Degenerative Discs Are Reversible

By Marion Chaney Chaney

Degenerative Disc Disease is the deterioration of the fragile and thin cartilage between the vertebrae of the spine. Degeneration of the disc, medically referred to as spondylosis, can be noted on x ray tests by the narrowing of the normal disc space between adjacent vertebrae, thereby causing pain (from mild to severe depending on the amount of degeneration) by the rubbing or touching of the vertebrae bones. This loss of cartilage can be caused by loss of water in the cartilage and usually, but not always, occurs with aging.

However, degenerative discs are reversible. You will probably not hear that from your health care professional. When degenerative discs are detected, the doctors immediately prescribe pain medication and cortisone to reduce the inflammation. However, continued use of cortisone has many serious side effects such as increased appetite and weight gain, water and salt retention, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, cataracts, and/or stomach ulcers, just to name a few.

The next step following the cortisone is spinal fusion. The goal of spinal fusion is to eliminate the motion of the vertebrae at a spinal segment, thus reducing pain caused by the motion. This is done by one of two ways, either by using metallic screws and rods/plates or inter-body cages to immobilize the spine, which can loosen, break or pull out of the bone. Plus, more pain could result if the operation is unsuccessful; thereby leading to additional procedures and subsequent pressure placed on the neighboring discs, and the progression is repeated.

I suffered from degenerative discs and through exercise was able to reverse it. The bones that were degenerative were at my waist and developed because I did not have curvature in my lower spine, thereby making the cartilage between the bones in the lumbar region degenerate. By exercising to open up the degenerative discs, I was able to build up the discs and even lost one-half inch in height because the curvature was put back into my spine. By working with my chiropractor on a regular basis to keep my spinal cord aligned and in correct adjustment, exercising my back by specific exercises targeting the area of disc degeneration, and wearing either a back belt and/or using special seat cushions and pillows, the degenerating discs were reversed.

The exercise the worked for me because of the specific area of my spine (the lumbar area) that degenerated was the yoga cobra pose. This exercise is great for people with lower back pain and decreases stiffness in the lower back, enlarges the chest and strengthens the arms and shoulders.

To perform the cobra pose:
Step 1: Lie on your belly while your head rests on your lower arms.
Step 2: Raise your forehead, look upwards and stretch your hands backwards. Let your weight rest on your chest.
Step 3: The head falls a little backwards towards your back and the backward movement proceeds from the neck and the chin. Move your belly further backward as if someone is pulling your arms. The weight is more and more shifted towards the belly and the lower back does the real work.

This exercise opens up the space between the vertebrae, thereby building up the cartilage between the discs. Also, drink a lot of water to hydrate the body, but more specifically the cartilage.

This exercise only works for the degenerative disks that degenerated at the front of the spine (facing forward). For exercising different types of degenerative discs, the recommendation would be to exercise in order to open up the side that lost the cartilage.

The reversal of the degenerative discs does not happen overnight, but takes time and consistency. However, the result is pain free with no adverse side effects.

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This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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Allergies That Cause Back Pain

There are many ways that back problems can occur. One of the most difficult to deal with is back pain caused by an allergy. This problem is more common than we would think. Take your back problems serious because if you do not treat it, your back problems can become severe.

Try To Find The Cause

A person dealing with back pain, should take the most important step of finding out what allergies is causing the reaction. There are several different allergies that a person can have but springtime seems to be the worst time of year to get them. Have a doctor do several tests on you to determine exactly what you are allergic to.

These are various allergies that you could have:

Animal dander, house dust, house-dust mites, yeasts, certain drugs and foods, and bee/wasp stings can also cause allergic reactions. Milk, eggs, shellfish, dried fruits, nuts, and certain food dyes can cause food allergies.

Dealing With Lower Back Pain

There are steps that need to be taken to see what is the best treatment for the person has has the intolerance to the allergens. Depending if the back pain is acute or chronic, there are some very effective options.

What happens with sudden acute low back pain, is it comes on all of a sudden and you don’t know where it came from. Chronic lower back pain is the recurring type and can last for a couple months to even longer in some cases.

Drugs are typically the first step in the treatment plan. For people who are suffering from back pain caused by allergies, there are prescription and non-prescription drugs that are available. The determination of what drug to take, will depend on how long and how serious a person has been suffering.

Anything from Advil to NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can help to alleviate all types of back pain.

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There are risks in taking prescription drugs. There are possible side effects with drug interactions with other medications. Be careful and always consult your doctor.

