Ice massage therapy

Ahh...Ice Massage therapy for back pain relief

Source: spine-health.com

Ice massage therapy
For patients experiencing back pain, ice massage therapy is quick, free, easy to do, and it can provide significant pain relief for many types of back pain. In a world of sophisticated medical care, a simple ice massage can still be one of the more effective, proven methods to treat a sore back or neck, either when used alone or in combination with other treatments.

Most episodes of back pain are caused by muscle strain. The large paired muscles in the low back (erector spinae) help hold up the spine, and with an injury the muscles can become inflamed and spasm, causing low back pain and significant stiffness.

Common causes of muscle strain of the large back muscles include:

• A sudden movement

• An awkward fall

• Lifting a heavy object (using the back muscles)

• A sports injury

While it sounds like a simple injury, a muscle strain can create a surprising amount of pain. In fact, this type of injury is one of the most common reasons people go to the emergency room. However, not much can be done for a strained back muscle except for rest (e.g. for up to two days), pain relief medications, and to use ice and/or heat application. This article discusses how and to use ice massage therapy and heat therapy for quick relief of back pain caused by muscle strain.

How ice massage therapy provides pain relief
Ice massages can help provide relief for back pain in a number of ways, including:

• Ice application slows the inflammation and swelling that occurs after injury. Most back pain is accompanied by some type of inflammation, and addressing the inflammation helps reduce the pain

• Ice massage therapy numbs sore tissues (providing pain relief like a local anesthetic)

• Ice massage therapy slows the nerve impulses in the area, which interrupts the pain-spasm reaction between the nerves

• Ice massage therapy decreases tissue damage

Ice massage therapy is most effective if it is applied as soon as possible after the injury occurs. The cold makes the veins in the tissue contract, reducing circulation. Once the cold is removed, the veins overcompensate and dilate and blood rushes into the area. The blood brings with it the necessary nutrients to allow the injured back muscles, ligaments and tendons to heal.

As with all pain relief treatments, there are some cautions with applying ice and using ice massage therapy. Never apply ice directly to the skin. Instead, be sure that there is a protective barrier between the ice and skin, such as a towel. Limit the ice application to no more than fifteen or twenty minutes. Additionally, ice should also not be used for patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud’s Syndrome, cold allergic conditions, paralysis, or areas of impaired sensation.

Ice vs. Heat - Which is More Effective for Arthritis Pain?

Source: About.com

Arthritis patients searching for an effective mode of pain relief question whether it is better to use ice or heat on an affected joint. It has been suggested that personal preference is the determining factor. A study reported in the December 2006 Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, asked 150 patients visiting a clinic for joint pain to fill out questionnaires regarding their response to treatment with ice or heat. Twenty-six patients indicated that they had never tried ice or heat. Of the remaining 124 patients:

• 20 patients had gout diagnosed by crystals
• 32 patients had rheumatoid arthritis
• 32 patients had osteoarthritis
• 18 patients had other types of inflammatory arthritis
• 22 patients had soft tissue conditions

Researchers concluded that a significantly higher percentage of patients with gouty arthritis preferred topical ice for pain relief. Most patients with rheumatoid arthritis preferred heat.

• Guide to Arthritis Pain
• Hot / Cold Gel Packs
• Moist / Dry Heating Pads
• How to Manage Arthritis Pain
• 10 Ways to Increase Your Pain
• The Pain Quiz: Acute vs. Chronic Pain

_{Photo by Sandy Jones (iStockphoto)}

Heat Therapy

Source: arthritis-symptom.com

Author/s: Jeffrey Peter Larson

heat therapy are applications of therapeutic thermal agents to specific body areas experiencing injury or dysfunction.

Purpose of heat therapy

The general purpose of a heat treatment is to increase the extensibility of soft tissues, remove toxins from cells, enhance blood flow, increase function of the tissue cells, encourage muscle relaxation, and help relieve pain. There are two types of heat treatments: superficial and deep. Superficial heat therapy apply heat to the outside of the body. Deep heat therapy direct heat toward specific inner tissues through ultrasound or by electric current.heat therapy are beneficial prior to exercise, providing a warm-up effect to the soft tissues involved.

Precautions for heat therapy

heat therapy should not be used on individuals with circulation problems, heat intolerance, or lack of sensation in the affected area. Low blood circulation may contribute to heat-related injuries. heat therapy also should not be used on individuals afflicted with heart, lung, or kidney diseases. Deep heat therapy should not be used on areas above the eye, heart, or on a pregnant patient. Deep heat therapy over areas with metal surgical implants should be avoided in case of rapid temperature increase and subsequent injury.

Description of heat therapy

There are four different ways to convey heat:

• Conduction is the transfer of heat between two objects in direct contact with each other.
• Conversion is the transition of one form of energy to heat.
• Radiation involves the transmission and absorption of electromagnetic waves to produce a heating effect.
• Convection occurs when a liquid or gas moves past a body part creating heat.

Hot packs, water bottles, and heating pads

Hot packs are a very common form of heat treatment utilizing conduction as a form of heat transfer. Moist heat packs are readily available in most hospitals, physical therapy centers, and athletic training rooms. Treatment temperature should not exceed 131°F (55°C). The pack is used over multiple layers of toweling to achieve a comfortable warming effect for approximately 30 minutes. More recently, several manufacturers have developed packs that may be warmed in a microwave over a specified amount of time prior to use.

Hot-water bottles are another form of superficial heat treatment. The bottles are filled half way with hot water between 115-125°F (46.1-52°C). Covered by a protective toweling, the hot-water bottle is placed on the treatment area and left until the water has cooled off.

Electrical heating pads continue to be used, however because of the need for an electrical outlet, safety and convenience become an issue.

Paraffin

Paraffin, a conductive form of superficial heat, is often used for heating uneven surface of the body such as the hands. It consists of melted paraffin wax and mineral oil. Paraffin placed in a small bath unit, becomes solid at room temperature and is used as a liquid heat treatment when heated at 126-127.4°F (52-53°C). The most common form of paraffin application is called the dip and wax method. In this technique, the patient will dip 8-12 times and then the extremity will be covered with a plastic bag and a towel for insulation. Most treatment sessions are about 20 minutes.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is used in a form of heat treatment for many musculoskeletal disorders. The hydrotherapy tanks and pools are all generally set at warm temperatures, never exceeding 150°F (65.6°C). Because the patient often performs resistance exercises while in the water, higher water temperatures become a concern as the treatment becomes more physically draining. Because of this, many hydrotherapy baths are now being set at 95-110°F (35-43.3°C). There are also units available with moveable turbine jets, which provide a light massage effect. Hydrotherapy is helpful as a warm-up prior to exercise.

Fluidotherapy

Fluidotherapy is a form of heat treatment developed in the 1970s. It is a dry heat modality consisting of cellulose particles suspended in air. Units come in different sizes and some are restricted to only treating a hand or foot. The turbulence of the gas-solid mixture provides thermal contact with objects that are immersed in the medium. Temperatures of this treatment range from 110-123°F (43.3-50.5°C). Fluidotherapy allows the patient to exercise the limb during the treatment, and also massages the limb, increasing blood flow.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound heat therapy penetrate the body to provide relief to inner tissue. Ultrasound energy comes from the acoustic or sound spectrum and is undetectable to the human ear. By using conducting agents such as gel or mineral oil, the ultrasound transducer warms areas of the musculoskeletal system Some areas of the musculoskeletal system absorb ultrasound better that others. Muscle tissue and other connective tissue such as ligaments and tendons absorb this form of energy very well, however fat absorbs to a much lesser degree. Ultrasound has a relatively long-lasting effect, continuing up to one hour.

