How Can I Increase the Length of My Legs? - Grow Taller With Longer Legs

Unhappy with your height? I know there are lots of grow taller guides online teaching about spinal decompression and does really help. However, if you have been working solely on your spine to grow, you are missing out on another noteworthy part of your body - your legs. It is also important to know that you can actually increase the length of your legs by doing leg lengthening exercises.

When you are still in your growing phase, I suggest you do not neglect your long bones. To increase in height, it is important to work on the entire length of your long bones while they still have not fused or hardened. I'll share with you some cool tips to help you in your goal of getting taller and how you can achieve your maximum growth potential. The following exercises I have written down below are the 3 of the best ways to safely and naturally increase your height by lengthening your legs.

Exercises to Increase the Length of Your Legs

1. The entire length of your spine is stretched every time you do laps in the pool. This is why swimming is one of the well-known ways to grow taller. And for every kind of stroke, a particular part or area of your body reacts accordingly. Doing breast strokes is the best style to increase your height because it works all your arms and legs.

2. For non-athletes, hearing the words jump rope, make them think about little children in the playground. But the fact is boxers, badminton players, people into martial arts, and other athletes alike, use jump ropes in training. And it is for you, too! Jump rope with two feet on and off the ground at once, until you reach a 5-minute period of jumping rope. When done regularly, along with adequate rest, you can see your shin bones magically lengthening!

3. Make your regular brisk walks in the neighborhood contribute to your height increase by going biking, instead. Take a ride out with your bike for at least 3 times a week, and your legs will definitely be stretched! Get the most out of your leg lengthening bike ride by elevating your seat a couple of inches higher than normal. Doing so will compel your legs to stretch out farther. However, it's best to remain at a slow pace until you get the hang of it; to avoid injury.

Spinal Decompression - Effective Treatment of Neck and Back Pain

Spinal decompression is a drug-free treatment available for treating a wide array of back disorders. If you are tired of surgical processes, this technique can provide you with complete relief. The treatment requires no complicated or risky surgical process and is totally safe. The method was developed from years of research and is ideal for long term relief from pain.

Until recently, patients with back pain were usually given drugs with possible side-effects, referred to physical therapists, or sent for surgery. The structure of our back is comprised of spinal bones (vertebrae), their joints, discs between vertebras, and the muscles and ligaments which bind all the parts together. The discs which act as a cushion between the vertebrae can get damaged and the gelatinous material inside can leak, leading to herniated disc which is the cause of pain. These types of back pains can be treated with modern decompression techniques including Decompression Therapy System (DTS), VAX-D, ABS systems, DRX-3000, DRX9000, and the Accu-Spina System.

Spinal compression is the common cause for neck and back pain. Spinal decompression causes the expansion of disc herniations, which are the cause for the pressure exerted on nearby spinal nerve roots. Decompression technique works by taking away pressure from damaged discs so that the bulging will shrink back to its original size and thus protect the surrounding discs from getting damaged. The treatment has also proved to be successful in treating spinal stenosis, sciatica, pinched nerve, facet syndrome, low back disc bulge, golf related pain, and degenerative disc disease.

The spinal decompression treatment normally takes about 6-8 weeks. It can be followed by neuromuscular, cardiovascular and diet therapy for even greater results. All treatment methods are affordable and are designed to alleviate all types of back pain. The treatment procedure is effective and results can be seen within the initial weeks of the treatment.

Spinal Decompression: Negative Pressure = Positive Results

A mother bends over to pick up her child and feels a sharp pain in her back. A business man is on his lunch break and is rear-ended at a traffic light, causing neck pain and hand numbness. What's the cause of their pain? A disc herniation.

Vertebral discs are found between the bones (vertebrae) that make up your spine. Healthy discs have two primary functions: to act as shock absorbers for the spinal joints; and to act as spacers between the vertebrae where your nerves exit the spinal column.

When discs start to break down (degenerate), movement in your vertebrae decreases and the discs become dehydrated. As they dehydrate, the spaces between your vertebrae narrow at the area where the nerves exit. This disc narrowing can cause nerve compression and pain. Additionally, as the discs in your spine dehydrate and start to tear, the edges of the discs can bulge. This bulging can lead to a disc herniation, creating neck or back pain and, at times, numbness and weakness in the arms and legs.

While some disc herniations require surgery, only about 1% of back pain sufferers are surgical candidates. While surgery may be a possible solution as a last resort, a non-invasive, highly effective alternative does exist. Spinal decompression therapy can eliminate back pain without surgery.

This alternate therapy offers back pain sufferers a non-surgical option that may restore normal function to damaged spines. Spinal decompression melds modern technology with the proven techniques of chiropractic medicine. By using precision computerized equipment, a chiropractor is able to administer targeted therapy to the exact areas that need treatment. Spinal decompression utilizes comfortable traction therapy to relieve back, leg pain, neck and arm pain. During this procedure, by cycling through distraction and relaxation phases and by proper positioning, a spinal disc can be isolated and placed under negative pressure, causing a vacuum effect within the disc.

The vacuum effect accomplishes two things. From a mechanical standpoint, disc material that has protruded or herniated from the disc can be pulled back within the disc, taking pressure off the nerves. When this pressure is relieved by the vacuum effect created within the disc, symptoms such as arm and leg numbness are relieved. In addition, the vacuum effect stimulates blood supply to the disc, secondarily stimulating a healing response. This results in pain reduction and proper healing at the injured site.

Generally, most patients with slipped and/or bulging (herniated) discs, as well as those who have chronic neck and/or back pain, are good candidates for spinal decompression therapy. Patients may also find relief using this therapeutic procedure for other specific conditions including spinal stenosis, sciatica, facet syndrome, degenerative disc disease, spondylosis or even failed spinal surgery.

Spinal Decompression Therapy has been shown to have a 71-90% success rate and has been well received by patients suffering from a variety of conditions. Many people have suffered long-term debilitating pain due to car accidents, the physical nature of their careers or from playing their favorite sports. But with the advent of Spinal Decompression, long-term sufferers are beginning to see the light.

Click the link to for more information on Spinal Decompression Therapy.

Three of the Biggest Trends in Pain Management Today

Pain management as a specialty is a technologically improving field. Each year there seems to be at least a couple procedures that are made better with technological improvements or something new is introduced to help alleviate pain in patients.

These are 3 of the biggest trends being seen in pain treatment today some of which are technological, others of which are simply clinical related.

1. Pain doctors are starting to perform minimally invasive spine surgery. If you have been to see a modern pain doctor's office recently, you may start to notice that a significant amount of pain doctors are now shifting into performing some procedures that spine surgeons typically performed. An overlap is beginning, and one of the main drivers for this is increased technology with fluoroscopy and minimally invasive instruments. The procedures that pain doctors are starting to perform include lumbar decompression's, discectomies, and intra-discal procedures.

2. Spinal cord stimulation is expanding in indications and improving in technology. The spinal cord stimulator is placed into the spine and serves to block the pain impulses that may radiate down into a person's leg. It has also been shown to help with back pain too. methods of placing spinal cord stimulators continues to evolve. For instance, the pain doctor may place the main paddle in the spinal canal while placing the additional lead in the soft tissues of the back to help reduce back pain better. This is one of the most exciting procedures in pain management today and continues to improve. Patients who have no options for their back pain and surgery is not indicated, having a last resort option such as a spinal cord stimulator is a beautiful thing if it works.

3. Pain doctors are becoming more responsible with prescribing opiate medications. Unfortunately pill mills in United States have tarnished the image of pain doctors. These individuals have devoted their lives to reducing pain and suffering individuals. And a select few have tarnished the image of doctors who are doing it the right way. Pain management doctors who offer comprehensive treatment options, drug testing, pain contracts, and checking pharmacy board monitoring systems definitely have the best interest of the patient at heart. As the DEA has cracked down on pill mills, those are being weeded out and responsible pain clinics are staying in business.

There are some fabulous things happening in pain management today. The next few years will be very exciting to see what technologies continue to improve and what new ones get introduced. With the epidemic of pain in this country today, this revolution of pain treatment options could not be happening at a better time.

Spinal Decompression For Bulging Discs

Bulging discs usually occur as we grow old and our body becomes prone to degeneration, but this medical condition can happen at any age due to injury. It occurs when the lumbar discs, the shock absorbers between the vertebral bodies, gets pushed out of their normal positions. At this point, the lumbar discs easily rupture and the gel-like center, the nucleus pulposus, leaks out of the discs and pushes on the spinal cord.

This would not be a problem if not for the nerve fibers located around the discs which get irritated as the nucleus pulposus leak out. Nerve irritation, as a result, causes pain on the lower limbs, burning or tingling sensation on the legs, and numbness.

Most people can live through the pain caused by bulging discs, as the pain can only be mild. There have been, however, cases in which bulging discs caused severe pain and resulted to the incapacitation of the legs. Treating the injured discs doesn't require spinal surgery. The best treatment is still rest. Moderation and change of activity, physical therapy, and taking analgesics can also help.

Another alternative treatment method is spinal compression. In this method, a machine, the DRX 9000, applies a gentle force on the spine to elongate it and decompress the injured discs. Decompression creates a negative pressure on the discs, and this works to return the discs back into their original positions.

The vacuum created by the negative pressure also moves the nucleus pulposus back into the discs, and release the pressure from the injured areas. The release of pressure from the discs, in turn, releases the pressure from the nerves, and as a result, the pain and other symptoms get instantly relieved. The vacuum also helps in the exchange flow of oxygen and nutrients by accelerating their entry into the injured discs. This stimulates and accelerates the healing process of the bulging discs.

