Back Pain Relief and Neck Pain Relief

Rid Back and Neck Pain With the Right Mattress

2009-03-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

On occassion, we will accept contributing authors to write articles for our website - see below for a great article on finding the right mattress for better back pain relief and neck pain relief.

Rid Back and Neck Pain With the Right Mattress:

"Many Americans fight an ongoing battle against back and neck pain on a daily basis. Many factors can be attributed to this type of chronic joint pain, including bad posture, genetic abnormalities, or a poor quality mattress. While some of these issues can be corrected through physical therapy, surgery, or by eliminating bad habits, replacing your old mattress may be the easiest way to help mitigate your back pain quickly.

Most people spend at least 6 hours a night lying on a mattress. However, not all mattresses are created equal. Many people still do not take into consideration the importance of a firm mattress. There is a common misconception that a softer mattress will be more comfortable, thus making it easier for you to fall asleep and gain a better nights rest. For most people, this is not the case. A softer mattress means less metal coils, and less coils means less support, most notably where you need it most. Over time, a softer mattress with less structural support will begin to sag in the middle which can wreak havoc on your back.

When choosing a mattress, ask the sales person about the coil count of the mattress you are interested in. A quality innerspring mattress should have a coil count of between 300-400 coils. Anything less than that will break down easily which can lead to back problems down the road, especially if you tend to sleep on your stomach. Remember that a good mattress is an investment in both your physical and mental well being. Your body makes many important restorations while you are sleeping and a good night sleep is vital to your overall health."

How to Find Back Pain Relief for Your Middle Back Pain

2009-02-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

How to Find Back Pain Relief for Your Middle Back Pain: "When most people think of back pain, they first think of low back pain or lower back pain. But more and more, people are experiencing pain in the middle back, and it’s more common that you may realize. If you have a problem with middle back pain, it’s common enough for you right now!

Take hope in the fact that although the sources and causes of middle back pain are many and varied, most often it comes down to some common categories, all of which can be relatively easy to address. You can find relief from middle back pain without surgery, dangerous, ineffective medicines and narcotics.

Most often, middle back pain can be due to a strained muscle, an emotional response to stress or an indication that you're body isn't receiving the nutritional support it requires.

It is painfully important that you understand one thing: most middle back injuries do not require surgery! Major middle back pain problems that persist should always get a doctor‘s attention, but realize that doctors are very good at addressing the symptoms of your problem, not the cause of the pain.

Even the best doctors will admit that finding the solution via traditional medical work is a guessing game - and, likely, back pain relief will be achieved through a multi-tactical approach to healing."

To continue reading this article on middle back pain relief, visit How to Find Back Pain Relief for Your Middle Back Pain.

Neck Pain Relief is Within Your Grasp!

2009-02-10T01:57:00.000-08:00

Neck Pain Relief Heal Neck Pain Chronic Neck Pain: "Chronic neck pain sufferers take heart! There is good new for you in three ways: there is hope, you can live a more free healthy life without neck pain, and you can find neck pain relief without spending thousands of dollars or having surgery!

One of the biggest barriers to living neck-pain free is not having a complete understanding of the problem. Once you understand your pain and realize that you have control of your healing, you will be on the path to recovery from debilitating neck problems!

Shockingly, one of the first things people assume when the pain gets really bad is that surgery is imminent. But even a doctor will tell you surgery for neck pain should be considered an absolute last resort. It adds unnecessary layers of healing, additional scar tissue that can cause neck pain from complications, and can make the problem worse than it was originally.

There is a growing movement among physical therapists who believe that neck-pain patients who take on healing themselves will not only shorten their current occurrences of neck pain, but will reduce the likelihood and severity of future episodes, as well as reducing the need for surgery."

Click Neck Pain Relief Heal Neck Pain Chronic Neck Pain to continue reading.

Lower Back Pain and The Effect of Food

2009-01-29T04:06:00.000-08:00

Cure For Lower Back Pain Article:

"Medical doctors as well as Chiropractors are professionally trained to treat spinal problems. Treatment for lower back pain might include exercises, dietary changes, or even surgery depending on the situation and the severity of the situation. Some exercises that help include stretching in the morning before any activity, midday cardiovascular, and weight training which will tone the back muscles in order to relieve pain from other spinal areas. Decreasing intake of refined sugars and carbohydrates decrease the instance of pain while not taking away from needed nutritional elements. Diets rich in fresh, organic fruits and vegetables aid in the overall health of the person, which in turn lessens, back pain. Understanding the ingredients in foods consumed will help identify irritants to the body thus providing a possible cure for lower back pain. Preservatives and artificial ingredients create a resisting environment in the body, which causes pain due to chemical fights the body endures."

Question: Back Pain and Vomiting?

2009-01-29T03:54:00.000-08:00

Question:

This morning a woke up with bad lower back pain and since have been vomiting? What could this be caused by?

Answer:

Hello,

The first response is to suggest that you see a licensed medical professional to ensure that there isn't something needing immediate medical attention.

Secondly, it's entirely possible that your bad lower back pain is related to the foods that you've been eating (or just ate).

For example, a doctor once told me that he ran a study that showed over 90% of the patients that came to see him for a stiff neck ate some sort of hydrogenated oils the night before.

Research has shown that certain processed foods, chemicals, preservatives, food colorings and other such highly acidic foods (like aspartame and Splenda, for example) have been linked to lower back pain.

The fact that you've also been vomiting may be an indication that your body is trying to eliminate a food that you ate ... that doesn't agree with you.

Some "food for thought"....

To your health,
Charlie

For Neck and Back Pain Relief - R.E.S.P.O.N.D. to Pain

2009-01-27T11:48:00.000-08:00

Here's an article I just wrote - Enjoy!

For Neck and Back Pain Relief - R.E.S.P.O.N.D. to Pain: "Do you really want to have to live with back or neck pain? I didn’t think so. The path to finding back pain relief and neck pain relief starts with understanding pain and healing.

Remember this simple rule:

RESPOND to pain. Understanding pain and its role in finding neck and back pain relief is a major factor in recovery and getting your life back.

Use this simple acronym to get the right start down the right path toward healing and freedom from pain:

R ecognize pain as your body’s signal that something is wrong. It's a sign that something is wrong and needs to be addressed.

Back or neck pain a sign that something's not working properly. The source of the problem may be physical, nutritional, or emotional. Listen to your body and heed the message. In order to find neck and back pain relief, your first have to see it for what it is.

E mbrace pain as a partner in healing. Sounds crazy, but it is the absolute truth. Pain lets you know what’s going on in your body. Pain is an incredibly great barometer for healing and progress toward neck pain relief and back pain relief.

Replace your negative image of pain with the image of understanding how well you are healing. It helps you understand your limitations so you can continue to expand them. That results in you taking an active interest and participatory role in your healing.

Back and neck pain is a signal from your body that you need to reflect and make change to better accommodate your body's needs. So listen up!!"

To continue reading click => For Neck and Back Pain Relief - R.E.S.P.O.N.D. to Pain

With gratitude,
Charlie

Lower Back Pain Doesn’t Have to Mean Surgery

2009-01-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

Lower Back Pain Doesn’t Have to Mean Surgery: "Lower back pain is a nuisance that can be avoided without living the horror stories you’ve probably already heard about back surgery. Good news -- there are some very common, avoidable causes of low back pain -- and common mistakes people don’t even realize they make, that can actually hinder the healing process.

That’s right -- you can find low back pain relief … naturally.

Doctors report that 50 percent of people having episodes of low back pain can find relief within two weeks, and 90 percent of lower back pain can heal within three months – with proper self-healing mechanisms in place. But that won’t happen without a true understanding of lower back pain, how to avoid it and how to allow your body’s natural healing systems to do their job.

That’s not to say that major injury with extensive damage won’t require a doctor’s hand in repair, but even in those situations your body still has to heal itself.

Charles Gaudet, a lifelong athlete and chronic back pain sufferer, has inspired thousands of people with his story of recovery from debilitating back problems in his book "Powerful Strategies for Back and Neck Pain Relief." He has spent much of his adult life researching and identifying ways for lower back pain sufferers to heal themselves, take their lives back and live healthy, active and happy. And there are ways to do it effectively, even avoiding the complications, pain and extended recovery associated with surgery.

“One of my most powerful realizations for myself, and perhaps my greatest gift to myself was realizing that I don’t have to live my life in pain,” Gaudet says.

“There are some common mistakes that people make that actually inhibit their healing. Understanding your body’s amazing healing powers and supporting the healing process can yield life-changing benefits even beyond the joys of pain relief.”"

To continue reading - visit http://www.backandneckpainresources.com/articles/Lower-Back-Pain-Doesnt-Have-to-Mean-Surgery.html

Avoid Neck Pain at Your Computer

2009-01-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

Question:

I desperately need effective advices how to avoid neck pain from the computer?

Answer:

Your neck pain could be manifesting itself in several of different ways - from nutritional, physical to postural.

Touching on posture for a moment, when you are sitting improperly, you'll notice you're leaning forward to see the screen, which strains the neck as well as leaning on the desk, causing strain on the shoulders and wrists.

