What Are the Causes of Pain in Lower Right Back?

Back pain is a complaint doctors hear about frequently. People want information on backaches. They want doctors to treat pain in the back. Many want to know the causes of pain in the lower right back.

Information about the Lower Right Back

It is important to understand the structure of the lower right back if we are to understand what causes pain there.

Your back, with its spinal column of vertebrae, connecting ligaments, tendons, large muscles, and nerves, is designed to be incredibly strong and flexible. Yet things can go wrong with this awesome structure.

* Muscles can be strained

* Ligaments can be torn

* Joints can be injured

* Bones can be fractured

* Nerves can be irritated

* Discs can be herniated

* Stress can tighten back structure

The lower back seems especially susceptible to injury, since it bears the weight of the torso, and makes more movement than the upper back. Its constant work can cause parts to break down and wear out over the years.

The lower right back has soft tissues that can be involved in pain. Those large, complex muscle groups that support your spine and help you move can be strained by improper lifting or posture. In fact, muscle strain is the most common cause of lower back pain. Twisting or pulling one of the following muscles can produce pain in the lower right back.

* Extensor muscles: These paired muscles in the lower back and gluteus help support your spine. If the one on the lower right back is injured, it will be painful.

* Flexor muscles: Attached to the spine's front, these muscles help you flex, bend forward, and lift things. Again, injury to the right flexor muscle can cause lower right back pain.

* Oblique muscles: This muscle group is attached to the sides of the spine. The oblique muscles help your spine rotate, and give you good posture.

In addition to simple muscle strain, injury to ligaments, joints, and bones can also cause muscle pain. If one of these structures is injured or inflamed, back muscles can go into spasm, drastically limiting your movement and cause pain in the lower right back.

Stress is a common cause of pain in the lower right back. Stress will make your back muscles tighten. This happens to every muscle in the body, as we move into a "fight or flight" response. Muscles that are tightened lack the energy they need to support the spine. If the stress is frequent, and measures are not taken immediately to relieve it, lower right back pain can easily develop.

Information on Chronic Lower Right Back Pain

If lower right back pain lasts more than two weeks, you are likely to stop using the aching muscles in order to protect yourself from that pain. With disuse, the muscles can waste (atrophy) and weaken. This will increase the pain, since your muscles are less able to support your spine. If you increase your protection, and continue to avoid using the muscles, the cycle will continue, with the pain worsening at each turn. Chronic lower right back pain will result. This is why doctors urge patients with lower right back pain to exercise daily.

Information about Lower Right Back Pain Symptoms

You need to understand the symptoms of your pain as well. It is difficult to treat pain without knowing clearly what and where the symptoms are. You will want to gain a sense of exactly where your lower right back hurts. Is the pain focused in one small area, or does it spread throughout the lower right back? Is it confined to the lower right back or does it radiate into other parts of the body? Here are two major kinds of pain in the lower right back.

Lower Right Back Pain Symptom #1

Is yours a deep, aching, dull, or burning pain? Does it travel down your leg? If so, your lower right back pain may be chronic back pain.

Lower Right Back Pain Symptom #2

Perhaps yours is a very sharp pain, deep in the lower right back. This symptom may be the result of a back injury.

Information on Relieving Lower Right Back Pain

My personal physician assures me that the best relief for lower right back pain is usually exercise. Gentle exercises, performed daily with warm-up and cool-down, will strengthen the core muscles around the lower back area, relieving the pain and making them less susceptible to future injury.

CAUTION: Pain in the lower right back may also be caused by kidney stones or other non-muscular problems. Be sure to ask your health care provider for advice on any back pain.

Discover How a Magnetic Back Support Brace Can Assist With Back Pain Relief

Back pain is very common. It affects 4 out of five people at some time during their lives. It is the leading cause of disability for those aged from 19 to 45 and is the second most common cause of missed work days (after the common cold) for adults younger than 45. Lower back pain becomes more common as people age. It affects half the people older than 60 at any given time.

These people suffer chronic back pain are taking NSAIDs on a long term basis for pain relief without being fully aware of their consequences. The drug taking is then worsened by a cocktail of two or three other medications that they are also taking for other problems.

From personal experience with my wife Jannese (I call her the sciatic queen) and the thousands of people who I have dealt with who have back pain, I know for sure that people in pain are not happy people. It greatly affects your ability to deal with every day life. Jannese who was a professional body builder had major back surgery in 1995 (one disc fused and two replaced) and I still see her regularly reach for the Magnetic Back Belt. It's the only thing that gives her relief without any side effects. Before she was using Valium and Oxycontin which gave her pain relief but she lived a life that was constantly cloudy. You cannot function properly on hard drugs.

How does the magnetic back support work?

Health magnets are sewn into the back support. You cannot fix the disc but through magnetic therapy you may reduce the inflammation the in the end will give you move movement and of course reduced pain. Its all about quality of life The health magnets assist with lymphatic drainage. This is the bodies ability to rid itself of waste material, it is this waste material that causes inflammation and pain. The increase in the body's lymphatic drainage induces a reduction in pain. My best example is when we go to bed of a night, we lay still. As a result our circulation and lymphatic drainage slows down. if you have a health problem in the body the local inflammation in that area slows down and we wake up in the morning feeling stiff and sore. If you have a chronic problem such as the back and hip area, the pain will actually wake you up in the middle of the night. Magnetic back support belts are designed to fit and contour to the upper and lower back area and is comfortable to wear.

The belt is ideal for use in the home, office or whilst playing sports, walking, gardening and not to mention the tradesman. Builders, tilers and tradesman alike are regular users of the belt not only for the therapeutic results but the support given to the upper or lower back at the same time. There are numerous magnets for sale on the market. Many of which differ in quality and performance. Be aware that many products are made in countries which use cheap labor and materials. My best advice is to buy Australia made where possible for quality Be part of magnetic Australia today and try magnetic therapy products as a drug free alternative for pain relief.

Lower Back Pain - Neck Pain - Tingling - Numbness

Patients with neck or lower back pain may have tingling and/or or numbness due to irritation of the nerve roots in the neck or lower spine.

Tingling and/or numbness in the first three digits of the hand are related to C5 nerve root (thumb), C6 nerve root (index) and C7 nerve root (middle finger) involvement. Similar symptoms in the last two digits (inner aspect of the ring and little fingers) are related to C8 nerve root irritation.
It is essential to rule out presence of carpal tunnel syndrome with entrapment of the median nerve at the wrist that can give rise to tingling and numbness in the first three digits of the hand. With carpal tunnel syndrome, the symptoms are restricted to the fingers.

With C6 nerve root irritation, there will also be tingling and/or numbness at the back of the forearm. C5 nerve root irritation can cause tingling and/or numbness along the outer aspect of the arm.

Tingling and numbness in the last two digits can also be related to ulnar nerve irritation at the elbow level from chronic tendency to lean on the elbows or sleep on the arm. Although there may be numbness along the inner and lower third of the back of the forearm with ulnar nerve irritation, there will not be symptoms in the inner aspect of the front of the forearm. If this region is tingling is numb, consider also involvement of the T1 nerve root.
Tingling and numbness in the foot in the region of the first three toes can be related to L5 nerve root irritation. The numbness may also involve the top of the foot and the outer aspect of the front of the leg. However, irritation of the peroneal nerve can also give rise to the same symptoms.

The peroneal nerve can be compressed either at the knee from tendency to cross legs habitually during sitting. The other common level where the peroneal nerve can be irritated is at the front of the ankle from tendency to cross the ankles during sitting or in bed. In this situation, the numbness may be related only to the first web space between the big toe and the second toe.
If the symptoms of tingling numbness are in the last two toes, irritation of the S1 nerve root need to be considered. The symptoms may also be felt in the sole of the foot. These same symptoms may be noted with irritation of the tibial nerve at the inner aspect of the ankle due to presence of tarsal tunnel syndrome.

However with S1 nerve root irritation, there will also be symptoms in the heel whereas in tarsal tunnel syndrome, there will be no symptoms of tingling and numbness in the heel.
The cause of the tingling or numbness must be evaluated by a physician. If conservative treatment is to be taken, massage is helpful. In the early stages, symptoms of tingling and numbness may be relieved by immediately massaging the muscles frequently as many times as possible every day.

Selective activation of muscles using eToims Twitch Relief Method can aid the recovery of the nerves and completely eliminate the tingling and numbness if the treatment can be done as soon as possible after the symptoms arise, preferably within 24 hours.

Back Pain Remedies - The Best Way to Deal With Back Pain

Back pain remedies are the best and efficient way to get rid of back ache a severe medical condition. It is highly common among people who are workaholic and lead a busy life. The intensity of pain differs from one person to another depending upon body type and severity of the problem. You can have it for a shorter period or it may last weeks or in some cases even months. Usually, back ache is a result of stressful daily routine that has an adverse impact all over your body. Most of you make a mistake of not taking it seriously. However, doing so is highly dangerous because if not treated on time it may lead to dire consequences. Subsequently, taking remedial measures becomes extremely important to tackle this common but serious problem.

Some Remedial Measures

Back pain remedies are important for alleviating the severity of the problem. There are different types of pains. For instance, some pains require urgent medical attention where consulting a doctor becomes quite important. On the other hand, some pains can be treated at home without needing any medical intervention. Usually, they disappear early but if not paid heed to can lead to physical weakness. In order to treat back ache, you may utilize benefits of exercises, nutritional supplements, stretches, stress reduction techniques, surgery, acupuncture and medication. All these help in achieving high level of relief. Nevertheless, a combination of physical exercises as well as medication may be quite useful in achieving the desired result.