Diathermy

Diathermy is another deep heat treatment. An electrode drum is used to apply heat to an affected area. It consists of a wire coil surrounded by dead space and other insulators such as a plastic housing. Plenty of toweling must be layered between the unit and the patient. This device is unique in that it utilizes the basis of a magnetic field on connective tissues. One advantage of diathermy over various other heat therapy is that fat does resist an electrical field, which is not the case with a magnetic field. It is found to be helpful with those experiencing chronic low back pain and muscle spasms. Prior to ultrasound technology, diathermy was a popular heat therapy of the 1940s-1960s.

Preparation for heat therapy

Before administering any form of heat treatment, heat sensitivity is accessed and the skin over the affected area is cleansed. When a patient is undergoing any form of heat treatment, supervision should always be present especially in the treatment of hydrotherapy.

Aftercare of heat therapy

Once the heat treatment has been completed, any symptoms of dizziness and nausea should be noted and documented along with any skin irritations or discoloring not present prior to the heat treatment. A one hour interval between treatments should be adhered to in order to avoid restriction of blood flow.

Risks of heat therapy

All heat therapy have the potential of tissue damage resulting from excessive temperatures. Proper insulation and treatment duration should be carefully administered for each method. Overexposure during a superficial heat treatment may result in redness, blisters, burns, or reduced blood circulation. During ultrasound therapy, excessive treatment over bony areas with little soft tissue (such as hand, feet, and elbow) can cause excessive heat resulting in pain and possible tissue damage. Exposure to the electrode drum during diathermy may produce hot spots.

What Is Back Pain?

Provided by ehealthMD.com Back pain is one of the most common physical complaints among adults - and a chief cause of misery for many. At some point in their lives, most people will experience some sort of back discomfort. Back pain describes pain or discomfort felt in the upper, middle, or lower back. The pain may extend to the hips and legs as well. The back consists of a complex arrangement of bone, ligaments, joints, muscles, and nerves, and pain can result from a problem with any of these components. The most common type of back pain is low back pain. That's because the lower portion of the back is under the most pressure when a person is sitting or lifting, and it can be easily damaged. There are many causes of back pain:

• The most common cause is a strain of the back, which is small tear of the back muscles or ligaments. This usually results from a sudden or awkward movement, or from lifting a heavy object. But often, a person can't remember a particular incident that brought on the pain.
• Other common causes include poor muscle tone in the back, tension or spasm of the back muscles and problems with the joints that make up the back.

Nice To Know: Some 50 years ago, back pain was seen in simple terms. Today, there is better understanding of the complex nature of the spinal structures, and the relationship of the brain and spinal cord. As a result, the causes of back problems are identified with much greater accuracy but in some cases may still be elusive. Back pain can be classified as either:

• Acute - Sudden pain that lasts for just a short while, usually a few days to a few weeks.
• Chronic - Pain that lasts for more than three month, or pain that recurs.

Statistics show that with simple treatment, up to 90% of people with acute back pain improve within one month and up to 60% improve within a week. Even severe back pain due to a herniated disc often resolves within six weeks, as the protruding discs begins to shrink. Fortunately, most cases of acute low back pain improve quickly - within a few days, or sometimes within a few weeks. And in less than 5% of people the pain persists and becomes chronic. Nice To Know: How common is low back pain? Low back pain is common. At some point in their lives, most people will experience some form of back discomfort. Some researchers believe that back pain is a problem of civilization - primitive tribes lived by hunting and did not experience the type of back pain that comes from sitting in chairs, in today's culture, from our very childhood at school. Other researchers believe that people began to experience back pain as soon as man began to walk in an upright manner. Despite today's increasing medical technology and understanding, back pain continues to be an obvious and complex problem. Who Is At Risk? Certain people are at higher risk for back pain, including:

• Those whose work includes heavy labor or long periods of sitting and standing.
• Those who are "out of shape," as they may have let the muscles in the abdomen and back become weak and easily fatigued, placing extra strain on the muscles and joints of the back.
• Those who have jobs that subject their backs to a lot of vibration.
• Those who do heavy lifting without having the proper education and training to lift correctly.
• Those who smoke (smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to suffer from back pain).

Facts About Back Pain: In the U.S., back pain competes with the common cold as the leading reason why people see a physician. Back pain is the number-one cause of disability in workers under age 45. Aside from the physical distress, back pain carries steep economic costs - an estimated $20 to $50 billion annually in medical treatments and disability payments. Most episodes of acute back pain go away within a month. Despite today's medical technology, many forms of treatment do not affect the course of most acute low back pain episodes. Only 10% of those suffering from acute back pain require special diagnostic testing.

Heat vs. Cold Therapy for Injuries

From Elizabeth Quinn,Your Guide to Sports Medicine.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Should you ice injuries or apply heat?Most athletes know that you should apply ice to an acute injury, like a sprained ankle, but you might also have heard that heat can be used on injuries as well. How do you know when to use heat and when to use cold? Acute and Chronic InjuriesThere are two basic types of athletic injuries: acute and chronic. Acute injuries are sudden, sharp, traumatic injuries with a rapid onset (within 48 hours) and possibly severe pain. Typically, acute injuries result from some sort of trauma such as a fall, sprain, or other impact. Chronic injuries are slow to develop, can come and go, and may cause dull pain or soreness. They are often the result of overuse but sometimes develop when an acute injury is left untreated. Acute injuries are usually easy to identify because of the sudden onset. Signs and symptoms include pain, tenderness, redness, skin that may be warm to the touch, swelling and inflammation. If you have swelling, you have an acute injury. Cold TherapyCold therapy with ice is the best immediate treatment for acute injuries because it can reduce swelling and pain. Ice is a vasoconstrictor (causes the blood vessels to narrow) and it limits bleeding at the injury site. Apply ice to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Allow the skin temperature to return to normal before icing a second or third time. You can ice an acute injury several times a day. Cold therapy is also helpful in treating some overuse injuries or chronic pain in athletes. An athlete who has chronic knee pain that increases after running may want to ice the injured area after each run to reduce or prevent inflammation. Never ice a chronic injury before exercise. The best way to ice an injury is with a high quality ice pack that conforms to the body part being iced. Two such products are ColdOne Cold Therapy Wraps and SnowPack Cold Therapy products. You can also get good results from a bag of frozen peas, ice massage with water frozen in a dixie cup (peel the cup down as the ice melts) or a basic bag of ice. Read more about how to safely use ice on injuries. Heat TherapyHeat is generally used for chronic injuries or injuries that have no inflammation. Sore, stiff, nagging muscle or joint pain is ideal for the use of heat therapy. Athletes with chronic pain or injuries may use heat therapy before exercise to increase the elasticity of joint connective tissues and to stimulate blood flow. Heat can also help relax tight or spasmed mucsles. Do not apply heat after exercise. Because heat increases circulation and raises skin temperature you should not apply heat to acute injuries or injuries that show signs of inflammation. Safely apply heat to an injury 15 to 20 minutes at a time and use enough layers between your skin and the heating source to prevent burns. Moist heat is best so you could try using a hot wet towel. Specialty hot packs can be purchased or you may use a heating pad. Never leave heating pads on for more than 20 minutes at a time or while sleeping. Because some injuries can be serious, you should see your doctor if your injury does not improve or gets worse within 48 hours.