Good posture when sitting at the computer starts with perfect vertical balance, with the computer screen at eye level. Sitting with your back against the chair and using the arm rests as support.

Proper posture will massively help you find neck pain relief.

Try to get up and move around to keep the blood flowing (this will reduce some acidic build up and reduce inflamation).

Among a number of possible issues, consider dehydration as a possible contributor to your neck pain as well.

Just a few thoughts.

To a future of pain-free living,

Charlie

Improve Your Posture for Neck and Back Pain Relief

2009-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Improve Your Posture for Neck and Back Pain Relief: "Although it's common knowledge that correct posture is a good way to avoid pains and aches in the back and neck, most people don't realize how important the connection really is.

In fact, improving posture doesn't just correct minor problems in the back and neck but often drastically reduces or even provides complete neck and back pain relief.

Poor posture can cause many problems.

It strains muscles, puts too much stress on the spine, and over time can change the anatomical structure of the spine leading to constricted blood vessels and nerves, as well as muscle problems and issues with the discs and joints. All these factors have the potential to contribute to neck and back pain, which is why establishing correct posture is so important.

What is correct posture?

Correct posture involves keeping each part of the body in alignment with all its parts, so that everything is properly balanced and supported. If you have good posture you should be able to draw a straight line from the earlobe through the shoulder, hip, knee, and middle of the ankle (while standing).

In addition, it's a good idea to ensure good posture in all positions, including sitting, bending, and lying down."

To continue reading, click => Improve Your Posture for Neck and Back Pain Relief.

How to Achieve Back Pain Relief through Emotional Healing

2009-01-09T05:52:00.000-08:00

Here's an article I wrote that might interest you on the emotional aspect of back and neck pain.

How to Achieve Back Pain Relief through Emotional Healing:

"Although our emotions have a big impact on the health and well-being of our bodies, this aspect of healing and pain relief is often overlooked by most people.

If you're one of those people who have tried everything when it comes to neck and back pain relief, perhaps it's time to examine how the emotional side of your life may be contributing to your neck and back pain.

Successful back pain relief and neck pain relief comes from a multi-faceted approach to getting rid of pain - completely. The pain must be targeted from a physical, nutritional, and emotional standpoint. Each piece of the puzzle has to be solved in order to achieve the full and complete neck and back pain relief you seek."

To continue reading click =>> How to Achieve Back Pain Relief through Emotional Healing

Will Back Pain Exercises Help With Chronic Back Pain?

2009-01-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

Question:

Will back pain exercises help with chronic back pain?

Answer:
Hello,

Great question!

This is really a two part answer ....

The first part is - YES! Thousands of people have decreased and even eliminated their chronic back pain through exercise and stretches!

The second part is that most generic back pain exercises are not condition specific and may not provide you with the results that you are looking for.

Back pain exercises are designed to restore your body's alignment and put your body back in balance. It's when your body fall out of balance, the simple shifting of your body's weight causes stress, tension, and aches causing neck pain and back pain.

For back pain exercises to work properly, it's important that you find a practitioner or therapist that will create a custom exercise program for you. This does not have to be expensive ... in fact, there are some great programs that you can even do online and in the comfort of your own home.

Something else to consider, successful back and neck pain elimination is often a multi-strategy approach (physical, nutritional, and emotional) - for example, simple changes in your diet could make a world of difference towards living a pain-free life (and having more energy that you could even dream of!)!

I hope this helps!

To your great health,
Charlie

Back pain relief: Insoles don’t solve the problem

2009-01-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

Here's an article featured on HealthandAge.com - Enjoy!

Why orthotics do not help your back --- HealthandAge:

"So you purchased those sole insoles for back pain relief and things are beginning to feel better? The truth is, those comfy, squishy foot pads are not a realistic long-term back pain relief solution. In fact, they will probably make your back pain worse in the long term. There is more to back pain relief, and it's not difficult to get the complete solution.

Although insoles may provide some back pain relief, experts warn that insoles and orthotic inserts only briefly alleviate back pain symptoms. They are not a back pain relief treatment in and of themselves. While arch supports, insoles and orthotics may provide support where foot problems do affect back pain, they do not address the core problem. In fact they may tend to make things worse."

Neck and Back Pain Relief: An Emotional Approach

2008-12-30T22:56:00.000-08:00

Emotions are frequently overlooked as a possible contributor to back and neck pain so it was refreshing to come across an article promoting this emotional connection.

Psychological Treatments Improve Outcomes For Back Pain Sufferers:
"ScienceDaily (Dec. 22, 2006) — Psychological interventions for chronic low back pain are effective, a new review of studies has found. Not only do these approaches improve psychological outcomes such as depression and health-related quality of life, they also reduce patients' experience of pain."

The article went on to say:
"In the broadest analysis, psychological interventions -- alone or as part of a multidisciplinary approach -- proved to be superior to waiting lists or standard treatments on the entire range of pain-related outcomes.

When the researchers analyzed specific outcomes, they found that the largest and most consistent effect was a reduction in pain intensity. "

Though the research was not a thorough examination of all emotional techniques for neck pain relief and back pain relief - it's important to understand that the connection between emotions and pain.

For some people, enjoying neck and back pain relief through the emotional connection may take a few treatments while many others may find complete pain relief in as little as 7 minutes using a little-known technique that you can do, by yourself, at home.

Also note, releasing the negative impact of emotions is one method in a multi-faceted approach for successful pain relief - physical and nutritional components are also important to consider.

Stop Wasting Your Money on Back and Neck Pain Treatments that Don't Work

2008-12-30T08:26:00.000-08:00

$86 Billion Spent on Back, Neck Pain: "Overall, pharmaceutical expenditures related to back and neck pain increased by 188% between 1997 and 2005, but cost associated with prescription narcotics rose by a whopping 423%.

University of Washington Medical Center clinician Richard Deyo, MD, MPH, tells WebMD that increasing use of the newer narcotics such as the drugs Vicodin and OxyContin is largely responsible for the increase, even though their use for chronic pain is controversial.

He says patients need to recognize that the drugs have many potential side effects, including drowsiness, persistent constipation, and sexual dysfunction.

Deyo co-directs the University of Washington Center for Cost and Outcomes Research, and he was a co-author of the study.

"We still don't know much about their long-term efficacy and safety for chronic back pain," he says.

"Patients need to understand that if they take these (opioid) medications long term, after a few months it will be difficult to stop. And there is pretty good evidence that long-term use may actually increase sensitivity to pain."

Too Much Surgery?

Surgery, especially spinal fusion surgery or disc replacement surgery, is also a growing and somewhat controversial treatment for patients with chronic back pain without sciatica.

"An aggressive arm of the surgical community believes that these patients benefit from surgery, but this is an area where the evidence is at best murky and confusing," Deyo says.

Orthopedic surgeon Paul Rubery, MD, agrees that the benefits of surgery are questionable in this group of patients.

Rubery directs the Spine Center at New York's University of Rochester Medical Center.

He tells WebMD that some of the blame for the rising cost of back and neck treatment belongs to the patient.

"Patients often want the drugs they see on TV or the one their uncle is on, even if an older and cheaper drug will work just as well," he says. "And these days, most patients demand MRIs, even when there is little medical indication. If patients were willing to accept time-tested treatments and take more responsibility for their health, costs would come way down.""

For more information on natural, proven back and neck pain treatments with no drugs, no surgery and no expensive equipment - visit http://www.backandneckpainresources.com/.

Tired of Tossing Dollars at Back and Neck Pain Treatments That Don't Work?

2008-12-27T04:55:00.000-08:00

In an article in the NYTimes, author Tara Parker-Pope states that "Americans are spending more money than ever to treat spine problems, but their backs are not getting any better."

Americans Spend More to Treat Spine Woes - New York Times: "“You’d think if you’re putting a lot of money into a problem, you’d see some improvements in health status,” said Brook I. Martin, research scientist at the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington and lead author on the study, published Wednesday. “We’re putting a lot of money into this problem, and it’s a big investment in health care expenditures, but we’re not seeing health status commensurate with those investments.”

The report is the latest to suggest that the nation is losing its battle against back pain, and that many popular treatments may be ineffective or overused. Researchers have produced conflicting data about the effectiveness of spinal surgery for back pain, although one major clinical trial, known by the acronym Sport, showed that spinal surgery patients did better than patients receiving more conservative care, which included medications or physical therapy. However, some doctors have questioned whether surgeries, injections and narcotic pain medications are being used appropriately.

“I think the truth is we have perhaps oversold what we have to offer,” said Dr. Richard A. Deyo, a physician at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland and a co-author of the report. “All the imaging we do, all the drug treatments, all the injections, all the operations have some benefit for some patients. But I think in each of those situations we’ve begun using those tests or treatments more widely than science would really support.”"

So, when are you going to stop wasting money on back pain treatments that don't work?

Check out the book "Powerful Strategies for Back and Neck Pain Relief" detailing the proven strategies that health & wellness expert, Charles Gaudet, used to naturally find fast back and neck pain relief for a pain-free life!

Got Back Pain? Don't Just Sit There ... Move!

