Posts Tagged ‘Rheumatoid Arthritis’
3 Major Reasons You Suffer Back Pain
The curse of back pain is becoming a more common ailment and although anyone can at some point in time face it, a number of factors can increase the risk of suffering from it. These risks can emerge from a wide variety of factors from activity that is undertaken purposefully to lifestyle habits that you might not have thought would have an effect on the health of your Back.
Back Pain can become more common with age but this does not mean that you have to accept it as part of becoming older. And it is not just the older generation that is more prone to it as often it is those in their 30′s and 40′s that can suffer greatly. This is much more prevalent among those less physically fit. Where back and abdominal muscles are allowed to become weak they may not properly support the spine. It is common for those who have been inactive all week to consciously undertake exercise in a concentrated period over the weekend. Whilst this has benefits they are unfortunately more likely to suffer painful back injuries than people who make moderate physical activity a daily habit. Studies show that low-impact pilates exercise is good for the discs that cushion the vertebrae, the individual bones that make up the spine.
Many diseases can cause or contribute to back pain. These include various forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylitis, and cancers elsewhere in the body that may spread to the spine. In addition, lifestyle choices such as smoking may not directly be the cause, it increases your risk of developing low back pain and sciatica. As an example, by continuing smoking it may contribute to pain by blocking the body’s ability to naturally deliver nutrients required by the disks of the lower back. As a result of smoking, it is not uncommon for repeated coughing to have a detrimental effect on the muscles around the back leading to pain. And just for good measure, smoking has been found to slow the healing process which will have the effect of prolonging pain as a result of back injuries, back surgery or broken bones. Another lifestyle choice of a diet high in calories and fat, combined with an inactive lifestyle, can lead to obesity, which can put stress on the back.
Another reason for the onset of back pain is from activity which is related to types of work. Having a job that requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling, particularly when this involves twisting or vibrating the spine, can lead to injury and back pain. In complete contrast, undertaking an inactive job such as sitting at a desk for long periods of the working day may also lead to or contribute to pain, especially if you have a poor sitting posture that places undue pressure on the spine which can be due to the choice of an inappropriate chair. This can lead to the muscles becoming out of alignment and thus creating unnecessary strain on them.
Michael Tasker
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/3-major-Reasons-you-suffer-back-pain-723734.html
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Back Pain Through Overweight – Are You Affected?
Nowadays, more and more people are becoming Overweight. The main reasons for being Overweight are a low energy expenditure and – first and foremost -wrong eating habits. According to the American Obesity Association (AOA) 64.5% of all adult Americans (about 127 million people) are categorized as being Overweight or obese. In many other developed countries the figures are similarly alarming. Overweight and obesity are about to turn into a global epidemic. To carry about extra weight with oneself can result in several serious health issues, such as back pain through overweight.
Most people are aware of the more commonly known causes for overweight, such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and colon cancer. The majority of people, however, is not fully conscious of the health risk posed by back pain through overweight. Overweight contributes to different symptoms – the most common symptoms are osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease. If you are overweight and suffer from back pain you shouldn’t take your problem lightly. The first instance of back pain can be considered as acute or short-term pain. After about 2 month the complaint is becoming chronic and usually much more difficult to treat than acute pain.
Fortunately, compared to some more complicated causes of back pain, back pain through overweight is easy to identify. Even experienced sports physicians and doctors find it hard to exactly identify some causes of back pain, because the reasons can be of a very complex nature. However, if you are overweight you know the reason for your back pains. Your spine has the function to carry your body’s weight and to balance your body. When your spine is forced to carry a lot of weight, this can lead to structural compromise, poor posture and even severe damages. Back pain through overweight can easily lead to chronic complaints and you should take immediate action in order to get rid of your extra pounds.
The lower back is most susceptible to the effects of overweight. Lower back pain through overweight is caused by problems relating to your lumbar spine. Apart from overweight, back pain is also caused by an insufficient amount of exercises for your back and your pelvis base as well as by a sedentary resulting in a poor flexibility and weak muscles in your lower back. This leads to your lower back being increasingly curved because the pelvis shifts slightly forward. The result is chronic lower back pain, and if you want to solve your problem you have to lose your extra pounds. Back pain through overweight is definitely curable by keeping a healthy and balanced diet.
