Happy Holidays -back pain tips.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
( to all who celebrate)

Just to wish you the best time over the holiday period. I hope it is a time to relax and take care of yourself. Enjoy the festivities and have a wonderful time :)

(Heres a photo of our gorgeous Goldie opening pressies a few years ago)

Don't put too much pressure on yourself to do everything or take part in everything. Just do what you CAN DO and dont worry about the rest. Still do all the things you have been doing to take care of your back and try to relax and enjoy this time.

I know it is not always an easy time for many people... If you are in pain holiday periods can be extra stressful especially if you try to do a lot of running around.

It is important you take care of YOU too. Know what helps you to r-e-l-a-x and build that in to the schedule.

If you are on medication or taking any regular herbal tablets make sure you have enough in stock to last you over the holidays.

Keep any medical phone no's you think you may need in a safe place.

If travelling to a new area to visit people ensure you are aware of the nearest medical faclility just in case.

If you are in too much pain to go out to do all the social things at this time, know that you are especially in my thoughts and prayers... If you need to talk to anyone over the holiday period then seek out a good back pain discussion forum; there are usually folks around only too happy to chat, and more importantly who understand what you are going through. We all need someone to listen now and again.

Whatever your circumstances know that I am thinking of you all who are coping with back and sciatic pain and sending good thoughts your way for a healthy and happy holiday time.


With peace and love
jasmine ann

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For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Reflections on coping with pain and limitations.

My work is with kids with physical and learning disabilities, so every day I know these young people are coping with things that I never had to endure.

Finding myself in a reflective mood today I was thinking when I was struggling with my own back pain and my own limitations and I have to say getting very down, frustrated and angry with it all, I used to sometimes look to them for hope and inspiration to guide me through it.

I do believe at that time they helped me far more than I helped them...

I once worked with a young man who had muscular dystrophy and knew he was going to die. We talked through what he wanted from a charity who gives kids the last gift. He was very matter of fact about it weighing up if he wanted someting to keep like a TV or if he wanted something he could experience with his family to have the memories of it until he died, and for his family to have good memories of that too even after he died. He chose the latter.... I can tell you I left that meeting in tears but he was so brave and met his challenges head on.

I found this quote fom Helen Keller, another amazing person:

"The one resolution, which was in my mind long before it took the form of a resolution, is the key-note of my life.

It is this, always to regard as mere impertinences of fate the handicaps which were placed upon my life almost at the beginning.

I resolved that they should not crush or dwarf my soul, but rather be made to blossom, like Aaron's rod, with flowers".

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Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Ten Tips for Shopping with Sciatica.

The Easy Guide to Shopping with Back Pain and Sciatica symptoms: Ten Hints and Tips.

If you have back pain and sciatica symptoms shopping can be a real pain. Here are ten top shopping tips I have utilized to help make your weekly grocery shop and other shopping trips a more bearable or pleasant experience for you and your back.

· Go shopping at quieter times when it is not so busy especially if you are concerned about busy shopping malls, congested public transport, people or trolleys bumping into your back or people who may inadvertently push you. Plan ahead so that you are not rushing around putting yourself under stress.

· If you find it difficult to reach products high up or low down on the shelves ask a store assistant for some help to get those items. If it is very difficult for you ask for an assistant to go round the shop with you. Depending on the store you may need to ask them in advance, check with the store you use.

· Get a trolley rather than a basket. With a trolley there is no weight for you to lift. When shopping in a supermarket/superstore you will, if you are like me, invariably buy more than you thought you needed and end up with a heavy and awkward to carry basket which is not good for you. If you find it difficult to reach down into the deep trolleys get a trolley that is shallow.

· At checkout accept help with packing or ask them for assistance and tell them you need to have bags packed lightly so you are able to lift them in to your car and out of the car when you get home.

· Only lift one bag at a time and place them near the front of the boot (or trunk) of your car. Otherwise lay them on the back seats of your car or passenger side so you have easy access to them. You do not want to be having to lean deep into the car to drag the bags out.

· If you can take a friend, partner or family member with you when you go shopping that would ease the physical demands on you. Alternatively you may feel comfortable with delegating the task of the weekly grocery shop to another family member.

· If you are planning a trip shopping for clothes or other goods do take regular breaks and rest stops. If you are intending buying a lot and think you will find it difficult to carry your purchases around with you ask if the store will keep them safe for you to pick up later in the day. Take a lumbar support pillow with you so that any seating will be made more comfortable for your back. If it helps you use heat pads on your back. You can get some that are very discreet and give around 8 hours of therapeutic warming heat. Don’t push yourself to do too much shopping in one day.