2008-12-23T08:37:00.001-08:00

Back pain is an epidemic that continues to plague industrialized countries.

Oddly enough, people pay more attention to "fixing" their back problem than identifying the cause of back pain.

But, here's the secret: Eliminate the cause of back pain and you'll eliminate pain.

Sounds simple, right?

Well, for years we've known that sitting too long can contribute to back pain - but what are we doing about it?

The article below serves as a gentle reminder ...

HowStuffWorks "How to Sit in a Chair":
"Back pain affects eight out of 10 people, whether it's acute or chronic [source: National Institutes of Health]. The back is such a common trouble spot because we put a ton of stress on it whether we're lounging on our couch in front of the television or playing tackle football. Whatever activity we're engaged in, our spine is the central support for our upper bodies and holds us upright. Its network of interlocking vertebrae also encases our spinal cord, which serves as the main drag on the central nervous system's superhighway...."

.....

"But don't let yourself get too comfortable for too long. Holding your body in a static position for a sustained period will always stress the muscles involved at some point. Doing that day after day invites permanent physical problems. The key to reducing back pain from sitting for a long time is motion. Every 20 minutes or so, stand up, stretch and walk around if possible.

When you aren't confined to a chair, stand up and stay active. By exercising, you strengthen those muscles surrounding your spine. Maintaining a healthy weight will also lighten the load that your lower back must bear. With a healthier body overall, you'll feel better and sit a little taller."

To your great health!
Charlie

Shocking Lower Back Pain Statistics

2008-12-17T02:11:00.000-08:00

Cruising the internet, I came across some shocking statistics on lower back pain.

Reading this, one can't help but ask "If we're supposed to know more about back pain than any other point in history, why is the condition getting worse?"

... and, in my opinion, it's because most of these professionals over-look the body's powerful ability to heal itself by searching for an artificial means of providing back and neck pain relief.

Pathophysiology of Chronic Back Pain: - eMedicine:

"Approximately 80% of Americans experience LBP [lower back pain] during their lifetime.

An estimated 15-20% develop protracted pain, and approximately 2-8% have chronic pain.

Every year, 3-4% of the population is temporarily disabled, and 1% of the working-age population is disabled totally and permanently because of LBP [lower back pain].

LBP [lower back pain] is second only to the common cold as a cause of lost work time; it is the fifth most frequent cause for hospitalization and the third most common reason to undergo a surgical procedure.

Productivity losses from chronic LBP [lower back pain] approach $28 billion annually in the United States."

Shocking? Absolutely.

Want lower back pain relief? The answer lies within the magnificent power of your own body ....

Want more information on how to support your body's natural ability to heal? Check out http://www.BackandNeckPainResources.com.

Question: Exercising with Back Pain?

2008-12-12T12:40:00.001-08:00

Question:

What are some good workouts to do if you have back pain?

Answer:

Just for a minute, consider that the cause of your back pain may actually be directly related to the cause of your weight gain.

Yes, it's true that the additional stress, tension and pressure from the added weight definitely contributes to your back pain; however, I would suspect that's only one factor.

Believe it or not, most people misunderstand fat.

People believe that it's additional calories, fats or carbs that "cause" fat - but, the truth is that fat is actually designed to protect you!

In fact, your fat may be saving your life!

The foods that we eat can cause a highly acidic and toxic effect on the body (fat is a symptom, but also is back pain).

When you body is acidic and toxic, your body begins to accumulate fat in order to protect your organs and tissues from the dangerous effects of this environment ... you get rid of those toxins by consuming the right foods and the fat will just melt away faster than any diet, any pills or any exercise you can imagine! And, these foods also are known to support your body's natural ability to heal and provide back pain relief!

As far as exercise, it's best to avoid high impact at the moment to minimize any additional strain on your back (swimming, yoga, gentle rebounding (aka mini-trampoline), light weight training).

The exercise will increase your blood flow, which will help strengthen muscles and joints and eliminate toxins ... all adding to your weight loss and back pain relief.

To your health,

Charlie

Healing Back and Neck Pain Through the Power of Music

2008-12-11T03:07:00.000-08:00

We've long known the incredible self-healing powers of the body. In this article, a fascinating your man shares his experience for healing his own back pain through music.

Bozeman Montana Local News: "Shane Colvin had a lot of back pain last year after suffering a compression fracture while sledding on Peets Hill. He found that one of the things that really helped was singing.

THOMAS LEE/CHRONICLE Singer and MSU student body president Shane Colvin has won a prestigious national scholarship to study music therapy in Ireland. “It helped me personally maintain my sanity when I broke my back,” said Colvin, 23, who is Montana State University’s student body president.

“My passion for music and my desire to finish school with a music degree were the only things that saved me.”"

Later in the article, he also goes on to say:

Music therapy is a new field, but it’s an old idea. Colvin cited the Old Testament story of David the giant-slayer playing the lyre to soothe the mentally unstable King Saul. The Greeks recognized the power of music to affect people’s moods, he said, yet the American Musical Therapy Association didn’t form until 1998.

Music therapy is less expensive than drugs, non-invasive, can speed healing, soothe pain, calm patients and assist memory, he said.

Question: Can lower back pain cause poor circulation in my feet?

2008-12-09T02:02:00.000-08:00

I recently answered a question that I thought I would share:

"Is it possible that my lower back pain or ache will cause poor blood circulation to the feet?"

My response:

There are many causes for lower back pain and poor circulation. That said, one of the most popular causes of back pain has to do with your body's balance.

A simple imbalance in your posture (often undetectable by the untrained eye) can add stress and tension to your muscles, joints and bones causing all sorts of pain and discomfort. This stress on the body may also restrict proper blood flow.

So, to answer your question - lower back pain will not cause poor blood circulation BUT it's possible that the cause of the lower back pain may also be the cause of the poor blood circulation to the feet.

Hope this helps.

To your good health,

Charlie

Can Back and Neck Pain Relief Go Hand-in-Hand With Flu Prevention?

2008-12-03T04:59:00.000-08:00

In an insightful article on WebMD, the author discusses "12 Tips to Prevent a Cold." Many of them are rather obvious (such as wash your hands and get plenty of sleep), but some others are a little less known.

I've taken the time to highlight those lessor known flu prevention tips because, interestingly enough, they also coincide with a few neck and back pain relief strategies in the book "Powerful Strategies for Back and Neck Pain Relief."

Why do you think this might be?

Because pain is a sign that something is not working correctly in your body - perhaps it's your health, balance, nutrition or even emotional reasons.

As you'll discover, in most cases, a pain-free body goes hand-in-hand with a healthy body.

Cold and flu prevention - naturally - WebMD:

"#4 Drink Plenty of Fluids
Water flushes your system, washing out the poisons as it rehydrates you. A typical, healthy adult needs eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids each day. How can you tell if you're getting enough liquid? If the color of your urine runs close to clear, you're getting enough. If it's deep yellow, you need more fluids.

#7 Do Aerobic Exercise Regularly
Aerobic exercise speeds up the heart to pump larger quantities of blood; makes you breathe faster to help transfer oxygen from your lungs to your blood; and makes you sweat once your body heats up. These exercises help increase the body's natural virus-killing cells.

#8 Eat Foods Containing Phytochemicals
'Phyto' means plants, and the natural chemicals in plants give the vitamins in food a supercharged boost. So put away the vitamin pill, and eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits.

#10 Don't Smoke
Statistics show that heavy smokers get more severe colds and more frequent ones.
Even being around smoke profoundly zaps the immune system. Smoke dries out your nasal passages and paralyzes cilia. These are the delicate hairs that line the mucous membranes in your nose and lungs, and with their wavy movements, sweep cold and flu viruses out of the nasal passages. Experts contend that one cigarette can paralyze cilia for as long as 30 to 40 minutes."

To a pain free life in good health,
Charlie

Is Rest a Good Idea for Neck and Back Pain Relief?

2008-12-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

Time and again, we're learning that Doctors are still telling people that resting is the best solution for neck and back pain relief - but are they right?

In some not-so-common, more severe cases (like major injury or acute pain) - resting might be the best option. But for the more common back and neck pain cases, rest may actually prolong the pain!

Research has shown the neck pain relief and back pain relief can be achieved faster by staying active! Physical activity helps to increase blood flow and stimulate the natural healing abilities of your body - resting only slows down the process.

Supporting your natural ability to heal is of paramount importance for achieving long term neck and back pain relief and, though exercise is important, total relief will come once you identify the causes of your neck and back pain and treat them appropriately.

Unfortunately, most healthcare professionals are inadequately trained in the field of neck and back pain relief as total relief comes from either one or all of the following:

Physical healing
Nutritional healing
Emotional healing

If your healthcare practitioner is unable to help you address all these concerns, feel free to check out www.backandneckpainresources.com for fast and effective strategies for powerful back and neck pain relief.

How Sciatica Contributes to Back Pain

2008-11-22T01:39:00.000-08:00

Anytime you experience neck and back pain - it's first important to understand that pain is a sign that something is wrong and needs to be addressed!

Sciatica is no different.