The most important factor when it comes to weight loss is to permanently integrate some significant changes into your eating habits. If you change some important key factors on a permanent basis you won’t fall into the yo-yo effect trap. Combined with some physical activity you will be able to lose weight once and for all. And by losing weight you will not only get rid of back pain through overweight, but you will also be able to prevent some serious health issues, such as coronary heart disease and colon cancer.
Oliver Hetzel
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/back-pain-through-overweight-are-you-affected-723899.html
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Natural Therapies For Back Pain: Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Yoga And Herbs
Back pain can cause you immense pain. Other than drug medications, there are many natural therapy methods for your pain. Take a proactive approach to your pain and you will then be able to live life to its fullest.
Here are some facts to reveal how common back pain is. Back pain in the U. S. currently accounts for approximately 50-60% of pain complaints for workers. It is surprising to note that it does not matter what type of job you hold. Whether you are a factory worker to a professional, you are equally susceptible to back pain as your colleague.
Back pain not only afflicts the working population in general, but there are other causes for pain as well. Degenerative diseases like osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect more of the female population. Spinal cord injuries resulting from accidents are another leading cause to back pain.
Natural therapies for back pain tend to focus on holistic principles. This means the integration of the physical, psychological and spiritual components of life toward treatment. Some researchers say that your social, economic and cultural background can indicate whether you are more likely to experience back pain in the future or not.
Neuromuscular Therapy is a new type of natural therapy for back pain. There are many clinics that provide massage therapy in the U.S.Deep body massages can aid you by massaging away pain from nerves that are swollen within muscle tissue, and improve the flexibility of your body. Massage therapy also helps you to relax and that helps in back pain pain relief.
Another beneficial natural therapy for back pain that people have found advantageous is acupuncture. Acupuncture is a 2,000-year-old Chinese treatment, which stimulates the nerve pathways through the spinal cord and to the brain, with the use of needles. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a painful therapy at all. The use of the needles stimulates the nerve pathways to release hormones, so your brain do not experience pain as much. Also, the body stimulates release of other hormones to aid in healing.
A good exercise for reducing back pain is Yoga. The practice of Yoga grew out of eastern therapies of medicine and religion beliefs. Hatha and sivananda Yoga are beneficial because they are gentle in the physical training, and the two various styles of Yoga use relaxation techniques through proper breathing and meditation states. Through relaxation and meditation, muscles relax and external stressors are eliminated. This benefits your body because the overactive electrical impulses that make your muscles tense are reduced.
Lastly, a natural therapy for back pain is with the use of herbs. Herbs are non addictive and in most circumstances, do not result in major side effects. One popular herb is boswellia because it does not produce inflammation. When boswellia is used it will reduce stiffness because blood supply is increased in the back.
Ginger is useful too in your fight on back pain. It stops pain-causing hormones from being released. Also, ginger can be used on a long-term basis. Over the counter back pain products that contain menthol and camphor are also particularly helpful.
Be sure to seek the advice of your healthcare practitioner the next time you pay him a visit. Discuss the various options of massage therapy, yoga or acupuncture as complementary therapies. Many healthcare practitioners are more open to these options than ever before. Who knows? One of these therapies may just be what you are looking for in terms of pain relief.
Caroline Colby
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/natural-therapies-for-back-pain-massage-therapy-acupuncture-yoga-and-herbs-54404.html
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Low Back Pain: Discipline is Cure!
Lower back pain has emerged as one of the commonest ailments across the globe. So great is the number of people affected by it that, it is said to be the reason for more sick leaves than any other physical problem.
Back pain can either be acute or chronic. Acute back pain is the one that hits you in a flash and is highly painful but does not last for very long. In other words, it hits hard but stays for a short while. Chronic back pain is hard and persists for a much longer duration. Both the kinds are equally capable of throwing away your life routine out of gear.
The acute lower back pain is normally a result of some kind of injury. For instance you might injure your back in the process of lifting a heavy object carelessly. A fall may also be injurious and so can be an accident. So, acute lower back pain occurs for a reason and the reason is very much visible. However, the same is not the case with chronic lower back pain.
Chronic lower back pain can occur for a number of reasons and the causes are not so visible. The causes can be many, ranging from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to disc degeneration and disc herniation. And these conditions can be diagnosed only after a series of tests and scans.
So far as the treatment is concerned, it depends very much on the cause of it. Fortunately, nearly all kinds of lower back pain, whatever their cause be, are treated without resorting to surgery in most of the cases.