Back pain relief is achievable only through your sincere effort. Medication helps in getting relief from excruciating pain whereas physical exercises help in strengthening muscles. In the event of unmanageable pain medication may be put on hold and instead exercises or physical therapy may be administered. Exercises are helpful in so far as they not only cure but also prevent back pain. As mentioned above measures such as acupuncture are helpful in treating back pain successfully. Although acupuncture provides short term relief, it can certainly offer better results if used with other treatments. In all such cases physical exercises remain the best alternative in terms of safety and success.

Some Important Preventive Measures

Although back ache relief is needed once you are affected by back pain, every effort first must be made to prevent any such situation. Here are some important steps in this regard:

Be careful about your back

Use a back supporting mattress

Maintain a right posture and utilize right techniques for lifting heavy objects

Avoid all such activities that put extra pressure on your back

If you are not able to exercise regularly and are on bed rest try to stand and walk a little once a day

Keep your spine in a right position and take support

Do not sit or stand for long in the same or wrong posture

These are some of the best methods to deal with the problem. Apart from them there are certain exercises meant exclusively for lower back pain. For instance, lying down on stomach and then raising up using elbows is an effective exercise for lower back. However, make sure that hips do not get raised only chest and stomach must be raised. Stretch yourself as much as possible. Once you have performed this exercise use a towel and roll it up your lower back portion. This will relax your body. For quick results, the above mentioned exercise must be performed three to four days a week. However, certain modifications can be made depending upon the nature and severity of pain.

Back pain remedies are an effective way to deal with back pain. These measures help in ameliorating the severity of the problem. Even though preventive measures are highly important, remedial measures also assume equal importance. They certainly help you improve your condition.

Lower Back Spasms - How to Cope With Lower Back Spasms

Lower back spasms are unexpected and involuntary contractions, or tightening, of a muscle or a group of muscles in the back. The contraction that occurs during a lower back muscle spasm is involuntary; the brain sends signals, which are not willed by the body, to the muscles to contract. Tightening of the back muscles can result from inflammation that occurs when a muscle is strained, stretched, pulled tightly or ruptured.

It can happen if you are sitting at your desk, exercising, picking up something incorrectly, straining your back in some way or otherwise stretching the muscles in your back region. Contractions or tightening of back muscles can even be caused by stress, anxiety and/or depression. People have had a spasm occur from a simple sneeze or cough, or even while sleeping. Lower back spasms can occur in people who have no signs at all of general or even specific muscle stiffness or problems.

The duration of a back muscle spasm can remain from seconds to hours. Although not a life-threatening condition, muscle contractions or spasms can result in excruciating pain on the affected muscles. Painful muscle spasms can disrupt your life for a few days or a few weeks and can even incapacitate a person for a period of time.

Treatment of lower back muscle spasms can be difficult because a muscle contraction or tightening can occur with many kinds of injuries and disease processes. Severe cases of muscle spasm can be treated with physical therapy and medication. For muscular spasm, application of local heat may be helpful. Muscle relaxant medications such as diazepam and flexeril can be used to treat muscular spasms. In most cases, the muscle spasm will improve anywhere from a few days to a week or two. Either way, once you have had a back muscle spasm, you will never forget it and you will never want to repeat the experience.

What Causes Sharp Pain in the Lower Back on the Right Side?

On average of 4 out of 5 adults experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. It is also one of the most common reasons why people visit the doctor. It is extremely difficult for people to get long-term relief from the pain, not because it is impossible, but mainly because people don't know how to treat it. In order to treat lower back pain successfully, you need to know what causes sharp pain in lower back right side, that you feel?

The causes of sharp pain in lower back right side

It is very common for people to take some sort of a painkiller to ease the pain. This can be beneficial in the short-term, but if you want permanent relief, then eliminating the main cause is necessary. Most people have no idea why their back hurts and how it happens. This is not something that happens overnight.

The main cause of most pains is muscle imbalancement. When one muscle group overpowers another muscle group, then this causes an imbalance. Why is it so bad? When your muscles are out of balance, then this can have a serious effect on your entire body especially your spine, pelvis and joints.

When you have muscle imbalancement, then the muscles shift your joints, spine and pelvis out of their normal locations and this of course puts them under uneven and constant stress. The more your muscles are out of balance, the more stress and tension is applied to the joints, spine and pelvis. Usually this goes on for months or even years before you start feeling pain.

Even though you might be feeling sharp pain in lower back on the right side, then this does not necessarily mean the cause of the pain lies in the back. Very often out of balance muscle groups in your thighs, can cause pain in your back. In order to treat lower back pain, you need to know why and how your pain appeared. Then you know what treatments, cures and exercises you need to do.

Stretching Exercises For Low Back Pain - How To Get Immediate Relief

Low back pain relief is really just a stretch away. Experience it to believe it. But being pro-active in regularly exercising is the key to getting relief.

Weight problem as the cause of low back pain, needs focused action to lose the extra pounds at the earliest. Having to support excess weight causes a number of problems in the body, and low back pain is just one of them. A normal weight body is not just happy with itself but also free from pain.

Exercises that strengthen the core of the body tighten the muscles that provide support to the back. That also plays a significant role in getting rid of the low back pain. A bad posture needs to be corrected at the earliest. The easiest way to get low back pain is through bad posture. Not just standing, bad posture may also be while sitting or sleeping. All cause a backache and all need to be corrected, no matter how difficult it is.

There are several steps, preemptive in nature that should be followed to prevent the occurrence of back pain in the future, even if you are lucky enough not to have it today. You might have heard of these steps and ignored them, thinking it does not affect you. But low back pain can strike anybody and it is better to be safe than sorry, so listen up about these steps and take action.

Lifting anything by bending over is a complete no-no for a healthy back. The correct way to lift objects is by bending the knees, squatting and then lifting. The back should be held straight, and the object to be lifted should be held close to the body. Importantly, do not twist the body when lifting. Practice with a light weight object first if required.

The right way to shift a heavy piece of furniture is pushing it while normally we do just the opposite, that is pull it. For people who spend a lot of their time working at their desk or in driving, it is important to take small breaks and stretch the body. High and spiked heels do no favor to the back. Either you fall over on your ankles, or develop back pain. Shoes with flat or maximum one inch heels are the best.

Regular exercise, though the idea is painful to so many people, is the best way to keep the body toned and low back in working condition. It is far easier and much better to stay in shape through exercise than find relief for low back pain.

If you are already suffering from low back pain and plan to start exercising, consult a doctor about the exercise program for low back pain relief. They will guide you correctly about the most suitable exercises for you to find low back pain relief. Ideally, the exercise program suggested by the doctor will strengthen the abdominal and spinal muscles. When your mother told you as a child to keep your back straight, she knew what she was talking about; keeping low back pain at bay, later in life.

Causes Of A Stabbing Lower Back Pain

A stabbing lower back pain may be induced by quite a list of things and this is why an appropriate diagnosis from a certified practitioner is essential prior to beginning some form of treatment.

Causes like ulcers, kidney stones, a pinched nerve or injury to the back may all lead to a stabbing lower back pain. You need to realize that the back is linked to your central nervous system and anything that takes place in that general area will be picked up and on the odd occasion, manifest itself as a stabbing lower back pain. The lesson of the story is that whenever you experience back pain, it doesn't mean that it is 100% related to your back. It could be just a prior condition just disguised as a lower back pain.

How To Fix A Stabbing Lower Back Pain

Everyone that suffers from back problems usually finds it hard to give a proper explanation to the doctor when asked certain questions. Start by keeping track of the pain. Keep a diary handy and whenever that pain raises its ugly head, take down a few notes on items such as the time of day that you usually feel the pain, the length of time that it lasts, did you feel the pain after a meal?, does the pain show itself when you do certain movements, if you were performing a physical task, what was it? Write down as many things that you think will help.

You will be very surprised what your little note book can reveal during your diagnosis and offer a better insight as to what the cause may be.

After tracking the symptoms for a few days, you can then pay a visit to your local physician and together decide which course of action to take.

Ulcers are generally the cause for this type of back trouble. There are numerous distinct types of ulcers. Peptic ulcers are normally the ulcers of choice for this type of back pain. This type of pain will likely happen straight after eating and be in the upper back.

Strained muscles and pinched nerves are rated very high when looking for the cause of lower back pain. However other conditions like gallstones, kidney stones and other types of blockages can also all trigger the pain. You should prepare yourself to undergo lots of tests starting generally with an x ray. The key is not to get frustrated, as the possible cause is generally hard to locate.

If you are prone to any of the conditions listed above, a quick visit to your doctor should be able to reveal the root of the problem. However, if this is not the case, your doctor should, by using an elimination process, be able to let you know what is not causing the stabbing lower back pain. Once the source is located, you should be able to start an appropriate treatment. It is also wise to ask you doctor whether he or she could recommend an alternate treatment program.

How To Treat Chronic Lower Back Pain

Here's a list of 10 principles for successfully treating chronic lower back pain

1. Most back pain is personally generated. It's all based on the law of too much and too little. Just ask yourself what do I do too much of and what do I do too little of that's caused my back pain? It's usually too much sitting down and too little strength and flexibility exercise.

The good news is that if your back pain is personally generated, there's a fair chance you can personally 'ungenerate' it.