Always read the labels of the medication you are taking even the ones prescribed by a doctor. This will ensure that you have as little cause for an allergic reaction as possible.

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A good diet is also important. There are also supplements and vitamins that can help with your nutrition.

It is important for people who are dealing with back pain caused by allergies to know that there is treatment available to help them with their pain. You need to talk to your doctor ASAP and get the proper treatment for the condition you are suffering from before it get worse. Or the worst thing that could happen is that it becomes permanent.

Don’t suffer anymore with back pain. Just think how great it would feel to be back pain free. You can, get your FREE report now. Discover information about arthritis low back pain and a ton more.


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About the Author: Steve has many articles published in a variety of niches. He has 20 various websites from golfing to healthcare and has achieved expert author status in all of them.

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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Exercises to Correct Scoliosis

by: Saurabh Jain

A question that people normally ask is whether exercises to correct scoliosis are effective. Scoliosis is the lateral curvature of the spine. It is a progressive disease. Experts feel that exercises to correct scoliosis are not that effective, as little evidence is found about the effectiveness of exercises. However, exercises do help in slowing down the progress of the spinal curvature and allow for some reduction in the angle of curvature. Stretching exercises are performed to increase the mobility of the spine in the right direction. The physical therapist also tries to improve the muscle tone and posture. The thrust of these exercises is to exert corrective force on the spine in the direction opposite the direction of the curve.

Scoliosis Braces and Exercise to Correct Scoliosis

People wearing scoliosis braces are often suggested exercise to correct scoliosis. These exercises are aimed at helping the wearer adapt to the brace, to allow for correction of the spinal deformity, and to improve trunk muscular tone during the period braces are worn. Braces tend to lead the muscles into losing muscle tone. The physical therapist suggests other exercises for trunk and pelvic correction, which are required to be performed everyday.

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Exercise to correct scoliosis does help in a limited way to reduce curve angles by several degrees. This has found to help the breathing process in people who do these exercises regularly. It has not been observed whether the improvement in curvature is of permanent nature. Exercises are not an alternative to surgery procedure. Where surgery is recommended, it should not be delayed in favor of therapeutic exercise.

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Scoliosis is not related to flexibility issues or lack of strength. Thus, exercise to correct scoliosis is relatively ineffective. However, scoliosis does not act as a deterrent to normal physical activity. Children and teenagers with scoliosis can participate in sports and recreational activities. They can even perform normal exercises that help build muscle strength and endurance. They can even train to improve their cardiovascular conditioning like normal people.


About The Author

Saurabh Jain is the Executive Editor of Online Back pain resource, www.backpain-resources-online.com. He has developed this site to provide valuable information to people suffering from back pain. This site enumerates different causes and factors related to back pain, guides through the different back pain treatments and suggests exercises for treatments of different types of back pain. The site is a free online resource for back pain and its remedies. The visitors can also find valuable information and reviews about the different equipments and therapies for back pain relief. Visit www.backpain-resources-online.com for more information.

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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A Breakthrough for Chiropractic Patients: ‘Snapshots’ of Their Nervous System Lead Them to Wellness

by: ARA Content

‘Insight Subluxation Station’ provides color scans of problems and progress

(ARA) - People under chiropractic care often wonder: “Why do I have to keep coming back if I’m pain free?” or “How do I know I’m getting the proper amount of adjustments?” Thanks to a breakthrough in technology, however, these questions no longer arise for patients in chiropractic offices that are equipped with a new tool known as the Insight Subluxation Station. These patients can now see for themselves, as their care progresses, that they’re getting the proper number of adjustments, and will also be able to better understand why pain-free does not always equate to “problem solved.”

This advance, which offers major advantages for patients and chiropractors alike, provides patients with tangible, objective visual evidence of the problems they sought help for and how their treatment is progressing. The Subluxation Station scans for, detects and provides clear, color-coded scans of the patient’s spinal misalignments (subluxations) and clearly demonstrates their effects on the patient. These are indicators that, because they are located in muscles, nerves and soft tissue, cannot be seen on x-ray.

Developed by the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance or CLA, a privately held company devoted to advancing chiropractic among the public and within the profession, the Insight is rapidly becoming as indispensable as x-ray machines themselves. This equipment helps the chiropractor implement definitive care for the individual patient, monitor progress, and reassure patients of that progress. The color scans, viewed over time, are like snapshots of the effects of accumulated stress. With them, the doctor gains a visual story of what has been happening in a given patient’s life that is affecting their body.

