Tag: X Ray

How to Eliminate Back Pain – Information on Back Pain and Sciatica

How to Eliminate Back Pain – Information on Back Pain and Sciatica

Article by Julian Hooks







There are many causes for back pain. The most common is muscular strain caused by overuse of the back muscles. This would include lifting or lifting and twisting. Other causes of back pain include herniated discs, trauma, tumors and bone diseases.

Sciatica is simply an inflammation of the sciatic nerve which runs down each leg. It is a very large nerve and the main nerve to the legs. Sciatica occurs for many reasons as well. The most common reason for sciatica is some type of pressure on the sciatic nerve, generally caused by the herniation of a spinal disc in the lower back.

Herniation, slippage or movement of the discs between the vertebrae are common causes for pain in the back or neck areas.

The first course of action to back pain treatment is rest for a day or so, then do gentle stretching exercises designed to strengthen the low back. Often it is advised to take an over the counter anti inflammatory to treat your back pain, such as ibuprofen. It is important for everyone to learn to move and lift correctly. The knees should always be bent when picking up a dropped object as opposed to bending at the waist. Bending and twisting is also a major no-no. You need to turn your entire body, not twist at the waist to perform tasks.

If after a couple of weeks, the pain has not been relieved, it would be necessary to take on more aggressive back pain treatment. Generally, it would be a good idea to get an X-ray to check for structural or bone damage of the spine and if that is negative, an MRI would be recommended. An MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, would help indicate if any soft tissue damage is noted. Depending on the results of the MRI, a treatment therapy can be implemented.

If herniation of discs is indicated, physical therapy is often continued with treatment directed towards the afflicted disc or area of spine. Sometimes chiropractic care, whereas gentle spinal manipulations can help align the discs and relieve pressure.

If a bone spur or tumor or cyst is present, then surgery would be indicated. It is often recommended to see an orthopedist who specializes in diseases and conditions of the spine if this sort of ailment is involved. The spine specialist can then advise of the best type of surgery for your condition. Attempts at minimally invasive procedures would be examined first.

Other treatments would include injection of pain relieving medication into the soft tissue and/or epidural area, that is around the spine.

With proper diagnosis and treatment, patients can expect to enjoy pain free living.

If you suffer from any type of back, neck or sciatic pain, then you need to go grab a copy of The Healthy Back Institute’s new book, The 7-Day Back Pain Cure.

Right now they are actually giving it away for FREE… You just pay a small shipping fee. Plus they are also they are also donating a portion of the shipping fee to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Habitat for Humanity – you even get to choose the charity!

Get your FREE Copy at BackPainTreatment4U.com

You can also review our collection of articles about back pain, neck pain and sciatica along with information on causes, back pain treatments, and more.



About the Author

BackPainTreatment4U.com

The Most Common Reasons For Back Pain

The Most Common Reasons For Back Pain

Article by Julian Hooks







There are many reasons for back pain, the most common being muscle strain. Muscle strains occur when when lifting or moving items that are too heavy or lifting them incorrectly.

It is important to seek medical attention for back pain that does not go away in a couple of weeks. The first course of back pain treatment for muscle pain is to take an X-ray to be sure there are no bone fractures or abnormalities.

Then, after resting the back for a day or so and treating with over the counter pain medication such as ibuprofen and ice or heat, a gentle exercise program can be prescribed. Any back pain treatment is customized for the patient as every patient experience is slightly different.

Learning to maintain correct posture is very important for back and spine health. The shoulders should always be aligned with the hips and torso kept straight. Gentle exercises further support the trunk of the body, thereby strengthening the back and core muscles overall. The importance of this cannot be stressed enough.

When pain persists, further options can be explored. Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI films of the neck or lumbar regions can be obtained. These results will be reviewed with you and your orthopedic spine specialist. MRI’s are helpful in determining soft tissue damage of the areas surrounding the spine. These films can reveal herniated discs, tumors or cysts.

Tumors and cysts are relatively rare, but herniated discs are common. The discs are located between the bones of the vertebrae, or spine and help keep the back flexible and supportive. The discs are made of a softer than bone material, known as cartilage. These discs can be misplaced by movements, injury, accidents, falls, poor posture or even heredity, to some extent.

Some people have herniated discs with no symptoms and some cause a great deal of pain. Some resolve on their own and some require medical intervention.

