Ow, that's my back! I can't bend over, stand up, move! Does this sound familiar? To me and my husband, it does. We have both found ourselves at various times in our lives with this particular ailment. Well, recently we have been going for a frequent back massage. What a difference. We have found that the best type of therapy for backs is acupressure (acupuncture & pressure). In the United States and the world over, you can just run over to your local spa and take some time out for yourself, whether it be for 30, 45, 60 minutes or more, a massage will refresh your mind, body and soul.

The art of massage involves rubbing the superficial layers of muscle and connective tissue. When done properly, is has been known to enhance function and promote relaxation and well-being. Think this is something new? No, in fact it dates way back in many cultures. It has been documented by the ancient Hindus, Persians and Egyptians. They all used some form of massage for a wide variety of illnesses, aches and pains. Hippocrates even wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems. If you are interested in finding how this art of massage is practiced, get started with your research! There are so many different methods, over 250 to be precise, are used.

Upon receiving a massage, the superficial layers of muscle and connective tissue will be manipulated in order to enhance blood flow, function it will promote relaxation and well-being. This became popular in the US in the 1800s and grew in popularity until the 1940s. The development of modern medicine discounted the benefits of therapeutic massage. It made a re-appearance in the 1960s and 1970s when nurses began to use it to alleviate back pain with a back massage, in patients. In the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta massage was deemed a core medical service. Does this sound good to you?

One can only have a first experience once! We always hope that we have a good one. My first experience with massage was not all it could have been. Having had more massages since then, I realize, it actually is great. My masseuse was an intern. I, as a brand-new health club employee was elected to be her subject. . I had no idea what a back massage involved. Well, this was not your regular back massage! I had to put up with the noise of two rambunctious little boys while their mother practiced on me! There was no soft relaxing music. I was offered a clothing optional massage versus the no-clothes option covered by towels and blankets. Needless to say, I remained clothed.

One can have an international experience while receiving a massage. Along with oils, feet, stones, hands etc, one must find one's favorite type of massage. You may find that Lomi Lomi massage in Hawaii, Samoan, Shiatsu, Thai or even Chinese massage suits your needs. If not, then maybe try Swedish massage, which, incidentally in Sweden is known as classical massage. Whatever method of pain relief you chose, make sure you try a back massage, it will leave you feeling great!

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Back Massage: Remedy Muscle Spasms More Effectively

One of the causes for back pain is a herniated disc where a fragment of the disc gets dislodged and presses against the spinal cord or nerves surrounding the spinal cord. Relief from this type of back pain is possible through discectomy.

This is a spinal surgical procedure used to remove the herniated disc from the spinal canal. It is performed with the surgeon making an incision to look at the herniated disc and then remove it for relief from back pain.

The procedure

The surgery takes about an hour, based on the extent of disc herniation, the patient's size and other factors. It is done with the patient lying face down, under general anesthesia wherein a 3 centimeter incision is made on the center of the back.

The surgeon then dissects the muscles away from the spinal bone and using the help of special instruments, removes some bone and ligament from the back of the spine. This part of the procedure is also referred to as laminotomy.

With the removal of bone and ligament, your surgeon can find and remove the herniated disc. Based on the condition and appearance of the remaining disc, your surgeon may remove more of the disc to prevent future disc herniation. When the surgeon is sure the disc has been completely removed, the incision is closed and a bandage applied.

Recovery

Your body requires several weeks for the symptoms of the surgery to dissipate. Any pain you experience around the incision can be controlled using oral pain medications. You only have to spend a day at the hospital after which you may be asked to wear a lumbar corset.

You will be encouraged to do gentle activities after surgery, and to avoid lifting heavy objects, bending and excessive back twisting. Till your doctor advises it, refrain from doing any form of strenuous exercise or activity.

Possible complications and risks

There is always a chance of another disc herniating and giving similar symptoms. And as the success rate of a discectomy is 85-90%, there is always a chance of the remaining 10% of patients suffering from persistent symptoms. It is usually patients who have suffered from its symptoms for long, and have neurological deficiency who are at a risk of complete recovery.

The other surgical risks include bleeding, infection and spinal fluid leaks. Though all this can be treated, it entails a longer hospital stay and perhaps, additional surgery.

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Laminectomy/discectomy to remove herniated discs

How Physio can help with Low Back Pain by Ananda Mahony

in Health / Fitness (submitted 2010-08-21)

A common and debilitating injury low back pain affects people of all ages and lifestyles. Causing people to take more sick leave than any other medical condition, low back pain also causes more disability than any other condition.

What can cause low back pain? Low back pain can arise from numerous structures in the lumbar spine including the ligaments, muscles and vertebrae. The most common causes however are damage to the intervertebral discs (the cartilaginous shock absorbers in the spine between the vertebrae) or facet joints (the joints between vertebrae on either side of the spine). Excessive bending, lifting or twisting movements as repetitive movements can cause facet joint sprains. Disc injuries usually occur with activities such as forward bending, sitting and lifting (particularly when combined with twisting). Usually injury is caused by repeated aggravating activities affecting the disc however, occasionally a simple movement such as picking a box off the floor will also cause injury. Other possible injuries include stress fractures, spondylolisthesis (slipping of one vertebra on another) or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal).