2. It's muscles that move bones out of alignment. The good news is you can get muscles to move bones back into alignment - if you do the right exercises.

3. The cause of the pain is rarely at the site of the pain. Rubbing, crunching, heating and vibrating the spot where it hurts won't do as much good as strengthening and loosening the muscles that have allowed you body to move out of alignment.

4. The X-ray tells you what's happened; it doesn't tell you what's caused what's happened. Without the 'why' it's just another useless medical tool.

5. Most people with back pain don't have a regular and systematic strength and flexibility training program. Duh! The likelihood of a doctor or surgeon prescribing a decent strength and flexibility training program to get your body back in alignment is extremely remote.

6. The cheapest and most effective way to get yourself back in alignment would be to join a yoga group and spend at least half an hour a day doing yoga. Most people aren't prepared to do that. Their pain persists. Duh!

7. It's a big task expecting to get better by having someone do something to you - sooner or later you have to do something to yourself. You can't outsource your strength and flexibility training program - nor your sitting posture.

8. If you're prepared to devote a couple of hours a night doing a few simple exercises in front of the TV, you may well find that in a couple of months you feel heaps better. Just remember a good fix is unlikely to be a quick fix. It could take more than a couple of months. It could take a year, but in ten years time you'll have been pain free for nine years.

9. Back pain is a symptom of bones being out of alignment. Treat the cause not the symptom. The cause is usually tight hamstring, buttock and hip flexor muscles that have dragged the pelvis out of alignment. When the pelvis moves the bones above it move stretching ligaments, tendons and muscles beyond their pain threshold. Discs become herniated. If a portion of the disc hits your spinal cord you'll really experience pain. It will hurt to sneeze and cough. If the disc impinges on the sciatic nerve you'll get sciatica.

The solution? Square the pelvis up and the bones above it will go back to where they belong. Pressure taken off ligaments, tendons, muscles, discs, spinal cord and sciatic nerve. Problem fixed. Pain goes away.

10. Don't ask what your doctor, chemist, chiro and physio can do to fix back pain, ask what you can do for yourself.

Running and Lower Back Pain - Causes, Treatment and Pain Relief Options

Running is an excellent way to overcome health problems and stay in a good shape. But due to its high impact nature, running can also increase the likelihood of pains and aches. Back pain-especially lower back pain-is the most common complaint among both elite and recreational runners. But there is something you can do to alleviate and prevent this enduring suffering.

You can enjoy a pain-free run by just making some simple tweaks on your running regime and taking some preventive steps.

Causes of back pain

This condition can be caused by many factors including:

- Improper running form.
- Running in the wrong shoes.
- Bouncy and unstable running stride.
- Weak abdominal, hamstring and back muscles
- Running with an existing injury...

These are just the most common causes. There can be other causes-just examine your running program and may uncover other foundations for your pain.

Do you keep running or do you stop?

This is the first question that pops into the runners mind when they start feeling back pain. Well the answer depends on the intensity of the pain and its root cause. If you are sure the pain is caused by running, then it's highly advisable to take some days off or to cross-train.

Pain should be an indicator that something is off, but it is good to remain active while your back heals and recovers itself from the supposed injury. Choose a cross-training activity where you won't have to use your back in a great deal.

How to prevent back pain?

Eliminating the root causes could be quite enough to prevent this pain from ever happening. In addition, here are few things you can do:

- Always warm-up before the workout; this prepares your muscles for the activity.
- Avoid stiffness and pressure on your back; you should run in relaxed manner, while keeping your back straight and aligned.
- Strengthen your abdominal and back muscles; strong muscles provide extra protection and support for your back
- Use back support if necessary; if the pain persists, then you should use this simple medical device, but if nothing you tried failed to eliminate the pain, you should visit a doctor and get professional treatment.

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Upper Back Pain Relief - Causes and Cures

There are many different causes of upper back pain, and while not as common as pain in the lower back, it can often times be a much more painful, often chronic condition. The good news is... There ARE medications and pain management treatments that can be very effective.

Some of the causes are myofascial pain (irritated muscles), dysfunction of or degenerative joints, and even an injury or herniation to one of the discs in the upper spine, called Thoracic Herniation. You may even have a genetic disease or disposition to having these problems. Other scary sounding problems could include osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatic nerve impingement, compressed vertebrae and others.

In other words... before you start on any course of self treatment, check with your doctor to be certain your pain relief effort doesn't require surgery.

Causes...
Though more common in lower back pain, pain in the upper back can also result - over time - from poor posture.

If you are sitting at a desk all day, hunched over doing work, this puts a strain on your upper back. The upper back vertebra are not designed to be constantly bent over like this. It is a more rigid part of the spine, designed to support the weight of the person, and protect the internal organs. If it is not held in an upright position, the muscles surrounding the spine itself can become strained.

Upper back pain can be extremely discomforting. Usually, in addition to having upper (cervical) back discomfort, you may also experience shoulder and neck pain, as well as pain in the lower back and spine. To find upper back pain relief, you will want to really dig in and find ALL the causes. It could be a combination of several acting together - not just one.

Luckily, if you happen to have upper back pain, there are a number of ways to alleviate it. Surgery, medication, back strengthening and stretching exercises, massage and even acupuncture to name a few. Prevention...
But, when discussing your health, it prevention should be your first - top - line of defense.

Since it is so important that you prevent the problem in the first place, here are a few things you can do:

1. The first is get enough sleep at night, with a bed that is supportive of the spine. Sleep is important, not just to rest the back muscles, but to repair nerve and muscle damage.

2. If you are someone who does sit in front of a desk for long periods of time, or in front of the television, that's all right, but it is important that you get up at least once every half an hour.

Move around, stand up straight as much as possible, and walk around a little bit. This way your back and spine don't strain by sitting in one position for so long a period of time.

3. There are a number of back stretching and strengthening exercises you can find that can help... try taking a class in Yoga. Building up weakened muscle tissue in the back helps!

4. Changes in diet can also help to prevent upper back pain. Reducing the amount of caffeine in your diet, eating foods that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Sometimes, upper back pain is unavoidable. It may even happen from doing something you aren't even aware of, and all of a sudden you have these pains.

Frequently, when you get sudden pain from nothing more than twisting or turning at just the right angle, this is caused by a herniated or bulging disc. Since there is no pain unless it actually touches a nerve (we are talking millimeters), it is estimated that 60% of all of us have disc problems - but we aren't aware!

We are all going to have a certain amount of upper back pain occasionally, and here are just some of the many ways to get severe back pain relief.

Upper Back Pain Relief... Cures

One way to find upper back pain relief is to soak in a tub of water with Epsom salt. Adding a bag or two to water that is hot enough to just stand it can be a great relief, not just for you upper back, but other areas of the body as well. If you want, you can even add some essential oils for aromatherapy.

Upper back massage is another great way to relieve pain, and you can do this even if you are by yourself. Take a couple of tennis balls, lay them on the floor, and lay down on them.

Gently move your body back and forth, allowing the balls to massage the muscles. Every thirty seconds to a minute, change the positioning of the balls. If you find an area that is particularly painful, you don't have to stay there, move the balls in another location.

Getting upper back pain relief is something YOU can do... there is no need to suffer!

Can You Cure Your Lower Back Pain With Abdominal Exercise?

Why do so many people with lower back pain do endless abdominal exercises? From sit ups to crunches, you may have done literally thousands of these yet your lower back pain remains - and no six pack!

If these exercises are used often, why do they not cure your low back pain as well as they should?

Are you doing your exercises correctly? Should you change the type of exercise? Buy another machine you see on TV - you know the latest and best way to do abdominal exercises.

Yes you see them everywhere, you have tried many machines, changed the style and still no dramatic changes.

The answer to your problems is actually simpler than you realize.

Do you want abdominal exercise to change your lower back pain, or to just improve overall structural stability - and definitively if you want a six pack. You need to do the following:

Firstly you need to stretch the muscles that work opposite to your abdominals. Why? If they are too tight then your abdominal will be weaker. Just like a see-saw - one side goes up and the other down. So, if one muscle is too tight, the opposite will be too weak. If you are trying to change your abdominals then you need to stretch both the lower back muscles (erector spinae) and the hip flexor muscles.

Secondly, if you want to change the strength of the abdominal muscles you must improve their nerve and blood supply. Fail to do this and you can do thousands of sit-ups, crunches etc and still take forever to change the muscle strength.

If the nerve or blood supply is compromised, the abdominal muscles will lose power and strength. Abdominal exercises will then fail to change the muscle. This change in nerve and blood supply can come from various structural changes in the lower back or pelvis. It can also happen from chronic abdominal weakness and the supply changes because of habit. The nerve and blood supply to the abdominals can be stimulated with various reflexes; one is on the inside of the thigh. If you rub your inner thigh and it is tender compared to rubbing elsewhere. Then chances are the nerve supply at least is lower than it should be.

The low back and pelvis can be corrected using simple stretches and joint mobility methods to re-balance the pelvis and lower back. Lower back pain is commonly caused by both weaker abdominal muscles combined with minor joint disruption in the area.

Either way, both situations can be changed and then the abdominals will strengthen easily and quickly if you stretch the opposite functioning muscles and improve blood and nerve supply. Lower back pain is easily corrected if you target the right mechanisms that create it. Weakened abdominals is one of most common causes of low back pain, especially chronic lower back pain.