Whether you have pain running down the back of your leg, lower back pain, a burning pain in your buttocks or whatever the symptoms might be ... this pain or discomfort (which may be termed as sciatica or sciatic nerve damage by your physician) is nothing more than a sign that something is wrong.

So ... where does that leave us?

Sciatica is frequently attributed to conditions such as piriformis syndrome, herniated discs, spinal stenosis and spondylolithesis - and what does that mean?

In most cases, it boils down to the cause being either one or all of the following:

1) Physical: most commonly caused by postural imbalances.

2) Nutritional: toxins and acid build-up in the body causing both a disruption in the body's natural ability to heal and repair itself and the manifestation of various illness and disease.

3) Emotional: pains, worries, stress and anxiety manifesting itself in the body in the form of pain or, quite often, a contributor to postural imbalances.

Successful treatment for total back pain relief is a multi-pronged approach dealing in all three categories which, in most cases, with proper guidance, can be done in the comfort of your own home.

** Click here =>> For a FREE SPECIAL REPORT that reveals everyday mistakes that actually prevent your back and neck pain from healing. **

Medicating for Back Pain Relief - Think Again

2008-11-19T04:57:00.000-08:00

Question: I'm in pain and want to take back pain medication for immediate back pain relief - is it a good idea?

Answer:

Hello,

Great question!

I'm sorry to hear about your pain; however, you may reflect on this experience and realize that your pain could potentially be saving your life.

A bold claim, I know.

Here's the deal - pain is the body's sign of telling you something is wrong and needs to be addressed. Ignoring the symptoms of pain simply by medicating the pain without dealing with the actual CAUSE of the hip and back pain could result in additional health challenges in the future (never mind the litany of potential side effects of the medication).

Believe it or not, even the most "incurable" reasons for back pain can often be treated, mitigated or even healed completely using natural techniques that support your body's natural ability to heal. If anything, it's worth exploring further.

To your good health,

Charlie

Back Pain Relief Achieved Through Weight Loss

2008-11-18T12:40:00.000-08:00

Obesity is host to a myriad of illness and disease - but few people associate the connection between their love handles and their back pain.

Could it be possible that you could find total back pain relief simply by shedding a few extra pounds? Absolutely.

More than 65% of adults in the United States are overweight and obese - and, if I was to take a guess, I'd make a bet that almost every one of those people have had at least one experience with back pain.

In addition to carrying that extra mid-section bulge - the very cause of the weight gain (poor eating habits and lack of proper exercise) is often directly associated with many of the same causes of back pain (poor eating habits and lack of proper exercise).

You see, people are too quick to jump to conclusions - popping toxic drugs or electing for dangerous surgeries - believing that their pain is the problem ... instead of looking at all the possible causes of back pain.

Certainly there are a lot more factors than just weight loss, but it's important to know that all pain is a sign that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. If excess weight is your cause - it might be a good time to consider losing some of that extra belly fat - not only will this help you find back pain relief - but you'll have more energy, a higher quality of life, feel better, think more clearly, and open the doors for even greater possibility.

Inside the book, Powerful Strategies for Back and Neck Pain Relief, I go over an "anti-diet" way of eating for optimal health and back pain relief. Check it out ... if you don't like for any reason, just email me within 1 year of purchase and I'll send you all your money back. It's a no brainer.

To your great health,

Charlie

Steroid Shots for Back Pain Relief Don't Work

2008-11-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

Pain is a sign that something is wrong and needs to be changed.

All too often, people look for a quick fix in an effort to eliminate the pain when, in fact, they should be looking to address the actual cause of the pain.

This article (see below) is just one example of the "quick fixes" unable to provide long-term neck and back pain relief.

Steroid Shots for Back Pain Don't Work: "When it comes to treating chronic back pain with sciatica, epidural steroid injections may only bring small, short-term relief, according to a group of neurology professionals.

Sciatica is pain running down the back of the leg, where the sciatic nerve is located. It often accompanies back pain.

In reaching its conclusion, the American Academy of Neurology's Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee reviewed four studies on epidural steroid injections for back pain with sciatica.

Based on the findings, epidural steroid shots are not recommended for long-term back pain relief, improving back function, or preventing back surgery, write neurology professor and subcommittee member Carmel Armon, MD, MHS, and colleagues."

Fortunately, there are many healthy, natural and non-invasive solutions for neck and back pain relief that provide fast and effective relief to live completely pain free! Check out http://www.backandneckpainresources.com/ for more information!

The Chiropractor and Your Back Pain Relief

2008-11-07T08:17:00.000-08:00

Chiropractors serve as an excellent resource and tool for short term back pain relief; however, the benefits seldom last long term ... this is because back pain is generally caused by more than one catalyst.

Traditional chiropractors use physical manipulation to put your body back in balance; however, if you have poor posture, your body is likely to quickly return back to its unbalanced state. Not only can poor posture be caused by bad habits, but it can also be caused by muscle atrophy (due to a sedentary lifestyle), nutrition, an emotional component and more ....

That said, there are a number of ways that you can find total back pain relief without having to go to a chiropractor. Perhaps a simple change in your diet may be all that you need? Maybe it's creating good everyday postural habits? Or, maybe there was a trauma, worry, or stressful event in your life that's causing this pain on a subconscious level? The list of possibilities continues ....

Fortunately, once I understood that complete and total back pain relief is a result of targeting the 3 main causes (nutrition, physical and emotional) - I've been pain free ever since!

I wish you the best!

To your health,

Charlie

Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to replace a personal relationship with a qualified health care professional nor is it intended as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Back Pain and Smoking

2008-11-03T07:07:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Many times the answer to our problems is right under our nose (literally!).

See below for a recent study on the links between back pain and smoking ... and, perhaps, with a little health-conscious effort, your back pain relief might come easier than you think.

Back Pain and Smoking AHealthyMe.com:

"In recent years, researchers have uncovered a surprising connection between smoking and back pain. In study after study, smokers seem to be more likely than nonsmokers to suffer sore backs. The trend holds for men and women, manual laborers and white-collar workers. The investigations raise interesting questions about the root causes of pain. On a more practical level, they also give smokers a whole new reason to quit.

A study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases drives the point home. British researchers asked 13,000 people about their lifestyles, including their smoking habits, jobs, activity levels, and history of pain. After adjusting for the demands of strenuous jobs and other factors that might cause back pain, the scientists concluded that smoking -- by itself -- raised the risk of debilitating back pain by about 30 percent. Smoking also seemed to make people slightly more vulnerable to pain in the neck, shoulders, elbows, hands, hips, and knees."

To your great health,
Charlie

Image Source: http://www.spine-health.com/images/smoker.jpg

Doctors Find Back Pain Relief By Prescribing Placebos!?

2008-10-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

For years, we've been studying the body's natural ability to heal itself. In the past, when we shared this information, many people from the traditional medical community looked at us as if we had two heads ... however, it appears that modern medicine might be making a significant change in their viewpoint on back pain relief by believing that the human body is, in fact, capable of self healing!

Doctors are Using Placebos More: About Half Prescribe Placebos, 60% Believe It's Ethically Acceptable Spine-Health:

"62% of physicians believe that the practice of prescribing a placebo (giving a patient a treatment that has no theraputic benefit while allowing the patient to believe there is one) is ethically permissible.

When prescribing placebos, doctors usually give a patient over the counter analgesics (41%), vitamins (38%), and sometimes antibiotics or sedatives (13% each)

Doctors usually describe the placebo as potentially beneficial medicine or a treatment not usually associated with their condition (68%)

Only 5% of physicians explicitly describe them as placebos"

To your great health,
Charlie

PS Are you accidently making a mistake that could actually prevent your body from healing? Be sure to click here for the free special reoprt on => Everyday Mistakes that May Actually Prevent Your Neck and Back from Healing.

Treating Back Pain

2008-10-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Here's the link to an article I wrote on EHow.com!

How to Treat Back Pain by Understanding the Real Causes eHow.com: "Though you might think you know why you’re in pain, there may be multiple or underlying causes you’re not aware of. It’s very easy to blame back pain on family history, bone structure, previous injuries, etc, but the root cause of pain is often times just as difficult to diagnose as to treat. However, from my extensive personal research and conversations with a wide range of health and fitness professionals, there are some common, overlooked causes that cause the majority of back and neck pain."

Click on the link above to take you to the full article.

Enjoy!

To your health,
Charlie

The Emotional Role in Chronic Back and Neck Pain Conditions

2008-09-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Someone recently asked a question: "Is it possible that my back pain can be a result of negative emotions?"

The answer is absolutely!

Stress, fears, worry, anxiety and all sorts of negative emotions can cause chronic neck & back pain. In fact, even if you've been in an car accident - where it's clear that some element of pain is a direct result of the physical experience - the trauma of the accident could significantly contribute to the emotional aspect of pain.

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Often Accompany Chronic Back and Neck Pain Conditions: "Depression, anxiety and stress come with the chronic pain territory. Researchers estimate that accompanying depression and anxiety occur in 20% to 50% of patients with chronic pain. If you experience chronic pain, your emotions and moods may be strongly influenced by the underlying physiology associated with your condition."