Important Symptoms

Helping to Make Your Own Diagnosis Today, major health concerns revolve around the more dominant leading causes of death all westernized nations face. They are labeled as:Heart and vascular dis-ease, stroke, cancer, diabetes II, kidney dis-ease, liver dis-ease, chronic lower respiratory dis-ease, Influenza/Pneumonia, Alzheimer's dis-ease. Moreover, lets not forget all the complication illnesses, conditions, syndromes, and secondary dis-eases that rotate around these causes of death. Read more about: "What We Are Not Told About Diseases" below. Accelerating Premature Aging Dis-easesUp until about 10 years ago, most people under age 50 did not yet have evidence of normal organ damage or tissue change due to “Aging” metabolic imbalances. That has changed. Over the past 10 years, more people in this age group are showing these damaging changes. More importantly, prior to such damage and changes doctors are seeing people in their thirties and forties coming to them with a host of symptoms which orthodox techniques offer no relief from. These “symptoms” are known to be associated with Premature Aging and the progressive early development of dis-eases and conditions including, hyperinsulinemia (insulin resistance) heart and vascular disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney and liver disease, alzheimer's, obesity, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunctions, and cancer.Common Early Warning Signs of Premature Aging, Metabolic Disturbance –Remember this list is far from complete, but contains the most common signals of dis-ease producing changes beginning to take place and both orthodox medicine and the person generally ignore them. *Fatigue, *Poor sleep patterns, *Mental confusion, *Stomach problems *Bowel problems, *Muscle weakness, *Intense cravings for sweets, fats and stimulants, *Allergies, *Skin and hair problems or changes, *Immune system problems, *Irritability, *Mood swings, *Depression, *Stress, *Difficulty concentrating or remembering, *Weight gain or loss, *Fluid retention, *Inflammation, *Back or neck pain, *Headaches, *Muscle pain, *Infertility, *PMS, *Sexual dysfunctions, *Irregular periods, *Menopause symptoms, and the list goes on. These are symptoms you will never hear from a person who lives in a state of homeostasis and good health no matter their age.Are There ANY Tests That Can Help Find The Causes of These Symptoms:Orthodox MedicineCan your doctor (or will they) provide any tests that may help show what is causing such symptoms? NO.Until you have clearly demonstrating the presence of a serious illness or dis-ease - orthodox medicine does not have the right to perform widespread testing for either genetic or metabolic imbalances. This means they have no preventative testing ability – it is not in their accepted procedure protocols.Natural (Holistic) MedicineYes, metabolic testing, especially “preventative” testing, has been an accepted diagnostic tool for years now. What This Means to People with Back and Neck PainThe above symptoms are the result of changes in our body’s homeostasis or metabolic systems, and many of the same metabolic changes are found in “degenerative” back and neck pain conditions. Did you notice Back Pain is one of the listed symptoms?Pain is the body’s outward symptom telling you something is wrong and needs attention. Like, “GET YOUR HAND OFF THAT HOT STOVE, PLEASE.” That message arrived through a number of chemical metabolic signals, bounced through numerous systems. Metabolic changes occurring may result in just the symptom of back and neck pain. On the other hand, if you are suffering from back and neck pain, it’s a good bet that you will also find many other of the above symptoms may also be present.Using These Symptoms to Find, Halt and/or Reverse Premature Aging Degenerative Conditions (including back and neck pain)Making the most of this information to assist in finding the development of any possible premature aging dis-ease is only possible using the types of tests available through a Naturopathic Doctor, or an MD practicing Functional Medicine. As we said, MDs are not allowed to do “preventative” testing. There is one test MD’s can do that could be great help and that is a fasting insulin test. This is discussed a bit further into this article.What Can These Symptoms Tell Us About Our Current State of Health?Preventative Testing for 8 Modifiable Anti-aging Risk Factors: For Natural Medicine physicians your symptoms will have significant meaning for anti-aging, dis-ease prevention. Scientifically, these “early warning symptoms” fall into eight modifiable categories. Naturopathic doctors will listen to you explain your symptoms, and they hear you describing errors in these eight important systemic metabolic areas: Impaired Mitochondrial Function: - metabolic errors of mitochondrial function, energy production, and free radical production. Significant premature aging factors are found in this area Dysglycemia/Insulin Dysmetabolism: Metabolic early identification of dysfunction related to adult-onset dysinsulinism, Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Syndrome X, significant causes of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, as well as renal failure, neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction. Chronic Inflammation: assesses fatty acids levels and metabolism related to the physiological processes significantly affected by inflammation, including musculoskeletal health, inflammatory cardiovascular disease processes, mood, and cognition. Imbalanced Methylation Reactions: A need to determine lipid status and analyze such independent risk factors as C-reactive protein, abnormalities in amino acid methylation, reflected in levels of homocystine. Inadequate Detoxification Capacity: Tummy acid, digestive complaints, or bowel disturbance indicates a need to evaluate the body's ability to convert and neutralize toxins and metabolic products, including liver function. Problems with gastrointestinal function, digestive capacity, absorption and gut integrity, metabolic factors, microbiology, mycology, and parasitology. Dysfunctional Immune System: Can be responsible for such conditions as allergies, osteoarthritis, depression, chronic flu and infections, autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, unexplained weight gain, and irritable bowel syndrome. Chronic Stress Response: A number of the above symptoms indicate imbalances of important adrenal hormones. Adrenal hormones have a profound influence on the body's carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism, immune response, thyroid function, cardiovascular health, and overall resistance to stress. Hormonal Imbalance: Male and Female Hormone levels can impact cognitive, cardiovascular, and sexual function. Improper hormone balance can negatively affect mood, influence muscle/fat ratio, and decrease the overall sense of well-being. It is important we learn how to “read” our bodies messages. Unfortunately, most of these early warning symptoms are ignored. We, or our doctors, simply chalk them up to the “oh, well, you’re just getting older – learn to live with it,” explanation. Orthodox medicine ignores them because they are not relevant to this medicine model until they become a part of an actual disease.These symptoms can save your life because they generally start to appear long before the imbalance has progressed to more unmistakable dis-eases and more debilitating symptoms. Intervention at the “early warning symptom” stage has excellent results.The problem is these symptoms are so vague and universal we never think they may be indicators of some developing dis-ease. So, they appear to have no specific significance in the grand scheme of things. UNTIL NOW. Most of us don’t notice them until they begin to become a major problem. They tend to “creep” up on us. First, one symptom, a while later maybe a couple more, until one day we wake up and realize our life is not much fun anymore. We may not know why, but we do know we just do not feel good most of the time anymore. We have been “brainwashed” to believe they are old age related and there is little we can do about them. Nevertheless, these symptoms are important – because if they appear much before the age of 50 they are very real indicators that there are premature aging, illnesses, and unbalanced metabolic processes taking place within all of our 70 trillion odd cells. Our bodies are talking to us and we need to listen. What are the premature aging scientific indications for the above symptoms?The real underlying cause of most back and neck pain is the same as any premature aged related dis-eases. We can’t separate them. The problem here is that much of what goes wrong in the body appears related to normal aging processes, premature aging factors, and the metabolic processes involved.Certainly many dis-eases have an underlying genetic component that lead to early dis-ease processes, but it appears that many of the major factors involved in premature aging and its dis-ease development only make matters worse for these people. Even testing for such genetic involvement is now possible.So, if you are having back and neck pain, consider seeking tests that can help determine if your metabolic system is out of whack, where it is out of whack and what you need to do. Rebalancing this system can go a long way to helping with your back and neck pain relief. If you have any of the other symptoms listed above they are another confirmation of the need to look at where your metabolism, and overall health stands. Testing for imbalances can help to do this while protecting your long-term health. And it could just help slow down your rate of aging.Sneak Preview of One of Most Deadly Suspected Contributors to Premature Aging and Dis-ease It turns out far too many people may be in danger of prematurely developing the five deadly dis-eases (and all of their complications) then anyone would have dreamed possible. Some of the newest “Aging” research has provided an important link to most of the dis-eases that westernized nations are facing today. It has linked mitochondrial metabolic impairment to a derangement of the blood sugar control system. Branches of Endocrinology science have also been looking at the insulin resistance link in various dis-eases and has already identified a number of dis-eases all coupled to insulin resistance. All of which was well known in the 1930’s.What most people do not know is that between 64% to 93% of the US population is estimated to have blood sugar/insulin impairment - just beginning to develop, or having already progressed to the dis-ease of diabetes II.Yes, there are other reasons for these dis-ease symptoms, but when we looked at the high numbers of people estimated to have sugar/insulin impairment of one sort or another – we believe it prudent to make sure you have this tested as a part of looking into other metabolic impairment.Easy Cheap Test for Everyone Fasting Blood Sugar – Fasting Blood InsulinMake sure you and all your family members have this test done.We believe that when you are in need of metabolic tests through a naturopathic physician, blood testing for sugar/insulin would be automatic, but we can’t guarantee this. For those who can’t afford to have such extensive metabolic tests run (only private insurance covers such testing in the US and it is not covered at all in Canada) you can still demand a fasting, blood sugar/insulin test through your orthodox physician. That test is covered. They might give you some grief about the insulin part of this test. Don’t take NO for an answer. MAKE SURE YOU GET ONE DONE and get your result photocopied. We discuss the importance of getting your insulin tested and the expected test results and what they mean, in the article, “Metabolic Syndrome”Quick Fact: The history of the epidemic in insulin resistance, (hyperinsulinemia) and the dis-ease called diabetes II, now sweeping the US, (as well as much of the rest of the world) exactly matches the introduction and use of man-made engineered processed (dead foods) foods and fats, empty carbs and adulteration of our once clean food supply. On this all science agrees, except of course for those with a financial stake in keeping us eating such foods and fats and sugars. Coincidentally, sugar tops the list of the main dietary causes contributing to degenerative premature aging. And there is no getting around this. Can Biological (Lifespan) Age Be Tested for or Predicted?The single greatest marker for lifespan, as they are finding in the centenarian studies, is INSULIN, specifically insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity can predict a person’s biological age, which may turn out to be much older than their actual, or chronological age.What We Are Not Told About These “Diseases"Insulin Resistance’s links to all the diseases of westernized nations was known about over 50 years ago. Many of the (old age) degenerative dis-eases of today continued to be investigated over the past 50 years. The newest science (from many sources) has confirmed what was well known to physicians of the 1930’s. These “diseases” can be traced to a massive failure of our endocrine system known as Insulin Resistant Diabetes (Diabetes II, or Adult onset Diabetes.) At one time: Strokes, both ischemic and hemorrhagic Heart failure due to neuropathy as well as both ischemic and hemorrhagic coronary events, Obesity Atherosclerosis, Elevated blood pressure, Elevated cholesterol, Elevated triglycerides, Impotence, Retinopathy, Kidney failure, Liver failure, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Elevated blood sugar, Systemic candida, Impaired carbohydrate metabolism, Poor wound healing, Impaired fat metabolism, Peripheral neuropathy (damaged nerves) As well as many more of today's epidemic disorders were once well understood to often be but symptoms of diabetes Guess What? Once again, all of the above have been proven to have a link to both insulin resistance and diabetes II, and are still being ignored for the most part by orthodox medicine, when treating any of their isolated specialized dis-eases. How Did All These Insulin Resistant Symptoms Get Split into various orthodox medicine specialties groups and become identified as “Specialized” Diseases?In the United States, in 1949, Orthodox Medicine took all the symptoms of Diabetes II and many other disease symptoms and reclassified them into specific and isolated dis-eases. Orthodox medicine was already broken up into “specialties”. The reclassification of diabetes symptoms allowed these medicine specialty groups to then claim related diabetic groups of symptoms as their own specialty “symptom sets”. Therefore, the heart specialist, kidney specialist, endocrinologists, neurologists, allergists and many others began to testing for the “risk factors” for their dis-eases, and then “treat” the various “symptoms” which they could lay claim to. All focus on the original underlying cause of insulin resistance was packed away, out of sight, and certainly was never a consideration in treatment, preventative or otherwise.It is now common practice to refer to these symptoms as if they were separable independent diseases with separate unrelated proprietary treatments provided by competing medical specialists. It does not matter that the specialties have given “Names” like Heart Dis-ease, or Kidney Dis-ease none provide treatment that “cures” these diseases – they can only “treat” some of the symptoms of their “dis-eases.” One of the most discussed of these “Metabolic Syndrome” a set of testable factors that can determine a person’s risk factor for heart dis-ease and stroke. Why Not Test for Insulin Resistance?We have often wondered, as we put this site together, why Orthodox medicine is so loath to do a fasting insulin test? They have many reasons why this will not “prove” anything. However, science tells us something very different – your fasting insulin can clearly show if you are insulin resistant – no matter how “in-line” your fasting sugar may appear to be. We don’t believe in waiting until diabetic symptoms are so pronounced that you may have had the dis-ease for years (which is usually the case) – we believe in prevention. Fasting insulin can tell you where you stand – hopefully long before you are even close to being a full-blown diabetic. Once again, we understand that many of these dis-eases result from other causes besides insulin resistance or diabetes; however, it is also true that this fact has disguised the causative role of insulin resistance and diabetes for years.So today we are taught to believe we need to treat a number of life-threatening dis-eases and conditions when, in all too many cases, we may only be in need of treating one. The relationship of these dis-eases to insulin resistance and our diets plus the connection this has to the failure of the mitochondria due to blood sugar levels cannot be ignored. Have you been tested? Have your children been tested? Interestingly physicians in the early part of the last century had very good success treating diabetes II with simple diet changes. Further information today has strong pointers to the huge increase in diabetes II plus the “Specialty” diseases vs the timeline for introduction of new processed foods, bad fats, and sugars into our diets

