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Seeking Back Pain Solutions That Work

March 9th, 2010

Looking for back pain solutions can feel like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack sometimes. Back pain is one of the most common and elusive physical problems people experience. You can literally suffer with chronic pain on a daily basis and still have to listen to doctors tell you there is no reason why you are hurting so badly. When the pain is caused by an obvious tear in a muscle or arthritis the cause of the pain is identifiable. But most people are not that lucky.

There are hundreds of thousands of people who have sought back pain relief through surgery only to discover the surgery did not work. Some people decide to try medication out of sheer desperation. The problem with taking prescription drugs for a problem that has no apparent cause is the fact you might be facing a life of drug therapy. There are plenty of people who innocently begin a program of drugs seeking pain relief only to find they have become addicted.

Back pain is one of the major causes of disability and often leads to work absences. When you have upper or lower back pain your whole life is affected. Pain that occurs anywhere along the spine from the neck to the tailbone is generally called back pain. The pain can emanate from the spine itself or from the nerves or muscles in the back. The pain can be acute or chronic. But whether your back hurts for a short or long time, the result is the same. Your quality of life is impacted because you cannot move without pain.

The causes of back pain can vary. The pain can be caused by muscle strain or tears, spine problems like a slipped disk or osteoporosis. The pain can also be caused by nerve damage, weakness in the muscles from aging and lack of exercise, and a multitude of mysterious problems that seem to have no source. Annually, over 65 million Americans a year visit a doctor seeking back pain solutions. Many end up taking prescription medications out of desperation.

Doctors are often not anxious to pursue alternatives to traditional medicine. But over thousands of years there have been many different successful alternative pain management strategies developed. These include acupuncture, massage, osteopathy and magnetic therapy. Of these alternatives the magnetic therapy is the only one which does not require the assistance of another person.

Back pain solutions that work best are often those which are non-invasive. Surgery should be a last resort, because operating on the back is always a delicate procedure with a high risk of causing permanent damage. The back is made up of a series of bones that look like they have been stacked like children’s blocks. In between the bones are cushioning discs. The whole structure is held together by ligaments, tendons and the surrounding muscles. Inside the spine is the spinal cord from which multiple nerves spread out into the body.

With such an amazing construction it is no wonder that so many people have back problems. Injuries at work and home, discs that bulge from too much pressure put on the back, inflammation of the nerves and genetics can lead to back pain. People who sit a lot at work such as at a desk are the ones most prone to lower back pain. Upper back pain is often caused by back overuse or back strain and tension.

There is no reason to live with chronic back pain without any relief when there are back pain solutions such as magnetic therapy that can block pain on a temporary basis. Alternative therapy for back pain may finally offer the relief you need so you can restore the quality of your life.



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A Guide For Eye Pain

March 7th, 2010

Eye pain is a common reason for people to seek care from their ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery). Eye pain may be described as burning, sharp, dull, gritty, “something in my eye,” aching, throbbing, or stabbing.

Causes of eye pain fall into 2 broad categories: ocular pain and orbital pain.

Ocular pain is eye pain coming from the outer structures of the surface of the eye.

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye problems. Conjunctivitis can be an allergic, bacterial, chemical, or viral inflammation of the conjunctiva (the delicate membrane lining the eyelid and covering the eyeball). Pinkeye is a nonmedical term usually referring to a viral conjunctivitis. Pain is usually mild, or there is no pain. Itching, redness, and drainage may be seen.

Corneal abrasions and corneal ulcerations are also common causes of eye pain. The cornea is the transparent surface of the eye. Abrasions occur from scratches to the surface of the cornea, such as a foreign body in the eye or overuse of contact lenses. Ulcerations occur from infections or abrasions.

Foreign bodies, usually located on the cornea or in the conjunctiva, are objects or material that give you the sensation that something is in your eye. Foreign bodies produce eye pain similar to that of corneal abrasions.

Chemical burns and flash burns are significant causes of eye pain. Chemical burns come from eye exposure to acid or alkali substances. Flash burns occur from intense light sources, such as arc welding or tanning booths, when improper eye protection is worn.

Blepharitis causes eye pain when an inflammation of the eyelid is caused by plugged oil glands at the eyelid edges.

A sty or a chalazion causes eye pain because of local irritation. Both cause a lump you can see or feel within the eyelid formed by a blocked oil gland. This lump causes irritation to the eye.

Orbital pain is described as a deep, dull ache behind or in the eye. This pain is often caused by diseases of the eye.

Severe glaucoma can cause orbital pain, although most glaucoma is painless. Glaucoma is caused by an increase in intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye), which can ultimately lead to defects in vision and blindness if left untreated. Intraocular pressure can increase because of a blockage of outflow or increased production of aqueous humor (fluid that bathes the inner eye).