Is it preventable? Taking care of your back can help avoid low back pain. Maintaining good posture and keeping within a healthy weight range are key steps to reducing the load on your spine. Whether working at a desk or reading in bed, it is important to ensure your environment is set up adequately to enable you to attain good posture. Sitting on a chair with a high back with use of a lumbar support, ensuring your chair height keeps your elbows at the level of your workstation are great strategies. Also, keep the items you use most frequently in close proximity and directly in front of you to avoid regular reaching and twisting. It is important that you remember to take regular breaks from sitting about every 30 minutes. When sleeping, it is best to avoid sleeping on your stomach, as it can increase your lumbar curve due to the download pull from the weight of your stomach. Putting a pillow under your knees can reduce lower back stress, particularly if you sleep on your back. The ideal sleeping position is on your side with your knees slightly bent and a pillow between them, as this minimizes any stress or tension on the spine. It is important also to use correct lifting technique. No matter how heavy the object, bend at your knees and keep your back straight to minimize the load on your intervertebral discs. A large percentage of back problems are often caused as a result of weakness in the back and abdominal muscles. Therefore, performing regular exercises for the back, particularly targeting the deep abdominal muscles is a great method for preventing initial and recurrent episodes of low back pain.

How can physiotherapy help? Should any problems arise with your low back, physiotherapy can resolve your problems within a few treatments in a lot of cases, using techniques to increase range of motion, reduce muscle spasm, and of course relieve pain. In addition, we can prescribe a home program to improve flexibility and increase core stability, particularly targeting the deep abdominal muscle – transversus abdominus. Studies have shown that an effective core stability program can prevent recurrent episodes of low back pain by up to 50%. If your aim is to carry on life without fear of recurring problems, then a physiotherapist can provide you with a rehabilitation program suited to your particular issue.

Randall Drickze is a Physiotherapist. Randall's passion is working with musculoskeletal conditions. He brings with him an enthusiastic, caring and knowledgeable approach to treating all musculoskeletal problems, from acute and chronic back and neck pain, as well as all sporting and work related injuries.

About the Author

www.vitalelife.com.au. Natural wellness centres in Brisbane, Australia. Yoga, pilates, personal training, physiotherapy, organic beauty, massage and a wide range of wellbeing practitioners.

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How Physio can help with Low Back Pain

The problem with back and neck pain is that in most cases no one is 100 per cent sure what causes it. One thing that we all can agree on is that it causes pain. Pain can originate from both the physical and emotional conditions therefore, both cannot be ignored and looked at in isolation to find an effective treatment. The good news is that the majority of cases tend to resolve themselves.

It can be agreed that one of the main causes of the condition can be linked to the body’s muscles and ligaments. As our body is a living and moving machine its parts including the muscles and ligaments will over time get injured and experience wear and tear and our body tells us about these conditions through pain.

The condition is also commonly associated with a particularly part of the body and that is the disc. Many people who have back pain will have a problem with their discs. Discs are the muscle tissue that sit between each of the vertebrae in your back. Sometimes these discs can be forced out causing pressure around the surrounding nerves. When it presses against these nerves it can cause a pain that goes down and around the leg.

As pointed out before the origins of back and neck pain can be both physical and emotional. Disc problems and hernias are the physical aspect. A common emotional theme that can be linked with the condition is stress. Stress can have many adverse affects on the body and one of those affects is that it tightens the bodies muscle tissue and this results in tension and pain. If someone already has back pain then being under stress can exasperate the problem. In this day and age more and more people are becoming stressed out. People are working longer hours with very little free time to relax and look after their bodies. The build up of emotional problems adds to the continuous rise of stress in people. Therefore when it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of the pain both the physical and emotional aspects need to be looked at.

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Neck and Back Pain – Identifying The Causes and Symptoms

Stop Your Back Pain By Getting A Lumbar Support Office Chair

Many working Americans experience back pain because they sit in their office chair for at least 8 hours a day 5 days a week. If you are in that position, what can you do to eliminate back pain you get from long hours sitting at your desk?

The answer is: get an ergonomic office chair. It is important to have a chair that supports the back and promotes good posture. These chairs will also help you to increase back and lower spine support and help improve your posture and prevent slouching. Sitting on such a chair will drastically lower stress in the spine, neck, arms, shoulders, and even the legs. If you instead select a chair that isn’t ergonomical, you could end up aggravating any existing back conditions you may have.

Many kinds ergonomic office chairs that are available on the market also provide lumbar support. For deciding upon the best kind of ergonomic desk chair, you should check the following:

• The ideal ergonomic office chair should support the genuine curve of the spine. Particular consideration should be given to the lumbar area of the ergonomic office chair.
• You should also make sure that your back arches against the chair, as this will help to ensure a healthy posture.
• The ergonomic chair you select should be an inch or more wider than your hips or thighs on both sides of the chair.
• Another helpful feature to ergonomic office chairs is the adjustable height mechanism. Most chairs that offer the height mechanism will also allow you to fine tune the back rest of the chair in all directions.
• Also make sure the seat pan on the chair you select is contoured for equal weight distribution and provides maximum comfort.
• If your chair doesn’t provide lumbar support, you can simply use a lumbar support pillow or cushion to support your lower back.

Ergonomic office chairs are a must for those who are at their desk every day for extended periods of time. If you compare prices for economic office chairs online you can find great deals for a chair that will provide you a lot in terms of comfort and back support.