Identifying All the CAUSES of Back and Neck Pain

"Conditions” may not be the real Cause – “Conditions” may be the results or “symptoms” of metabolic imbalances, which have been linked to Aging and/or “Premature” Aging factors. The CAUSE of Back and Neck Pain (Orthodox Medical Model) There is a high failure rate in the management and treatment of back and neck pain. More than 40% of all people who ever experience back and neck pain will go on to further pain episodes. When we consider that up to 98% of all people will experience back or neck pain at some point in their lives – 44% is a very high figure. We think the numbers of these sufferers who move on to pain that causes disability, job, social and family problems is far too high. We question the millions of other sufferers who are having to experience progressive back pain of any kind, especially if they are young under 50. In order to try and reduce these numbers we present the following information for you to consider. We believe this information may just help to explain why this figure is higher then it needs to be and how people may be able to reduce all these numbers and the normal intensity of frequency of episodes currently being experienced by our population. There are many “Causes” of back and neck pain one would not expect to see as a part of orthodox medical causes, but they exist none the less and they are causes that need to be examined. They all contribute to this ongoing problem of too frequent pain and disability.The major “causes” that need to be considered are1. Pain-Causing Conditions2. Improper diagnose and treatment (including Pain Treatment)3. Lack of adequate and/or correct information4. Ignoring the Signs/Lack of treatment 5. Underlying Metabolic Imbalances6. Personal non-adherence to a specific treatment program7. The "Pain" itself [undertreatment] 1. Pain-Causing Conditions:On most back and neck pain sites you will find a section labeled as “Conditions” under which are numerous links to names like Sciatica, Spondylolisthesis, Sciatica, ankylosing spondylitis, aging spine, cervical pain (whiplash), degenerative disc dis-ease, degenerative spine dis-ease, herniated disc, lumbar / low back pain, pinched nerve, ruptured disc, slipped disc, stenosis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, facet joint syndrome, and osteoporosis. Orthodox medicine explains that without a hereditary or genetic problem, the majority (90 - 98%) of “back and neck pain” is due to Degenerative Spinal Dis-ease - (degenerative, progressive, normal old age, changes and their complications.) This implies a ‘breakdown,’ or lack of health and normal function of a variety of tissues and supporting processes of the spine. This can be bone, joints, cartilage, muscle, fluids, discs, ligaments, nerves, and the like. Both patient and doctor have come to accept the belief that “oh, its old age creeping up.” Or, “well there is not much we can do about this.” This attitude by itself is like a secondary Cause and it may not be true. We will discuss more about this under the heading of “Identifying Metabolic Imbalances,.” But for now, its good to keep in mind.We are told we can speed the development of such degenerative changes though accident, job related repetitive motions, poor posture, and lack of proper exercise, and here genetics would figure in. The degenerative changes that are occurring result in the pain-causing Conditions associated with back and neck pain listed at the beginning of this article. Each needs to be correctly identified and properly treated.Yet, it also tells us, “95% of all back pain has NO identifiable physical CAUSE.” It would appear we have a slight conflict of information. We know it sounds silly, but if 98% of back pain is due to degenerative conditions, and 95% has no identifiable physical cause – then what is causing all this pain?Do we, or don’t we have the means to determine pain-cause Conditions of back and neck pain? This is a very important question for those people who fall into the 95% category of people with no identifiable physical cause. We know that a high percentage of back and neck pain escalates in the level of pain, the number of episodes, and the amount of disability experienced. If you can’t find an identifiable cause how is it possible to prescribe corrective treatment and stop this progress? 2. Improper Diagnoses and TreatmentIt would appear that determining the correct diagnoses of an pain-creating Condition is not as easy as one would think. It would make sense to locate the CAUSE of the pain. Fix that. Voila, no more pain. Right?If it were only that simple, it would be a truly wonderful world. Perhaps, if we had greater success with diagnosing and treating even the pain-causing conditions we are aware of, we might not have the staggering numbers of people, now included in that awful statistic of 70 MILLION people suffering from Chronic Pain, with many of those functionally disabled (US STAT.) A high number of these people are back and neck pain sufferers. These are unnecessary numbers. We have much greater control of this then we are led to believe. It is possible that the use of such “diagnostic” terms may account or contribute to the high rate of failure in determining exactly where and what the source of the pain is? A doctor may identify a particular problem in the spine that is expected to be a reason for the pain then a particular label such as degenerative disc dis-ease is applied as a diagnostic explanation for the source of a person’s pain. Often as not it may turn out to be the wrong source of the pain. Many people will “show” the exact same type of degenerative changes in the spine the person suffering with pain shows. However, many of those people will never experience back and neck pain. That is a great part of diagnostics – they are no guarantee that “what you see is what you get.” Almost all diagnosis for the source of back pain is wrongIn fact according to studies 82% of patients seen for back pain will find the first diagnosis given was incorrect. Yet, treatment will usually be started based on that incorrect diagnosis. Incorrect treatment, along with pain generating diagnostic procedures are also causes of both new and increased back and neck pain. So, why don’t we find either of these listed under normal pain causing “Conditions.” Back and Neck Pain is one of humankind’s greatest problems. In spite of the new science and research into pain and effective treatments, which we have tried to present on this site - even with everything we know today - it remains the hardest to define and treat effectively. No one has been able to fully explain why 50% recover from their back and neck pain and 50% don’t. They may now understand some of the contributing factors in this process, but they don’t understand them all. The whole area of back and neck pain for orthodox medicine today is still extremely nebulous and as a result for many back pain sufferers, chances for long-term, adequate relief are abysmal. A person does not have to be confined to a wheelchair to qualify as disabled by back or neck pain. If it interferes with the quality and quantity of your life in any way – it is disabling.This leads us to a discussion about the Lack of Adequate Information. 3. Lack of Adequate and/or Correct InformationIt is said that less than 2% of all back and neck pain is due to a “serious” pain-causing condition, such as fractures, disc dis-ease, impinged nerves, stenosis, for example. Many straight talking orthodox surgeons will tell you that even with these problems less than 1% need to be surgically corrected. If you look up information on the web about back and/or neck pain you will find it tells us 90 to 98 percent of acute pain episodes will “clear up” within 1 day to 1 month with little or no treatment, (or 3 to 6 months depending on the physician you talk to.) Is this Encouraging and Accurate Information?This information certainly appears to be encouraging, but it is not truthful. This flawed information leads people to believe their first time, acute (Eudynia) back or neck pain episode is hardly anything to worry about. This belief is made worse, because the majority of first time back PAIN actually does get better, even though it may take more time and care then indicated. Many Orthodox physicians also provide the patient with this same information because they have come to believe it themselves. Worse, the doctor, too often has little regard for the absolute importance of adequate first-time pain treatment. The patient notices the physician’s lack of concern about their pain and will tend to try to “tough the pain out”. After all, “it won’t last long and then it will all be gone.” Won’t it? Besides, “a little pain never hurt anyone.” Did it? “Don’t be a wimp, pain builds character.” Doesn’t it? (Remember, under-treated pain contributes to ongoing pain and the possibility of developing the dis-ease of pain, Maldynia. Yet, we do not see PAIN listed as a “cause” of back and neck pain, either) If another episode crops up, they are surprised – after all 90 to 98 percent of all people are supposed to get better. The Real NumbersThis incorrect information is based on one flawed study from years ago. Recently, a number of similar, but more detailed scientific studies determined that, at a minimum, once back pain first strikes this 90-98% of the population………. A minimum of 30-32% of them will have 1 or more episodes within the next 12 months and An additional 12-14% more will have 1 or more episodes in the next 24 months. That’s a total of 44%. Almost half of the entire population who are first struck with a back or neck pain experience. That’s a lot of people with recurring episodes of back and neck pain that were supposed to be “completely healed in 1 day to 3 months”.This flawed information can lead a person to think that they must have a much more serious problem when they end up experiencing another episode. Does it mean they have a really serious problem? Certainly not. But many incorrectly believe they do have a more serious problem. This type of worry has been proven to add to the intensity and length of the pain experience and slow healing down, and this, too, helps to convince the person they are suffering from a serious problem. 