Spinal decompression can have a long-lasting effect. Also, since it is non-surgical and non-invasive, no healing time for wounds is needed, so the patients can resume their normal lifestyle faster. Finally, the DRX 9000 minimizes side effects such as mild muscle-spasms by carefully monitoring the continuous cycle of stretching and relaxation of the spine with a computerized system.

Numbness, Tingling in Hands & Fingers - Symptom Diabetes

Before proceeding further, I would request you to answer the following questions

• Do you wake up in the morning with tingling hands and feet?


• Does your foot start to tingle each time you sit down?


• Do you complain about sleeping feet and hands?

If you have answered yes to any one or more of the above mentioned questions then I'm glad that you have chosen this article for reading. The tingling or numbness in feet and hands is a warning sign. You are sitting down and spending few minutes to read this article depicts that you care for your health.

So proceed further!

Few other names of tingling and numbness are

• Loss of sensation


• Neuropathy


• Sensory loss


• Paresthesias


• Restless leg syndrome

Diabetes sets in gradually. Most of the time the patients remain unaware that a chronic disease is setting in. It is a severe condition which causes the level of blood sugar to rise. The high levels of glucose in blood for a longer period of time start to damage various systems of the body. The nervous system of the body is the first victim of high sugar levels. The damage to the nerves of the body results in tingling and numbness sensation.

If somebody is still unsure whether he is diabetic or not, then he must look for the following signs of diabetes

• Persistent numbness


• Persistent tingling


• Frequent urination


• Excessive thirst


• Increased hunger


• Tiredness


• Unexplained weight loss


• Irritability


• Mood swings


• Depression


• Blurriness in vision


• Recurrent infection


• Slow healing wounds and cuts


• Impotency in men

If a person is suffering from the above symptoms then it does not necessarily means that he is diabetic; however it is important that he should go for the initial screening for diabetes. It is good to keep the record when you feel the above mentioned symptoms. This will help the medical professional to diagnose the problem. It will also help you to answer the questions of the doctor vigilantly.

Generally the feelings of numbness and tingling are ignored because the sensation is more like hand or feet falling asleep. However the tingling or numbness sensation can better be described as inability to feel the touch on the skin.

It is critical to consult the doctor if a person is

• Suffering from rash


• Experiencing muscle pain or dizziness


• Feeling tingling and numbness for no reason


• Feeling tingling sensation in extremities that get even worse during walking


• Feeling pain in fingers and fore arms


• Tingling sensation are worst during night

A Pain in the Neck - Literally!

One morning, you wake-up with a burning or tingling sensation in your neck. Perhaps it feels stiff or tender and you just can't figure out why! Did you sleep "funny" or catch a draft on your neck? Maybe it was when your car was rear-ended or when you twisted the wrong way at the gym. Whatever is causing your neck pain, all you know is... it hurts and you want it to go away, before it gets worse!

Neck pain - also referred to as cervical pain, can strike anywhere from the bottom of your head to the top of your shoulders. It can quickly spread to your upper back or arms, limiting head and neck movement. You may experience crippling headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, depression and fatigue - which can last for days, weeks, months or years, especially if left untreated. Long-term pain has the potential to limit daily activities and reduce your quality of life. The possibility for neck pain and injury are constant, therefore, a little anatomy is needed.

Your neck is amazing! It begins at the base of the skull, and contains 7 small bones or vertebrae. Between each vertebrae are intervertebral discs (tough shock-absorbing pads). In addition, the neck has joints, muscles and ligaments that allow movement and provide stability. It carries the weight of your head... 8 - 12 pounds and has the ability to nod up and down (90簞 of forward and backward motion) and turn right and left (180簞 of side to side motion, and almost 120簞 of tilt to each shoulder). The nerves in your neck help the brain communicate with your shoulders, arms and chest. The arteries and veins circulate blood between the brain and the heart. With so much freedom of movement, comes the risk for pain and injury!

Finding this cause, begins with a thorough health history, understanding of the patient's symptoms, along with a structural and muscular examination. Physical Therapists and Chiropractors may work together to perform a manual exam, palpate the spine and conduct specialized testing to analyze posture, range-of-motion, muscle strength and nerve function. Other diagnostic tests may include laboratory blood studies to determine if there is an underlying disorder, x-rays, CAT scan, MRI, electromyography and nerve conduction studies.

It is important to understand that neck pain symptoms can signify different things! For instance, the same symptom could indicate an inflammatory concern, nerve entrapment issue, disc or muscular problem - that is why finding the exact cause is so vital!

Most neck pain can be caused by activities that result in repeated or prolonged movements to the neck's muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones or joints. This can result in a strain (overstretched or overused muscles), sprain (injury to a ligament), a spasm of the neck muscles or inflammation of the neck joints. Poor Posture (improper position when sitting, reading, sleeping or working at a computer), Injury (auto, sports or slip and fall), Improper Bending and Lifting Techniques, Inadequate Muscle Strength, Shortened Muscles, Strained Muscles or Ligaments, Scoliosis, Osteoarthritis, Being Overweight, Facet Joint Syndrome, Pinched Nerve, Cervical Spinal Stenosis, Bulging or Herniated Disc or Segmental Instability (excess movement between two vertebrae, causing pinching or irritation of the nerve roots) are factors to be explored and analyzed. The stress and emotional tension of having neck pain can lead to more neck pain... muscles become tight and contract. Choices have to be made, decisions regarding surgery, medication and alternative therapy must be considered.

Neck pain sufferers may not realize how some of their activities and lifestyle choices have directly or indirectly caused their neck pain. Perhaps they fell asleep on a chair or couch while watching television or maybe they have a tendency to sleep on their stomach. Other people might not realize that the weight of their pocketbook or holding their cell phone jammed between their ear and shoulder has caused their neck pain. Finally, many individuals find themselves sitting at the computer for many hours with poor posture. This poor posture continues as they travel home - either by car, bus or train.

After finding the cause, the proper treatment can be instituted to achieve neck pain relief. Treatment may include medication management, as well as injections of ligaments, muscles, bursae, joints and specialized injections such as epidural injections or facet joint block injection. Physical Therapy, Chiropractic or Acupuncture may be an integral part of the neck pain treatment program.

Neck pain relief is a major reason people treat with chiropractic physicians. They find that pain is relieved, muscle tightness is reduced and healing begins by manually applying a controlled force to joints that have become restricted by muscle injury, strain, inflammation and/or pain. In addition, spinal decompression - traction that may help relieve neck pain, may be considered. Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine - taking pressure off spinal discs (gel-like cushions between the bones in your spine). Additionally, spinal decompression is successful in treating back pain, bulging or herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, posterior facet syndrome (worn spinal joints) and radiculopathy (injured or diseased spinal nerve roots). This revolutionary treatment method, which may be covered by health insurance - has resulted in canceling surgeries and allowing people to live life to the fullest. Many neck pain sufferers experience substantial, immediate relief of their symptoms after their first treatment.

There are several forms of physical therapy utilized for neck pain relief. For acute pain, the physical therapist may focus on decreasing pain with passive physical therapy (modalities). They are considered passive therapies because they are done to the patient, rather than the patient rehabilitating with exercise. Examples of modalities include: Ice (makes blood vessels constrict which decreases the blood flow - helping to control inflammation, muscle spasm and pain), Heat (makes blood vessels dilate, which increases the blood flow - helping flush away chemicals that cause pain, as well as bringing in healing nutrients and oxygen.), Ultrasound (uses high-frequency sound waves to reach sore muscles and other tissues that are over two inches below the surface of your skin, which help flush the sore area and bring in a new supply of blood that is rich in nutrients and oxygen.) Electrical Stimulation (can ease pain by sending impulses to the brain that are felt instead of pain.), Soft Tissue Massage (reduces pain and spasm by helping muscles relax - by bringing in a fresh supply of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood and by flushing the area of chemical irritants that come from inflammation.), Joint Mobilization (changing pressure and movements to the joints to help lubricate joint surfaces to ease stiffness and reduce pain.) and Traction (sore joints and muscles often feel better when traction is used.).

In addition to passive therapies, active physical therapy (exercise) is also necessary to rehabilitate the spine. Generally, a patient's exercise program will encompass a combination of stretching exercises, strengthening exercises and low impact aerobics. Strength and flexibility must be built up gradually - on a gradient level. Doing too much too soon often causes muscle strain. Physical therapists use functional training to help patients with daily activities. This will include a healthy posture program to keep the spine in safe alignment, reducing strain on the joints and soft tissues around the spine.

Other neck pain relief recommendations include staying hydrated. Drink plenty of water to help flush away acidic waste products from the muscles. High levels of acidic waste products in the muscles can cause muscle irritation and pain. Poor dietary choices can lead to chronic inflammation - increasing pain sensitivity. Daily supplementation of Vitamin D can help alleviate a deficiency and pain, according to recent studies.

If this describes you, a family member or friend... you can get better. After a few short weeks of correct care, you can begin to get on with the rest of your life, as you rid yourself of neck pain.

Treatment Guide For a Herniated Disc

As we grow older, we become more susceptible to health problems. From cancer to heart attacks and extreme pain - it seems impossible to go through life without experiencing one of these life changing issues. With back pain being one of the most common health scares among Americans, it is no wonder why millions of people struggle with overcoming such discomfort and living life to the fullest.

Despite the fact that back pain is a frequent diagnosis, there are a sundry of different types, symptoms and even treatments. Most cases of back pain are attributed to a herniated disc. According to FamilyDoctor.org, "Herniated discs are most common in the lumbar spine--the part of your backbone between the bottom of your ribs and your hips. Discs are the soft "cushions" between the bones of the spine." When your disc is pushed against a nerve, it begins to bulge and become very uncomfortable. Otherwise known as a "slipped disc," the pressed nerve can elicit pain in the back and leg, as well as numbness. Generally, the more you move, the more painful it becomes. Even the slightest movement from coughing or sneezing can bring on an excruciating muscle spasm.