Lower Back Burning Pain and Your Sciatica

If you suffer from a lower back burning pain, it may feel as if the pain actually radiates, or travels down your leg. This is often associated with sciatica pain. Sometimes, people with sciatica might not suffer from any real pain in their back, but others suffer from severe pain. If you have been suffering with this condition that commonly makes it feel as if your back, leg and sometimes the side of your foot is on fire, you are not alone, because millions of people just like you suffer with this condition. In fact, it is far more common than you might think.

One of the best ways to start healing your back is to identify what is causing the pain. For some, this might be as simple as taking a step incorrectly and for others it could be something else. Some people who suffer from burning lower back pain, report that it only happens when they move their legs to the side, or do activities that require parts of their bodies to move at an odd angle. When you discover what it is that causes your back pain to flare up, then you can at least modify your movements in a way that will not cause you to inflame the sciatica.

Many people who suffer from burning lower back pain can find relief from their pain by avoiding activities that trigger the painful reaction, but many others are not content to avoid doing certain things forever, and these are the people who have decided that they are done with pain medication and being forced to sit still to ease their back pain. They are working to find a way to permanently cure lower back pain.

If this sounds like you then you should know that recent research has found that your burning lower back pain may be caused from a misalignment in your body. In other words, you have some muscles that are stronger than others. When this happens, the muscles constantly tug at each other and cause your body to become misaligned. This means that over time, the weaker muscles give up and the stronger ones might be pulling your spine into a different position than it should naturally be in. For some, the muscles are generally balanced in strength until they participate in something they aren't used to, which will then pull the spine out of alignment and cause the burning lower back pain that many of us identify as sciatica.

You can reduce and even permanently eliminate burning lower back pain by learning how to give both sides of your body equal strength. Whether you're interested in making one area, such as the shoulders stronger and more balanced, or want to strengthen the entire back so that you are strong all the way around, you can learn how to safely and effectively balance your body so that you can do away with the burning lower back pain that you suffer from without pain medication of any kind.

Treatment For a Slipped Disc

A slipped disc is a relatively common cause of low back pain/or sciatica.

However, it is also a term which sometimes strikes fear into people when they have been given such a diagnosis, as they assume that surgery may be indicated. Let me firstly reassure you that nearly all slipped discs can be treated successfully with appropriate advice and exercises.

The discs themselves act as shock absorbers and assist with movement between the bony vertebrae of the spine. Every time we bend or twist, the discs take up a lot of the stress involved.

The discs contain a jelly like substance in the middle and a fibrous outer layer. If too much stress is placed across the discs, the fibrous outer layer of the disc can become weakened and consequently, the jelly like inner substance can begin to protrude outwards, just like an inner tube can protrude from a weak spot in a tyre.

This protrusion can result in inflammation of the adjacent structures, including the sciatic nerve, and therefore pain.

If there is significant inflammation present, the first thing I would recommend is a short course of anti inflammatories (although always check with your GP/health professional first to make sure it is OK for you to take these). You would need to take these in order to settle the incredible sensitivity which can be present during acute inflammation.

In addition to this however, you would also need to begin a series of exercises which are extension based. This is because we need to reduce the bulging disc back into its correct position, between the vertebrae.

This begins with simply lying on your stomach, maybe with a pillow or two underneath your belly if the pain is particularly sensitive. Adopt this position for a few minutes every hour or so (this is not set in stone and feel free to change the number of times you do this depending upon how your pain is responding. Nothing is a case of no pain-no gain though, and if any exercises aggravate your pain, you should ease off or stop doing them altogether).

As the pain does settle, and there is no reason why it should not, then begin to prop yourself up slowly but surely, in order to create more extension in your lower back.

By propping yourself up, you may wish to just rest yourself slightly up on to your elbows for a few seconds while lying flat on your stomach. As this gets easier, prop yourself up a little higher for a count of 5-10, maybe even beginning to push yourself up with your hands. While doing this, it is important that you only lift up from the waist, therefore still keeping your legs flat on the floor.

I am sure you can see the principle being aimed for here. Quite simply, little and often throughout the day adopt a position of relative extension for your lower back. Try not to do too much too soon, else you will just end up pinching on the disc bulge too much and this will only aggravate things.

If you are very careful with these exercises and yet they still make your pain worse, it may be that the disc is not the cause of your pain. This may be so even if you have had a scan which has diagnosed you with a 'slipped disc'.

It is a known fact that there are many people walking around today who have disc bulges present, yet they will be suffering with no pain. A disc bulge only increases the chances of you suffering with low back pain or sciatica, it does not mean for a fact that you will get it. Therefore, a disc bulge may be a red herring and something else may actually be causing your pain.

Nevertheless, if it is a slipped disc which is responsible, an extension based exercise programme, along with an appropriate stretching and strengthening regime for your back, will soon have the pain disappearing and you leading a life free of pain again.

Constant Lower Back Pain - How Do I Make My Constant Lower Back Pain Stop?

Do you find yourself suffering from constant lower back pain? Do you wake up each morning with a stiff or sore back and then spend the rest of the day trying to manage it or make it stop? Do you then go to sleep each night and toss and turn all night looking for that one certain place that you can finally be pain free for a few minutes and just go to sleep? If any of these sounds familiar then you are one of many unlucky people in the world suffering from chronic back pain.

This used to be my story. I remember sitting in a chair all day going down slowly because I was so still and sore. Then I would sit there and continue to fidget and move trying to get comfortable. When I got up I remember how slow I had to do so and how stiff and sore my back was. The good news is that I am now completely pain free and can go about my day, play with my kids, and enjoy getting out and about.

The secret for me was several small changes to the way I lived. I had thought about looking into surgery but really didn't want someone cutting on my back or potentially doing any damage to the nerves. Not to mention the really long recovery time and massive expense. There were several things that helped me but I'll share with you one quick tip and tell you where you can get some more. This may sound really simple but I loosened my belt and started wearing looser clothes. I had put on a few pounds over the years and things started to fit more snug which was pressing on the nerves in my side and back. Once I figured this and a few other things out then I was finally able to be be pain free and active and loose the weight that was also contributing to the problem.

Lumbar Support Belt - Pain Saving Facts You Need to Know

If you want to protect yourself from debilitating back pain, then you may want to learn how to properly wear a lumbar support belt. Lower back pain has become very common these days. In fact, it is the second most common reason why people visit their doctor and also one of the most common reasons why people spend time off work. A good lumbar support belt stabilizes your pelvis, lumbar spine, and SI joints, thus providing you with maximum lower back pain relief. It also helps you maintain proper posture at all times, particularly when you are lifting heavy objects.

Getting The Right Size Belt

If you choose to wear a lumbar support belt, then you have to make sure that you get the right size. This can be determined by measuring your lower back region. If you have a relatively large midsection, then it is advisable for you to get the next size up to ensure comfort. If the belt you chose has two side flaps attached by Velcro, release these flaps and then position them at the edge of the belt. Most often, a lumbar support belt also has a flap at the back that marks the centre of the belt. Position this flap at the centre of your lower back. Make sure that the belt's side seams are properly aligned with your pants seams.

Position The Belt Correctly

Position the belt such that its width covers your lower back and tailbone area. As you put the belt on, be sure not to suck your stomach in all the way. You should also make sure that your belly does not hang out all the way. Rather, you should start out with a comfortable and neutral position. Wrap the belt around towards the front of your body and when you Velcro it into position, make sure that the two sides are properly matched and that there is a solid foundation from the overlap. Make sure that the two sides of the belt do not crisscross because this can prevent it from staying in place.

Remember those side flaps that you set aside earlier? It is now time to use them for added support around your waist. Bring the flaps to the front and then Velcro them fully into place. The top of your belt should be positioned level with or just below your navel. Lumbar support belts are best used by people with recurring lower back pain as well as those who are recovering from lower back injury. If you do not fall into any of these two categories, you can determine if this type of belt will be of help simply by overlapping your hands, placing them on the lower part of your belly and then lifting them inward and upward. If you feel immediate relief from back pain when you do this, then you will definitely benefit from a lumbar support belt.

Back Stretching Exercises - Simple Back Twist Exercise For Lower Back Pain Relief

One of my favorite back stretching exercises I use, the Back Twist will work your lower back, neck, upper back, waist and hips.

It works in a side twisting action, which is rhythmic and gentle, and limbers the muscles, aligns the vertebrae, boosts the blood circulation and loosens the hips.

But, if you think you might have problems with your neck or back, you should talk with a health professional before trying it.

Back Twist Exercise

1. Keep your feet parallel and your back straight, with the shoulders as apart from each other as possible.
Bend your knees a little.

Let your weight on the legs.

Keep your hands by your sides, hanging loosely.

Look in front of you.

2. Twist your head and upper body (gently) to your RIGHT, until your look is directly behind you.
Don't do anything special with your hands and arms, just allow them to move on their own, based on the turning movement of the upper body.

Your feet and legs should be kept towards your front all this time, since only the arms and body move.
To make it easier to be straight while doing this exercise, without swaying forwards or backwards, just imagine that your body has a pole in the middle of it, running from the ground, through your spine and up to the top of the head. And, your body twists around the pole in this exercise.

3. Turn back to the front slowly, then keep going and tun to the LEFT, in the same way, until you're looking behind you, just like you did before. Keep doing this, moving from one side to the other.

Don't forget that the arms should move naturally, without you interfering in any way. Do the exercise in a continuous movement, without pausing. Build up the torque and speed from the upper body and hips GRADUALLY. Doing this will make the hands to slap your sides and the arms to swing wider.