4. Ignoring the Signs/Lack of Proper TreatmentWell, 98% might have recovered from the PAIN but a minimum of 44% did not stay that way. This is a part of the overall information you need to be aware of in order to help with resolution of ongoing back pain. Knowing your repeat episode is very unlikely to indicate a more serious problem is comforting information for those who are especially concerned about their lack of expected healing. However, there are another group of people who don’t give any consideration to their first, second, third, or more back pain episodes until they cause serious interference in their lives and work. We need to get the word out to these people as well – Ignoring the signs can increase the chances of repeated episodes and/or progression of pain. The best way to manage back and neck pain is to intervene as soon as you experience your first episode of acute back pain. Or, as soon as you begin noticing those small, nagging, painful, tight muscles becoming more irritating and frequent after work or play activities. We have discussed the importance of immediate treatment in a number of previous articles, but if you have not read any of these we suggest you have a look at the information that is included in “Identifying the Pain.” or “Pain Relief Cheat Sheet.” The sooner treatment begins the better the overall outcome. Back or neck pain can be an indication of more extensive degenerative metabolic changes taking place then just what is showing up in the back or neck. The sooner you find out the extent of those changes the better. This brings us to Underlying Metabolic Imbalances as a “cause” Underlying Metabolic ImbalancesAll of these pain-causing “Conditions,” and others, may be a reason a person is suffering with back and neck pain, but metabolic changes, premature aging factors can be the Underlying Cause, especially if these pain-causing conditions are not related to genetics and are happening to people under age 50. Once this science of aging and premature aging is examined then we can understand the hypothesis that science considers such “conditions” are but symptoms or the result of metabolic disorders. Various natural metabolic disorders have been identified as ‘markers’ of the normal evolutionary stages of degenerative “Aging.” Many of these metabolic changes have also been found in younger people. Metabolic changes that are present can be the cause of, or they can complicate degenerative spine conditions.So, how young is young? According to Scientists who study aging, (without hereditary or genetic conditions) biologically, we should all be able to live to age 100 or 120, in relatively good health. Degenerative changes in the spine that accompany back and neck pain creating “Conditions” are rarely found before the age of 50 in centenarian societies. Certainly many of the above listed types of back and neck pain “Conditions” found in our western societies are never found in these societies. The majority of back and neck pain appears to be linked to degenerative (old age) Conditions, and we are told such degenerative changes are to be expected in people as young as 30. If this is correct, then such changes must be connected to ‘premature’ aging changes, not normal old age changes.6. Personal non-adherence to a specific treatment programNon-Adherence to treatment programs usually exists for three main reasons. The “treatment” can “appear” to make the pain worse (not reading the body correctly.) The person stops treatment The “treatment” is making the pain worse (incorrect treatment) The person stops treatment and sometimes will not tell their doctor. The “treatment” involves modifications to life styles that the person is not willing to take responsibility for. Finding Effective Treatments for Back and Neck PainTo find the most effective treatment means we need to correctly locate and treat: The Pain The pain-causing Condition and Any underlying metabolic imbalance We have already discussed in great detail how important it is to treat the pain. Pain Causes Pain. The next part of recovery is one of treatment of the pain-causing condition. Both orthodox and natural physicians usually recommend conservative treatment to begin with. Such treatment involves a period of recovery from the acute pain, any tissue damage, and inflammation that has occurred. After that, there are any number of conservative treatment options. These can involve Chiropractic, Osteopathic, or sacro-cranial adjustments for spinal imbalances (frequent cause) along with specific strengthening exercises, additional physical activity, and other life style changes to help manage diet, and stress – which are some of the contributors to the causes of metabolic imbalances, which we have control over.Even correct treatments that involve adjustments and exercises may “appear” to create more pain. Learning to “read” your body is important at this point. Often muscles that have not been used for some time will rebel – but there is a big difference between this type of temporary new pain and the acute pain you were suffering from. When this happens, if the pain is simply uncomfortable – ease back on the exercises or adjustments – you are not in a race of any kind. Be gentle with your body. Use of the Heat Treat Backpack during or even before these treatments is very helpful.Nothing you are doing within any treatment should be creating worse or long-lasting pain. But you must give these treatments time – if your pain is due to lack of conditioning, which didn’t happen overnight repairing the body’s conditioning will take time as well. Incorrect treatment is easy to identify and non-adherence is understandable. Incorrect treatments will always cause an increase in the level of pain and that pain level will not reduce over a few hours or a day. If this increased pain has occurred during a first treatment - wait a few days – if the pain is again under control, and you wish to retry the treatment – proceed. If the same thing again happens, - stop this type of treatment – BUT let your doctor know exactly what happened. Do be clear you were not able to relate this pain increase to “normal” or new muscle use pain. Because of the high level of non-adherence with back pain treatments, many physicians may think you are simply fearful of the new pain and that the treatment they prescribed is still correct and will advise you to continue.The Biggest Cause of Personal Non-Adherence revolves around necessary life-style changes and there are always life-style changes As we noted above, such changes are often recommended by Chiropractors and Osteopaths. Such changes are often recommended even without looking into possible metabolic imbalances that may be at the heart of the degenerative changes. If you are “out of condition” and exercises or body strengthening is recommended but you are not willing to do this part of treatment, don’t be surprised if your pain-causing condition gets worse.There is absolutely no point in looking into possible metabolic imbalances if you are not willing to take the responsibility you will be required to in order to help turn those imbalances around.In Conclusion, we hope that identifying some of the major “causes” that all contribute to back and neck pain will prove helpful. There are a number of other causes, while perhaps more secondary in nature also should be looked at just to see if any might be a part of what is happening to you. Not allowing the body sufficient time to completely heal damaged tissues. Doing things that further damage incompletely healed tissue. Fear of the pain Some Metabolic Contributors:Other contributing secondary reasons for pain are both consequences and creators of metabolic imbalance. For instance, it is well known: Pain, creates pain Pain creates inflammation and muscle spasm Inflammation creates more pain Pain and Inflammation create stress Stress, pain, and inflammation eventually depress, or over activate the immune system. Stress creates more pain, more inflammation, emotional and mental depression. Depression and stress create food cravings Well, it just gets much worse from here. A metabolic imbalance in any single area of body function results in imbalances in many other areas. Recent endocrinology studies by themselves, has proved, beyond doubt, that orthodox medicine can no longer view or treat dis-ease in isolation. But, it still is treating dis-ease in isolation. It has always been and continues to be folly to expect true healing or even good health by treating anything in isolation. When you consider the pain, inflammation, stress, depression, pain, metabolic merry-go-round, don’t forget how effective the Heat Treat Backpack is for dealing with PAIN, inflammation and stress – all with the need for less or no damaging drugs. You bet we are proud this product can provide such an effective all-inclusive pain relief “System” for people. Speed Your Own Diagnosis.Besides specific metabolic testing there is also another method you can use that helps to determine if your back and neck pain is an actual symptom of metabolic premature aging. This is done by evaluating a list of important symptoms that appear long before a body has progressed to more life-threatening dis-eases and disorders. If you notice, back pain is one of those listed symptoms. GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTERWe define the new meaning of “degenerative (dis-eases) conditions” and take our first look at their identified and easily changed causes in the article on Degenerative Back and Neck Conditions.