Alternative Treatments For Herniated Disc

If you suffer from a herniated disc, there are several treatments that you can undergo. First and foremost, exercise will significantly help. While it is imperative to consult your physician before you attempt this, stretching can decrease the level of pain. Yoga or Pilates may be a great alternative, as it improves flexibility and blood circulation. Medicine may also be prescribed, as well as a shot in your backbone.

Ineffective? If so, spinal decompression therapy could help. Widely known as the most favorable and non-invasive treatments, spinal decompression therapy can address herniated discs, Sciatica including pinched nerves. The procedure involves lying on a table with a connected strap hooked to a computer. The computer sends the signal that puts pressure to the spine stretching the discs apart to enable blood and oxygen to flow back into the spine. This is otherwise known as a "vacuum effect," since the pressure creates suction.

Spinal decompression therapy is painless contrary to what others perceive. For most patients, the effect is positive since it eases pain and relieves muscle spasm. The therapy triggers the disc to stretch and become flexible which marks the start of the healing stage. Much cheaper than spinal decompression surgery, this treatment requires the patient to undergo 4-5 sessions per week for a minimum of twenty sessions. By the end of the process, the majority feel as if they have either been cured or significantly helped.

The case of herniated discs is not an unusual problem for millions of people worldwide. It can be a disappointing experience since it can hamper your mobility and your normal routine. You no longer can take that daily walk or go swimming with friends - everyday is a pain day experience. With alternative treatments such as yoga or spinal decompression therapy, herniated discs no longer have to be your death sentence. These treatments will alleviate the discomfort, minimize the constant symptoms and bring back your confidence, allowing you to truly focus on what is important. Trust us, pain doesn't have to be forever.

Spinal Decompression Tables

Spinal decompression tables are used during a spinal decompression therapy. This therapy is non-surgical treatment for disc pain in the neck and back. This is a non-invasive and non-expensive treatment which is done very fast and without the patient being disrobed. Any individual who is suffering from pain in the neck, back, arm or leg can feel better with this therapy. People who suffer from this kind of ailment usually experience numbness, tingling and decreased function of the upper and lower limbs. This can prove to be an obstacle in the routine work and life of a person. It can get tough when there is extreme pain which usually occurs when one disc moves into the space occupied by a nerve or starts pressing against the nerve hence creating lot of pain and problem in movement.

A patient is said to feel better when he feels relief of the symptoms that he was feeling and hence the decompression is said to occur. During the Spinal decompression therapy a spinal decompression table is used which is controlled using a computer and it helps to realign the compressed spinal discs. This entire procedure is based on correct positioning and cycling which is done through distraction and relaxation phase. This entire process creates a pull thus decreasing the pressure on the nerve improving the blood flow and healing the area.

Back pain is very common, and something that you need to try to get rid of. It is one of the most common complaints amongst people around the world. Be sure to try spinal decompression, as you will find it gives you some relief right away!

Diseases like Prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc, denaturalization of lumbar intervertebral disc, lumbar muscle spasm etc can be treated by using the Computerized Spinal Table.

Non-Surgical Herniated Disc Healing - Part 1

It is important to know that,just because you have a herniated disc, does not mean it is causing your pain. In fact, it has been proven that many people live their entire life with such discs and never get pain from it.

That is critical for you to know, so you stop being afraid of that diagnosis or symptom. Once you understand that herniated discs are not going to kill you, and may in fact in some cases, not even be hurting you, you will then easily release your fear based stress and anxiety about them.

Fear and stress about your disc is a major contributor to back pain in a lot of people.

An Alternative Model For Healing Herniated Disc

You will note that all surgical procedures for a herniated disc, have two main objectives, to take pressure off the nerve and to stabilize the joints. But these very rarely achieve the objectives if at all, because most of the mainstream treatments stop at the symptoms of the problem and never go to the cause, so the problem remains.

It is clear enough, that ignoring the cause, leads to a repetition of doctor visits for pain treatment. Over time as your pain gets worse, herniated disc surgery gets presented as an option, a very poor option indeed, if your herniation is not caused by trauma..

As for instance, even if you surgically remove a piece of the disc that is putting pressure on the nerve, the same muscles imbalances and dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniate, do still exist and they will continue to place that strain on your spine and discs, it matters not how many times disc surgery is carried out.

Herniated Disc Surgery Failure

That is precisely why so many people who have surgeries end up having multiples of them without any herniated disc healing, because surgery does NOT do anything to address the imbalances, the real causes, that are creating the dysfunctions, which lead to disc herniation.

A herniated disc is a physical problem, and so it requires as a must, a physical solution at the root cause, and therefore, there is no need for surgery or years of enduring back pain to correct a problem that is so easy to fix, if you only knew the cause and exactly how to re-balance the specific muscle group or muscle groups.

Herniated Disc Heal Naturally

The proper natural model, for effective herniated disc healing and preventive maintenance of your discs, outside of trauma based herniation, has a number of very simple factors. One of those five factors, requires that you must consume sufficient water every single day.

Here is the reason why.

Your discs are composed of about 71% water, and lack of water in the discs causes a narrowing of the space between vertebrae and eventual compression of the spine and the spinal nerves, and that in turn causes you pain. Drinking 7 to 10 glasses of water each day will do health wonders for your discs and for your entire body system. You cannot do without it.

The other factors to herniated disc healing include monitoring your standing, sitting and sleeping postures, and yes as well as nutrition.

All You Need to Know About Inversion Tables

Brief History

Inversion therapy goes far back as 400 BC during the time of Hippocrates also known as the father of medicine and would hang patients suffering back pain upside down.

How can Inversion therapy help me?

Inversion therapy not only helps remedy back pain it also reduces spinal decompression and overworked joints and muscles. The inversion table lets you lie on your back in a relaxed inverted position which takes the pressure off your back and allows you to invert partially or completely depending upon your level of comfort. Not only can inversion therapy help to treat back pain but it can be used to reverse the negative effects of aging on the spine. There are a number of benefits when using the inversion table apart from back pain releif, increase blood circulation, improve your overall health, relax and strengthen overworked joints and muscles.

Main Benefits of Inversion

The use of an Inversion Table can promote healthy living by having a complete body workout with reduced stress and pressure on your back and joints increasing flexibility, strengthening ligaments and core muscles and better balance. The Inversion system also offers a better way of stretching and exercises which reduce and may reverse harmful pressure of the body by gravity. Nowadays an inversion table is an essential fitness product for all those active individuals and not only for those who have bad backs or are to reduce ageing.

Inversion Benefits:

Decrease back pain.

Whilst being inverted the distance between the vertebrae is a result of the stretch which elongates the whole back and minimises the pressure on the spine which results in less back pain.

Improve your balance, posture and height.

Inversion promotes good posture. Slouching and slumping at desks, in chairs everyday equates to bad posture. Inverting helps our body to get back to its natural curve especially the spine due to the pull of gravity.

Stimulate Blood circulation and reduce stress.

By using gravity to help the blood flow from the legs to your heart and lungs. The heart pumps blood with oxygen around the body to feed its cells. The blood comes back to be cleansed and refuelled with oxygen, however it is very difficult returning blood back to the heart from the legs and lower part of the body in which case inversion lets gravity help. Other noted improvements are healthier hair and better skin tone.

Decrease the negative effects of gravity on ageing

It lets us to safely and comfortably maintain flexibility, balance and strength. As with ageing height loss occurs however inversion maintains your height.

Achieve functional fitness

Improve core muscles with safe stomach crunches with no pressure on the spine. Relieve aching muscles after strenuous workouts by inverting which also helps with lymphatic system to eradicate waste from the body which helps muscle recovery and growth. Stretching exercises will help strengthen muscles and also benefit from healthy joints.

Cleanse your internal organs

It also helps with ageing and keeps the organs in the correct place and maintain the right shape in which it reduces the deterioration of organs as a result of ageing.

Increase oxygen levels to your brain

Inversion also helps to increase oxygen supply to the brain which may decrease due to high blood pressure and arteries getting blocked.

Fight against cellulite

It has been suggested that inversion reduces cellulite. Inversion table stops the development of cellulite by helping the lymphatic fluids flow to the lymph organs and helps to get the fats around the lymphatic system.

Reduce hair loss

Some sources believe hair loss can be reduced by inversion. It is suggested that increased blood flow to the scalp stimulates the hair follicles and experts claim baldness is due to the difficulties blood has getting to the hair follicle.

Relieve varicose veins

Information About Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal Compression within the back and neck is caused by irregularities within the spinal anatomy that infringe on surrounding spinal nerves, nerve roots, or the spinal cord itself. The spine is made up of vertebrae, inter-vertebral disc's, muscles, ligaments, and joints. The joints and discs are especially prone to damage as time goes by, and herniated discs, bulging discs, or bone spurs can project into your spinal canal and infringe on neural activity, which in turn can cause symptoms of numbness, weakness, tingling, and pain. Spinal Decompression Therapy focuses on releasing tension which has developed all around spinal nerves. Due to the fact spinal nerve roots are the origin for all your nerves within the body, pressure on these nerves could cause pain to radiate in to the extremities. It is very important to remember the term "decompression therapy," can span an array of pain relief approaches, from non-operative to massively invasive surgery.