· Keep drinking good quality water if you are out all day, it is easy to get dehydrated when you are concentrating on shopping. Carrying a small bottle of water is a handy way to take frequent sips throughout the day without constantly looking for cafes. Also take opportunities to do some of your back pain relief stretches when you can.

· When you get home have a warm bath or shower, do your back pain relief stretches and then get some rest.

· Whether your back pain or sciatica is at a stage where you cannot tolerate the physical demands of shopping, or whether you would just find it easier, on line supermarket shopping is offered by many major stores and is a great tool to do all your food shopping at once without you having to lift at all and get purchases delivered to your door.

When I found it difficult to get out to the shops and especially when walking was difficult for me but I could tolerate sitting for short periods of time, I discovered there are also many internet sites where you can purchase clothes, beauty, household goods, really most things you could want. So if you love to shop and find that is difficult for you at the moment you don’t need to miss out.

If you are interested in learning more about a way to get rid of the back pain and sciatica check out the links below on "7 Day Back Pain Cure" and Lose The Back Pain System" to help you get rid of the back pain and sciatica.

If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.



Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Top Travel Tips for Back Pain and Sciatica

The holiday season is upon us and with it many of us will be undertaking journeys by car, plane etc to see friends, family and loved ones.

Some lucky ones may even be intending going on vacation to sunnier climes or even more wintery climes if visiting Lapland!

It can be an exciting time of year and a chance to take a rest from routine. However if you are suffering from sciatica and back issues this can put a cloud over everything as you realise travelling may be more difficult for you this year.

I have put together an article for you based on my back pain and sciatica experiences about how to make travelling with back pain easier on you and your back. I sincerely hope you find it useful.

Just click on this link Travel tips for Back Pain to view.


...and if you have not yet tried Lose the Back pain system from The Healthy Back Institute why not give it a go and see if your pain can be reduced or even eliminated before Christmas! 

Wishing you health and happiness If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.



Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Scoliosis-What Is It?

Scoliosis-What Is It?

Article Courtesy of The Healthy Back Institute.

Scoliosis is a lateral, or sideways, curvature of the spine, which in its normal state should be a straight vertical line when viewed from the front or back. Viewed from the side, a normal spine curves slightly backward to produce a mild degree of roundness in the upper back area and slightly inward curve in the lower back. When a person with scoliosis is viewed from the front or back, the spine appears to be curved to either side of its normal vertical line.

What causes it?

There are numerous causes and types of scoliosis. Neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by abnormal muscles or nerves. This is often seen in people with spina bifida or cerebral palsy, or in those with a number of conditions that include or lead to paralysis. Congenital scoliosis occurs as a result of a bone abnormality that is present at birth. Degenerative scoliosis is bone collapse due to an injury or illness, previous major back surgery, or osteoporosis (a disease that causes thinning of the bones). The most common type is called "idiopathic scoliosis," and a cause for this has not yet been identified. There is, however, substantial evidence that idiopathic scoliosis is inherited.

Who gets it?

Roughly 2 to 3 percent of American 16-year-olds have scoliosis, although less than one tenth of 1 percent have curves that might require surgery (a curvature measuring 40 degrees or higher). It is not known why, but girls are more likely to have scoliosis than boys. Idiopathic scoliosis, the most common kind, typically affects kids ages 10 through 16, and it usually gets worse as a child grows, though it rarely progresses into adulthood.

What are the symptoms?

Scoliosis does not have symptoms as such, but there are discernable warning signs. These include uneven shoulders or hips, a shoulder blade that juts out, noticeable leaning to one side, or walking with a rolling gait. Persons with scoliosis may experience back pain or tire easily during activities that require excessive chest and stomach movement.

How is your condition diagnosed?

Usually, scoliosis is first observed by a child's pediatrician, a parent, or it is discovered during a routine school screening exam. To establish the presence and type of scoliosis, a bone exam is necessary, as well as an X-ray to determine the extent of the curve.

What are the most common treatments?

Most adolescents who are diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis need to be checked every four to six months, which should include a physical exam and an X-ray. For those with a spinal curve anywhere from 25 to 40 degrees - especially if they have at least two more years of growth ahead of them - bracing is the most common treatment. Braces are designed to stop the progression of the curvature and will occasionally produce a temporary correction. When the brace is removed, however, the curve usually will return to its previous position.

