by themselves or in combinations depending on the severity of the pain experienced and the cause of the injury.

NSAID’s are a group of anti-inflammatory drugs that include ibuprofen, aspirin, Ketoprofen, and Naproxen. These drugs have anti-inflammatory and anti swelling properties as well as being able to relieve pain and most can be gotten over the counter. Another OTC pain reliever is acetaminophen which most people know as Tylenol. Anacin-3 and Phenaphen are two other acetaminophen analgesics that can be used to reduce back pain.

Codeine and morphine are to high powered pain killers commonly known as opioids. Doctors will prescribe these for those in severe pain when the pain killer mentioned above do not work. Because opioids do present an addiction hazard they need to be used cautiously and as prescribed.

Muscle relaxants work to control muscle spasms that happen when you injure your back. The reason most people have muscle spasms when they hurt their back is because the muscles around the injured area are trying to compensate for the loss of strength at the injured spot. These spasms can be painful and by relaxing the muscles we get relief from that pain.

Reducing pain is an integral part of healing a bad back and back pain medication should be used to help achieve that goal. Pain relief comes with a caveat; just because the pain is gone does not mean the injury is healed. Far to many people further aggravate their painful back by doing to much when their pain is being controlled by their medication.

Dont Blow Out Your Back! Nine Ways to Prevent Back Pain

Dave is one of the healthiest guys I know. He eats well, runs regularly, and takes good care of himself in general. However, over the last three years, Dave has thrown out his back four or five times. Each time, he is crippled with pain that keeps him on the couch gulping pain killers like they were candy. It seems like every time he injures himself, Dave cant remember doing anything strenuous. One time he was turning to reach for soap in the shower, and another, he was picking up a slip of paper from the floor—neither activities that would seem to trigger the kind of back pain he was experiencing. Visits to the doctor havent revealed anything dramatically wrong with Daves back; it just seems to go out from time to time.

If youre like Dave, or if youve ever injured your back, youre not alone. At one time or another 80 percent of Americans will experience some kind of back pain, and chances are that at one time or another, you will be among them. Whether your pain is a nagging ache in your low back or stabbing pain and spasms that make even the slightest movement painful, there are some things that you can do to prevent the pain from occurring in the first place. Among them:

1. Lift correctly. Lifting incorrectly or lifting while twisting can be the kiss of death for your back. Lift with your legs; keep your back straight and keep the object close to your body. Dont bend over what you are lifting and try not to twist or turn your body. Always choose to push a heavy object rather than pulling—or even better, get someone to help you with the really heavy lifting.

2. Get moving. Whoever first said “move it or lose it”, most likely had your back in mind. Regular exercise not only helps to strengthen your back, but it also builds flexibility. Even regular walking is good for your back as it engages your core stabilizing (back and abdominal) muscles.

3. Stretch regularly. Tight back muscles are a primed for injury. Before exercise or after a long day, some simple back stretches can release tension and enhance your flexibility. Perhaps the easiest (and best) stretches for your back are called Williams exercises, also commonly called “cat and cow”. Begin on your hands and knees. Bring your head and butt downward while creating a hump with your mid back (like a cat stretching). Then reverse the position by looking upward and arching your back (like a sway backed cow).

4. Break it up. Most people who suffer from back problems find that sitting for long periods can really aggravate your pain. If you are driving long distances, stop regularly to stretch and give your back a rest. If youre a frequent flyer, get up and move around the plane to loosen up your back.

5. How low can you go? Women—high heels are not your friend! Wear shoes with a heel that is one inch or lower. High heels change your posture and the alignment of your back and can greatly contribute to back pain.

6. Power to the people. Imbalances or lack of strength in your core muscles can contribute to back injuries. The core muscles you need to strengthen include not only your back muscles, but also your abdominals. Get some help here: a few sessions with an athletic trainer, physical therapist, or a Pilates class will get you on the right track.

7. Stand tall. If you stand a lot, rest one foot on a low stool, and alternate feet every 15 to 20 minutes. This relieves pressure on your lower back.

8. Check your posture. While we infrequently think about our posture, it can be a factor that can make or break the health of your back. Try to stand with your ears, shoulders and hips directly below one another. Keep your head up (not pulled forward) and your stomach in. If this feels unnatural to you, start by standing against a wall, line yourself up, and then step away from the wall. It takes some time to build muscle memory, so practice daily for a week or two and stick a post-it to your desk reminding you to stand up straight.

9. Sleep well. The best sleeping position for your back is on your side with a small pillow between your knees. If youre a back sleeper, a pillow under you knees helps support the natural curvature of your back.