Spinal Decompression Therapy is often conducted on a specially engineered table in either a face up or face down position. Clinical consideration along with your comfort are used in figuring out which position is going to be most effective for you. Treatments may start out in one position but in later sessions it may be required to change positions. You can expect to stay totally dressed during the treatment although it is suggested for you to wear loose fitting clothes, and remove your belt and objects like keys and cellular phones from your pockets. You'll be comfortably positioned on the table and fitted with a wrap-around harness. This restraint is what makes it possible for the unloading of the spine and discs through the traction motor. Your position on the table, the harness, and angle of the gentle distraction enables accurate and concentrated treatment to the afflicted disc or discs.

Once comfortable on the Spinal Decompression Table, the computer controlled traction device is programmed to produce a gentle stretching force to the spinal vertebra. This pressure is delivered directly to the harness system. The Spinal Decompression system applies a brief gentle force and then releases it roughly every minute throughout the session. The entire treatment time is often under 18 minutes and is commonly just 10 minutes to begin with. Most patients report simply experiencing a delicate and gentle stretching at their lower back or around their hips. Since Spinal Decompression Therapy is a comfort-based procedure, individuals usually report a sense of relief and relaxation during the session. Quite a few patients even fall to sleep.

If you decide to engage in Spinal Decompression Therapy for your lumbar pain, it is often best to coordinate several conservative approaches. For example, if you do try Spinal decompression Therapy, consult your physician about incorporating over-the-counter, or prescription pain medication, and some low-impact exercise. In the event that conservative rehabilitation has proven ineffective after many weeks or months, your physician may suggest a surgical option, so prepare yourself.

Herniated Disc, Leg Pain and Chiropractic

Pain going down your leg secondary to a herniated disc is a common and often disabling occurrence. A disc in your spine is composed of 2 simple elements, the inner nucleus pulposis that is a jellylike in composition and the outer annulus fibrosis that is fibro-cartilaginous and very strong. When a individual feels trauma and the forces are directed at the spine and disc, it increases the pressure on the inside of the disc (like stepping on a balloon) and the inner nucleus pulposis puts pressure, from the inside out and tears the outer annulus fibrosis causing the inner material to go outside the outer boundaries of the disc. This has often been misnamed a "Slipped Disc" Since the disc doesn'T slip or slide, it is torn from the trauma allowing the internal material to leak.

Conversely, a bulging disc, which gets confused with a herniated disc, is a degenerative,Wear and tear scenario. That occurs over time with the annulus fibrosis degenerating. This can also be a Risk factor. Allowing the disc to herniate with fewer trauma due to the degeneration or thinning of the disc walls. This however, is a conversation for a further topic

Life span prevalence of a herniated disc has been estimated to be 35% in men and 45% in woman and it has been estimated that 90% of all leg pain secondary to herniated discs happens at either L4-5 or the L5-S1 levels. It has also been reported that average duration of symptoms is 55.9 weeks underscoring the critical requisite for finding a viable solution for these patients. [1]

Although many of these are surgical candidates, it has been estimated that only 2-4% have actual surgical indications. [2] Therefore, nearly all patients need to be treated non-surgically and until recently, there have been a small amount of metrics affording guidance to the healthcare profession and public alike directing them to the appropriate care. In a 2009 study report, ending a 2 year study, a clear direction is now presented for patients that suffer with radiating pain from herniated discs.

The effects of the study illustrate that as a result of non surgical spinal decompression and chiropractic care,?Clinically significant progress in pain magnitude was seen in 73.9% of patients and overall in 80% of the patients, they self-described their results as either good or excellent. [3]

Chiropractic and non-surgical spinal decompression therapy protocols were utilized 2-3 times per week tapering down to 2 times per week and less until the patients were released from care.

The reports go on to state that there were no chief complications with any patient.

The results of the study referenced above also recommend that patients with cervical radiculopathy (neck pain radiating in to the arms,) lumbar spinal stenosis, pregnancy correlated lumbo-pelvic pain and chronic occupation related neck-arm pain may also benefit from non-surgical such as chiropractic care.

This study without a doubt shows that chiropractic is not only an alternative for disc associated radiating pain, but would be the most sensible place to start care with 80% of the patients getting well and not being exposed to drugs, their side effects or the added burden to the healthcare system with more costly treatments. The balance of the patients who would need necessary drugs or more complicated intervention is referred to the appropriate specialist as is the standard of care within chiropractic.

This study along with many others resolves that a drug-free approach of chiropractic care is one of the best answers for disc and radiating pain.

[1] Donald Murphy DC, Eric Hurwitz DC, PhD, Erika McGovern DC, A Nonsurgical Approach to the Management of Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy Secondary to Herniated Disk: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study with Follow Up, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 32, Number 9, 723-733, 2009

[2] IBID

[3] IBID Orlando Spinal Aid Center

Back Pain - Treatment For It?

Back Pain is one of the most common medical problems. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually last from few days to few weeks. If back pain last for more than 3 months then it is called as chronic back pain.

The types of surgery is decided by surgeons after thorough assessment and may decide amongst the following:

Anterior Cervical Discectomy:

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion is a surgical procedure performed to treat a damaged disc in the neck area of your spine. Discectomy literally means "Cutting out of Disc"

Cervical Corpectomy:

Cervical corpectomy is an operation to remove portion of the vertebra and adjacent intervertebral discs for decompression of the cervical spinal cords and spinal nerves. A bone graft with or without metal plate & screw is used to reconstruct the spine and provide stability.

Forminotomy:

Ootomy is the medical term for making an opening. A formiotomy makes the foremen larger and relieves nerve compression. The opening in between the vertebra is called neuroformanin. When this opening is reduced due to a spinal problems or injury, there is less room for the nerves to pass between the bone.

Laminoplasty:

It is the procedure intended to receive pressure on the spinal cord from the existing nerve root and spinal cord. Increases the amount of space available for the neural tissue and thus releases the nerves.

Microdisectomy:

In Microdiscectomy surgery, a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and or disc material from under the nerve root is removed to relieve neural impingement and provide more room for the nerve to heat.

Laminoctomy:

The portion of the vertebra known as the lamina is removed along with any thickened ligaments to release the nerves traveling down the centre of spinal cord.

Spine procedures completely depend on the spine conditions and the decision is to be made between you and your doctors.

To know more details of back pain, causes, symptoms and their treatment log on to http://www.spinesurgery-wecareindia.com

Non-Surgical Bulging Disc and Spinal Decompression Therapy Symptoms and Treatment

Bulging disc and spinal decompression or herniated disc may be the result of degenerative disc disease, or an injury to the spine causing the spongy, gelatinous nucleus of the disc to bulge out of the protective annulus layer. A bulging disc and spinal compression may occur over time as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, or the degeneration of the discs that can come with advanced age.

The herniated disc can impinge on the sciatic nerve causing shooting pain or numbness and tingling in the legs. A bulging disc might never cause pain or be detected unless it begins to cause friction against a nerve. If a herniated disc occurs in the neck area of the cervical spine, the pain will radiate to the shoulders and arms.

What is a bulging disc?

Let's take a step back and get a clear picture of what is going on if you've got a bulging disc. Spinal discs act as shock absorbers in between each vertebrae of the spine. They provide a supple cushioning effect that absorbs the stress and pressure placed on the spine. The disc has a soft, spongy nucleus, which is encapsulated by the annulus, which is a protective outer layer. Over time this protective layer can get worn down and compressed in people who may not be very active or get poor nutrition.

The disc will finally begin to bulge out from between the vertebrae. The pain you feel is from the nerves whose job it is to make sure that you feel everything. Nerves transmit sensation--both pleasurable and painful--from the extremities back to the central nervous system, which is connected to the brain.

When this network of nerves gets impinged upon, you will definitely feel it in the form of shooting pain, numbness and tingling, or even muscle weakness when the nerve is being compresse. It's not unlike getting a crimp in the garden hose. If you stand on the hose you can diminish the flow of water from a gush to a trickle.

Treatment for bulging disc

Medical doctors that practice conventional, Western medicine may prescribe medications to relax the muscles and relieve the pain. They also offer cortisone injections and epidurals, but these are only temporary solutions that mask the symptoms rather than treating the cause of the bulging disc.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

Your local Chiropractor has a painless, non-surgical treatment option to relieve the pain of bulging disc and facilitate the restoration of the disc. It's called spinal decompression therapy. Non-surgical Spinal Decompression is a revolutionary new technology used primarily to treat bulging and herniated discs in the neck and low back. Spinal Decompression Therapy is designed to take the pressure off the bulging disc and compressed nerves by slowly and gently stretching the spine at a certain angle followed by cycles of partial relaxation. This pattern of distraction and relaxation creates a "vacuum effect" or negative intra-discal pressure.

The negative pressure may induce the retraction of the bulging or herniated disc back into the inside of the disc taking pressure off of the nerve. The cycle of decompression and partial relaxation, over a series of visits, promotes diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids into the disc. The nutrients enable the torn and degenerated disc fibers to begin to heal.

An Overview of Cervical Myelopathy

Cervical myelopathy is a condition that often occurs in middle-aged and older individuals as they shift into middle-age and into the 60s and 70s. It may show up very slowly and lead to substantial problems without sufficient warning signs.

Myelopathy can be a tricky diagnosis to make as it often occurs in a subtle fashion and at times the work up can be non-definitive. Typically cervical myelopathy presents with a few telltale signs and symptoms. If a person comes in and says that they are having difficulty walking and feel like they are off-balance all the time, that may be an indicator of myelopathy. In addition, the individual may state that they are having a tough time with handwriting, or possibly buttoning up their shirts.

The signs and symptoms may be subtle and there may be no pain in the individual's neck. There may be a lot of pain if the patient has concomitant arthritis in the neck. Even if there's no pain, surgery may still be necessary.