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Dr. Patrick Gentempo, co-founder and chief executive officer of the CLA, was instrumental in the development of this new technology and equipment. He reports: “Now patients no longer need to rely solely on the doctor, but can see for themselves where there are abnormal nerve patterns leading to a loss of their health potential. With periodic re-testing they can also see how care has affected the picture, and if they still need attention.”

Many patients ask, “Isn’t absence of pain, or increased mobility, a sign of complete recovery?” says Dr. Gentempo. To the contrary, he relates: “We’ve all heard of someone who felt perfectly fine the day before they suffered a fatal heart attack. The reality is that whether or not obvious symptoms are present, there can still be subtle communication gaps in the central nervous system. Until the Insight scans show that the pattern of nerve function is in a healthy state, the patient will need continued chiropractic adjustments.”

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According to Dr. Gentempo, since only a small portion of the nervous system, which is the master control center of the entire body, is used to experience pain, it is critical that we assess as much of it as we can. “We developed the Insight so that patients can see, and understand for themselves, why continued treatment is necessary. The purpose of this technology is to improve communication between doctor and patient, and, ultimately, help motivate people to incorporate chiropractic into a wellness lifestyle for the whole family, like eating healthy foods and exercising,” he says.

Insight Subluxation Station uses three safe, pain free and effective tests. It performs the SEMG (surface electromyography) scan to measure the amount of electrical activity in the muscles, thermal scanning to measure skin temperature along the spine, and the digital inclinometer to measure the range of motion of the spine. These three proven technologies are quick and easy to perform, and are uniquely able to show the results in clear, color-coded visual images that are easily understandable by the patient.

Another common question is if we have no pain, how can we know it’s time to see a chiropractor? Says Dr. Gentempo: “In today’s fast-paced environment it is normal that people have physical, chemical and emotional stresses beyond the individual’s ability to remove or even adapt to. As a result, subluxations and nerve disturbance are extremely common. There is abundance medical and scientific evidence that even a small amount of nerve disturbance or pressure can cause altered nerve function. Thus, I can’t overemphasis the importance of regular trips to the chiropractor, even before symptoms appear, to check for spinal subluxations. This is preventive, so that an individual may optimize their potential for good health and at the same time prevent future health challenges before they become severe.”

Spinal subluxations (misalignments) can be present for months, or even years, before a patient experiences any symptoms. Explaining how this is possible Dr. Gentempo uses this analogy: “If the front end of your car is out of alignment, you can still drive. However, in time the misalignment will cause wear and tear on the tires, and eventually a blowout will occur. In the human body, heavy lifting, improper movements, sitting too long or in the wrong kind of chair, or even emotional stresses can result in abnormal positioning of the vertebrae and nerve disturbance.”

To use another analogy, he says: “It’s like too much stress going into an electrical circuit in your house, and as a result the circuit breaker is tripped. Let’s say that the circuit goes to your refrigerator. The food in the refrigerator will now spoil. Most people, and many other health professionals, would see the ’spoiled food’ in their refrigerator and think that the refrigerator was the problem! They may even try and replace the spoiled food with good food — only to find that this good food will again spoil. The chiropractor, on the other hand, seeks to turn on the power that goes through the refrigerator (the human body) and thus deal with the cause of the problem rather than its end results.”

When symptoms of subluxation of the spine finally occur they can appear as back or neck pain, but also as other seemingly unrelated problems, Dr. Gentempo notes. “There may be decreased immune function and less vitality in general,” he says. Unless the spinal misalignment, or subluxation is corrected, Dr. Gentempo advises, “The body will be unable to properly heal itself and deterioration will progress, until it may be very serious.”

Dr. Christopher Kent, who co-founded the CLA with Dr. Gentempo, is one of the country’s most respected chiropractors, well-known as a researcher and author. He believes that the Insight technology and equipment will help not only patients but also the doctors who utilize it. “Too many people still view chiropractic as solely a treatment for back and neck pain and other musculoskeletal problems,” he says. “They mistakenly believe the chiropractor should simply ‘crack the back’ and solve their immediate problem. This misconception is shortchanging themselves as well as the profession. Chiropractic is actually a network of highly educated professional healthcare providers who got into this profession to help people get and stay well. They want to see all members of the family, newborns through seniors, achieve the optimal health and wellbeing that is their birthright. Chiropractic is about understanding the marvelous human body’s ability to heal itself and removing all obstacles to that healing. This includes making necessary lifestyle changes, and having regular chiropractic care in order to correct spinal misalignments when they occur.”