Start from doing 10-15 twists for each side, and in time get to 30-40 for each side. It shouldn't take you more than a few minutes.

Don't stop suddenly when you're finished with the exercise. Instead, slow down gradually, then return to the position where you started (step 1), leaving your arms to swing until they return to your sides naturally. Take a few deep and slow breaths.

Lower Back Pain When Standing Up Straight Causes and Solutions

One common back problem that people can experience is lower back pain when standing up straight. This is something that strikes the majority of people at some point or another during their lives, and can affect different areas of the back such as the lower region, the upper area, and toward the sides. Some of the causes of lower back pain can be relatively simple, and can therefore be easily dealt with to alleviate the discomfort, whereas others may be more serious and may need medical attention.

This type of back problem can occur for a number of reasons. It could be something as simple as having slept uncomfortably or the way that you carry yourself in terms of your posture, to something that may require medical attention such as an injury that has been sustained or an underlying problem relating to the spine, such as a trapped nerve or slipped disc. If the pain continues for a matter of days without subsiding then you should always seek medical advice, as this will allow the root problem of your pain to be explored.

Some of the causes of lower back pain

A number of causes can contribute toward this type of pain, and whatever the reason the discomfort that comes with this problem can be significant and debilitating. This is why it is important to get the issue sorted out if you notice ongoing pains when you try and stand up straight.

Some causes of lower back pain when standing can be more obvious than others, such as having sustained an injury or slept in an awkward position. However, others can be less obvious, and this is why you may need to seek medical help. Some of the possible causes of this type of pain include:

• An injury that has been sustained


• Trapped nerve in the lower back


• Slipped disc


• Tightened muscles


• Trauma to lower back (e.g. such as those sustained in a car accident or by a sudden jolt to the body)

If there is no obvious reason why your back continues to hurt when you try and stand up you should make an appointment to see your doctor, and this will help to ensure that the problem and the pain is sorted out as quickly as possible.

Use stretches to ease the discomfort

Using stretching exercises to help alleviate the discomfort can prove very effective for many people, and this can help you in a number of ways. Some of the ways in which stretching can help include loosening the muscles, improving mobility, increasing flexibility, easing strain and tension, and improving blood flow and circulation. All of this can help to alleviate the pain and discomfort for those that experience lower back pain when standing up straight.

Back Pain - Is Vinegar a Cure For Back Pain?

As many of my readers know I was a back pain sufferer and for the last four years have written about my journey back from being bedridden to wellness. Along the way I have become a firm believer in natural non-invasive treatments. One treatment that's been around for thousands of years is apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar has been regarded as a cure for any number of diseases. From the flu to stomachache, scholera, diphtheria, high fever, dysentery, urinary infections and more. But can it also cure back pain? A lot of people believe it can.

Many people report relief from their back pain by taking apple cider vinegar with a glass of water. Most report relief in 3-5 days. Some even feel a lessening in their pain after 2-3 glasses. Now most of these stories are anecdotal. For what's it's worth here's my story.

Aunt Izzy died at 95 not from cancer or heart attack but unfortunately from a fall at home. Right up to her death she drank apple cider in a glass of water every day. Her mind was sharp. She could carry on a conversation about current events or some event in her life from 90 years ago. She rarely even took an aspirin, lived on her own in her home of 55 years and drove a car until she was 92. Whenever some one was feeling sick her response was try some vinegar.

Recently dealing with severe back pain, surgery and physical therapy I been looking for natural non-invasive treatments. Would apple cider work? research online reveal a number of sites claiming vinegar might work. I started taking a tablespoon in a glass of water. The taste was pretty strong so I added a tablespoon of honey. The next day the pain was less despite an intensive physical therapy session. After three days the pain although still present is much better.

Why does vinegar seem to relieve back pain? Well some think it's because vinegar acts as a detox, riding the body of toxins that could cause back pain. Many claim that you must use organic apple cider vinegar, because OACV contains many nutrients not found in pastuerized vinegar. The vinegar I use was just Heniz Apple Cider Vinegar available in any supermarket. Heinz was also the vinegar my Aunt used. The organic variety can be found in health food stores and is quite expensive compared to Heinz. I have tried the organic variety, but did not notice any difference.

Will it work for you? I don't know but vinegar is a cheap,simple home remedy with no side affects. There is no science behind apple cider vinegar as a cure, but maybe worth a try.

Natural Cure For Lower Back Pain And Muscle Spasm

Can lower back pain be cured naturally? You have a very good chance and here's why:

The pain in lower backs is almost always caused by muscles. Why is this?

Well, muscles move the bones, joints and disks in your spine. Muscles are the prime movers of your body! The only reason you can move is because you have muscles.

We love muscles!

And the muscles in your lower back are BIG. They are thick. And there are many layers of muscle next to your spine. That means there are lots of places for them to either be happy or miserable.

Sometimes your muscles get out of balance. They can get too strong on one side of your body or go into spasm. They can become too weak on the other side.

Then we don't say we love muscles. We say, "Ouch!" Nasty muscles.

Well, it's not their fault. Your lower back muscles wouldn't be unhappy and complaining if you did everything perfectly in all of your movements.

But you don't. Or you didn't. That's because you are human. But you can change.

Here's how:

• Add movements that balance all of your lower back muscles.


• Use all of your muscles instead of the same old ones over and over.

Did you know you have over 600 muscles in your body? You are supposed to have balanced muscles just like when you were a little child. You should have just the right amount of natural curve behind your waist just as a small child does.

Yet most of us get stuck using the same 70 or so muscles over and over. This is what creates muscle imbalance. The curve becomes too much or too little.

Here are two common scenarios:

1. If the muscles in the front of your body are stronger than the back muscles, they will give you too much curve in your lower back.


2. If the muscles in the back are stronger than the front, that will pull the curve out of your lower back. You will not have enough of a hollow behind your waist. Your lower back will be flat.

Either of those situations will cause pain in your low back (and also in your neck and head.)

The causes of low back pain vary from person to person. Your muscles may be aggravated because of an injury or accident or because of poor posture and habits. (Poor posture is the most common cause, by the way.)

That means the movements for you to do to feel better will also vary. One size does not fit all when it comes to back pain relief. The exercises or movements that work for my back pain may not be at all right for your back pain.

It depends on which muscles are out of balance. The muscles in the front of your body? Or the muscles on the back side?

So your goal is to help your muscles be happy again. When they are back in balance they will stop screaming at you.

Deep massage and pressure into tight areas can help muscles to relax in most cases. Stretching areas of short, tight muscle can help. The muscles that need to be lengthened are often in your legs and the front of your body and NOT where it hurts.

Cold therapy may be one of your best friends. So can your pillow when you place one or more under your calves as you lie on your back.

So, you see, you CAN start getting rid of your back pain naturally by taking simple action steps.

Pinched Nerve Treatment - Tips to Get Rid of Pinched Nerve Pain

Are you having problems with your back? Why does back pain occur after you have slept and awkwardly positioned in bed? Pinched nerve in the back is the experience you have when your back aches and it normally happens for those who have a past history of sports injury or car collision.

What is pinched nerve?

It is a medical term for a compressed nerve. It causes a lot of bodily destruction because when nerves are pressed, it can no longer send messages throughout the body properly. Both sensory and motor deficiency can happen.

Back pain is a motor deficiency that is caused when a pressure is directly applied to a muscle, cartilage, tissue and bone. Thus, this results to the interruption of the person's normal body functioning. Irritation of the bones, tissues, cartilages and muscles may also cause this common problem.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain in the back is commonly manifested by a pain that usually originates at the lower part of the back that radiates down to the legs, this phenomenon is also coined as a referred pain. It can also be manifested by numbness, spastic back muscles that is usually painful, tingling and hot or cold sensations at the back.

Pinched nerve pain can be cured within 2 to 4 weeks as researchers say. But, what can we do to relieve ourselves from this kind of pain that usually affect our activities of daily living? Can we have practical ways of treating this kind of disorder? Or we should mainly focus on the proven medical interventions that are suggested to treat the pinched nerve? Well, enough worrying about such dilemma, all interventions may it be medical or practical interventions are on hand. Here are some list of tips and instruction to get rid or to manage the pain in the back:

Non-pharmacologic Interventions:

Give enough rest to your back. Take a warm or hot shower to relax muscle spasms.

Alternate hot and cold compress. Sometimes ice will work better than heat; at other times, a heating pad will do a better job of relieving pain. Do experiment to determine boldly your preference and what is more effective for you.

Refrain from straining your muscles by carrying heavy objects. Avoid activities specifically sports that cause you to make sudden jarring motions, like football, basketball, volleyball, etc.

Massage the area that is aching. Back rubs are usually therapeutic and relieves pain even better.

Eat foods rich in fiber because it is easily digested. This would aid bowel movement that lessens straining. Straining to defecate may cause stress to the body including your back.

Try to incorporate various relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, imagery and focusing, using scents and fragrance, back rubs, and music therapy. This would aid in redirecting your attention from pain and may make your mind and body calm and comfortable.

Do general range of motion exercises and stretches as tolerated.

Pharmacologic and Medical Interventions:

Visit your family doctor, chiropractor, or neurologist for comprehensive and appropriate medical advices.

Do physiotherapy to strengthen muscles as well reduce the signs and symptoms of the back pain.

