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Healthy Considerations » Entries tagged with "Back Pain"

Degenerative Disk Disease and Back Pain

December 29th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Cushiony pads called disks are nestled between the individual bones of your spine and help keep your back highly flexible and capable of absorbing stress and strain. Unfortunately, as you age, those back disks can wear down. This is called degenerative disk disease. In fact, it is not an actual disease but the normal aging of the spine. And this degeneration of the back disks can sometimes lead to back pain. “The disk is like a tire between the vertebrae, or bones in the spine,” says Nick Shamie, MD, associate professor of spine surgery at UCLA School of Medicine, director of spinal deformity surgery at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital, and spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. “It acts as a shock absorber. But with the passage of … Read entire article »

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Breast Size and Upper Back Pain

December 29th, 2011 | Add a Comment

The upper part of the spine is very strong, acting as an anchor to the rib cage and supporting the upper body, but it can also be prone to upper back pain. As with lower back pain, upper back pain is most often caused by strain on the muscles and ligaments from poor posture and repetitive motions. But for women with very large breasts, it doesn’t take hours spent slouched in front of a computer or a vigorous game of tennis to cause upper back pain. Simply the weight of their breasts alone can be enough to cause back pain, sometimes even leading to long-term chronic pain that lasts for months or years. The Link Between Large Breasts and Back Pain Having very large breasts can place excess weight on the chest. Without enough support from the surrounding … Read entire article »

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Study Questions Use of MRI Before Back-Pain Injections

December 29th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Patients who need steroid injections to ease lower back pain frequently undergo an MRI beforehand. But a new study finds that the expensive imaging tests have little or no clinical value for these patients. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that the MRI does not typically improve results for patients who are candidates for the injection, and it has only a minor effect on doctors’ decision-making. “More is not necessarily better,” said study researcher Dr. Steven P. Cohen, an associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at Hopkins. The study is published online Dec. 12 in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Lower back pain is one of the top three reasons people seek medical attention in the United States, and epidural steroid injections are the most common treatment at U.S. pain clinics. The injections deliver … Read entire article »

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It’s No Stretch to Say Yoga May Be Good for Your Back

December 29th, 2011 | Add a Comment

MONDAY Oct. 31, 11 (MedPage Today) — In the second study in as many weeks, yoga has again proven superior to routine care as a treatment for chronic lower back pain, researchers found. The stretching-and-mindfulness-based therapy improved back function in adult patients in the U.K. with the condition, more than usual care, Helen Tilbrook, MSc, of the University of York, and colleagues reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine. “Yoga seems to be a safe and effective activity that clinicians could consider recommending for patients with a history of low back pain,” they wrote. Studies have shown that yoga could effectively treat back pain. In fact, just last week, a trial found that it boosted functioncompared with those on usual care. However, it was no better than plain stretching, without the mindfulness component. those researchers found. But Tilbrook and colleagues … Read entire article »

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Bad habits that hurts your back

December 19th, 2011 | Add a Comment

The numbers are astounding: Back pain will affect 80 percent of us at some point in our lives. Whether it’s a dull ache or a sharp stabbing sensation, back pain comes in all shapes and sizes. If you don’t yet have back pain, you might be surprised to learn that an obvious injury isn’t the only cause. Often it can result from repeated bad habits that stress your body. If you’re battling back pain now and need better pain management or want to take steps for back pain prevention, make the effort to undo these bad habits: Not exercising. ”The failure to perform any exercise, particularly abdominal strengthening exercises, may lead to poor posture and increased low back pain,” says Nancy E. Epstein, MD, chief of neurosurgical spine and education at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. … Read entire article »

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Managing Nighttime Back Pain

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Getting through the day with back pain can be tough, but when the pain revs up at night as you’re trying to sleep, it can be the last straw. It’s no surprise that the National Sleep Foundation reports that about two-thirds of people who have chronic pain don’t sleep well. So how can you get a good night’s sleep if back pain is keeping you awake? Discovering back pain relief that’s effective for you may take some trial and error. In some cases, it might be as simple as getting a new mattress, or adding or changing pillows so that you’re sleeping in a more comfortable position. Find the Right Formula for Back Pain Relief Here are some ideas for getting better sleep with back pain: Try a body pillow. Physiotherapist and back pain expert Malton A. Schexneider, … Read entire article »

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Manage Pregnancy Back Pain

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

If you’re expecting a baby and living with pregnancy back pain, especially in your lower back, you’re not alone. Up to 80 percent of pregnant women experience back pain at some point in theirpregnancy. And, while the reasons are easy to track down, finding back pain relief that’s tailored to your particular situation may take a bit of trial and error, says physiotherapist and back pain expert Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc. What Causes Pregnancy Back Pain Pregnancy-related back pain has several causes. The most obvious one is the extra weight you’re carrying around and the change it makes in your center of gravity. Because your weight falls disproportionably to the front, it throws off your posture and can end up causing pain. In addition, when you’re pregnant, your body prepares for delivery by increasing … Read entire article »

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Back Pain Relief for fresh injury

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Witnessing someone hurt their back can be a scary experience. That moment of watching someone go from full mobility to practical paralysis can leave you with a lot of questions: Should you be rush  them to the ER? Should you apply ice or heat? What position is best for achieving back pain relief? How long will it take to recover? These are all common concerns. Back Pain Relief: When Is Emergency Care Warranted? In most cases, there’s no need to rush to the emergency room to achieve back pain relief. “The person doesn’t need emergency care unless they can’t feel their legs or have severe numbness going down their legs,” says Cynthia Gormezano, MPT, owner of Cynergy Physical Therapy in New York City. Another case in which a hospital visit is warranted is if there is stinging … Read entire article »

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Coping With Chronic Back Pain

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Ow! My back hurts!” is a line we’ve all heard at one time or another from almost everyone we know. And there’s a good reason for that. It’s estimated that back pain is the second most common issue that causes people to see their doctor. It’s only beaten out by bouts of colds and the flu. Chronic back pain is also the second most common neurological pain, just behind headaches. When you have chronic back pain, the first reaction is to protect your back and avoid more pain, perhaps by staying in bed or by doing as little as possible. Is this really a good idea? No, says Kentucky physiotherapist and back pain expert Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc. “Research has shown many times that activity is the key to a healthy back,” he says. … Read entire article »

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