The work up for cervical myelopathy includes a physical examination to watch the patient ambulate, to check their manual dexterity, and to look for hyperreflexia to see if those are present.

An MRI study will often show some signal changes within the spinal cord due to something compressing on it. This may be arthritis with overgrowth from either soft tissue or bone, a tumor, a result of a fracture with the bone healing improperly, or something else such as a disc herniation compressing on the spinal cord and causing it to react.

The tricky part may come and if there are no signal changes seen on MRI and no big time compressive elements on the spinal cord. It may take a while for the spinal cord to 'react" to being compressed. One month the spinal cord may look completely normal in size, density, and contrast on the MRI, and the next compression may cause it to have shrunk a bit and have a bright signal to it. Unfortunately, this may not be reversible if it progresses. It's unpredictable.

Another great study in the work up for myelopathy is a nerve conduction and electromyography study. This can show to what extent nerve roots are being affected by the myelopathy. You can also help distinguish between cervical stenosis which is compression of multiple nerve roots as they are trying to get out from the neck, versus cervical myelopathy which is compression of the spinal cord itself.

Treating cervical myelopathy is not a black and white issue. Surgery for cervical myelopathy is definitely indicated if the condition is getting worse in front of the physician's eyes on follow-up visits. The reason is that when you do surgery to decompress the areas on cervical myelopathy that are the problem, you can typically stop the progression of the disease but often not reverse it.

The type of surgery to do for cervical myelopathy is questionable and depends upon where the compression is occurring and how broad it is, as it may only be necessary to do a decompression and not a fusion. More often than not however, along with decompressing the tight areas, the surgeon will perform some kind of fusion to stabilize the area.

Cervical myelopathy is very treatable if seen early. If it's seeing late, the outcome may be sub optimal as even if the surgery is technically done perfectly, it may be impossible to reverse the damage that has been done.

Treating Lumbar Facet Joint Pain With Radiofrequency Ablation (Radiofrequency Neurotomy)

Of the millions of chronic back pain sufferers in America, just less than half (45%) have the facet joints as their pain generator. This is termed facet joint syndrome. Facet joint injections are the most common interventional pain management procedure by far in the US. They work well about 80% of the time.

Making the diagnosis of facet joint syndrome is difficult with simply a history, physical examination, and imaging studies. Similar to arthritis seen in other body joints like the knee and hip, the presence of arthritis does not mean the patient will have pain. Endstage degenerative arthritis may be present with the patient experiencing minimal pain.

The best method available for determining whether or not a patient has facet joint syndrome is a diagnostic injection into the joint. This injection is when a pain doctor performs a diagnostic injection of numbing medicine around the facet joint to numb up the small nerve endings supplying sensation to the joint (and pain). If the patient's pain is substantially relieved from the numbing injection, then the diagnosis of facet joint syndrome is cemented.

Facet joint intra-articular injections and medial branch blocks have been shown to provide on average five to seven months of pain relief. When the pain wears off, the injections can be repeated with similarly successful results.

In the 1970's and 80's, radiofrequency denervation was developed for the first time and modified as it became more successful. It has grown in popularity as clinical research studies have shown very good outcomes with the procedure.

Radiofrequency ablation involves putting a catheter in the same area as where a medial branch block is performed. Rather than injecting the numbing medicine at that point, the tip of the catheter is heated with radiofrequency waves and the tiny little nerve endings are deadened.

Results of studies that have been done looking at radiofrequency neurotomy have been encouraging. Good to excellent results after RF procedures have been 70-90% for a year with pain being relieved for up to 2 years. This is much longer than facet joint injections. Eventually the medial branches that were deadened will regenerate and the pain may return. At that point the procedure may successfully be repeated. The RF procedure may allow patients to decrease their pain medication needs substantially.

It should be noted that patients may temporarily see increased pain after a radiofrequency ablation. This may be due to muscle spasms from the procedure. Typically within a week the pain relief will begin and the benefits will be noticed.

RF procedures are performed in an outpatient setting. They can be done under local numbing and/or IV sedation. The procedure is predominantly safe with a low risk profile, but there are potential complications. Those include dural puncture, spinal cord trauma, infection, painful dysethesias/hyperesthesia, or increased pain.

The Benefits of Cervical Spinal Decompression Treatment

Spinal decompression treatment was FDA cleared back in 1996. Over the past 15 years its popularity has been rising as it represents an excellent alternative to surgery. The cost of spinal decompression is less than 5% of the cost of surgery, and the risk profile is very low.

How does it work? The popularity for spinal decompression initially was for low back pain, however, as the years have gone by it's been showing considerably good results for neck pain. The science behind spinal decompression works the same for both cervical and lumbar.

Spinal decompression involves intermittent traction with an attachment on the machine which pulls underneath the mastoid process on each side of the neck. It's very comfortable and gentle - a lot of patients fall asleep on the table. The intermittent nature of the traction prevents the neck paraspinal muscles from going into spasm. As the traction works, it creates a negative pressure within the disc itself. This allows for an increased blood flow into the disc, bringing with it increased oxygen and nutrients.

This can help dramatically with degenerative disc disease along with herniated discs. It may allow the disc pressure to be alleviated off of the nerve root being compressed, and the pinched nerve may no longer be pinched.

In addition, the intermittent traction may allow relief from spinal stenosis, which is where multiple nerve roots are compressed from arthritis and bony/soft tissue overgrowth. This relief may last for quite a few months.

Treatment sessions last between 20 and 60 minutes. Patients often fall asleep during treatment, but it doesn't mean it's not working. For the lumbar region, research shows that it works well over 75% of the time. A typical length of therapy lasts for 20 sessions over a period of 6 to seven weeks.

The risk of an adverse event from spinal decompression is very very low. It is non surgical, non interventional, and non forceful.

Spinal decompression is often performed in conjunction with other pain management treatments. These may include chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, acupuncture, interferential treatment, ice, heat, along with treatment from a pain management doctor.

Pain management treatment will depend on the patient's symptoms, signs, and what the imaging studies show. It may include epidural injections, facet blocks, possibly subsequent radiofrequency ablation. Along with spinal decompression therapy, patients have a very good chance of avoiding surgery while being able to return to work, socializing, and doing things like playing with kids and pets.

Five Natural Remedies That Can Help Fight Back Pain

About eight out of every ten people suffer from some form of back pain at some point. It is the second most common reason for missed work, and the second most common reason for seeing a doctor; left unchecked, it can flare out of control, interfering with the day to day activities of the sufferer.

Because of the debilitating nature of back pain, many have searched for alternative methods of treatment. Some are effective, some, not so much, and some have received mixed results. Outlined here are five of the more common alternative treatments sought out by back pain sufferers.

Acupuncture

A UK study conducted over a period of two years reported that acupuncture performed once a week had the effect of reducing not only their pain, but the psychological stress brought on by their worrying about their pain. Acupuncture patients reaped significantly more progress than a parallel group who received painkillers and other more conventional methods of treatment.

Chili Peppers

The active ingredient in chili peppers, Capsaicin, acts as a painkiller when applied to the skin. Research has shown the application of capsaicin in cream form over a period of three weeks resulted in 42% decrease in pain. Eating chili peppers may not have the same potency of effect if consumed orally, but if you love eating spicy food, it can't hurt to try!

Listen to Music

Many studies have shown that listening to music had a positive effect in reducing pain in many sufferers of chronic and acute pain. Back pain is no different. Music reduces stress and anxiety, and creates a positive atmosphere that was less prone to pain. If you listen to music, try listening to soothing, calming music that helps you relax.

Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression is a treatment method that involves taking off the pressure on the discs between the spinal bones, with the aim of reducing pressure on the surrounding tissues and nerves. Thousands of back pain sufferers have found that spinal decompression had a reductive effect on their back pain. Spinal decompression can be performed by a chiropractor trained in spinal manipulation.

Exercise

Back pain sufferers have a tendency to avoid physical activity (and who can blame them). But research has shown that moderate levels of physical activity are essential to decrease back pain. Strengthening the muscles and supporting tissue around the spine contributes to spinal stability and improves posture, which can help prevent pain.

IMPORTANT: Too much exercise or physical activity that is too strenuous can be very damaging for your back if you suffer from a spine-related condition. If a physical activity causes sharp pain in your back, stop performing the activity immediately.

Neck Traction Techniques Explained

Our necks are subject to a lot of tension, and this affects their form. In order to get rid of neck pain, neck traction is required. This can be done at home or professionally by a massage therapist.

A healthy neck has a curvature of 40 - 60 degrees. In such a position, the spinal cord is relaxed and no pressure is exerted on the nerves. If this angle is affected in any way, then we feel pain and muscle tension. Neck traction is a good way to alleviate pain and neck discomfort.

It's amazing that stretching the neck just a little bit can relieve tension and increase comfort in the neck. A technique called 'overhead traction' involves your neck and head being surrounded by a harness and on the other end of the harness, a weight is attached to stretch the neck. This is most effective if you ask someone to slowly pull your head upwards.

Misalignment of the spine means the curvature of your spine has a different shape than it should, resulting in pressure on the nerves and pain. Usually neck traction can help relieve the neck pressure.

Neck traction to fix misalignment
Neck traction is very much used for the treatment of people with misalignment of the spine, but it can be used by those that are not in so much pain, as well.

An X-ray can determine if the curvature of the spine has been misaligned.
In our daily activities, we tend to protrude our heads forward, so over time some misalignment of the spine may occur. If you spend a lot of time working on the computer, driving, or reading, you will experience neck problems over time. With X-ray the chiropractor can tell you whether you need a neck traction or not.