Surgery is often recommended for those with a spinal curve greater than 40 degrees. But surgery will only keep the curve from getting worse; it will not bring the spine back to perfect vertical alignment. During the procedure, metallic implants are used to correct some of the curvature and hold it in the proper position until a bone graft creates a rigid fusion in the area of the curve. Surgery usually involves joining the vertebrae together permanently - which is called spinal fusion. Because fusion prevents growth in the fused part of the spine, another technique may be used for younger children. In this case, a brace is always required after surgery.

"This article appears courtesy of LoseTheBackPain.com and the Healthy Back Institute

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Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Does Diet Have A Role In Back Pain?

If you have back pain and/or sciatica symptoms and are suffering from inflammation there are several things you can consider doing to help yourself.

In addition to not doing too much exercise, just moderate, balance your body so there is no undue strain on bones, joints and ligaments

Consider taking and anti inflammatory like proteolytic systemic enzymes . Heal and Soothe.

You should also consider your diet.

Sugar along with junk food, many processed foods and high fat meats increase inflammation. Some of this is the chemical like nitrates that may be used some is the fats like Trans fats and saturated fats.It is better to go for low fat milk, cheese and if you eat meat it should be lean.

Diets high in sugar are also associated with obesity, diabetes and inflammation so it’s best to cut down a lot or eliminate any sugars you can from your food.

I know from personal experince this is easier said than done, as you will need to read all labels and most processed food is out(my husband is diabetic so I know what this is like). There is an incredible amount of sugar in food where you would not expect it to be there.

I have also heard that foods which contain a chemical called solanine can be a trigger cause of pain in some people and make inflammation worse. This is in potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant. You might want to research that further, I cant find much about it. If anyone knows of any useful information on that I would be grateful. Maybe if you want to just try not eating them for a while to see if it makes any difference to you.

You should also drink plenty of good quality water and reduce or stop drinking the sugar loaded drinks. If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.



For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Being Grateful.

With back pain and sciatica and lack of sleep, constant pain and worry about what was going to happen to me came fear, anxiety and hopelessness. I went into a spiral of fear and worry and negative imaginings that mentally paralysed me. I dont know if any of you have experienced the same...

It took me a long time to find to do this, but one of the things I found helped me to break this spiral was to think(and write down) all that I was grateful for on a daily basis. Who I was grateful for, what I was grateful for and it helped a lot. I did this list every day. I set myself a goal of writing 5 things each day.

Who are you grateful for?
What are you grateful for?

Thank you to all of you who took the time to complete the recent poll we ran about how long people had back pain. The results are;

16% of you have had back pain for over 5 years
12% over 2 years
29% 1-2 years
37% 6 months to a year
4% 3-6 months.

I was thinking and wondering, How do you cope? What helps you through the days?

If anyone would like to share to help each other that would be great. Thank you

Wishing you health, peace and happiness If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.



For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Living With Back Pain : Making A Bed

Hi there,

Bed making-such a simple task but one that seemed daunting to me when I suffered severe back pain and sciatica. With prolapsed discs I was worried about all the bending and lifting making a bed can entail. I dont get pain anymore but I still feel I want to be careful with tasks like these.

So this is my solution for bed making, it may or may not be yours. You should always check with your healthcare provider over anything you should not be doing.

It may sound a little strange but warm up a bit before you do anything physical like bed making, if your body is warm there is less likelihood of strain. If you have the Lose the Back Pain system you may like to warm up then do some of the stretches before and afterwards. If you do not have the Lose the back pain system you may want to consider it to help you help yourself(with support) to get rid of the back pain. Click here if you would like to learn more about  Lose the Back Pain.

Wherever possible try to get someone to help you or delegate this bedmaking task to someone else.

Stripping the bed is the first task. Just take it slow and one layer at a time. I walk around the bed rather than stretching across it. Then I carry the sheets in light loads down to the washing machine.

Instead of the flat sheets I use the fitted sheets with elastic corners as they are so much easier to put on. I actually kneel by the bed and work my way around it flipping the fitted sheet into place, no problem. I keep my back straight and do not strain over the bed. It saves having to lift the mattress at all to slide sheets underneath.