Practical tips for back pain relief

There are a number of back pain relief remedies that are for the most part under your control. And sometimes, it’s nice to know some options that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine to help manage your pain. This newsletter provides a number of relatively simple back pain relief tips. Ice is a very effective pain relieverEven with all the high tech medical options available, a simple ice application can still be one of the more effective, proven methods to treat a sore back or neck. Ice is typically most effective if it is applied soon after an injury occurs, or after any activity that causes pain or stiffness. Ice can also be very helpful in alleviating postoperative pain and discomfort. While any form of applying cold to the injured area - such as a bag of ice wrapped in a towel or a commercial ice pack - should be helpful, combining massage therapy with ice application is a nice alternative for pain relief. See also Ahh…Ice massage therapy for pain relief. Heat therapy is good tooWhile the overall qualities of warmth and heat have long been associated with comfort and relaxation, heat therapy goes a step further and can provide both pain relief and healing benefits for many types of lower back pain. In addition, heat therapy - such as heating pads, heat wraps, hot baths, warm gel packs, etc. - is both inexpensive and easy to do. Some patients find more pain relief with heat (either moist heat or dry heat) and others with ice. The two therapies may also be alternated. See also Benefits of heat therapy for lower back pain. Hamstring stretching exercises can help If you have tight hamstring muscles (the large muscles in the back of your thighs), the motion in your pelvis may be limited, which can increase stress across your lower back. To decrease this stress it is a good idea to incorporate hamstring stretching exercises into your daily routine. Hamstring stretching should typically include applying even pressure to lengthen the hamstring muscle for 30 to 45 seconds at a time, one to two times each day. There are a number of different ways to stretch your hamstrings, and if you have a back condition you may want to check with your doctor or physical therapist to discuss which position will work best for you. See also Exercise for back pain. Some therapies actually feel good!While it sometimes may not seem like it, there are a number of soothing, rewarding therapies available to treat back pain. Here are two options to consider: Massage therapy is a proven method for alleviating lower back pain, and can also improve sleep and lessen anxiety and depression (which sometimes accompany pain). Some insurance plans will cover massage therapy. Another treatment option is water therapy. In addition to the physical therapy benefits, water therapy has the added benefits of relaxation and sensory alterations due to water temperature and hydrostatic pressure. It also unweights the joints of the spine and allows for further range of motion. See also Massage therapy for back pain and Water therapy exercise program. About Spine-health.comWhile Spine-health.com provides information on a range of medical treatments - including surgery - sometimes it’s just helpful to get back to the basics and consider simple treatments to help manage back pain and neck pain. All of the above therapies can be combined with other treatments (e.g. medications, physical therapy) and for most people, combining different therapies is the best approach. Best wishes, Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., M.D., Medical DirectorStephanie Burke, PresidentSpine-health.com March 2003

Site Concept

Search Engine Related: heat pack, microwave heat pack, pack heat, moist heat pack, reusable heat pack, thermal heat pack, magical heat pack, herbal heat pack, instant heat pack, heat therapy, heat therapy products This site is devoted to the path of teaching people the huge benefits of heat therapy, as well as providing the reccomendation of the best heat therapy product of the authors opinion. Critical Reading: How to Apply Heat Therapy Source: www.spine-health.com Author:Vert Mooney, M.D Recommended Heat Therapy Product: The Heat Treat Backpack System