Neck can be misaligned anytime easily
The following example of a football quarterback illustrates how the neck can be
misaligned over time. When the quarterback is hit from behind, in slow motion, we can see how he arches his body, including his neck. A quarterback is trained to receive hits and he is used to this kind of pounding to the body, so in most cases he will shake it off and get up but over time he will experience back and neck discomfort

Neck Traction Device helps prevent bad posture
Our spine is made out of vertebrae which are more likely to shift if we do something extreme to them. Rapid, extreme movements and bad posture will affect the neck and back.

If you have cervical lordosis, a group of vertebrae in the spine is affected and the condition is usually caused by severe trauma. But as we said before, it is not only accidents that can lead to misalignment of the spine. Activities that involve keeping our heads down or lower, or protruded more than their normal position, will result in problems in the long run.

Neck traction can assist in resolving these problems. Neck traction therapy can relieve pain and discomfort caused by misalignment of the spine. Always consult a doctor before you begin any kind of neck traction therapy.

More about neck pain therapy

Is Surgery Always Necessary for A Herniated Disc?

At any one point in time, about 1% of the population deals with pain from a herniated disc. About one fourth of all people with back pain have a herniated disc, and about 90% of these occur in the lower back.

What is the natural history of a herniated disc? Do patients always need surgery, or can they get by non-operatively with various pain management options? Surgery is not always necessary for a herniated disc. There are certain instances where surgery is highly recommended, such as if a patient is experiencing an increased neurologic deficit from where the herniated disc is pushing on the nerve root. For instance if the patient has an L4-L5 herniated disc, the nerve root that is most commonly affected is the L5 nerve root. The L5 nerve root is essential in the patient's ability to lift up the foot. So if it is effective enough, the patient may be unable to lift up the foot and have what is known as a foot drop. Watching this for too long to see if it gets better is not such a great idea therefore surgery may be indicated if this does not get better within a month or two.

Often times physicians are able to prescribe muscle relaxants, painkillers, or have the patient undergo a series of epidural steroid injections. In conjunction with physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, or maybe even a series of spinal decompression treatments, the patient may be able to avoid surgery and get back to being much more functional. These treatments are effective over 90% of the time for a herniated disk with sciatica.

Epidural steroid injections work approximately 70% of the time for significant pain relief. They do not fix the problem of the herniated disc, but may be able to provide enough of a Band-Aid for pain relief while the body itself disintegrates the piece of disc material that is outside the area where it is supposed to be. Studies have shown that patients who undergo surgery for a herniated disc versus patients who are treated not operatively end up doing the same at the one-year point.

So unless it is absolutely necessary, patients who are experiencing sciatica from a herniated disc should undergo nonoperative treatment first. If the patient has difficulty with bowel or bladder control that represents a surgical emergency and should be treated right away. As mentioned, if the patient has a neurologic deficit or an increasing neurologic deficit, then surgery may be a good idea if relief is not seen sooner rather than later. But if it is simply pain that the patient is experiencing, then patients should treat the decision as a quality of life decision and not rush into surgery if nonoperative pain treatments are giving significant enough relief.

Can the Supplement MSM Help You With Your Back Pain and Inflammation?

For people suffering from back pain, there are a number of supplements and pharmaceutical aids that they can take to reduce pain or inflammation. While the usual staples like aspirin, ibuprofen, and Vitamin C are all well-known in reducing inflammation and building up the body's connective tissues and immune response, one supplement that has not received as much attention in helping people suffering from chronic pain is MSM. This supplement may help back pain sufferers move better, withstand more stress to their joints, begin an exercise program again, or simply help them move and sit freely again.

MSM stands for methyl sulfonylmethane and is present in small amounts in fruits and vegetables. It can be found in milk, onions, lettuce, other green vegetables, and other plants. But when we use plants for cooking and heat them, the MSM can be destroyed. Processing foods can also destroy the valuable substance, and with the prevalence of processed foods in the average American diet, it is no wonder that so many people have deficient levels of MSM in their bodies. And this suboptimal level of the compound can lead to chronic pain and inflammatory syndromes.

In fact, MSM can help to block the pain response in the nervous system. It is effective as an anti-inflammatory as well as an analgesic. One of the ways it does this is by binding to the fluid in swollen tissues. It then helps to remove the fluid and swelling, thereby decreasing the body's inflammatory response. It can block the production of compounds known as fibroblasts that cause swelling. Finally, the MSM compound increases the functioning of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that acts in the body to decrease inflammation. All of these roles that MSM plays can reduce pain in the back and other joints, as well as improve nervous system functioning.

One of the conditions that may lead to back pain is arthritis in the joints and connective tissues of the spine. In fact, arthritis is the most common chronic pain condition found in people in the United States, and more than forty million people in the nation suffer from some type of arthritis. While there has not been a lot of research done specifically on MSM and arthritis or degenerative back conditions, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting the fact that the compound in appropriate amounts reduces pain and inflammation. The danger seems to be taking too little of the substance instead of too much.

Another compound that people take to reduce joint pain and regain movement is glucosamine. The addition of MSM to glucosamine can help the two substances work together to reduce pain and swelling in areas of the body. Even a small amount of the two compounds was found in one study to reduce inflammation and help the participants' joint functioning and rehabilitation. Further, these results were found with no major side effects from taking MSM, glucosamine, or the two together. Taking higher amounts of 4-6 grams per day may have even better results for people who have been cleared by their doctors to take the supplement, although a prescription for MSM is not required.

Back Pain Products: Ergonomic Chair Accessories

For those who cannot obtain an ergonomic chair and those whose ergonomic chairs aren't enough to alleviate back pain, there are numerous orthopedic chair accessories on the market. These back pain products assist in alleviating pressure on the spine and easing tension on lower back muscles.

Much of the lower back pain experienced today is the result of poor posture, particularly for those whose jobs require long-distance driving or sitting in an office chair all day. The following back pain products are designed to counter the harmful effects of sitting.

Lumbar Cushions

When sitting for long periods of time, most people have a difficult time maintaining their natural lumbar arch. This is because the weight of the upper body bears on the muscles of the core, which give out eventually if they are not conditioned. This allows the shoulders to stoop and the lower spine to flatten. In this position, the spine is strained and the lower back muscles are forced to support the upper body without the abdominal muscles engaged to assist. Lumbar cushions are designed to maintain the natural arch of the lumbar spine, providing support to the lower back muscles and encouraging proper posture.

Lumbar supports are very helpful for many types of back pain, but not every type. Those with spinal arthritis, for example, should be cautious of these cushions, since enhancing the arch of the lumbar spine could cause painful compression of the joints.

Amazon customers report widespread satisfaction with various cushions. According to their reviews, the two main complaints with lumbar cushions are design and density. Many of these cushions have winged sides; they may not mold properly with a seat that also has winged sides. Some also feel that certain brands are too soft and provide inadequate support. Make sure the chair or seat you're adding a cushion to will actually fit it, and test density if possible before making a purchase.

Wedge Cushions

These foam seat cushions have a wedge design that tilts your pelvis forward, alleviating pressure off the tailbone. Many of these cushions have a built-in gap where your coccyx would rest to facilitate further decompression. Tilting the pelvis forward encourages the spine to maintain its natural S-shape curve.

Amazon reviewers are largely happy with their wedge cushions, but the common complaint pertains to density. Some are very firm, while others are very soft. If you are a petite person, a softer cushion may be capable of providing adequate support, whereas a firm one may cause painful compression in the buttocks. For a larger person, a soft cushion may simply flatten out and fail to tilt the pelvis. Take firmness into consideration when choosing what to purchase.

Comfort Seats

Composed of either thin plastic or foam, the comfort seat is designed to cup the buttocks and provide support to the pelvic bones, which serve as a foundation for the spine. On top of encouraging proper posture, this product is designed to support the tailbone. Some comfort seats also tilt the pelvis forward as wedge cushions do, but by different design.

Based on product reviews from Amazon and QVC customers, the main complaint with seats like the Relaxo-Bak is that they can be too big for some users. The plastic can dig into the backs of your legs and fail to match up with your pelvic bones. Some users prefer the more expensive foam seats by Backjoy to the plastic for both comfort and support.

It is important to remember that these back pain products are designed to assist your body temporarily, not replace core strength. These accessories will only help to alleviate some of your back pain; true relief comes from solving the problem that caused it. If core weakness is plaguing your back, it will affect your posture when standing and moving. Consider these products aides to recovery, not cures.

To help you decide if these products are right for you, refer to http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.qvc.com/ and search for the product you're interested in. These sites allow you to compare prices and read customer reviews. Most of these accessories are relatively inexpensive, and are worth a try if your chair or car seat is uncomfortable. Chair accessories could be a useful supplement to your back pain relief plan.

Stupid is As Stupid Does - Why We Need Spinal Decompression Marketing

If you are a chiropractor that has a spinal decompression practice are you currently considering decompression marketing for your practice?

Have you considered investing in decompression marketing program that is devoted to generating new spinal decompression patients?

Do those sound like stupid questions? They are only stupid if you haven't considered them. Here's why, when you bought the spinal decompression table for your practice I would imagine you intended to use it to help patients return to optimal health and provide a non-invasive option to surgery. Not to just sit in your office gathering dust or just to generate curiosity amongst your current patients. Last time I checked optimal health was necessary when wanting to live an active lifestyle and not be burdened with continuous back pain caused by degenerative discs or herniation of one or more vertebrae.

Okay, I get it...you are a chiropractor not a marketing guru. But you've got to let the people know what services you offer and why they need those services.