Take medications per physician's advice. Medications usually include cortisone injections and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs depending on the severity and quality of the pain felt. Cortisone and NSAID's (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) as a treatment does not only provide relief from pain but also treat inflammations of the nerves being pinched or constricted. Examples of cortisones include Celestones, Kenalog and other steroid preparation. On the other hand, Aspirin and Ibuprofen are good examples of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Surgery is a great last resort to decrease the building pressures caused to a nerve, thus resolving the signs and symptoms of the pain.

With the today's trends and technology, problems such as pinched nerve pain the back need no worries at all. As you can see, there are a lot of interventions being prepared for you to use and relieve your selves from an aching back caused by a pinched nerve. All you have to do is to decide which you prefer or which you think is best. Just remember to be more responsible in choosing different interventions and it is still best to seek medical attention for a proper and appropriate management. Worry less and be happy! Let's all say goodbye to pain.

I Have A Pulled Muscle in My Lower Back! - Secrets to Pain Relief Revealed - Special Report

How is your lower back doing lately?

Do you ever suffer from lumbar pain that is really starting to hold you back?

1.) Introduction

Pain relief can be yours. This article is meant to give you some simple steps to help you if you have a pulled muscle or a herniated disc in your lower back. We are not here to waste your time. So, let's get down to business... If it is about time that you got rid of your lower back pain, then it is time that you read this article.

2.) Two Main Causes of Lower Back Pain

A.) A Pulled Muscle: This can happen as a result of a sudden twist or improper body mechanics when you sit or lift things. When you pull a muscle, many people equate this to be the same as a muscle strain. A muscle strain is the overstretching of a muscle and if you stretch it too far, you could end up tearing some of the muscle fibers. Either way, this can add up to some severe pain that will need to be dealt with.

B.) A Herniated Disc: If you have ever researched about the side effects of a herniated disc, you might know that they can press on nerve roots in your spine. When this occurs you can get pain, tingling or a numbness in your extremities. Pain often result in the lumbar or sacral spine and this can be unbearable by most people's accounts.

3.) A Great Way to Deal With The Pain!

One of the best things you can do for yourself when you have injured your lower back is to use a quality back support. These supports are very effective in helping to off load your lumbar spine. What does this mean to you? - Pain relief and an overall sense of security in your lumbar and sacral spine. These braces can easily be hidden with the use of a t-shirt and can be instrumental at helping you to promote healing for a herniated disc or pulled muscle.

Moreover, a low back support can also help to you to keep your posture in good alignment. These braces will feel like they are giving your mid-section a hug and this can make all the difference in the world to people who have lower back pain. Proper posture can also help promote healing when you have pulled a muscle or herniated a disc in your lower back.

*This is health information. We have seen lower back braces help hundreds, if not thousands of people, but we do have to tell you to consult with your physician about medical advice. They may very well request that you get a back support, but this article is not meant to subplant the medical advice of your physician for your unique situation.

Deadlift and Lower Back Injury - How To Help Reduce Your Pain

Can deadlifts cause low back pain?

Does this exercise do more harm than good?

1.) Introduction

Deadlifts are a physical exercise that can be of great benefit to you, if you do it right. It works all the muscles in the body when accompanied by squats. Many people do this exercise enthusiastically but without proper guidance. The tragedy happens when you get low back pain from a deadlift. What you can be sure about is that if you experience pain while doing deadlift exercises, you are most probably exercising the wrong way.

2.) Technique

You can technically classify deadlifts as an exercise that involves pulling. If you do not pull without involving the hips and glutes, what you are doing in effect is placing stress on the lower back. The correct way to do the exercise is to extend the hips when you pull yourself back up. Start by using the heels to push. When you have brought the bar to your knees, push the hips to the front. This is a more safe way to do the exercise.

3.) When Lifting Any Weights, Remember This...

When lifting a weight, any weight, your spine gets the full impact of the weight. A human being will always place all the weight on the spine and cause lower back injury as a result, in many cases. Keep your back straight while you lift the barbell. Hold your upper back in a neutral position to remedy this situation.

An exaggerated lockout that results from leaning back is not good. All the arching and rounding could cause stress being put on the lower back. A repeat of this many times may bring on hernias. Keep the bar as close to you as possible, thereby giving better leverage.

4.) Supporting Your Lower Back

When it comes to protecting your back and promoting good posture in general, it is a good idea to think about a brace. These braces will promote good posture and help to stop you from doing movements that can cause you pain. If you have pain before, during or after exercising, it is time to contact your local, licensed orthotist. These individuals can get you a high quality brace support that can help to keep you health. This kind of support should not be overlooked.

Note: This is health information. When it comes to medical advice on lifting then you should primarily consult a trainer. When it comes to braces for support it is best to get medical advice from your local, licensed orthotist.

Low Back Pain When Leaning Backwards

There are many, many diagnoses available for those suffering with low back pain, and they can all present with very similar signs & symptoms. One such symptom is pain when leaning backwards. Two typical examples for this type of pain, which would dictate completely different treatment procedures, would be facet joint pain and a disc bulge.

If facet joint pain is your problem, this would be due to the joints in your back being 'forced against' one another as you lean backwards. The aim of treatment here would be to elicit any muscle imbalance about your lower back and look to stretch and strengthen as appropriate. In addition to this, gently mobilising the joints will also help to take some stress from them, therefore encouraging the healing process. A simple exercise to get you started may be lying on you back and then gently hugging your knees to your chest.

Alternatively, if it is a disc bulge which is causing your pain, this is likely to be a result of the disc being 'pinched' as you lean backwards, therefore causing you pain. The irony of it is, if this is the case, some kind of extension (leaning backwards) exercise will form the basis of your treatment. This is likely to begin with you simply lying on your stomach little and often throughout the day. From here, you may well progress to gentle extension exercises while lying on your front.

The important thing to note here is, what may appear to be similar problems due to them both causing pain when leaning backwards, will actually need completely different treatment techniques to resolve the problem.

If you were to perform the exercises intended for a facet joint problem on a disc bulge, or vice versa for that matter, you will only succeed in making your pain worse.

No treatment or exercise programme should make your pain worse, if it does, something needs to be changed. It maybe you are performing the correct exercises, but are just being a bit to vigorous to begin with. However, it may also be that you are simply performing the incorrect exercises for your problem.

Either way, if things are making your pain worse, you need to change what you are doing, either by easing off or trying a different exercise altogether.

Do You Suffer from Lower Back Pain Every Month?

Do you feel overfed, ill-tempered, exhausted every month? Is lower back Pain enhancing your trouble to many times? If the answer is yes then be serious to get rid of this problem. When it comes to back pain, lower back pain is one of the most complained about and remedies aren't always easy to come by. Some may work for a short period of time, while others don't work at all! In the end, by knowing your options and maybe even employing more than one option for treating lower back pain, you may save yourself a lot of pain and discomfort during menstrual cycle and during normal routine.

How Can You Treat Lower Back Pain During Menstrual Cycle?

Lie comfortably on a Small Pillow
One of the ways to relieve lower back pain during those hectic days that you can try at home is to lie on your back with a soft pillow under your knees. Keep your knees bent and your back straight. This will keep the pressure off your lower back as well as abdominal muscles in order to relieve the pain. You can also try resting your knees on a pillow that's placed on a chair. Lie on your back and place your knees on the chair.

Hot Water Fomentation:

You can also try a heating pad. Many people use heating pads to relieve lower back pain. Try a heating pad placed on your back at the source of the pain for twenty or thirty minutes. Just make sure that you aren't experiencing more pain than you were before.

Use a Small Step Stool

Another remedy you can try is to stand with one foot on a small stool. Alternate your feet every five to fifteen minutes while keeping your back straight and your head and hips aligned. This remedy keeps the pressure off your lower back and will help you if you have to stand for long periods of time.

These are just a few remedies to relieve lower back pain [http://www.backpainreliefhelp.com/Back_Pain_Medication/]. Your doctor or even your grandma may suggest you some more, so you should ask him or her you should do when the pain becomes insufferable. You should also contact your doctor if you are experiencing numbness, nausea, vomiting, fever, or anything else that causes you alarm. You can try these options to get rid of lower back pain but be careful not to make matters worse by taking matters into your own hands. Always keep in contact with your doctor to make sure you are healing correctly and that your lower back pain isn't a sign of something more severe.

The Truth About Pain Management Techniques

Today there are many options being used as pain management techniques.

Early in my career when I was a physical therapy aide I discovered some very interesting things about pain management treatment.

I noticed that many of the most commonly used techniques like heat, ice, ultrasound, TENS (electronic muscle stimulation), massage, medications, were only providing patients temporary pain relief.

But, as soon as they tried to return to their active lifestyles it wasn't long before the painful symptoms came roaring back.

And, most of those who tried to 'just deal with it' or push through the pain ended up with a long list of increasing injuries.

After constantly researching the how's and why's about the most commonly used pain management techniques I finally uncovered the answer as to why they weren't more effective.

When a patient goes to the doctor's office or therapy clinic the doctor or physical therapist will attempt to treat the area of the body that is in pain.

For example, a patient with shoulder pain will be treated at the shoulder. A patient with knee pain will have their knee treated.

But, I realized that in almost every case the area of pain is only a symptom and not the actual cause of the pain.

For example, you can have lower back pain as a symptom but the actual cause of your lower back pain may not actually be your lower back as I'll explain in just a minute.

I realized that I was really on to something.

But, when I presented what I had discovered to some of the therapists I was horrified at what they told me.