Iritis is an inflammation of the iris (the colored part of the eye) that causes deep eye pain.

Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve. The optic nerve connects to the back of the eye. The cause of this inflammation can be from multiple sclerosis, viral infections, or bacterial infections.

Sinusitis, which is a bacterial or viral infection of the sinuses, can cause a sensation of orbital pain.

Migraines are also a very common cause of orbital eye pain associated with headaches.

Traumatic events, such as a penetrating injury to the eye, a blow to the eye with a foreign object, and motor vehicle collisions, are causes of significant eye pain and injury.

Pain is a variable measure. Each person may interpret pain differently.



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Back Pain Slowing Your Run to a Crawl?

March 1st, 2010

of the population has or will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives! Proper footwear can potentially prevent, reduce and treat biomechanical factors associated with low back pain in runners. Back pain can be a mysterious thing. Every time your feet hit the ground, the reacting shock is transferred up your legs to your hips and spine, and any biomechanical imbalance can ultimately cause lower back pain.

It could be that you have flat feet, and your over-pronation (rolling in of your feet) is causing your back ache. It could be that you have really high-arched, rigid feet and the lack of pronation is causing your back pain. It could be that one of your legs is ever-so-slightly shorter than the other, or that your pelvis is just a tiny bit uneven or tilted. You could have a curve in your spine. More seriously, one of the discs between the vertebrae of your spine could be degenerating or arthritis is setting in.

Back pain can be a tough mystery to solve, but with a little help from your friendly neighborhood sports medicine specialist you should be able to track down the cause. By far the most common diagnosis in patients with low back pain is the lumbar sprain/strain, which accounts for about 75% of all cases of low back pain. While muscle strain is the most common cause of back pain for runners, play it safe and visit a sports medicine orthopedist or a chiropractor to have your spine and vertebrae examined if you are experiencing severe pain.

If you have ruled out all the worrisome spine issue, you may have an uneven pelvis or unequal leg lengths. These conditions are relatively common and can be ascertained with a good biomechanical exam. With either, the muscles on one side are being pulled. They’re tense to begin with, and the added stress of running can put them into spasm. Relatively weak abdominal and lower back muscles might also contribute to the problem. Running generally tends to cause strength imbalances between these muscle groups. Add tight hamstrings, another common condition among runners, and you have a nifty recipe for back pain. Core strengthening exercises and a lot of stretching can help.

Finally, the root cause is often in your foot, the last place most people look! Back pain is a common injury associated with flat feet and over-pronation. Likewise, if your feet are rigid and high-arched, their lack of stress relief and under-pronation can cause stress imbalance resulting in back pain.

For immediate relief, cut back on the mileage, moist heating pads, anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, and a good massage. If the problem is disc deterioration or spinal arthritis, surgery may be necessary, and an adjustment in training is absolutely required. Take this condition seriously, and see a spinal specialist. If your spine is merely out of alignment, manipulation by a chiropractor or physical therapist may help ease your pain. This may also ease your muscle strain.

If your doctor confirms that you have an uneven pelvis or unequal leg lengths, the solution will likely be to try to correct the problem with a heel lift on the short side. This may be as simple as putting a piece of 1/4″ foam or cork into the heel of your running shoe. If you don’t get any relief at all within a week, go ahead and take the lift out. If it does no good, its better just not to wear one; your body may have adjusted to different leg lengths, and “fixing” it may cause more discomfort. Whatever the case, make sure that the remedy matches the problem; do not use a heel lift if your doctor does not confirm that you have an uneven pelvis or unequal leg lengths, or you may only make your problems worse.

If your problem is in the structure of your foot, your solution may be as simple as wearing different running shoes or adding orthotics to the mix. Shoes have been shown to lose almost 75% of their shock absorption after approximately 500 miles. This appears to be the critical point in which injuries tend to develop as a result of shoe wear. Thus it is important to have a rough idea how many miles are on your shoes and to replace them before soreness begins. If your shoes are not worn out, see your podiatrist for recommendations of shoe types and to see if an orthotic will help decrease the biomechanical strain causing your back pain. . In most cases of lower back pain, you will benefit from exercises to strengthen your back and abdominal muscles.

Back pain can be an indicator of a serious problem and can lead to a cascading injury that slows your running to a complete halt! Muscular back pain is the most common and can be annoying and complicated to treat due to the myriad of causes. If you have severe pain, seek medical attention immediately. If your pain is mild and seems to be directly related to your running, look to your feet as a possible contributor to you pain.



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