By simply working with your emotions using a few simple techniques (such as hypnosis, energy tapping, neuro-linguistic programming, and more ...) you can drastically eliminate or find significant neck and back pain relief.

... in addition to pain relief, the very act of performing an emotional clearing can add massive amounts of additional benefits in your life (less stress, more happiness).

To your great health!
Charlie

Neck & Back Pain | The Body's Natural Ability to Heal

2008-09-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hi All ...

Here's something to think about ...

Neck Pain and Back Pain Relief: Proven Treatment Solutions:

"Somewhere along the journey of life, people lost sight of the body’s unique and powerful ability to heal oneself and, rather than listening to the body – we’ve been duped into thinking that the only way to ‘heal back pain’ is to take toxic medication or have dangerous surgeries.

Modern medicine is helpful and necessary in countless situations. However, its biggest downfall is the constant disregard of the natural healing ability of the body. So much time, money and research is spent looking for outside solutions, when most healing solutions come from within. Need a reminder of how your body heals itself?

Scabs are the most visual reminder that we have as humans as to the body’s amazing ability to heal itself.

However, there exists a perverse and false belief that, though small cuts and bruises are easily healed, anything larger is outside of our natural healing abilities and requires medical attention."

To your great health,
Charlie

Neck and Shoulder Pain: Everyday Tips for Pain Free Living

2008-09-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

In general, we've found the following article very helpful and a valuable read.

One thing that I believe the article neglected to mention was that neck pain can also be caused by nutritional factors (such as - did you know hydrogenated oils can often cause neck pain?), emotional factors (ever notice your body getting tight when you get stressed?) and, of course, physical factors (posture, injury and accidents are the most common).

Regardless, I believe the following link will give you a great understanding of some 'common sense' tips for prevention and neck pain relief.

HEALTHbeat extra: 8 Tips to ease neck and shoulder pain: "Do your neck and shoulders feel stiff when you awake in the morning? Or do they seize painfully with no warning? If so, you have plenty of company. Doctors estimate that seven out of 10 people will be troubled by neck pain at some point in their lives, often causing daily aching in the neck and shoulder area.

Sometimes pain starts with the bang of a rear-end collision, but more often, the neck and its surrounding structures begin to ache after years of normal use, overuse, and misuse. Without knowing it, you may be encouraging neck and shoulder pain by the way you perform everyday activities. In general, try to keep your neck in a neutral position, which means your head balances directly over your shoulders and is not leaning forward or cocked to one side."

To your great health,
Charlie

Back Neck Pain and Better Sleep

2008-09-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone!

One of the most stressful times for back and neck pain sufferers comes at night ... when you want to get a restful sleep but your chronic pain makes a comfortable night more challenging.

We found the following article very helpful and we hope you, too, find value in it.

Back Pain and Sleep Position - Low Back Stress: "In general, unsupported sleeping positions can place stress on your back and neck. To minimize back pain during then night and when you wake up, identify for yourself the sleeping positions that are stressful to your back and neck. Where do you need support?"

For additional solutions, be sure to download a FREE Special Report for back and neck pain relief at backandneckpainresources.com!

To your pain free life!
Charlie

Stop & Prevent Neck Pain

2008-09-03T06:22:00.000-07:00

Greetings Everyone,

I stumbled across this article on neck pain and I thought that you might find some great value reading it.

Most of the industrialized world with experience back and neck pain - the Harvard Medical School Advisor offers great advice for getting rid of neck pain using some very basic postural / lifestyle adjustments with powerful results.

The Harvard Medical School Adviser: Stop that pain in the neck pain - The Daily Journal:

"* Talking on the phone. If you spend a lot of time on the phone, don't lean your head to one side to hold the phone on your shoulder. Instead, use a headset or speakerphone, which will help keep your head in a neutral position -- and your hands free for other tasks. Headsets are available for both your desk phone and cell phone.

* Reading or writing at your desk. When you're reading, sit up straight and hold the document, book or report up so that you don't need to bend over. Or use a document holder to prop up the material. You can put papers on a slanted board raised slightly off the desk to keep them at a comfortable reading angle. For writing, adjust your chair so you don't need to bend over.

* Reading at home. Try to maintain an upright posture when you sit in a chair. Hold your book so that you don't have to lean down or forward to see it. Putting the book on a pillow in your lap may help. If you read in bed, sit up straight or use a wedge-shaped pillow to support your back.

* Wearing bifocals. The bottom portion of bifocals or progressive lenses corrects close-up vision, but that means you must bend your head to see the ground while walking or climbing stairs. Consider purchasing a pair of 'walking glasses' that have your distance prescription without bifocal lenses. When you need to focus on medium distances, such as at a computer screen, you're likely to need an intermediate correction, which bifocals don't have. Investing in a pair of single-vision glasses with the appropriate prescription for computer work can help prevent eye and neck strain. Alternatively, you may be able to move your monitor and adjust the font size of text on the screen so you can read it while looking through the upper half of your bifocals."

Wishing you all the best,
Charlie

Back Pain and Nutrition: A Lesson From Mozart

2008-08-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Okay, well let's get something straight - Mozart is the name of my Bernese Mountain Dog and truly man's best bud.

Well ... yesterday, we got some troubling news about Mozart. We were told that my pal has got cancer and the doctor's prognosis was not very positive.

At first my wife and I cried, then we cried some more ... but then we took a step back and asked ourselves, "What could have caused this?"

When we asked the doctor what caused the cancer, she told us it was a predisposition to the breed ... our response was "Bologna!" There was no way that cancer was a predisposition - there had to be a cause!

Is it any wonder why an estimated 50% of all dogs will die of cancer? Why hasn't mainstream medicine begin to question this?

Upon doing some research, we believe we found the culprit.

We feed our dogs the best in organic food; however, there was one critical factor that we failed to ignore. Dogs were not designed to have processed dog food, chock full of rice, grains and other fillers not common to their 'natural lifestyle' ... (that opens up a whole new discussion).

The processed food is one significant 'culprit' to the possible disease (as the same goes for humans).

Here's How This Story Relates to Back and Neck Pain...

All too often, people will go about their daily lives with back and neck pain under the false assumption that their pain is hereditary or it's an 'incurable' disease or it's a herniated disc or it's arthritis or it's osteoporosis ... whatever the label may be.

Once given a label, most people begin to look for an immediate solution to the problem.

Perhaps, the bigger question might be, "What caused my back and neck pain in the first place?"

Identifying the cause can often provide tremendous insight into discovering the ultimate solution ... and, providing you with a tremendous life of pain-free living.

Wishing you all great health,

Charlie

PS After 3-Days in the ER, Mozart is now home with us. We've conducted some extensive research and ... well ... we're going to try everything to fight this with Mozart. It wouldn't be the first time we accomplished something that someone claimed was 'impossible."

PPS In the book, "Powerful Strategies for Back and Neck Pain Relief", the focus is on my quest to uncover my own back and neck pain relief solutions by obtaining an understanding of the causes of the problem. If you're interested, please check out http://www.backandneckpainresources.com/.

Arthritis Pain Relief For Your Back and Neck: "Soup to Nuts"

2008-08-11T12:29:00.000-07:00

We've long known about the impact of our dietary practices and one's ability to treat, manage and/or completely get rid of back and neck pain - yet, most people are completely unaware.

In the following article, the focus is on Arthritis and dietary practices to help you find arthritis pain relief. Definitely a worthwhile read:

Arthritis Diet: Eating the Right Foods: "Dietary practices have a major impact on arthritis. In fact, if you eat the typical American diet, it could be making your arthritis worse. Among the offenders are saturated fats (which occur in cooking oils and fried foods), white flour and sugar, red meat, chemical additives, yeast, and milk and dairy products. These foods can increase inflammation, invoke allergies, and interfere with hormone production, cellular integrity, and the function and mobility of the joints."

To your amazing health,
Charlie

PS - To learn more about powerful nutritional strategies for amazing pain relief, be sure to check out http://www.backandneckpainresources.com!

Back Pain Treatment | A Deeper Look ...

2008-08-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

A very successful mentor of mine once said to me:

"Charlie, I'm always looking for what I don't see - there's always two stories."

With that in mind, let's take a deeper look at the most commonly used back pain treatments and another look at "what I don't see."

I'm certain you'll find this interesting!

Back Pain Treatment Options: "The following is a brief discussion about the most commonly used treatments for back pain available today.

Drug Therapies
Today, patients have a wide variety of medications to choose from to treat their back pain. Some drugs not only relieve pain but also work to reduce inflammation and relax muscle tension and spasm. However, many of these medications, even those available without a prescription, can have serious side effects. Talk to your doctor before taking any medications for back pain.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) include aspirin, ibuprofen, Naproxen®, Ketoprofen® and many more. Anti-inflammatory medications help reduce swelling and inflammation and promote healing. When taken in low doses, NSAIDs work as mild analgesics. When taken in higher doses and on a regular basis, enough of the drug builds up to have a true anti-inflammatory effect.
COX-2 Inhibitors are a new type of NSAID and include celecoxib (brand name Celebrex®). These medications, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), allow patients to take higher doses without the accompanying gastrointestinal side effects from conventional NSAIDs.