You're the chiropractor, people need to know why their lower back hurts all the time how it might have gotten to the point of crawling on all fours to get to the bathroom. Most likely they have injured themselves in some way while working, lifting improperly, yard work or possibly a sports injury. But there's more and you know some things they don't know. For instance...

Studies show that sometimes an injury does not need to occur in order for someone to have a herniated disc. Believe it or not poor posture has highly attributed to the growing population of back pain sufferers.

Imagine that!

Others include the mattress we sleep on 6 to 8 hours a night and the wrong shoes. When you consider the things that people could do to keep their backs healthy, it makes you wonder why more people are not more pro active in the health of their spine.

I believe lack of education and just good old fashion vanity and stubbornness are a few of the reasons. I for one don't ever remember someone telling me to sit up straight or sit correctly because if not it was going to ruin my spine. It was more like, "sit up straight, you look like a vulture".

Now the mattress selection is not always the fault of a child when they are at the mercy of parents providing the proper mattress for their young spine. But once they are responsible for securing their own bedding, a supportive mattress should be a priority. Forget the pretty self indulgent linens. Just buy a good firm mattress and don't forget a good supportive cervical pillow.

And the shoes, seriously...ladies do we have to go there? Five inch heels? Really is that necessary?

Yes, I believe that if the things just mentioned were addressed more seriously, then this type of decompression marketing would not be needed. I'm talking about the kind of marketing where you explain to people why they hurt so bad and what they did to get to where they are, you know...needing spinal decompression.

But it is needed therefore it is nice to know that there is a smart choice available to help for those who suffer from back pain and it's called spinal decompression.

Orthokine - Treatment of Arthritis and Spinal Disorders

Orthokine is an antilogous concept that is used for the treatment of arthritis and spinal disorders. Osteoarthritis, the loss of cartilage in the joint has many causes. The factors like being overweight, predisposition, heavy load by work, etc are the main causes for osteoarthritis. In western countries there is about ten percent of the populations suffering from osteoarthritis. A protein named interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays a crucial role in the development of osteoarthritis and destruction of cartilage. Osteoarthritis patients will have too much IL-1 present in their joints. IL-1 is a most prominent active agent which damages the cartilage and so the natural shock absorber in the joint loses its function.

The therapy of osteoarthritis is done using IL-1 blocker which is known as interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). IL-1Ra is anti-inflammatory, reduces pain and also protects the cartilage. The orthokine procedure is done by taking blood from the patient using a special syringe called orthokine syringe. The orthokine syringe is approved in the EU and Australia. The blood taken from the patient is an antilogous injection solution and it is called as orthokine serum. The Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist is naturally present in the blood. However, with the production of orthokine, it is produced and extracted in higher concentrations. So, to increase the concentration of IL-1Ra, blood samples are taken from the arm vein using special EOT syringe. The glass beads in the syringe induces the blood cells to synthesize increased amounts of protective proteins. The temperature of 37'c in the incubator is the optimum environment for protein synthesis.

During incubation, the white blood cells present in the bloods are stimulated immediately to produce IL-1Ra and other anti-inflammatory and regenerative proteins. They are increased in concentration and the "Antilogous Conditioned Serum"(ACS) is injected into the joint. A centrifuge separates the blood clot from the amber serum, containing the protective proteins in high concentration. The protective protein IL-1Ra displaces the damaged protein IL-1 and the inflammation process is blocked. Subsequent therapy includes about six injections that will be given once or twice weekly.

The orthokine procedure is used throughout the world by orthopaedic surgeons and rheumatologists. This procedure cannot be compared to treatments using the patient's own blood that is often used in alternative medicine. In Germany alone there are over 20,000 patients have been treated by this orthokine treatment. The advantages of this treatment is, pain in the joints will be reduced, improves the joint function and mobility and the continuing process of cartilage destruction will be blocked. This treatment is very efficient and safe.

Disc Protrusion Vs Herniation: What Is The Difference?

Two of the most common spinal injuries involve the intervertebral discs. Commonly referred to as disc protrusion and herniated disc, many who suffer from these conditions are unclear as to the differences between them.

Spinal or intervertebral discs are a the fibrous "cushions" between the spinal vertebrae. Discs function to create flexibility of the spine while maintaining a separation between the vertebrae, thereby acting as a "shock absorber" and eliminating or easing friction between the bones. Some of the most common injuries of the spine involve the discs which are naturally susceptible to compression, tearing or bulging.

Common Symptoms

Both disc protrusion and herniated disc injuries can be painful and debilitating or alternatively have little symptomatic affect depending on the location and severity of the injury. Both conditions can worsen or lead to degeneration of the spinal column as the victim ages. Muscle weakness, loss of range of motion, arthritis and numbness in the extremities are common symptoms caused by a protruding or herniated disc.

Disc Protrusion Versus Disc Herniation

A protruding or bulging disc occurs when the outer ring surrounding the disc tears allowing the inner disc to change shape and protrude through its fibrous barrier upon compression. Much like a slowly leaking tire, the gelatinous center of the disc enlarges upon compression and bulges through the disc's outer wall.

A disc herniation may also be referred to as a ruptured disc. In contrast to a protruding disc, one can think of a disk which has herniated as a tire which has experienced a blow-out. Typically more sudden and painful in nature, a disc herniation can include the fragmentation and subsequent displacement of cartilage or bone in addition to leakage of the soft central disc fluid.

Both conditions can only be detected through the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI since initially, soft tissues, not bones are involved in the injuries.

Treatment

Herniation or protrusion of the discs may both resolve with the passage of time, moderate exercise and sometimes limited bed rest. If this is not the case, victims of these conditions may suffer acute pain or nerve damage which can ultimately lead to muscle weakness, incoordination or loss of control of the bladder or bowel. If these conditions become apparent as a result of disc damage, medical treatment in the form of drug therapy and surgery may become necessary. When evaluating the necessity of these more advanced options, the probability of inflammation or muscle spasm in the muscular tissues surrounding the injury must be taken into account. Since spinal injuries are slow to heal, time may afford other possibilities for disc injury sufferers.

Spinal Decompression Therapy - How it Can Work For You

One of the leading ailments that affect people as they get older is back pain. Throughout your life you are bound to put a lot of stress on your back. This will usually result in some parts of your back being structurally weakened over time. If you are experiencing constant pain in your back it is important that you do something to help reduce the pain. Spinal decompression therapy is a treatment that is used to help relieve different types of back pain.

This spinal therapy uses a form of a spinal tract. The tract has been used by professional for many years to help treat different herniated discs and other back problems. Previously, many people have often complained that the old spinal tracts could aggravate their lumbar region. Fortunately, the new decompression machines are designed to help detect when the muscles are in spasm. This makes the machine extremely effect in treating different problems that are related to pain in the back.

How the decompression treatments work is that it slowly pulls your back and gradually starts to stretch your spine. This will help to alleviate pressure on your spine and free up some of your vertebrae. This treatment works well for people who have disc related injuries and pinched nerves. People who use this treatment often experience a success rate of up to 80-90%.

If you are interested in using spinal decompression therapy it is important that you look around. This treatment is not for everybody so researching more information will ensure that you find something that can work for you. Remember if you are experiencing pain in your back it is important that you find something that works for you.

Spinal Decompression For Tingling Limbs

Paresthesia is the abnormal sensation felt on the skin which has no apparent physical stimulus. The feeling is characterized by numbness and tingling of the various parts of the body, such as the trunks, limbs, fingers, toes, face, and head.

It is described as similar to a prickling, burning, vibrating, buzzing, crawling sensation, or described as the foot "falling asleep" pertaining to the numbness. Sensations are carried from the skin by the peripheral sensory nerves through the spinal cord or by the Trigeminal nerve and brain stem to the brain, and disturbances in the pathway are what causes paresthesia.

Paresthesia, however, is not a disorder, it is only a symptom of an underlying back problem. Therefore, treating the underlying problem is a good way of preventing the occurrence of paresthesia.

A common cause of tingling limbs is the direct compression of the spinal nerves. The compression can be short-lived, like when we put a heavy load on our shoulder, or chronic, such as the carpal tunnel syndrome. Chronic nerve root compressions also occur in disc disease or spinal arthritis.

Treatments of tingling limbs include having physical therapy, taking analgesics, or having surgery. Surgery, however, should be the last resort. If the pain is not relieved from after physical therapy and taking analgesics, a safe, non-invasive, non-surgical treatment is available - spinal decompression.

Spinal decompression is an alternative treatment method which uses a machine called DRX 9000 to relieve chronic back pain by applying a gentle force that decompress the injured discs and vertebrae. The machine works to relieve the pain using a controlled cycle of traction and relaxation to release the pressure from the injured disc resulting in a negative pressure inside the disc, and therefore, creating a vacuum, which accelerates the rehydration of the discs by the entry of oxygen and nutrients into the injured discs, thereby also accelerating the healing process.

Spinal decompression is a safer way of treating chronic back pain than the traditional surgery. It has also been found to be more effective as fewer analgesics are needed after the treatment. The treatment usually produces long-lasting results and little to no side effects.

Muscles tend to tense up as a defense mechanism in order to prevent injury when excessive forces are applied to them. This may result in muscle spasms during or after the treatment. Using the DRX 9000, however, prevents the occurrence of muscle spasms as it prevents the application of excess stress on the muscles through the computer-controlled cycle of traction and relaxation.

Bulging Disc Treatment - Take It Easy, Give It Time to Heal

For any human being, a typical and troublesome condition that can occur and trigger complications for both young and old is back pain. Back pain is a very typical condition, since it can be a result of a wide variety of variables and the severity of the pain can differ from patient to patient. Among the many attributable factors of back pain, one of the most common variables is bulging disc, sometimes spelled as bulging disk.