Because of legal issues the patients had to be treated for the symptoms they were referred to the clinic for regardless of whether or not the symptoms were the primary cause of pain.

In other words, if a patient had shoulder pain that was primarily caused by weakness in their upper back, we still had to treat the shoulder and not the upper back.

The therapists weren't to blame, but rather the insurance companies.

This became more and more frustrating for me because our patients were depending on us to help them find a permanent solution to end their pain. And, it's not that what we were doing wasn't helping them.

But, they were being charged an arm and a leg in co-payments and medications without getting the most effective pain management care that could have made the biggest difference in living a life free of pain.

I started to think about how many people are going through needless surgeries that could have been prevented by treating the causes of pain not just the symptoms.

Another thing that bothered me about the pain management methods was some of the exercises these patients were being taught to perform.

Most of the exercises were either completely wrong because they were merely treating the symptoms rather than the causes of pain or the patients were not taught how to properly perform the exercises.

I have seen patients being told to perform leg extensions after having knee surgery.

Leg extensions might be alright for a body builder or a healthy person using them for aesthetic reasons but they are one of the worst exercises to do for knee pain because of the shear stress created across the knee joint.

They also increase the potential for muscle imbalances that lead to pain.

I've also witnessed patients being told to do lunges with their toes pressed into the floor which also creates tremendous knee joint stress.

I've also witnessed similar issues for people with shoulder, lower back and hip pain.

The Actual Causes Of Chronic Pain

The actual causes of chronic pain often are created by muscle imbalances that result in a host of painful symptoms. For example, you can have lower back pain as a symptom but the actual cause of your lower back pain isn't necessarily your lower back.

It can be due to muscle imbalances that cause your thigh muscles and hip flexors to overcompensate and because your hip flexors attach to each vertebrae in your lumbar spine you can get lower back pain.

Interesting isn't it?

And, it's like this for many other types of chronic pain and injuries.

It is therefore, vital to get a thorough assessment to determine the actual causes of your pain so you can begin a pain management treatment program designed to address your causes so you can eliminate or at least greatly reduce it.

A properly designed exercise program is (at least in my opinion) the best defense against chronic pain and injuries.

Exercise is an excellent pain management technique that can eliminate injuries, strengthen muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones, maintain joint health, enhance flexibility and so much more.

Cure My Lower Back Ache - Adjust Your Body Positions and Get Rid of Lower Back Ache Once and For All

Lower back ache is the 5th common health problem in the US. Out of ten adults, nine were experiencing lower back pain at some point in their lives. Five out of ten working adults have back pain every year.

If you're also suffering from lower back ache, it is absolutely NORMAL. The cause for lower back ache may be due to an old time injury you made during your childhood or much common mistakes you make every day- Positional dysfunction. Sitting, walking, standing or even sleeping with inaccurate positions for long term can cause back pain.

Let's take sleep for an example. Do you know which position of sleeping is best for your back? The answer is side sleeping. If you're suffering from lower back pain at the moment, side sleep with your knees bent with a pillow under your head and another between your legs is the best position to have your ache cured.

Next example- Sitting. To cure your back ache, sit in chairs with straight backs or low-back support. Try to keep your knees slightly higher than your hips. When driving, move the seat forward and sit straight. This helps you not to lean forward to reach the controls. A small pillow or rolled towel can be placed behind your lower back if you're making long distance driving.

Walking might be an exercise we perform the most daily. Inaccurate walking positions will cause muscle balance and back ache problem in long run. So how should you walk properly? Firstly, your back should be straight as you walk, allowing for its natural curves. You shouldn't be leaning backwards or forwards. A slight forward lean is acceptable on hill climbs. When you walk, your heel should be the first to hit the ground rather than your toes. Shorter steps are always better than longer steps to give a better workout on your joints.

The body positional tips above are used to cure and relieve your low back ache problems. If your ache still lasts after using the tips above, doing muscle balance exercises is the last resort for you before seeing a doctor.

How To Avoid That Dreaded Lower Back Pain in Early Pregnancy

One of the most common complaints from pregnant women is lower back pain in early pregnancy. During pregnancy, your abdomen is expanding and pulling forward and hormones are relaxing joints and muscles throughout your body. This will put a strain on your back and cause pain. This article will give you some good tips for dealing with lower back pain in pregnancy.

The most important thing you can do to prevent lower back pain is maintain a good posture. Sit and stand straight, with shoulders back. Try not to let your abdomen pull your lower back forward which can cause a lot of strain. If you sit a lot, choose a chair that offers good lower back support and try to keep from crossing your legs. Sit with your feet slightly elevated and change positions often. Get up and stretch frequently and take a walk if possible.

When sleeping, don't lie on your back. It is best to lie on your side. A body pillow is a good idea because you can place it between your knees and under your abdomen for full support. This will keep you body in good alignment and reduce pressure on your back.

Follow your doctor's recommendation for weight gain and try not to gain an excessive amount of weight. A lot of women will think that being pregnant is an excuse to eat what they want. Excessive weight gain can be harmful to you and your baby. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet and try to keep your weight under control. You can exercise while pregnant provided that it is okay with your doctor.

Wear low heeled comfortable shoes while pregnant. Your center of gravity is way off while pregnant and wearing high heels not only puts an added strain on your back, but it also increases your risk of falling.

If the back pain is unbearable you might try massage or chiropractic care. Massaging the painful area with heated oils can help. Some chiropractic methods may relieve the pain also. Just make sure that you let your doctor know that you are considering these treatments. You may take acetaminophen for pain while pregnant; however NSAIDS such as Motrin, Advil and other forms of ibuprofen are not safe to take during pregnancy.

When lifting anything, make sure to lift the proper way. Bend at the knees, keep your back straight and lift with your legs. Do not bend over at the waist to lift something. Be careful when lifting things above your head. Never lift very heavy objects while pregnant. Your doctor can give you information on what is safe to lift while pregnant.

Always make your doctor aware of any back pain you may be having. Sometimes back pain is a sign of premature labor and needs to be addressed quickly. Pregnancy is not without its aches and pains; however it will be worth it in the end. Just remember to take care of your back and know how to relieve lower back pain in pregnancy.

Exercises For Lower Back Pain - Relief Is Here

There are many simply exercises for lower back pain that can be performed easily in the comfort of your home. There is no need to have the assistance of a therapist with these simple exercises. These exercises will strengthen the lower back, relieve lower back pain and help to correct your posture.

The Pelvic Tilt is one of the popular exercises for lower back pain because it helps to strengthen your abdominals. As you lay on your back with your knees flexed and your feet flat on the floor, relax your upper back on the floor.

While in this position, the lower back should be pressed slowly against the floor. You should feel the abs tightening. This position should be held for 10 to 15 seconds. Now, repeat the process from 7 to 10 times.

The Curl Up is another one of the very productive exercises for lower back pain. You will position yourself on your back with this exercise as well. Firstly, do the pelvic tilt exercise because it is the beginning position for the curl up exercise.

Now, tuck your chin and in a curled up posture, slowly raise your shoulders up off the floor. Your feet should remain against the floor. Hold for 10 to 15 seconds and repeat this movement 7 to 10 times. Slowly move back to your starting position. The abs should be tucked in the entire time.

The Curl Up with Rotation is another exercise, which involves doing the curl up and afterwards rotating your body to one side and maintaining that position for at least 10 seconds. Return to the floor and repeat the exercise, twisting to the opposite side.

This position should be held for another 10 to 15 seconds and then return to the floor. Repeat at least 7 times. Don't forget to continue the pelvic tilt throughout the exercise.

Last but not least is the lower back stretch exercise. It involves a pelvic tilt with an ab contraction at the end. To begin, perform the pelvic tilt and hold it.

Using your abs, pull your knees up to your chest while wrapping your arms around your knees. Keep your head off the floor, while holding this posture for at least 20 seconds. You should feel a little tension in the lower back area. 3 to 4 reps are ideal.

These exercises for lower back pain should help you to experience pain relief and could result in better posture. They have also proven to be effective at strengthening not only the lower back muscles, but also the abdominals as well.

Learn New And Creative Ways Of Getting Lower Back Pain Relief

Back pain is a very important problem that many people face these days. It is in fact a major problem for on the job injuries and time missed from work. For some people it is a temporary problem, but for many, it may be an ongoing problem throughout their life. Getting lower back pain relief is very essential in order to function normally on a daily basis. You may have good days and bad days so when you are having bad days you will need to be able to still continue your lifestyle with some sort of normal pattern. In this article you will learn some important and creative ways of getting lower back pain relief and some possible preventive measures.

Lower back pain relief isn't something you can buy in a bottle. As we age, our bones become more brittle and we tend to do less exercise, but did you know that regular exercise is a very important preventive measure in keeping our lower back muscles strengthened. We live in a country of overweight people and many of us struggle with weight problems. The heavier we are, the more weight our back endures. Exercising can keep the back strong as well as keep you on a regular routine of daily overall good health. Even when you are hurting, lower back pain relief comes in the form of exercise. It may hurt like the dickens, but if you baby your lower back when you are hurting which is one of the things we tend to do, we allow the muscles to become weak, so pressing through the pain level with exercise is important to lower back pain relief.

One of the most popular forms of lower back pain relief is the use of medications. I'm not saying that you might not need some type of pain medication, but many of them can be very addictive. You can become dependent on the use of such drugs which will not help you at all because eventually, you will need a stronger dose to do the same job a smaller dose used to do. The process will continue until you run out of a safe range of narcotic type drug. The use of ibuprophen can sometimes help because it is not only a type of pain killer, but it is an anti inflammatory as well which can help reduce swelling in the inflamed area. Mind over matter, convince your body that the pain level isn't that bad and that the ibuprophen gave you the lower back pain relief you needed.