Acetaminophen such as Tylenol®, Anacin-3®, Phenaphen®, Valadol®, and other brands are analgesics. Analgesic medications are used to treat acute or some forms of chronic pain. They are the most common alternatives to NSAIDs. Acetaminophen can be used alone or in combination with NSAIDs. Liver and kidney damage are potential serious side effects of acetaminophen use.

Opioids such as morphine and codeine, meperidine (Demerol®), or oxycodone-release (Oxycontin®) are rarely used and only if pain is severe. Due to their addictive nature, these drugs are not routinely prescribed, as many physicians believe they do more harm than good.

Muscle Relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril®), diazepam (Valium®), carisoprodol (Soma®), or methocarbamol (Robaxin®) are often prescribed for severe pain. However, some experts believe that NSAIDs are just as effective."

Now, armed with an understanding of the most commonly used back and neck pain treatments - let's take a better look at some of the statistics.

Interesting Medical Information:

"People who use aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDSs) have a hospitalization rate 5 times that of the general population. More than 20,000 people with bone/joint problems die each year because of NSAID-related gastrointestinal problems.
(Researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) fight inflammation, fever, and pain by blocking the body's production of prostaglandins. But since they can also block the prostaglandins that keep the stomach lining healthy, they can cause stomach irritation and bleeding. NSAIDs bring relief to millions of people with arthritis and back pain, but although many are available without a prescription, they are perhaps the drugs most likely to cause side effects, from harmless heartburn to life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding, which puts more than 40,000 Americans in the hospital each year.
(Harvard Men's Health Watch, January 1999)"

Kind of makes you think, doesn't it?

To your great health,
Charlie

PS For back and neck pain solutions with NO Drugs and NO Surgery - check out http://www.BackandNeckPainResources.com!

Is Your Chronic Back and Neck Pain Making You Depressed?

2008-08-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Often Accompany Chronic Back and Neck Pain Conditions: "Depression, anxiety and stress come with the chronic pain territory. Researchers estimate that accompanying depression and anxiety occur in 20% to 50% of patients with chronic pain.2 If you experience chronic pain, your emotions and moods may be strongly influenced by the underlying physiology associated with your condition."

That's a concerning statement and, yes, our experience concludes similar results - so ... what do you do about it?

You may be surprised to learn that research has determined that a large percentage of back and neck pain candidates experience pain in their spine as a result of a traumatic experience (abuse, injury, stress, etc).

This experience is often viewed as the catalyst for the pain when - though this is partially correct - the catalyst is often the psychological association to the experience that subconsciously creates either temporary or chronic pain conditions.

For example, ever been so stressed your chest hurt or perhaps your lower back? Ever been so mad that your neck began to tighten? That's just a couple examples which we may be consciously aware of emotions triggering discomfort in our bodies.

Back and Neck Pain is not the same for everyone - certainly some people may experience pain due to an injury or illness, but most often the 'cause' is misunderstood.

With that said, it's important to have a working set of tools and techniques to create a pain free and healthy back and neck.

To your boundless health,
Charlie

PS For a complete set of strategies including a free special report - check out http://www.BackandNeckPainResources.com!

Back Pain Remedies: How Yoga Helped Relieve My Herniated Disc Pain

2008-08-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

I came across this article today and thought you might enjoy ... Yoga is one exercise that I've resisted for a while (I've got a background in wrestling, boxing and martial arts ... the gentleness of yoga didn't seem to fit in) yet, amazingly, once I started practicing - the results were very impressive!

My flexibility and strength increased and, coupled with the strategies used in the ebook "Powerful Strategies for Back and Neck Pain Relief" - I've been enthusiastically pain free for years! I suggest you give yoga a try ... here's one person's response ....

Back Pain Remedies: How Yoga Helped Relieve My Herniated Disc Pain - Associated Content: "In my situation, I have almost constant low back pain from 2 herniated discs. I had an MRI that confirmed my doctor's diagnosis. She prescribed physical therapy as well as ice/hot packs to help alleviate the pain. I followed this advice faithfully for over 6 months with little relief. I turned to yoga as part of a holistic plan to try and reduce my pain level before considering surgery or other invasive solutions."

To your amazing health,
Charlie

Stop Back and Neck Problems with an Ounce of Prevention

2008-08-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

It's one thing to cure or heal yourself from back and neck pain - it's another thing to prevent it altogether. Here's an article that's focused on prevention:

Keep the Back Pain Away - Preventing Back and Neck Problems from Returning: "Simple things can work wonders when it comes to keeping your spine healthy. This is called preventative maintenance, and its equivalent is an old saying you may have heard: 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'"

Such preventative steps include:

1. Develop Body Awareness

2. Strengthen Your Core

3. Use Your Body Well

4. Be Active and Exercise

5. Breathe

6. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Check out the article for more information - I thought you might enjoy ....

To your great health,
Charlie

PS For powerful ways in which you can fast back and neck pain relief, check out http://www.backandneckpainresources.com/!

Back Pain Causes & Symptoms

2008-07-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

To learn more about Back Pain - check out what Wikipedia has to say:

Back pain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Back pain can be a sign of a serious medical problem, although this is not most frequently the underlying cause:

Typical warning signs of a potentially life-threatening problem are bowel and/or bladder incontinence or progressive weakness in the legs.
Severe back pain (such as pain that is bad enough to interrupt sleep) that occurs with other signs of severe illness (e.g. fever, unexplained weight loss) may also indicate a serious underlying medical condition.
Back pain that occurs after a trauma, such as a car accident or fall may indicate a bone fracture or other injury.
Back pain in individuals with medical conditions that put them at high risk for a spinal fracture, such as osteoporosis or multiple myeloma, also warrants prompt medical attention.
Back pain in individuals with a history of cancer (especially cancers known to spread to the spine like breast, lung and prostate cancer) should be evaluated to rule out metastatic disease of the spine.

Back pain does not usually require immediate medical intervention. The vast majority of episodes of back pain are self-limiting and non-progressive. Most back pain syndromes are due to inflammation, especially in the acute phase, which typically lasts for two weeks to three months.

A few observational studies suggest that two conditions to which back pain is often attributed, lumbar disc herniation and degenerative disc disease may not be more prevalent among those in pain than among the general population, and that the mechanisms by which these conditions might cause pain are not known.[2][3][4][5] Other studies suggest that for as many as 85% of cases, no physiological cause can be shown.[6][7]

A few studies suggest that psychosocial factors such as on-the-job stress and dysfunctional family relationships may correlate more closely with back pain than structural abnormalities revealed in x-rays and other medical imaging scans.[8][9][10][11]"

To your great health,

Charlie

PS Would you like to discover natural ways to help heal your back and neck pain? Click here to find out more!

Back Pain Exercises - Are They Useful?

2008-07-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

I came across an article this morning that talked about the benefits of exercise for back and neck pain. Though my impression of WebMD is that they tend to focus moreso on the symptom (i.e. pain), I have found certain information interesting and useful ... for example, let's take a look at the following points:

Exercises to reduce low back pain:

"When you no longer have acute pain, you may be ready for gentle strengthening exercises for your stomach, back, and legs, and perhaps for some stretching exercises.

Exercise may not only help decrease low back pain, but it may also help you recover faster, prevent reinjury to your back, and reduce the risk of disability from back pain.

Exercises to reduce low back pain are not complicated and can be done at home without any special equipment.

It's important that you don't let fear of pain keep you from trying gentle activity. You should try to be active soon after noticing pain, and gradually increase your activity level.1 Too little activity can lead to loss of flexibility, strength, and endurance, and then to more pain."

Wishing you great health,
Charlie

Neck Pain | A Growing Problem

2008-07-21T03:19:00.000-07:00

It was amazing to me when I read the following fact ....

Neck pain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Neck pain (or cervicalgia) is a common problem, with two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point in their lives.[1] It is increasing in both intensity, frequency and severity of episodes. As people are increasingly sedentary, live fast-paced and hectic lives, they place more stress and strain on the upper back and neck regions of their spines."

Certainly, we are aware that back and neck pain are a growing epedemic, but, every time I read about the severity of the problem - it still shocks me!

The definition of insanity is DOING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHILE EXPECTING A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.

Is what you're doing working? Should you consider a different approach?

Something to think about ....

To your great health,
Charlie

PS Would you be interested in learning about some natural and effective methods for back and neck pain relief? Click here for more information!

Back & Neck Pain Prevention | Postural Tips for Sleeping

2008-07-18T05:27:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

I found this information quite useful when asked the proper positioning for sleep ...

Maintaining a Healthy Spine - Posture: "...let's look at some good postural tips for sleeping.

1.) In lying, the spine will be most comfortable when a neutral spine is maintained. A sagging mattress or the use of more than one pillow will interfere with the neutral spine position. A firm mattress is recommended-a board placed between the mattress and box spring can provide a temporary fix to a sagging mattress.

2.) The best sleeping positions for someone with neck or back pain is either lying on the side or on the back. -When lying on the side, a pillow between the knees helps keep the spine neutral. People who lie on their side without a pillow between the knees sometimes draw one knee up high and in front. This asymmetry can result in pain over time.