Though it may sound like a severe condition, it is in fact quite typical and when it comes to treatment of the said condition, there are several things that you can do.

Bulging Disc Treatment. So as to better understand the many treatment choices, it would be best to first know basically what exactly the condition is. The spine is essentially the long bone found behind the body that runs from the bottom of the neck down to the buttocks and it is comprised of several bones known as vertebrae and everything is attached with each other by ligaments.

The key function of the spine and the numerous vertebrae is to house and protect the spinal cord, in addition to work as a support for the movement of the body and to keep it erect. As we move, it is inevitable that rubbing between the vertebra will occur and to reduce this problem, tender discs can be found between each vertebra. The disc is basically a flexible donut-like cushion that is comprised of strong tissues and the outer covering is referred to as the annulus fibrosus. Inside, a tender jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus can then be seen, which allows the disc to soak up the impact of our body's movements.

The Bulging Disc. As the name implies, it is a condition wherein the disc bulges out and this happens when the substance inside becomes dislocated and pushes on the outer covering causing it to stick out. Numerous elements, when performed wrongly, can trigger the inner substance to bulge, such as bending forward, sitting down, or lifting. A prevalent error folks usually make is considering that a bulging disc is just like a herniated disc. Though they might sound the same, herniated disc is in fact much more critical, since the nucleus pulposus actually leaks out of the ruptured annulus fibrosus into the spinal canal, causing numerous neurological conditions.

In many cases, bulging disc pain may not even be felt, specifically when there are no nerve impingements found, not like with herniated disc where lower back pain is typical.

In many cases, treatments are very traditional, often focusing simply on pressing the disc back to its original form through the use of various natural and home remedies and some improvements in routines. Many folks who undergo bulging disc treatments can easily recover from this condition and get back to living a normal life.

First off, many doctors recommend bulging disc patients to take it easy; by minimizing the flexion of the spine and frequency of sitting, and bending the knees instead of the back when picking something up from the ground, you can permit the disc to heal itself. Maintaining a good standing or sitting posture is also essential to a faster healing process. In order to alleviate pain or keep the condition from worsening, doctors may also recommend supplementing exercises and routine changes with medications and special braces.

Many patients today like the stretching and decompression therapies as a bulging disc treatment. With the use of negative pressure, put immediately on to the afflicted area, strain can be relieved and the concern may even be fixed. Some patients can also get relief through specific exercises for sciatica and yoga styles.

Causes of Cervical Spine Pain

If you are having cervical spine pain, or neck pain, then you should consult your doctor or qualified health professional. A pain like this, if left untreated, may cause serious health problems. It is critical that you get a proper evaluation and diagnosis. Sometimes cervical spine pain is accompanied by weakness in the arm or leg. Some patients also experience changes in bladder or bowel control along with cervical spine pain. The common conditions producing this type of pain are degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, pinched nerves, neck strains and other neck injuries such as in whiplash etc. Infections can also cause neck pain. If you are suffering from a virus infection then your lymph gland may swell and cause pain. A person suffering from tuberculosis or a bone infection in the spine may also experience neck pain. Another cause may be conditions like fibromyalgia and polymyalgia rheumatic which directly affect the muscles of the neck.

Common Types of Cervical Spine Pain

Pain that Radiates Down the Arm
Neck pain that radiates down the arm to hand and fingers is caused by a cervical herniated disc, or foraminal stenosis, pinching a nerve in the neck. The symptoms which may develop over time are numbness or tingling in the arms and hands. The treatment is done on the basis of how long the pain lasts, the pain intensity, and after examining the degree to which the cervical nerve and spinal cord are affected. A surgery is not needed if the pain can be cured within 6 to 12 weeks and non surgical care like medication and physical therapy can aid in the treatment of neck pain that radiates down the arm.

Pain that is related to Certain Activities or Positions
Some pains which occur during or after particular activities (routines we may have been doing for many years) or having the neck in certain positions can be frequently caused by cervical foraminal stenosis. The symptoms include impingement of a nerve root on one side of the spine. Old age is a major cause of this neck pain due to weakening of facet joints and discs. We can diagnose the pain by MRI or a CT scan or a myelogram. If the pain is significant enough then a surgery is recommended to open up the disc space and give the nerve root more room.

Arm Pain with Lack of Coordination
Neck pain that radiates down the arm can cause difficulty in the movement and coordination of arms and legs. Sometimes occasional intermittent shooting pains may be experienced, and this is commonly caused by cervical spinal stenosis with myelopathy. The symptoms of decreasing of the patient's motor skills can only be noticed after many years of the progression of the disease. The progression of the disease may stop for years and then slowly starts again so the symptoms may not be easily identified. Surgery is needed to decompress the spinal canal.

Pain that is worse in the Morning and at the End of the Day
Some patients may experience chronic cervical spine pain in the early hours of the day and at evening after work hours. This can be due to arthritic changes in the facet joints. The degeneration in the cartilage of the facet joints causes a lot of fiction and there is loss of motion that in turn causes the pain. Motion exercises and physical therapy can easily cure this type of pain.

Pain that Persists for More than a Few Months and May Fluctuate
Symptomatic cervical disc degeneration occurs when we do certain activities even though we were suffering from a low level of chronic pain in the neck that sometimes "flares" and gets worse. Depending of the tension caused by the activity the more pain is experienced. Meditation and rest is usually advised by doctors in this case.

Neck Pain from Cervical Spine Conditions
There are several other cervical spine conditions that may cause neck pain, but these are the main causes.

Spinal Decompression For Herniated Discs

Spinal decompression for herniated discs is a modern approach to an ancient back pain treatment modality. Decompression is a non-surgical therapy which demonstrates very good curative results for herniated and degenerated intervertebral discs.

Decompression is a growth sector within the established back pain treatment industry. Many orthopedists, chiropractors and other types of care providers are investing themselves in the latest technology. Spinal decompression offers care givers a chance to break the cycle of symptomatic back pain treatment and provide patients with a hope for a real and lasting cure for verified disc related pain syndromes. Unlike the vast majority of traditional, complementary and alternative disc therapy options, which must be continued long term in order to remain effective, decompression is finite in duration and generally enacts ongoing relief.

There are many decompression systems available with similar technologies vying for market share. The most popular form of modern decompression is surely the DRX9000 unit, manufactured by Axiom Worldwide. The 2 main competitors to the DRX system are the VAX-D, manufactured by Vax-D Medical Technologies, LLC and the AccuSpina System, developed by North American Medical Corp. There are some differences between the systems and the protocols for treatment, but all work on the same general principles to provide pain relief. Other forms of less technological spinal decompression include traditional medical traction, Cox Technic chiropractic and inversion therapy.

Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine and creating a vacuum effect in the intervertebral spaces. This helps ease bulging discs back into place, taking pressure off possibly painful herniations. Decompression also aids in taking stress off degenerated discs, helping to restore disc height and diameter in many patients. Spinal decompression also helps to optimize the neuroforaminal openings, fighting off some possible sources of foraminal stenosis. Finally, spinal decompression has shown positive results in treating some cases of facet syndrome and other types of spinal osteoarthritis.

Most patients should exhaust all more economical measures before considering decompression. This treatment is not cheap, but may be partially or totally covered by many major forms of health insurance. Spinal decompression should definitely be a serious thought for patients facing any type of invasive herniated disc surgery. Spinal surgery is a risky proposition and does not enjoy a very good reputation, based on usually poor curative results. Remember, surgery is always still an option if decompression does not relieve your pain...

Decompression generally takes about 1 month to complete. The patient will often have to go to the care facility for treatment almost every day for the duration of the therapy. Most treatment sessions take 30 to 45 minutes and may be supplemented by additional practices, such as TENS, hydrotherapy, ultrasonic heat or massage. Once the treatment is complete, the patient should not have to return for treatment in the future, but some patients may find an occasional touch up may reinforce the permanency of the results.

Spinal decompression is spreading all across the world as a viable noninvasive option for patients with diagnosed disc related pain and some forms of spinal arthritis. The risks are low and the relief is real. Best of all, there are none of the 'unpleasantries,' functional limitations or tissue damage enacted by surgical interventions. To learn more about decompression, contact a qualified decompression care provide near you or talk to your doctor for additional information.

How to Cure Lower Back Pain - Right Side Or Left

Lower back pain that begins in the lower back on either side, (right or left) and extends downward through the buttock and down the leg, (normally the back of the leg or thigh) is refereed to as sciatica. Sciatica is caused when the sciatic nerve gets compressed. This compression can be caused by a number of things.

Some of the more common things that place pressure on the sciatic nerve are:

1. Sitting on a hard object such as a wallet in your back pocket.

2. Discs and vertebrae out of alignment in the lower back causing the sciatic nerve to become pinched.

3. Herniated discs, this is when the inner core of a disc protrudes out of the outer core of the disc the lump then, causes pressure on the sciatic nerve.

4. Piriformis syndrome which is when the muscle (Piriformis Muscle) that attaches the lower part of the spine to the thigh bone becomes damaged and swells placing pressure on the sciatic nerve.

These are just the most common causes, mostly all causes of sciatica can be cured by simply doing exercises designed to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the spine in the lower back. The muscles around the lower part of the spine are supposed to keep the spinal column in alignment and if one muscle is stronger than another or is damaged it may cause the discs and vertebrae to come out of alignment pinching the sciatic nerve.

There are treatment plans that only require eight to ten minutes of stretching exercises a day to help keep those muscles in shape thus keeping the spinal column properly aligned. By performing these exercises on a daily basis, many people that have suffered from sciatica all their lives have been able to stay pain free for many years without the expense of doctors, chiropractors, or medications.