When it comes to lower back pain relief, I'm convinced that it is true we can convince our minds just how much pain we are in. We can keep feeding the thoughts that we are in a lot of pain or we can think positively and say over and over that your lower back is not hurting and just endure. Believe me I know this is hard, but it does work. There are other forms of lower back pain relief methods that can help get you through the recovery period. You can sit with your back on a heating pad when you are relaxing and you can also buy those heated wraps that you can wear so whatever you are doing you will be receiving some form of lower back pain relief.

Lower Back and Hip Pain Relief

Back and Hip Pain can be excruciating not only for the sufferer, but for the people close to him/her. Partners of people who have these pains tell of random shrieking screams that come from them even when they do something simple like bend over to pick up that toy truck your son was playing with. The truth is, at this stage, there really isn't any cure for back pain. Professionals tell parents to make sure their kids get in the good habit of having a good posture... but if you've already lived your childhood and have turned into an adult with back pain, they don't really have any answers for you.

There are exercises that definitely help relieve the pain. Back sufferers will notice that if they get lazy and stop doing their exercises, their pain will get worse. Doing the right exercises correctly is essential to the ongoing improvement of your back and hip pain. Doing these exercises incorrectly can actually lead to your pain getting worse, so make sure you know what you're doing is advised.

Fake Push Ups

One popular exercise to assist in relieving lower back and hip pain are those fake push ups you sometimes see people doing. While a normal push up will increase strength in your biceps these push ups focus on your back and not your arms. Whatever you do do not do a normal push up because that will put strain on your back and you'll be paying for it for a few days.

To do a Fake Push up:

1. Lie down on your stomach with your hands firmly planted on the floor.

2. Push your torso up with your hands but keep your legs flat on the ground and stretch your lower back. Hold for 10 seconds.

3. Lower your torso and repeat 15-20 times.

Leg Swipes

It may sound like a break dancing move but it does work. This one more targets the hip but also does cut down on lower back pain.

To to a Leg Swipe:

1. Lie down on your back with your knees bent as if you were about to do a sit up.

2. Simply slowly move your legs to the left and right 30-40 times or until you start feeling tired.

While these are two effective exercisers to provide some release for your back pain, there are also many others that also do a fantastic job. For further information please click the link below for my recommendation on some great back pain workouts.

Causes of Sharp Lower Back Pain - Get Relief - Treatment Options That You Need To Consider

What causes sharp lower back pain?

Have you ever wondered what you can do about sharp lower back pain?

1.) Introduction

If your pain occurs fairly frequently, you could be suffering from lumbago or sciatica. Other causes of sharp lower back pain include a muscle strain or a herniated disc, for example. Although we all know it, we do not usually go to see our physicians. Now is perhaps the time for you to go for a medical check up and take the doctor's advice. Doctors try to determine the causes by learning from the patients about their physical activities, such as if they have been indulging in heavy work involving the lower back. This can include lifting heavy weights or working with poor posture.

2.) How Back Pain Can Start

It is always best to remember that injuries may result from the extensive use of a person's lower back muscles. Although we already know this, we sometimes forget. It is best to never put sudden pressure or strain on the lower back. When lifting things, do not become jerky with your movements.

Since any unattended pain can become chronic, it is best to start on the treatment as early as possible. This means you are facing the fact that you have back pain early on and not trying to think it will just go away. Many people do not pay heed to pains that come and go, though they may cause a sharp lower back pain. Sooner or later the pain starts to persist, refusing to go away in response to temporary remedial measures like over the counter medication. Doctors advise against engaging in impossible positions during exercises and exerting the body in any abnormal way or twisting it unnaturally which would cause sprains and strains.

3.) List of Pain

A large number of patients fail to explain their list of pains, nor do they tell the doctors in a cohesive way all the activities that could have caused the condition. A general kind of ache could start spreading from the upper back to the lower back. Numbness and tingling may occur sporadically at first, but become more frequent as the days go by. Muscle spasms will be examined by the doctors and he will also palpate the spine to look for displacement of muscles in the abdominal region.

4.) Conservative Treatment Options for LBP (Low Back Pain)

One of the best treatment options for people with lower back pain is the use of a low profile back support. These braces can help you feel more secure and they can also help to reduce your pain very quickly. When you need a brace for security or pain relief, it is wise to get medical advice for your particular situation from your local, licensed orthotist. This is true when you want medical advice on braces. General health advice should come from your physician.

Applying Heat For Lower Back Pain Relief

Applying heat to an injured area of the back and the surrounding muscles can be a great tool to help reduce lower back pain. Heat is a healing agent that causes vasodilatation to the vessels surrounding the area. What vasodilatation means is that the blood vessels open up and allow an increase in the blood flow to the area where the heat is being applied.

With increase in blood flow, the muscles surrounding the area where the heat is become more relaxed and less stiff. Muscles will become more responsive to stretching and strengthening exercises. Muscles can become stiff and tight due to protecting the area of injury or if muscles have been overused or over worked.
When muscles are stiff and tight due to protecting an area from injury, your body will create compensatory movement patterns to not involve the injured area. When that happens, other muscles get overworked and that can create additional stress and pain. We can heal an area faster once we get the muscles to start working normally again.

Heat should generally be used 3 to 4 days after the initial accident, pain, slip and fall or trauma. Heat can be applied with a moist heat pack, heating pad, Jacuzzi, hot shower or steam room. A moist heat pack is better than a heating pad because it causes heat to transfer from the moist heat pack to the body. A heating pad just warms up and there is no transfer of heat. A Jacuzzi, hot shower and steam room are other great ways to heat up the whole body if you have the access to them.

Check with your physician before using a Jacuzzi or steam room especially if you have a cardiac history. After heating up the entire body or just the affected area, it is best to perform the exercises and stretches that will begin stabilizing and stretching the affected area.

Heat should be applied by moist heat pack for 10 minutes every hour to hour and a half. If you use a shower or Jacuzzi, you will only need to be in for 3-5 minutes because your core body temperature will increase and your muscles will become more pliable and flexible. If you use a steam room, 3-4 minutes is all you need.

Applying any one of these methods will help your speed up your recovery time and is an inexpensive alternative to other treatments.

Why Do People Have More Incidents of Lower Back Pain-Injury After Periods of Sitting Vs Standing?

When you sit for a long period of time, even sitting just 30 minutes or longer you are typically putting your lower back into a flexed position. This is typically the slouched way or collapsed way of sitting in in a chair vs sitting in a way that supports your body and helps align your structure. The after math of sitting in a position with your lower back in flexion is that the thorocalumbar fascia (the thoracolumbar fascia provides about 80% of the stability for the lower back compared to 20% of the muscles according to leading experts in Low Back Pain.) this layer of tissue ends up stretching or elongating over time in this position, much like if you were to slowly stretch a rubber band.

What happens next?

Eventually you will get up and begin moving in gravity. A common scenario is that you get up head out into another room, see something on the bathroom floor and bend over to pick it up and........ your back hurts, your back gets injured.

What caused the injury in this case?

Your back gets injured (read carefully as this is the important part) because the normal stability for the lumbar fascia comes back a bit later. By stability, I mean 'stiffness', strength the ability to resist stretch. I used the above example of slowly stretching a rubber band, so stiffness would be perhaps trying to stretch a bungy cord vs a elastic band (ie much harder). Research tells us that after around 30 minutes of being out of this position (lumbar flexion) that the tissue begins to 'swell' (re-hydrate) and become more stable and more able to support your back in forward bending and after 1 hour it is even more stable than 30 minutes earlier and the curve goes up. (there is a point where it does begin to trend down, meaning that the lumbar fascia is not going to just continue to get stiffer). So we need this period of time for our fascia to recover it strength and stabiity before putting it into movements or positions that will place it at risk.

So what to take home from this? So now we know that studies shown that people who bend forward after sitting for a long period of time (ie. 30 minutes and greater) have more back injuries than if they had been standing for the same time. So with this knowledge and the information from above. Here are some quick tips.

1. Get up and move from your desk frequently! Help your lumbar fascia out!! Set a timer to go off every 30 minutes or sooner, when it goes off get up and move. Better yet break periods of sitting at your desk and work from a standing position. Let me be clear do not sit for hour upon hour at your desk and think you will have a happy, healthy back this is called denial!!!

2. Change how you are sitting, meaning sit up on your sit bones and tilt your pelvis slightly forward to take your lower back out of flexion. I often educated clients on using a 5 point neuro-somatic standing awareness exercise (to read more about it click here). You can take the same principles and use it while sitting this will help you stay more mindful and less apt to fall into old patterns while sitting at your desk, in your car or on your coach.

3. Also, If you have been sitting all day, then jumping into your car and driving (yes sitting again) to the golf course or any other activity for that matter and heading right out to play is putting you at greater risk for injury. So instead, make sure you move around for a period of time before swinging the club, the softball bat, or twisting your body in a yoga class. Work with your body not against it!

4. Lastly if your slumped on the couch all day or weekend long catching up on your movies, just remember that if you see something on the floor that you want to bend over to pick up, do yourself a favor and bend downk from the knees to get it, because if you bend forward to pick it up well lets just say you may be in for a not so enjoyable surprise.