Then with the quilt I just put the quilt into the top of the cover and shake it down, slowly one bit at a time, pulling it gently where necessary. I use a lightweight quilt so I am not doing too much lifting.

I always walk around the bed to do adjustments. If you can get someone to help you that is so much better. Make sure as much as possible your bed is accessible from all sides so you can walk around it, as this will make it easier for you to manage.

While doing this I find it best to take it slow and in stages. If it is too much for you and you live with other people, discuss who could take on this task instead of you. If you can share this task that is so much better for you and your back .

Also if you are in the market for a new bed, choose one which does not need turning. Ours has to be turned and I am concerned about doing it or even helping anyone doing it so it is a real pain for my husband to do it by himself. The next bed we get will not need turning!

Also consider a memory foam mattress or mattress topper. My mum has just recently got a new bed with a memory foam inbuilt and she loves it. We have a mattress topper which is very comfortable and good for me.



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Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Life with Back pain-to iron or not to iron!

I am going to do a few posts here and there about how to tackle the simple household tasks we all need to do , but if you have backpain or sciatica can be very difficult.

Please bear in mind that these are generalisations and are things that I found useful, you may need something different. If you are very restricted by back pain you may need to seek professional support or adaptations.

Any ideas you have or things that work for you that make your life easier with back pain please feel free to post :)

To start with Ironing- Thought I'd get my least fav job over with first!

OK people who have known me recently will be surprised to hear that I used to do a lot of ironing! However with the onset of my back problems even simple standing and walking was difficult so all the standing, bending etc involved with ironing was out of the question. I was simply in too much pain with my back. Good job hubby could iron!

However we eventually just about abandoned it. Apologies to people who feel ironing is essential but we did what worked for us. It didnt seem fair to me that hubby was having to do all the ironing, as well as most of the housework. So we realised ironing could be let go...

So some simple tips if you have back pain and find ironing difficult and dont want to do it.

1.After washing clothes get them out the machine quickly and either put in a tumble dryer until damp or hang up immediately on hangers or pegged on the line neatly.

2.Keep clothes in your wardrobe on hangers separated neatly not tight up against each other. That way they wont crease so easily.

3.Dont tumble dry until bone dry as this tends in my experiences to leave creases. Take them out when slightly damp still. Hang up neatly until dry.

4. When buying new clothes look for "do not iron"!!or "easy iron" type labels. I LOVE do not iron labels :) They are the back pain sufferers friend :) ( Hmmm maybe thats an overstatement but you know what I mean)

If you want to /must iron1. Break up the ironing in to small chunks, do not try to do a huge load at once.

2.Prioritise your ironing. Do what is essential first so if you do not feel up to the less essential things it really wont matter.

3.If you are standing you may find it useful to have a small stool or footrest to alternately put one foot up on. See if that works for you. On the occasions I ironed I found it helped relieve some pressure in my lower back.

4.If you can sit and iron again watch your posture and do not sit for too long.

5. Could another member of the family do the ironing for you?

6.If you want to pay someone to do your ironing there are often good people who can be located to do it for you each week or even several times a week.

7. If you do it yourself then try to get the best quality lightweight iron you can to ease strain on you.

8. Take regular breaks and stretch and move.

...and if you are looking for a way to try to help you with back pain and sciatica symptoms you may want to take a look at my Personal Review Of Lose The Back Pain System

If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.



Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

What Are Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes and How Can You Benefit from them?

I read this new article recently and thought you may be interested.

What Are Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes and How Can You Benefit from Them? By Steven Hefferon, CMT, PTA, CPRS

Proteolytic enzymes, also referred to as "proteases," are enzymes that break down proteins into their smallest elements.

If this breakdown of proteins happens in your gut, we call the enzymes "digestive," because they help us digest our food.

Systemic proteolytic enzymes, however, have a completely different purpose, so please don't confuse the two.

When taken on an empty stomach, proteolytic enzymes will pass through the stomach or intestine lining and enter the circulatory system. This is why they are called "systemic" - once they enter the circulatory system, they circulate throughout the body.

Why are systemic proteolytic enzymes important?

The most important thing that systemic proteolytic enzymes do is to break down excess fibrin in your circulatory system and in other connective tissue, such as your muscles. These enzymes
bring nutrients and oxygen-rich blood that remove the metabolic waste produced by inflammation and excess fibrin.

For example, If you have an injury or are recovering from a painful condition of any kind and your blood flow is restricted, you will have a longer recovery process.