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Chiropractors today have in fact earned a newfound respect, as millions of people spread the word about how they have been helped. As a result of this encouraging grassroots movement, chiropractors have increasingly become the first line for family health care services. Says Dr. Gentempo: “At the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance we are dedicated to helping chiropractors and their patients create a new paradigm for health and wellness. Because it provides evidence and accountability, the Insight Subluxation Station is a giant step forward towards this goal, for the benefit of patients and for the profession.”

For a free descriptive brochure on the Insight Subluxation Station and information on how to locate a chiropractor in your area who works with this new technology, write: Debra Cassera, Chiropractic Leadership Alliance, 255 W. Spring Valley Ave., Maywood, NJ 07607. The material is also available online at www.subluxation.com.

About The Author

Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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Getting Ready for Surgery: Back Surgery Procedure Preparation

If you are having a back surgery procedure in the near future, you’ll have several things to do to prepare for the operation. This check list is intended to help you anticipate what you’ll need to do to get ready for most back surgery procedures. Your surgeon will also give you specific pre-operative instructions before you have surgery.

· Choose a surgeon. Either an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon can perform most back surgery procedures. It’s okay to ask for a second opinion and your surgeon should not have any objections to it. It’s okay to make sure your surgeon is qualified and experienced, too. You can ask questions like:

o Where did you go to medical school?

o What kind of training do you have in performing back surgery procedures?

o Are you board certified in your specialty?

o How many of these procedures have you done?

· Talk to other people who have had a similar back surgery procedure. Talking to others helps you anticipate problems, see what life is like after surgery and get support from them.

· Stop smoking. Smoking increases the risk of serious complications with any surgery.

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· Eat a nutritious diet, get regular exercise and get enough sleep. You want to be as healthy as possible before surgery.

· Prepare for blood loss. Unless you are having a minimally invasive back surgery procedure, you may have some bleeding during or after surgery. Your doctor may suggest that you prepare for that by storing blood for autologous transfusion. It’s much safer to use your own blood for transfusion than to use donor blood. You should also stop taking aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications 10-14 days before surgery because they can thin your blood and make bleeding more likely. If you take anticoagulants (blood thinners), discuss it with your surgeon.

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· Tests. You could have several tests before surgery. You could have x-rays, a CT scan, MRI, or other tests to evaluate your back problem. You’ll need at least a blood count and urinalysis a few days before surgery. Depending on your age and health status, you could need other blood work, chest x-rays, an electrocardiogram, lung function tests or other procedures.

· Health insurance. Your health insurance policy may require you to get pre-authorization or a second opinion in order to pay for the surgery. The surgeon’s office or hospital may take care of this for you, but you want to make sure that all the insurance requirements are met before surgery.

· Plan for after surgery. You may need to take time off work, arrange for help after surgery, get special equipment, or make other preparations for after surgery.


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About the Author: David Betz is a consultant doing work for Laser Spine Surgery http://www.laserspineinstitute.com and
Houston Web Site Design http://www.novatexsolutions.com

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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Natural Sciatica Relief

When it comes to trying to find the best natural sciatica relief treatment, it is important that people understand just what it is. Too often people will get sciataca muddled up with other medical conditions.

The problem is that sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than it actually being a diagnosis in itself. Therefore before it can be treated using either traditional prescribed medications or natural ones, a doctor will need to carry out various tests in order to give the correct diagnosis.

Normally when sciataca has been diagnosed by a doctor they will either provide their patient with anti-inflammatory drugs to treat it. However if the condition has become so severe then the only way in which it may well be treated is through the use of surgery. But occasionally a doctor will try other forms of treatment such as manipulation of the spine, massage or physical therapy and will only resort to using surgery if all other recommended courses of treatment fail.

However there are more natural ways in which a person can treat this condition without them having to resort to using medications which can have other side effects. Although a lot of doctors will recommend that their patients take as much bed rest as possible, in a lot of cases this can actually make the condition worse rather than helping to alleviate the symptoms.

Yes it is important that a person does rest for a couple of days after the symptoms have appeared but after this they should take up some form of light exercise. Preferably they should be looking to do exercises which will help to strengthen and stretch the muscles in their back.