Whether lying on the back or sides, rolls can be added to support the natural curves of the spine in the neck or low back. A 'cervical roll' can be used to support the neck. It is a foam roll, approximately 3 inches in diameter and 18 inches long that is placed inside the pillowcase along the lower border of a (preferably down or synthetic down) pillow. The roll is situated between the base of the head and the shoulders, supporting the curve of the neck and helping to maintain neutral alignment lying on the back or in side lying.

A lumbar sleeping roll can be purchased or fashioned for a trial at home. It is a long thin roll tied around the waist to help support the lumbar arch lying on the back or in side lying. The diameter is smaller than the sitting roll, approximately 3-4 inches. To make one at home for a trial:

1.) Roll a large bath towel lengthwise.

2.) Stuff the towel roll into one leg of an old pair of pantyhose or feed a rope through the center of the towel roll, securing the roll with masking tape.

3.) Tie the roll around your waist at the level of the small arch in your low back.

This roll may provide comfort by keeping your back from sagging off center to the right, for example, if you are lying on your right side. If lying on your back, it will help keep your from rounding out your low back."

To your great health,
Charlie

PS Are you making one of the 5 Critical Mistakes that's may actually be PREVENTING your body from HEALING? Check out this FREE Report by clicking here.

Health Tip: Back Pain in Children

2008-07-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

In my research, I just came across an interested "Health Tip" - of course, we hope that you're toddler or young child never complains of any back or neck ache; however, should this happen - the following article might be worth reviewing.

Health Tip: Back Pain in Children - US News and World Report: "Health Tip: Back Pain in Children
Don't ignore symptoms

Posted June 12, 2008
(HealthDay News) -- In a child, back pain is different from back pain in adults. Particularly in children under age 4, it indicates a serious underlying problem, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says.

You should see your doctor if your child has back pain, the academy says, especially if accompanied by any of these other symptoms:
- Fever.
- Weight loss.
- Feelings of weakness or numbness.
- Difficulty walking.
- Pain that extends through one or both legs, or if it prevents your child from sleeping.
- Issues with the bowels or bladder."

As stated in the article it's a good idea to have your child checked out by a professional for some tools, guidance, and information related to the diagnosis.

As always, regardless of the diagnosis, you want to support your child's ability to heal itself in combination with your professionals advice. This would mean proper nutrition and hydration (especially for a child under 4).

To you and your family's fantastic health,
Charlie

Neck Pain Prevention | Safe Driving Tips in the Car

2008-07-17T03:09:00.000-07:00

Every wonder what's the best way to adjust your headrest in the car?

See this article below for great tips to avoid potential neck injury ....

For Safer Driving, Adjust Your Backrest Toward You: "Do you lean forward when you drive? Does your carseat live in a reclining position? A new study from the Medical College of Wisconsin suggests these positions may be the reasons why soft tissue injury is sustained during a whiplash event.
The study used computer modeling to simulate rear-end accidents. Measurements of the position of each spinal segment at the neck were taken. Investigators then compared that data to previously established measurements of healthy necks (of real people!) to identify exactly where the headrest -- or backrest, it's the same -- should be to avoid damage to soft tissue in the neck. The study's investigator, Dr. Brian Stemper, Ph.D. says your headrest should be no more than 6cm, or about 2.5' away from the back of your head, to keep soft tissue from being injured in the event of a rear-end collison.
For most of us this will mean we should adjust the seat back forward. The key to the adjustment is to not recline the seat, rather tilt it toward your body, so that it nearly touches the back of your head when you are positioned as you normally drive. So, taking your body back to meet the back of the seat doesn't count, because you are likely to be leaning forward during the driving process, and because posture problems such as kyphosis lift the upper torso and head away from the back rest.
For a safer holiday driving experience, take a few moments to figure out where your backrest should be and adjust it so that it is never more than 2.5' away from the back of your head."

To your great health,
Charlie

Back Pain | Is Surgery the Right Answer? Think Again.

2008-07-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Before you jump the gun and dive right into surgery, think again.

Research has shown that most back and neck pain can be cured without medication and without surgery!

Most Back Pain Could Be Cured Without Surgery Or Drugs If Doctors Treated Muscles Not The Spine Says Leading Pain Specialist: "Back pain is the most disabling pain experienced by Americans, and, according to the National Institutes of Health, eight out of ten people will suffer from it at some point. 'With nearly one million spine surgeries performed in the U.S. each year, and a failure rate as high as 50 percent, too many patients either undergo spinal surgery that is doomed to fail, or are put on mind-altering drugs to manage, but not end, their pain,' says Dr. Marcus.

'The reality is that muscles are the primary source of chronic back pain. And muscle pain can almost always be successfully treated without surgery or drugs,' says Dr. Marcus"

To your amazing health,
Charlie

PS Are you aware of the Critical Mistakes that can actually PREVENT your back and neck pain from healing? Click here for the free report!

Back Pain: Could Weight Be a Factor?

2008-07-15T02:48:00.000-07:00

Healing back pain can often be as easy as dropping a few pounds. Certainly, this is not always the case; however, remaining lean and fit does have numerous benefits.

Back Pain and Obesity: Connection to Back Pain and Development of Obesity: "According to the American Obesity Association (AOA) 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese (1). The unfortunate truth is that obesity is becoming a global epidemic affecting adults and children.

Connection to Back Pain

Most people know that obesity contributes to the development of coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer. However, did you know that obesity is a contributing factor to back pain? It is true. Being overweight or obese can significantly contribute to symptoms associated with osteoporosis, osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), degenerative disc disease (DDD), spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis.

The spine is designed to carry the body's weight and distribute the loads encountered during rest and activity. When excess weight is carried, the spine is forced to assimilate the burden, which may lead to structural compromise and damage (e.g. injury, sciatica).

One region of the spine that is most vulnerable to the effects of obesity is the low back; the lumbar spine. Lack of exercise and bodily conditioning leads to poor flexibility and weak muscles in the back, pelvis, and thighs. This can increase the curve of the lower back causing the pelvis to tilt too far forward. Further, this is detrimental to proper posture and as posture weakens, other regions of the spine (neck) may become painful."

To your good health,
Charlie

New Strategy to Relieve Lower Back Pain

2008-07-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

New Strategy to Relieve Back Pain - Prevention.com: "Specific back exercises are often prescribed for people with lower back pain. A study in the American Journal of Public Health (Oct. 2005) evaluated the effects of back exercises and recreational physical activity on the pain, disability, and psychological distress of 681 patients with lower back pain.

As part of a randomized trial on chiropractic vs. medical treatment, researchers measured physical activity levels and use of back exercises at the start of the study, then 6 weeks and 6, 12, and 18 months later. They found that increasing amounts of physical activity were associated with decreased pain and disability and increased psychological health, while increasing frequency of doing back exercises was associated with increased pain and disability.

The researchers suggest that people with lower back pain should refrain from doing specific back exercises and take part in recreational physical activities instead"

To your amazing health,
Charlie

Natural Back Pain Relief with Yoga?

2008-07-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

There are many natural pain relief strategies for your neck, back and other areas of the body - and it's not uncommon to find many strategies that have been used (and successful) for thousands of years.

One of the more common strategies people often discuss is Yoga - but does it work?

Being the highly energetic person that I am, I never would have thought I would be a candidate for such slow moving exercise; however, encouraged my by wife's persistent encouragement - I decided to give it a shot.

After a few days of practice, I must say that I was suprised at my increased flexibility, strength and a betterment in my posture - needless to say, along with the many life-changing strategies in Powerful Strategies for Back and Neck Pain Relief this is one practice that I would like to continue.

You may find this article interesting ....

Yoga For Back Pain Relief Health Savvy: "Yoga has been practiced for centuries to promote both physical and mental well being. Yoga also has spiritual components that are not normally practiced by westerners. When we talk about the practice of yoga it is the physical poses and breathing exercises that come to mind. These physical exercises are extremely effective and take many years to perfect. But from beginners to professionals the results are extraordinary when yoga is used regularly to improve flexibility, increase strength, reduce stress, center the mind and even relieve physical pain.
Back pain is the most common ailment reported. Pain, in general, can be very hard to treat and back pain is especially difficult to ease. Using yoga for back pain can be very effective, but may require modification. Yoga poses may appear to be easy, but if done incorrectly can aggravate physical maladies."

To your great health,
Charlie

Can I heal a herniated disk?

2008-07-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

As a former pain sufferer from herniated disks in my neck, I can certainly tell you that the question: "Can I heal a herniated disk?" was very close to my heart.

The short and sweet answer is YES! Herniated disks can be healed!

This is what one article states:

Neurology - Herniated Disc: "Herniated discs can occur anywhere in the spine, but most occur in the lower back. Most herniated discs heal on their own over time (one to six months). Many people who have a herniated disc are not aware of it because they have no symptoms of leg or back pain."

There are many natural strategies (with no drugs and no surgery) to help you in the healing process. This includes ridding the symptom (i.e. pain) and treating the cause.