In addition, the exchange of nutrients and oxygen in your body will be limited, and there will be not only a longer recovery but an increase in pain and inflammation.

One more important thing to understand: Whenever you're recovering from a muscle irritation, injury, or surgery, the body uses fibrin to help heal itself. This is normal and healthy. The only problem is that with poor blood flow and a lack of enzyme activity, that fibrin will start to accumulate. If the area in question is slow to heal, an excess of fibrin will appear as clumps of scar tissue in the muscle or at the surgical site. Once this happens, your acute condition becomes chronic.

Now that you know that excess fibrin throughout your circulatory system will severely limit the amount of blood flow to areas that need it the most, you may be wondering how the body tries to compensate for this restriction. The answer is simple: by forcing the heart to work harder and increasing your blood pressure....

Please click here to take you to learn more information about Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes


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Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

BMJ Spinal Surgery Versus Physical Rehab Study, Back Pain.

I came across this interesting writing in the BMJ about studies discussing spinal fusion versus intensive rehab for chronic low back pain. If you are interested please click on the link.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7502/1220

If you have chronic back pain and are considering which methods to choose , you may want to read this. Let me know if you have any views....

If you are considering or have been advised to have back surgery, you may like to consider asking some of these questions as well.

What is the exact diagnosis?

What assessments will you do and what will the assessments tell you about my condition?

Is it essential/urgent I have back surgery now? If yes why?

If it is not urgent/essential I have surgery now can I try other treatments first then come back?

What is the specific surgery you are proposing? How will this help me?

What is the prognosis if i do not have surgery?

Do I need any other tests? If so which ones? What will they tell you?

Is there a waiting list for surgery? If so how long?

What happens if the surgery doesn't work?

Could I be worse off/more pain after the surgery?

What are the risks?

Do these risks carry short term or long term consequences?

How long will I be in recovery after the back surgery?

Will I need to do any maintenance? If so what?

How many appointments will I need? How frequently?

What exactly will this treatment do for me?

What would you consider a successful outcome from this surgery for me?

Will it cost me anything?

How often do you /this hospital perform this back surgery?

....and the most important thing to know is if you have exhausted all other less invasive treatments first and are needing to have surgery. My neurosurgeon told me they used to do a lot more surgery than they do now and he likes to try people on other therapies first to see what progress is made there before going in for surgery.

Wishing you health and happiness If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.



Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

A vacation for me and my back!!

I have been under a lot of stress lately, especially at work and was very much looking forward to my holiday. Due to working very long hours, sitting and driving a lot, doing no exercise at all and being tense-essentially clearly overdoing it- I noticed for the first time in over a year, some back pain and sciatica symptoms creeping up on me...my back was warning me it was working too hard as well and needed some TLC, but I totally ignored it - no excuses, my responsibility.

So while on holiday I decided to get the matter under control and not let it get any worse. The advantage I find of having knowledge of the lose the back pain system is that I can now apply the pain reduction techniques and exercises as soon as I need to. I understand better how my body works and I just did the simple self assessments again and applied what I needed to.

I also spent about an hour or more a day in the pool. For me water therapy was suggested by my neurosurgeon and by Steve Hefferon of the Healthy Back Institute as something I need to do the rest of my life for the health of my back and is very helpful to me.

Most of the time I go to a pool at home about twice a week but I hadn't been doing that lately so I really needed to get in there! For me water therapy is floating, treading water, scissoring my legs, walking in the water etc. Within 2 days of this regime of the lose the back pain exercises and water therapy (if you can call it a regime- it was mostly good fun) I felt better and the nagging pain had gone away...

I know that with my back pain conditions I need to keep up the exercising and caring for my back, if I do that I'm great and can live my life- no magic bullet - but I have found what works for me.

Lessons I learned from this?

a) Really Listen to your body. Dont just listen then ignore it.

b)Find the combination of things that work for you. (which I had)

c) ...and do them.(which I hadn't lately)

d)If stress aggravates your pain learn how to get stress under control.

e)Take responsibility; it was no one elses fault that I had neglected my body.

f)No matter how busy, your health is vital so always make time for it. Backs need a break too :)


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Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Courage in the face of challenge.

In my opinion, anyone dealing with back pain and sciatica symptoms or any health issue is courageous...

Dealing with the pain , the medical tests, emotional and practical impact on your life, the hopes and the fears, the positives and the setbacks; possibly even surgery and picking yourself up and moving on...