So, the treatment is very much available but lower back pain can be dealt with much before it actually occurs. All it takes is disciplined living. Just keep your posture right and start exercising regularly. Back stretching exercises are particularly helpful in preventing lower back pain. The exercises to strengthen core abdomen muscles help a great deal in making your back strong enough to bear minor jerks and sprains with ease. Regular exercising increase the flexibility of muscles, which makes them less prone to injury.
Therefore, if you are suffering from lower back pain, pay attention to your posture and make exercise a part of your routine. Back pain would soon be a part of forgettable history.
kanishkmanchanda
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/low-back-pain-discipline-is-Cure-135811.html
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Stenosis – Back Pain Test
Stenosis Back Pain originates in the spinal canal itself. Stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows, and compresses the nerves inside it. This compression of the nerves can lead to stenosis Back pain, numbness in the legs, and the loss of bladder or bowel control. If left untreated, stenosis Back Pain can eventually become paralysis.
It is estimated that approximately 400,000 Americans currently have spinal stenosis back pain. That number is expected to increase as Baby Boomers age.
Defining Stenosis Back Pain
You probably know that the spinal column protects your spinal cord, a bundle of nerves, from being injured. In spinal stenosis, the spine narrows in one or more of three places: space at the center of the spine; canals where nerves branch outward from the spine itself; a space between the spine’s bones (vertebrae).
Stenosis back pain occurs when the narrowing puts pressure on the nerves inside the spinal column. Although this can occur in younger people, it is most often a complaint of those over 50 years of age.
Causes of Stenosis Back Pain
Spinal stenosis back pain can be caused by a number of factors.
1. Age is a primary factor. As we age, bands of supportive tissue in the spine may harden and thicken. Our bones and joints may enlarge as they age. We may get bone spurs on the spine – places where bone surfaces bulge outward.
2. Arthritis is another cause of spinal stenosis and accompanying stenosis back pain. Either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may be to blame. Osteoarthritis is the more common of the two. This type of arthritis usually is seen in middle-aged and older people, and does not go away. Osteoarthritis can cause the bone spurs described above. Rheumatoid arthritis is usually seen in younger people, and is not usually a cause of spinal stenosis back pain.
3. Inherited factors may also lead to stenosis and stenosis back pain. Some genetic conditions, such as a small spinal canal or curved spine, can cause spinal stenosis.
4. Other causes for your stenosis back pain could include calcium deposits, fluoride accumulation, or injuries.
Symptoms of Stenosis Back Pain
Stenosis back pain usually occurs in the neck or back. In addition to the stenosis back pain, you may feel pain down one leg, or numbness, weakness, cramping, and pain in legs or arms as the nerves are compressed.
Stenosis Back Pain Test Problem
The problem with tests for spinal stenosis is that the conditions shares symptoms with so many other disease. The result has too often been costly misdiagnoses and unnecessary back surgery, according to Andrew Haig, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan Medical School.
The following 3 tests are used to diagnose the cause of stenosis back pain.
1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -radio waves to picture the spine
2. Computerized axial tomography (CAT) – X-ray series to picture the spine
3. Electromyogram (EMG)- a test that not only gives a picture of nerves, but also tests nerve function, showing if there is actual nerve damage
Best Stenosis Back Pain Test
Of the three, the oldest, Electromyogram (EMG) has been found to be the best. This test has been around as long as, or longer than the Baby Boomers themselves, but a study published in the January 2006 issue of “Spine” shows that it is by far the best of the three tests.
That study, done by the University of Michigan Health System, shows that the EMG test accurately determines the cause of stenosis back pain. As a result, low back pain is less likely to be misdiagnosed, as are other common neuromuscular conditions with similar symptoms. Back surgery undertaken to cure misdiagnosed stenosis back pain can be avoided with this stenosis back pain test.
Tests done in the U of M study by Dr. Andrew Haig and his colleagues showed a substantial difference between those who have spinal stenosis and those with other types of back pain. It showed that use of the EMG allows experts to clearly distinguish between spinal stenosis and low back pain.
“Most doctors think of EMG as a simple test and incorrectly believe that it is sensitive for nerve damage, but cannot differentiate spinal stenosis form neuromuscular disease,” explains Haig. “But as this study shows, that’s not the case. In fact, EMG is an excellent test for spinal stenosis and other neuromuscular disorders using strict evidence-based criteria.” (Spine, Vol. 30, No. 23)
Anna Hart
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/stenosis-back-pain-test-122606.html
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