To your health,
Charlie

For more information on natural and effective ways to heal back and neck pain, check out http://www.BackandNeckPainResources.com/!

All About Back Neck Pain Relief | The World of Medical Contradiction

2008-07-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Time and time again, we're inundated with advertisements and medical opinions encouraging the use of medicine.

For example, look at the article below ....

All About Back Neck Pain Relief The World Health Guide: "Medications For Back Neck Pain Relief
Medications are one of the most important methods that would give you back neck pain relief. These medications are proven to be safe and effective to use. However, these are administered only in controlled dosages set by the doctor. The physician himself will choose what drug to give you. There are certain medications meant to treat mild to moderate or severe pains. It is very essential to follow the proper regimen given by your physicians to avoid any problems from occurring."

On the other hand, proponents of natural healing therapies agree that medicine is effective in treating the "symptom" (in other words, treating 'pain') for the short-term; however, the scary truth is that there is a long term loss associated with the short term gain.

See what researchers have to say about such pain medication ....

Interesting Medical Information: "People who use aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDSs) have a hospitalization rate 5 times that of the general population. More than 20,000 people with bone/joint problems die each year because of NSAID-related gastrointestinal problems. (Researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)"

To your good health,
Charlie

For an essential and free report on PAIN, visit: http://www.BackandNeckPainResources.com/

Back Pain: Put the 'Rest' to Rest

2008-07-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

Alternative and natural healers for back pain have long been proponents of motion = healing (for most non-acute forms of lower back pain, upper back pain, and neck pain) ... and it appears that Modern Doctors are now agreeing ....

Low Back Pain: Many Options for Relief - Chronic Pain: Health and Medical Information Concerning Chronic Pain Management on MedicineNet.com: "Once upon a time, doctors told people with low back pain to stay in bed for three days -- perhaps with a board under their mattress. That very bad advice actually made back pain worse, Chou says.
'We don't want people lying in bed,' he says. 'Get out. Try a normal range of activities, but back off if your back hurts. But you won't hurt your back by doing regular stuff, and it may actually keep your back conditioned and strong.'"

To your health,
Charlie

Stop and Prevent Back Pain With a Healthy Spine

2008-07-07T02:10:00.000-07:00

Most of the people who have shared testimonials based upon the information discussed in "Powerful Strategies for Back and Neck Pain Relief" have commented on a vast improvement of their overall health and well-being.

People have made such comments as "I've never felt better in my life!" or "I feel like a kid again!"

With all that said, we find this comment interesting and thought you might feel the same....

A Healthy Spine Equals A Healthy You: "It may surprise you to learn that taking good care of your back, or more importantly your spine, can help improve your overall health. The nervous system, your body's center for all mental activity, lies within your spinal cord. Over a decade ago, scientists discovered a relationship between your nervous system and your immune system. If you have curves or misalignments in your spine, they keep your nervous system from working normally, decreasing your immunity and increasing your susceptibility to disease."

(Kindly note: In our humble opinion, the comment is the most valuable content in the above article. We disagree on other comments made in the article, such as the recommended use of orthepedics for all back pain sufferers.)

To a Healthy Spine,
Charlie

Think Twice Before Taking Pain Medication for Your Back, Neck and Sciatica Pain

2008-07-03T01:23:00.000-07:00

We can all relate to being in so much pain that we begin to crave a quick fix - but is pain medication our best solution? I think you might find the following statistic quite interesting.

Interesting Medical Information: "A 1998 report estimated that 106,000 Americans die each year as a result of adverse reactions to prescription medications. This figure represents three times the number of people killed by automobiles and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Only heart disease, cancer, and stroke kill more Americans than adverse reactions to drugs. This staggering figure does not include drugs administered in error nor those taken as a suicide gesture.
If medication errors were included in this statistic, the death toll would probably be as high as 140,000 deaths per year. As a result of 39 separate studies nationwide, it was found that 3.2 out of every 1000 hospitalized patients die each year as the result of adverse reactions to prescription drugs in each and every hospital in this country.
Of the 106,000 people killed each year by an adverse reaction to a prescription drug, 43,000, or 41%, were initially admitted to the hospital because of the adverse drug reaction.The other 59%, or 63,000 patients, were hospitalized for some other cause but developed a fatal reaction to a prescription drug received while hospitalized.
(Montague, Peter. National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981/AFL-CIO. 1999. 'Another Kind of Drug Problem'. Rachel's Environment & Health Weekly' #632. January 7, 1999. [cited 2000 May 7])"

Just another reason to explore your treatment options for natural pain relief with no drugs and no surgery!

To your health,
Charlie

For more options, be sure to check out http://www.BackandNeckPainResources.com/!

Can insoles help to cure a back-ache?

2008-07-01T00:46:00.000-07:00

Many insoles are designed for the purpose of reducing, relieving or eliminating back pain. Though you may experience temporary relief from your bad back, it's likely that the results will only be just that ... "temporary."

The relief comes from an attempt to put your body into proper alignment. This helps to take some of the pressure away from your spine giving you a sense of relief, but there are better ways (such as stretches, exercises and a number of other alternative practices that support the body's healing).

I'm sure you'll find the article below to be quite interesting ....

Claims that shoe insoles relieve back pain are unsupported - Los Angeles Times: "The bottom line: Cushioned insoles may give a break to tired feet, but the back is another matter entirely, says Dr. Nick Shamie, assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery with the UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center. 'If a patient asked me about insoles, I would say, 'It won't hurt. Go ahead and try it,' ' he says. 'But there's no evidence to support the claims.'

A 2007 report in the influential Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was a blow to anyone pinning their hopes on insoles. After pooling results of six published trials of insoles and back pain, the review authors concluded that there was 'strong evidence that insoles are not effective for the prevention of back pain.' They also said there aren't enough data to say if insoles help relieve back pain once it starts."

To your health,
Charlie

For more information on natural and effective ways to find neck, back and sciatica pain relief - check out www.Neck-and-Back-Pain-Resources.com!

Water's Role for a Healing Pain and a Healthy Spine

2008-06-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

As we continue to conduct our reasearch on back, neck and sciatica pain relief for our up-coming book, "Powerful Strategies for Back and Neck Pain Relief" we're continuously reminded of the importance of proper hydration as one of many, many important ways to maintain a healthy spine and, for many, a healing for their pain.

The following is a brief mention of water's role in the spine.

Mechanics of the Intervertebral Disk: "Water can come in and out of the disk by means of small pores, which act as byways to and from the bone of the nearby vertebra. Loading of the spine, (which happens in sitting and standing) pushes the water out of the disk. Laying down allows the water to come back in. Unfortunately, the aging process is such that over time, more water leaves the disk than enters.
Unlike the muscles and organs of our bodies, the intervertebral disk has no blood supply. This means that for an intervertebral disk to receive necessary nutrition (and for wastes to be carried away), it has to rely on mechanical means and the flow of water."

To your health,
Charlie

Relieve Lower Back Pain and Neck Pain: How to Sit at a Computer

2008-06-27T03:23:00.000-07:00

It's no wonder why so many office professionals complain of lower back pain - just look around and see how many people have poor postures ....

How to Sit at a Computer - wikiHow: "Push your hips as far back as they can go in the chair. Adjust the seat height so that your feet are flat on the floor and your knees equal to, or slightly lower than, your hips. Adjust the back of the chair to a 100°-110° reclined angle. Make sure that your upper and lower back are supported. If necessary, use inflatable cushions or small pillows. When your chair has an active back mechanism use it to make frequent position changes. Adjust the armrests so that your shoulders are relaxed, and remove them completely if you find that they are in your way."

To your health!
Charlie

Can Back and Neck Pain be Due to Not Drinking Enough Water?

2008-06-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

Hi All!

I'm sure you'll enjoy the following article that I found on the importance of hydration for back and neck pain relief as well as for healing. Enjoy!

Back Pain and Chronic Dehydration - Can Back Pain be Due to Not Drinking Enough Water?: "Obviously, smokers, alcoholics, and couch potatoes are more prone to back pain than active, healthy individuals. It also seems that everyone is more prone to episodes of low back pain when they are dehydrated and/or under extreme amounts of stress. After an initial history and examination, I set out to determine a comprehensive chiropractic treatment regime, one that would best benefit my patients suffering with back pain. This regime includes proper hydration levels by recommending increased water intake."

To your great health!
Charlie

News Flash: Back and Neck Pain Can Actually Help Heal You!

2008-06-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

You see, when you're suffering from pain, it's hard to understand that pain is actually a good thing!

If you're thinking "You're Nuts!" That's okay - I used to think the same thing too!

... and here's why.

When you're searching for a "cure" you must be able to read what you're body's telling you and pain is the body's way of simply saying that there's something wrong.

Medicine and surgery might subdue or even remove the symptoms (and can even be invaluable in emergency situations) but removing the symptoms does little for uncovering the actual CAUSE of the pain.

When you're looking to HEAL YOURSELF you then must transform your focus from a "magic pill" to the philosophy that only YOU can heal yourself in the long term.

Healing is comes from a concerted effort of your actions, your beliefs, and the strategies you deploy to support your body's amazing ability to heal itself.

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