It requires a mental and emotional strength of being some of us may not have been aware that we possessed.

It is not always an outward show of courage, it may not even be recognized as courage, it may not be noticed at all, but it is courage nonetheless. I think these quotes say it beautifully...

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow".

Mary Anne Radmacher

"There is nobody else like you, The more you can quiet your own thoughts,fears,doubts and suspicions, the more will be revealled to you from the higher realms of imagination, intuition and inspiration"

Kenneth Wydro(American Lecturer)


"Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you Everything passes away except God"

St Theresa


"Fearlessness may be a gift, but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavour, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate ones actions, courage that could be described as "grace under pressure" grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh unremitting pressure"


Aung San Suu Kyi
(Winner of Nobel Peace Prize)

I read to help ourselves through difficult times we should focus on what you do want, not on what you don't want, have gratitude for the things you have, not wish for what you don't have, love the people who love you , do the things you CAN DO and dont worry about the rest. I learned that love can help to overcome fear.

Also to never give up, keep striving for your solution and try to be at peace with yourself. Applaud yourself for everything you do that is courageous in the face of your pain. You are courageous and perfect.

Wishing you peace and happiness If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.



For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Does Vitamin D deficiency have a role to play in back pain?

I came across this letter in the BMJ today, its not a new one but I dont know if you have seen it?

It mentions that the management of chronic low back pain is challenging and that the importance of Vitamin D is not widely appreciated. It cites several studies/reports which seem to demonstrate the importance of Vitamin D and that Vitamin D deficiency ought to be considered in patients with low back pain.

Its only a short read just thought you might find it interesting. See what you think...

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/331/7508/109-a

After the summer we had in UK this year I am feeling in need of some sunshine and Vit D!! If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.




For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Amazing people

My work is with kids with physical and learning disabilities, so every day I see these young people coping with things that I never had to endure.

When I was struggling with my own back pain and my own limitations and I have to say getting very down, frustrated and angry with it all, I used to sometimes look to them for hope and inspiration to guide me through it. I do believe at that time they helped me far more than I helped them...

I once worked with a young man who had muscular dystrophy and knew he was going to die. We talked through what he wanted from a charity who gives kids the last gift. He was very matter of fact about it weighing up if he wanted someting to keep like a TV or if he wanted something he could experience with his family to have the memories of it unti he died, and for his family to have good memories of that too even after he died. He chose the latter.... I can tell you I left that meeting in tears but he was so brave and met his challenges head on.

I found this quote fom Helen Keller, another amazing person

"The one resolution, which was in my mind long before it took the form of a resolution, is the key-note of my life. It is this, always to regard as mere impertinences of fate the handicaps which were placed upon my life almost at the beginning. I resolved that they should not crush or dwarf my soul, but rather be made to blossom, like Aaron's rod, with flowers".


If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.


For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Ever feel in need of a HUG ?

I came across this great site today which I love. It s all about the power of a hug.

Link removed as no longer available.

is all about free Hugs day(today!),one persons attempt to reach out to people and make a difference, Hug therapy,benefits of hugging and touch therapy and some great quotes and video/books etc.

I know when ever I'm feeling low or upset or have pain anywhere a gentle hug can brighten my day more than a whole string of words.....

Just if you have back pain don't hug too hard just a gentle hug will do folks.

Heres my hug to you guys {{{hug}}} pass it on......

If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.


For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Jane Tomlinson-an inspiration

I don't even apologise for going off topic here.... I have just got home from work to hear that Jane Tomlinson has died. 

 If you don't know her Jane lived in Leeds in UK and was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2000. It was a bleak prognosis of 6 months to live. However over the next 7 years she fought the disease and made her life an inspiration to others.

In addition she took on some amazing challenges, especially for someone with incurable cancer, including a full Ironman (4km Swim, 180Km bike ride and full marathon), two half Ironmans, the London Marathon three times, the New York Marathon, three London Triathlons and three long distance bike rides John O Groats to Lands End, Rome to Home and her final massive challenge a 6781.8 km ride across America.
Jane received numerous awards including an MBE and OBE and voted the most Inspirational woman in Britain in 2003 plus many more.

She was motivated to show that people with a terminal prognosis can still lead a full life and proclaimed “Death doesn’t arrive with the prognosis.” She provided real inspiration to so many people.