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The problem with sciataca is that once the muscles in the back become weak they will be unable to support the back correctly and this in turn will increase the amount of pain that the person is feeling. But as well as carrying out these exercises, a person will need to look at the way they sit and stand.

If their posture is wrong when they are sitting and standing, unfortunately doing the exercises will provide the person with only a small amount of relief from the condition. It is important that when using these exercises a person should be carrying them out twice a day and should only be doing them under the supervision of an expert such as a fitness instructor.

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As well as using exercises in order to provide you with natural sciatica relief from the pain, a person may want to try using certain essential oils as well. These include certain properties within them which are ideal for treating the various symptoms and helping to relieve the pain a person will feel when suffering from sciatica.


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About the Author: Ricky runs a back pain relief website. Visit his site today for more information on the latest back pain and morphine pumps.

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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The necessary guide for buying a memory foam mattress

If someone decides to have the memory foam instead of the ordinary bedding, he will have to choose the best mattress that will fit him properly. Extra pressure relief and comfort will be thus assured and the added luxury will also be noticed. Not every type of mattress is likely to suit you; therefore, guidelines are to be used so that you learn more about mattresses in order to be able to distinguish between the existing types that are available on the current market. Therefore, you will have to learn how to distinguish between a high quality memory foam mattress and a poor one. The poor imitations are to be avoided because they can actually harm your state of health.

You should be aware that lying on a memory foam mattress means that this mattress moulds to your own body shape; every point of your body will be in full contact with the surface of the mattress thus receiving an equal support. This characteristic is able to reduce the existing discomfort when it comes to the pressure that is built up on every part of your body. This pressure can occur in the case of every conventional mattress. The memory foam has the ability to retain a special indentation; this type of foam will not spring back as soon as your body weight is removed. On the contrary, the mattress will return to its initial shape in a slow manner. The entire downward pressure will be absorbed and even redistributed across the entire surface of the mattress. Your whole body will be thus supported; the memory foam mattress is to be regarded as the perfect and unique sleeping surface.

There are several types of mattresses that are using the memory foam; these mattresses have become available in a wide variety that will depend on the price range and personal needs. The quality of the foam itself is very important in order to ensure all the unique advantages. Good quality foam will be able to support the pressure; this foam will allow you to almost sink into it. The suitable and supportive core of the foam is highly necessary in order to counteract every gravitational force that is linked to your body. Good quality and resistant core is able to provide the necessary supporting upward pressure; this pressure will be absorbed and reduced by the existing layer. The upward pressure will not be exerted on your own body; the pressure will be thus counteracted and the pressure relieving properties will be enhanced.

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But good quality foam can be quite expensive; the buyer should be fully aware that a cheaper alternative is not likely to last for long and it cannot provide the exact same comfort that is expected from every mattress. So, the initial investment is to be taken into account because is well worth when it comes to assuring a good night sleep. There are several factors that are to be taken into account when it comes to choosing the suitable mattress. Al the mattresses are to be compared and the factors are to be considered together and not in genuine isolation. The buyer should also consider his own body weight in order to determine the required level of support that his body needs. There are many mattresses that will come in different shapes in order to fit such requirements; they are tailored to various body weights.

The first factor to be considered is the density of the required mattress; every memory foam mattress should have a quite high density. The buyer should regard this density as the direct result of the addition of different density-increasing chemicals; this special density will also make the difference when it comes to distinguish between the ordinary foam and the memory one. The special density is the one that gives the mattress its unique properties because higher density stands for a better absorbing pressure. The comfort benefits will be observed because the mattress will continue to return to its original shape for longer when compared to the low-density and cheaper equivalents. Higher density also stands for a noticeable firmness and the buyer will not be able to sink right through.

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The second factor resides in the firmness of each mattress; the support of each mattress will be provided by its core and not by its foam layer. Therefore, the foam has to be firm enough in order to keep the buyer above its core. Otherwise, all the benefits are likely to be lost. Thickness is another major factor when it comes to choosing the suitable foam mattress; the layer should not be too thin and thickness should be considered together with the firmness of the mattress; this conjunction is to be made in order to avoid sinking right through the mattress. The mattress should not be too soft because this softness may harm all its original benefits. Shopping for such mattresses should not be regarded as a daunting task; actually, little preparation together with some simple enquires may help you in order to make the fittest informed decision when it comes to the mattress that is likely to best suit you and your family.


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About the Author: The memory foam is used thanks to its benefits because the memory foam mattress may release the pressure points.

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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