Heat vs. Cold Therapy for Injuries

Source: http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/rehab/a/heatorcold.htm From Elizabeth Quinn,Your Guide to Sports Medicine.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Should you ice injuries or apply heat?Most athletes know that you should apply ice to an acute injury, like a sprained ankle, but you might also have heard that heat can be used on injuries as well. How do you know when to use heat and when to use cold? Acute and Chronic InjuriesThere are two basic types of athletic injuries: acute and chronic. Acute injuries are sudden, sharp, traumatic injuries with a rapid onset (within 48 hours) and possibly severe pain. Typically, acute injuries result from some sort of trauma such as a fall, sprain, or other impact. Chronic injuries are slow to develop, can come and go, and may cause dull pain or soreness. They are often the result of overuse but sometimes develop when an acute injury is left untreated. Acute injuries are usually easy to identify because of the sudden onset. Signs and symptoms include pain, tenderness, redness, skin that may be warm to the touch, swelling and inflammation. If you have swelling, you have an acute injury. Cold TherapyCold therapy with ice is the best immediate treatment for acute injuries because it can reduce swelling and pain. Ice is a vasoconstrictor (causes the blood vessels to narrow) and it limits bleeding at the injury site. Apply ice to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Allow the skin temperature to return to normal before icing a second or third time. You can ice an acute injury several times a day. Cold therapy is also helpful in treating some overuse injuries or chronic pain in athletes. An athlete who has chronic knee pain that increases after running may want to ice the injured area after each run to reduce or prevent inflammation. Never ice a chronic injury before exercise. The best way to ice an injury is with a high quality ice pack that conforms to the body part being iced. Two such products are ColdOne Cold Therapy Wraps and SnowPack Cold Therapy products. You can also get good results from a bag of frozen peas, ice massage with water frozen in a dixie cup (peel the cup down as the ice melts) or a basic bag of ice. Read more about how to safely use ice on injuries. Heat TherapyHeat is generally used for chronic injuries or injuries that have no inflammation. Sore, stiff, nagging muscle or joint pain is ideal for the use of heat therapy. Athletes with chronic pain or injuries may use heat therapy before exercise to increase the elasticity of joint connective tissues and to stimulate blood flow. Heat can also help relax tight or spasmed mucsles. Do not apply heat after exercise. Because heat increases circulation and raises skin temperature you should not apply heat to acute injuries or injuries that show signs of inflammation. Safely apply heat to an injury 15 to 20 minutes at a time and use enough layers between your skin and the heating source to prevent burns. Moist heat is best so you could try using a hot wet towel. Specialty hot packs can be purchased or you may use a heating pad. Never leave heating pads on for more than 20 minutes at a time or while sleeping. Because some injuries can be serious, you should see your doctor if your injury does not improve or gets worse within 48 hours

Low Back Pain

Title: Low Back Pain Source: http://www.heattreat.ca/lowbackpain.php

Disorders that can result in Low back pain:

- This is a far from complete list, but we put the major players at the top Back injury from • Traumatic Accidents – Vehicles, Sports, Falls, Blows, etc• New exercise programs or sports and leisure activities• Repetitive Motion Injury• Excessive or improper lifting • Other Improper Movements• Poor Posture- Including “guarding” of painful back areaLeading to:• Soft Tissue strain (high occurrence rate)• Soft Tissue Sprain (high occurrence rate)• Muscle Spasms (high occurrence rate)• Normal Inflammation (high occurrence rate)• Spinal Misalignment• Fracture (low occurrence – unless in accident, vehicle, fall, high impact sports accident, osteoporosis, etc)• Disc injury (low occurrence unless already degenerating and/or involved in accident as listed above) The following are in no particular order of priority Degenerative Spine Dis-ease Degenerative Disc Disease (disc disorders - a part of “Degenerative Spine Dis-ease”) Incorrect Sleeping Position Poor Nutrition Essential Fatty Acid Imbalance Poor Sleep Incorrect Low-Back Sleeping Support Stress – Physical and Emotional Pregnancy- especially with excessive weight gain Fibromyalgia Depression Osteoarthritis (a degenerative rheumatic dis-ease) Rheumatic disease - Any one a group of conditions characterized by inflammation and/or pain in the muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue – including connective tissue conditions and diseases that affects the major substances in the skin, tendons, and bones Polymyalgia rheumatica and Giant cell arteritis Facet Joint Syndrome Disc disorders Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome Chronic pain Chronic Inflammation Maldynia Sciatica Piriformis syndrome Osteomalacia softening of the bones due to a deficiency of calcium and phosphorus, is often corrected by supplemental vitamin D and calcium Osteoporosis• Vertebrae Fractures Ankylosing Spondylitis Spondylosis Spinal Stenosis – Spinal Cord and/or Nerve Root Nerve Disorders Bowel Disorders• Crohn's disease • Ulcerative colitis• Leaky-Gut Syndrome Liver dysfunction Whiplash Kidney Stones Body Burden: The number and types of Toxic Chemical (selection up to 80,000) residue present in your tissues: - environmental and occupational radioactive and chemical exposures, (including PCB, pesticide and herbicides, xenoestrogens- and other endocrine disruptors,) and metals Chemical drugs (pharmaceuticals) interactions and side-effects Oxidative Stress Leve Conditions of a more Unlikely nature that can cause low back pain (this list is also not complete) Diskitis: an infection in the disk space is unusual in a patient who has not undergone a lumbar surgery, but it is more prevalent in patients who have a compromised immune system Arachnoiditis: a scarring of the arachnoid membrane , which is a covering of the nerve roots. The most common cause is previous surgery, although some patients may suffer if they have had myelograms, epidural anaesthesia, epidural blocks in the past. Can result from ankylosing spondylitis and syringomyelelia Tumors Spinal Infection Syringomyelia:- cyst(s) that form within the spinal cord destroying the center of the spinal cord Sacroiliitis: (inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, which connects the spine and pelvis) Chlamydia Endometriosis Oophoritis: - Ovary Inflammation Uterine fibroids Prostatitis: - Inflammation or Infection of the prostate Lyme’s Disease Rocky Mountain spotted fever Kidney Liver Prostate Cancer Colorectal Polyps Cancer