Jane also raised over £1,500,000 for charities including Macmillan Cancer Relief, SPARKS, Damon Runyon Cancer Research, Yorkshire Cancer Centre, Martin House Hospice, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and Hannah House.
Having been touched by cancer in my family and lost my Dad and my Mum in law and my dog to cancer I think this lady was a very brave, amazing and wonderful woman.

I just wanted to leave my thanks to her here for doing such great work and raising so much money to help other people going through cancer now.

If you want to read more about her please visit her website http://janesappeal.com/

Way to go Jane :)

Reduce pain and speed healing.

Steve Hefferon was my coach when I had severe back pain and sciatica and he supported, empathised, helped and gave me the motivation I needed to keep on task and keep going with the things I needed to do to get rid of the pain. He has written this article which I have his permission to share with you. Funny thing is he was so focused on getting me better(he's a nice guy) I never even knew he was into extreme sports!!

3 Sure-fire Ways to Reduce Pain and Speed Healing
By Steven Hefferon, CMT, PTA, CPRS

The last time I gave advice to a bodybuilder was in 1981. I was a freshman in high school, and I told a friend’s brother to “slow down his reps.” I thought that was good information, seeing as how I had just read it in article by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Well, this guy put the weight down and kneed me in the thigh so hard I couldn’t walk for an hour. Twenty-six years later, I can still hear him clear as day asking me, “Who’s BIGGER—me or you?”

If ever there was a significant emotional event in my life, that was it. I gave up bodybuilding that day and set my sights on being an extreme sports athlete. Over the past 26 years, I have climbed mountains, jumped out of perfectly good airplanes, surfed every tropical storm to hit the East Coast (until I got married), and wrecked my mountain bike at speeds faster than most dare to think about. Today, at age 40, I’m working on my blue belt in Brazilian Jujutsu with legendary professor Pedro Sauer.

26 years of abuse and still strong

Why am I telling you this? Because years ago I learned something that has helped me in every aspect of my physical performance and, more importantly, my ability to recover from the abuse I put my body through for all those years. If ever there was a sport that needed to hear what I’m saying, it’s the sport of bodybuilding.

So let me ask you: Do you think you know enough about bodybuilding to continue to make steady gains, stay healthy, and recover from tendonitis? Because I can tell you by the time you reach 40 you’re going to wish you had listened to me. I’m about to break a 26-year silence and share with you three very powerful tactics every bodybuilder not only needs to know but employ on a regular basis.

I’m not going to tell you what to do

One thing I have learned working with elite athletes is that you can’t tell them to stop doing their sport. Try telling a runner to stop running or a bodybuilder to stop working out. Yeah, right. But I can tell you how unexpected limitations develop that will hinder your ability to make gains and recover from injuries.

One of the main reasons why most bodybuilders hit a wall and develop injuries is that they don’t allow their muscles to recover 100 percent before they work those same muscles again. Ideally, as the body goes through the recovery process, it should lay down nice elastin and collagen tissue. Instead, with insufficient recovery time, it starts to use fibrin, which is bad—very bad.

Here’s how it works: If your body is overstressed, it instinctively tries to protect itself by using fibrin, which is very strong, to achieve that added element of stability you need. In the beginning, that extra fibrin helps your muscles recover. But over time—and I’m talking months and years—that same fibrin will stop you in your tracks.

Strength gains and recovery have one enemy

When your body adds fibrin, it’s like adding rebar to concrete; it makes something that is already strong much stronger. The downside is that you lose mobility and start to develop postural imbalances. You also lose “contractibility,” which is another way of saying strength. And that’s where many of your problems start. You see, fibrin is scar tissue similar to what you will see on a scab, and you do not want a scab on any of your connective tissue. Here’s why:

1. Excess fibrin in your muscle tissue will limit your contractibility and, ultimately, your strength through that range of motion.

2. Excess fibrin will limit your overall range of motion.

3. Excess fibrin in any of your connective tissue will create postural dysfunctions, such as rounding of the shoulders and tipping of the pelvis.

4. Excess fibrin will be responsible for many of the acute and chronic injuries you will suffer.

5. Excess fibrin will create fibrous restrictions in all of your muscles that will keep you from getting a better pump or prevent the blood from entering that muscle.

6. Excess fibrin in your blood vessels and muscle tissue will severally hinder your recovery time—how fast you get back to 100 percent during your days off.

Of the six reasons why you do not want excess fibrin in your body, number six is the most critical as it relates to your ability to get bigger and stronger. Blood flow is key. It affects every aspect of your recovery—not just from injury but from each workout.