Sciatica is an inflammation of the sciatic nerve, one of two large nerves than run down each leg. It is most commonly caused by a disc compressing the sciatic nerve. If the pain of sciatica is not relieved by physical therapy, chiropractic care or other minimally invasive procedure, epidural injections or surgical options may be discussed with your orthopedic surgeon. Medication can be injected into the painful areas in the office, or more deeply into the back tissues as an ambulatory procedure using an epidural. If pain persists, the surgeon can remove the offending part of the disc and bone that is impinging the nerve and give much needed relief. Of course, surgery requires a longer recovery and a stay in the hospital.

If you suffer from any type of back, neck or sciatic pain, then you need to go grab a copy of The Healthy Back Institute’s new book, The 7-Day Back Pain Cure.

Right now they are actually giving it away for FREE… You just pay a small shipping fee. Plus they are also they are also donating a portion of the shipping fee to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Habitat for Humanity – you even get to choose the charity!

Get your FREE Copy at BackPainTreatment4U.com

You can also review our collection of articles about back pain, neck pain and sciatica along with information on causes, back pain treatments, and more.



About the Author

BackPainTreatment4U.com

Men In Ballet – How To Get The Most Out Of Your Foot’s Demi Pointe – And Then Your Pointe Shoes

Men In Ballet – How To Get The Most Out Of Your Foot’s Demi Pointe – And Then Your Pointe Shoes

Article by Dianne M. Buxton







I am going to cover a few of the finer details in strengthening, stretching, and maintaining your foot mechanics, and health. You want to get the most out of the joints and muscles that you have in your foot for your demi pointe. If you are among the men in ballet, you may choose to try some work in pointe shoes.

I’m not referring to demi-pointe shoes in the title above, but your own demi pointe, your foot.

Whether male or female, I recommend that you view some drawing or x-ray of an ankle joint, and the foot bones. It is good to know what is under your skin.

If your ankle joint is flexible enough for you to point a straight line, or more, you can probably get up onto demi pointe so that your toes are a ninety degree angle to your instep.

If you do not have this ninety degree angle, first you can work on the big toe joint. There is a muscle going under the big toe that can be gently massaged and stretched. Just working this joint can get you a gain on the angle you need to be fully on demi pointe, and therefore able to complete the postural plumb line of the body. That means getting the metatarsal joints under your ankle joint, regardless of how the arch in between shows up curve-wise.

To maximize the ankle joint flexibility, consider the tension that builds up in the tibial, or shin muscles, practicing ballet, that could detract from your ankle joint flexibility. This tension can be released, daily, with the help of a soft rubber ball. Kneel, then sit back on your feet, making sure there is no inward sickle. Roll the rubber ball just below the knee joint, into the top of the shin muscle. Lean on it, easing down the leg. Press into the tender spots until you feel some tension release. Don’t lean too heavily on it, it is just to get a release of the tension.

Get all the way down to the ankle joint. You have now resolved some of the work-related tension and can do a stretch for the top of the ankle/foot area. Place the ball under the foot above the metatarsal joints (and you can do more than one spot here), between the big toe and second toe, and you’ll feel a wonderful stretch. You can move the ball a little more in between the second and third metatarsal area, only if it does not cause the foot to sickle. And stretch again, gently holding the stretch for 10 seconds at first. You can increase the hold time, but not to the point of pain.

Then start on the other leg. I have Deborah Vogel to thank for that rubber ball use and foot stretch.

Using a rubber ball or a golf ball on the sole of the foot releases tension in those muscles. Roll it and push gently. You don’t want to exert too much pressure on the foot joints, just feel for tension release. Do this daily, or after every class.

Soaking your feet in warm water and Epsom Salts or mineral salt (sea salt) and then icing tired and aching foot muscles is a treatment your feet deserve.

Especially if you plan to dance classical ballet in pointe shoes, attend to these few daily routines. They are not pampering, but needed care for all women and men in ballet.

Click here for a resource on ballet wear, pointe shoes, ballet technique articles and The Perfect Pointe Book.



About the Author

Dianne M. Buxton trained at The National Ballet School of Canada, The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and Toronto Dance Theater. Find out how to get exactly the right fit in ballet shoes and pointe shoes, how to prevent dance injuries, how to get The Perfect Pointe Book, The Ballet Bible, and details about classical ballet technique.