Spinal anatomy and back pain

Title: Spinal anatomy and back pain Source: http://spine-health.com/topics/anat/a01.html Spinal anatomy is a remarkable combination of strong bones, flexible ligaments and tendons, large muscles and highly sensitive nerves. It is designed to be incredibly strong, protecting the highly sensitive nerve roots, yet highly flexible, providing for mobility on many different planes. Most of us take this juxtaposition of strength, structure and flexibility for granted in our everyday lives—until something goes wrong. Once we're in pain, we're driven to know what's wrong and what it will take to relieve the pain and prevent a recurrence. Many different structures in the spine are capable of producing back pain or neck pain, including: The large nerve roots that go to the legs and arms may be irritated The smaller nerves that innervate the spine may be irritated The large paired back muscles (erector spinae) may be strained The bones, ligaments or joints themselves may be injured The disc space itself can be a source of pain Therefore, a review of spinal anatomy is important to understand the causes of back pain, neck pain and sciatica (leg pain) and evaluate treatment options. There are four major regions of the spine (Figure 1): The cervical spine (neck) The neck supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that come from the brain to the rest of the body. This section of the spine has seven vertebral bodies (bones) that get smaller as they get closer to the base of the skull. Most of the rotation of the cervical spine comes from the top two segments whereas most of the flexion/extension movement comes from C5-C6 and C6-C7 (each motion segment is named by the two vertebral bodies that are connected). Acute neck pain is most often caused by a muscle, ligament or tendon strain (such as from a sudden force or straining the neck), and will usually heal with time and conservative treatments to alleviate the pain (such as ice and/or heat, medications, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, etc). For patients with neck pain that lasts longer than two weeks to three months, or with mainly arm pain, numbness or tingling, there is often a specific anatomic problem. For example, pain that radiates down the arm, and possibly into the hands and fingers, is usually caused by a cervical herniated disc or foraminal stenosis pinching a nerve in the neck. Treatment options for neck pain will differ depending on the specific diagnosis. The thoracic spine (upper back) The 12 vertebral bodies in the upper back make up the thoracic spine. The firm attachment of the rib cage at each level of the thoracic spine provides stability and structural support to the upper back and allows very little motion. The thoracic spine is basically a strong cage and it is designed to protect the vital organs of the heart and lungs. The upper back is not designed for motion, and subsequently, injuries to the thoracic spine are rare. However, irritation of the large back and shoulder muscles or joint dysfunction in the upper back can be very painful. The lumbar spine (lower back) The lower back has a lot more motion than the thoracic spine and also carries all the weight of the torso, making it the most frequently injured area of the spine. The motion in the lower back is divided between five motion segments, although a disproportionate amount of the motion is in the lower segments (L3-L4 and L4-L5). Consequently, these two segments are the most likely to breakdown from wear and tear (e.g. Osteoarthritis). The two lowest discs (L4-L5 and L5-S1) take the most strain and are the most likely to herniate. This can cause pain and possibly numbness that radiates through the leg and down to the foot (sciatica). The vast majority of episodes of lower back pain are caused by muscle strain. Even though this doesn't sound like a serious injury, trauma to the muscles and other soft tissues (ligaments, tendons) in the lower back can cause severe and debilitating pain. The good news is that soft tissues have a good blood supply, which brings nutrients to the injured area and facilitates the healing process. The sacral region (bottom of the spine) Below the lumbar spine is a bone called the sacrum, which makes up the back part of the pelvis. This bone is shaped like a triangle that fits between the two halves of the pelvis, connecting the spine to the lower half of the body. The sacrum is connected to part of the pelvis (the iliac bones) by the sacroiliac joints. Pain here is often called sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and is more common in women than men. The coccyx—or the tailbone—is in the sacral region at the very bottom of the spine. Pain here is called Coccydynia and is more common in women than men. This section provides an overview of anatomical structures in the spine, including: Vertebrae Spinal discs Spinal cord and nerve roots Back muscles Sacral region

Identifying All the CAUSES of Back and Neck Pain

Title: Identifying All the CAUSES of Back and Neck Pain Source: http://www.heattreat.ca/indentifyingthecause.php "Conditions” may not be the real Cause – “Conditions” may be the results or “symptoms” of metabolic imbalances, which have been linked to Aging and/or “Premature” Aging factors.

Continued Here

Chronic back pain management - patients' advice

Title: Chronic back pain management - patients' advice: Part II Source: http://www.spine-health.com/backtalk/btb_res_chronic02.html Pilates and exercise keeps chronic pain manageable I had back-to-back surgeries in June of 2003 to remove pieces of L5-S1. After the 2nd surgery, I still had considerable pain in my left calf and foot. I did physical therapy, had injections in my back, see an acupuncturist everymonth and do Pilates twice a week. I still have the pain but it is manageable. It only gets worse when I fail to keep up with my exercises. Pilates is a great way to keep your core muscles strong and to give you the type of posture that is needed to keep you upright. I take an antidepressant to help with the depression that comes with constant low back pain. From: Julie – Cumberland, Maine, USA Medication, gentle exercise and emotional support for chronic back pain I suffer from chronic lower back pain, and have done so for most of my life. In the last 2 years it has gotten so that I can't work. At present, I take slow-release Tramol 200mg twice a day, and Surgam 300mg twice, an older medication instead of Vioxx. When that is not enough, I take 3 500mg Paracetamol. At times, if I missed a Tramol by mistake, my pain gets out of control, and I'll either go to the hospital for an injection, which takes some hours of sometimes lying on the floor, or more recently I was given Endone (Oxycodone) 5mg to use only when needed. I may take two of those if the chronic lower back pain is bad enough. I find that walking and stretching are the best aids to relieve soreness. But I sometimes use an exercise bike. Coping with the emotional torment of chronic lower back pain is difficult. I need lots of support from family and friends - this is sometimes not enough. I am also involved in a twelve step program for another problem - this has given me, at times, the extra support I have needed. Through this program I have found a higher power to whom I can pray for that extra needed love and support. Until such time that US surgery is indicated, or some other treatment is available to me, I just battle on the best I can. From: Allan – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Managing chronic back pain with stretching and weight loss I have managed my chronic back pain due to scoliosis, stenosis, osteoarthritis, and bursitis mainly through exercise and keeping my weight down.I exercise 3 times a week religiously, where I do 45 minutes of cardio on an elliptical machine so as to not jar my joints and I stretch for about 30 minutes. The stretching is key. I also use free weights to keep my muscles strong and I keep my core muscles tight with balance exercises and ab exercises. I also have osteopena, so I take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which I believe alleviates some of the pain I had in my hip. I will take COX-2 inhibitors only when I have no other choice. From: Kathy – Hillsborough, New Jersey, USA Chronic back pain medications did not work In July 2001, I had C5-C6 fusion. Surgery went well. I never had any neck or shoulder pain, but I still have numb fingers, a burning left thigh, and weakness in my right arm and leg. I have an 8mm bruise and/or myelomalacia at the C5-6 level of my spinal cord from the herniated disc, which I've had surgically repaired. I've tried many medications and nothing really works. From: John Choosing between medications to manage chronic back pain I had been taking Celebrex for the past five or six years and had problems with blood pressure. Since going off the drug and switching to Relafen, my pressure is normal. I had stomach problems in the past with NSAIDS but am taking Losec along with the Relafen to avoid problems.Proof that Celebrex raises blood pressure. From: Stamper – Rosemere, Quebec, Canada Keeping active – mentally and physically – to cope with chronic back pain Hi, I have been suffering for (all together) about 37 yrs, but mainly for 17 years as I had a steel frame inserted into the base of my spine L5-S1. All I had to do was to sneeze and I would end up in a heap on the floor screaming my head off because of the PAIN. I had to go privately as the NHS would not treat me. According to them, I was too far gone for them to treat me. Let me explain, here in the UK you are only allowed a certain amount of time in the operating room, plus it would cost them too much. They think of their pocket before you. Anyway, I am in chronic pain 24/7 and getting worse by the day. I have always been active, I can’t sit still for long and I can’t plan anything anymore. Each day is different. I try to keep active. We have a small aviary with canaries and budgies, plus 3 dogs. The way I try to cope is to try and keep the MIND occupied. You know the pain is there so just try to put it at the back of your mind, even though I have days when the pain is too much and I stay in bed. Movement is pain - the more I move the more pain I’m in. There are days when parts of me don’t work (plus incontinence). Even though I suffer with pain, my wife suffers in silence. I worry for my wife as well. From: Barry Cooke - England Anti-depessant provides relief for chronic low back pain I have suffered from chronic low back pain for years. Well, I am happy to say that I tried the antidepressant Elavil - what a relief. I am a totally different person. The pain has subsided substantially and I couldn't be happier. Please try this medication, it worked for me and maybe it can work for others, too. From: DJ Found new treatment to relieve chronic pain I am presently being treated with the DRX9000 Decompression Unit (a compression machine). Having tried 6 months, 3 times a week of physical therapy, epidural shots, facet blocks and other spinal shots, the DRX9000 has given the most relief so far after only one week. From: Mike Margolies – Boca Raton, Florida, USA Combining chronic pain treatment options for chronic pain relief I had an L4-L5 fusion a few years ago, but still have sciatica pain on my buttocks (especially when sitting), my hop and the back of my thigh. I think I have some permanent nerve damage. The best ways I deal with and manage the pain are exercise, stretching, ice and Vicoprofen. From: Anonymous