Let me help you understand what I’m talking about when I say we have fibrin in our blood vessels that can slow, hinder, or even prevent the blood from getting where it needs to go. The fibrin is causing a physical restriction. Ultimately, those red blood cells cannot get into the capillaries to oxygenate and nourish your muscles so they will do the work you want them to do. Without that little bit of extra blood, you can say good-bye to that last rep.

I hope you can you now understand how excess fibrin can restrict blood flow, prevent you from achieving your best, and prevent you from recovering as fast as you want. The problem is, the excess fibrin is systemic, meaning it extends throughout your body and in and around all connective tissue. To get more blood flow, your heart has to work harder to get more blood where it’s needed. This is bad. It’s called high blood pressure.

Unfortunately, I do not have an image of how excess fibrin becomes scar tissue in muscle, tendons, or ligaments—but, believe me, it’s there. And you’ll feel it.

Immediate steps to take

Again, I will never tell you not to workout, but I want you to understand that there are steps you can take to help prevent or minimize the effects of excess fibrin and impaired blood flow. If you are suffering from tendonitis anywhere, it’s not going to get better by working it. You need to improve the blood flow so the pain and inflammation can be flushed out and minimal fibrin will be laid down. That way, the fibrin that is used during recovery is gradually reabsorbed.

Whether you’re looking to get a better workout, a bigger pump, or increase your size, you need to have better blood flow. Likewise, if you suffer from chronic recurring injuries that just will not get better.

Here are three easy steps to improve blood flow:

1) Heat things up to get it moving

Get your ass into a hot tub or sauna at least two or more times per week. You see, heat does two things: one, it relaxes the muscle, which allows the blood to flow easier; and, two, it causes the blood to come to the surface of the skin to try to cool the body. When this happens, more blood travels through the smallest vessels you have, thereby improving your body’s overall circulation.

2) Unbind your muscles

This technique became popular back in the 1980s. A guy named John Parrillo came up with something called “fascia stretching,” which allowed some bodybuilders to add more than an inch in diameter per muscle group just minutes before the competition. Nowadays, the big boys do on a weekly basis for consistent gains and rapid recovery.

Fascia gives our muscles form, and when our fascia is too restricted, it limits the ability of the muscle to expand and fill with blood, limiting the amount of blood for the pump and recovery.

My suggestion is to find a qualified massage therapist who can perform cross-friction massage and myofascial release techniques on you. One thing to remember is that if you are fascialy bound down, these techniques will hurt like hell and you’ll be sore for up to four days after. The good news is that once you’re free, you’re free. Trust me, the results will be profound.

3) Let nature clean your pipes

The third technique is to use systemic-proteolytic enzyme, an enzyme that breaks down excess fibrin throughout your body, including your blood vessels and your muscles. Nothing else in the world can naturally break down the excess fibrin in your blood vessels and remove the scar tissue in your muscles.

The fact is, your body is constantly regulating fibrin. But as you get older (late 20s), your body will have fewer and fewer enzymes available to do the job. And when we train hard, there are simply not enough enzymes to keep up with the demand to regulate fibrin. That’s how the build-up of fibrin start and how the limitations begin.

Like most injuries or diseases, the accumulation of excess fibrin in our bodies is a process, and the removal of that fibrin is also a process. One thing that makes enzymes unique among all other supplements is that we know they work.

These enzymes are not measured in milligrams but in what are called “fibrinolytic units,” which is the amount of fibrin they break down in a set amount of time.

So, if you know the fibrinolytic units of a product, you know how much clearing or removal you will get. This will help you compare products.

But, don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of systemic enzymes, because there are very few companies in the world that sell them. They are somewhat expensive, but they possess exactly what you’re looking for: the ability to naturally increase blood flow.

To learn more about proteolytic enzymes please follow this link 
If you liked this post do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.



Lose The Back Pain System
Lose the Back Pain, is a system of self assessments to determine what physical imbalances you may have that may be causing your pain, then specific and targeted exercises to follow to address the imbalances, along with pain reduction strategies. 

For useful information and suggestions there is a Free Back Pain Book Written by the Healthy back Institute-

7 Day Back Pain Cure
This free book (there is a small shipping/handling fee for physical book) will give you a good starting point for taking back control of your back pain covering reasons for pain, pain relief, possible treatments, action plans and many other things you will find useful. Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.