Water therapy and back pain

If you have back pain and sciatica you may find it helpful to get into the water. You do need to check if this is OK for you to do with your health care provider first. Water therapy can be very beneficial to back pain and sciatic pain sufferers.

Some people will need a proper organised water therapy program; for others you can find benefits from just being in the water. I was recommended to get in the water by my neurosurgeon and Steve Hefferon of the Healthy Back Institute and it did a lot for me with regard to pain relief.

The aim is to just move gently in the water taking the constant pressure off your spine. Personally i find it most helpful to walk in the water, forwards and backwards, also to scissor my legs and tread water. I love just floating in the water as well and also find just hanging over the side for a few moments now and again very helpful. If you have the lose the back pain programme you can do some of your exercises in the water as well. I found them easier in the water when i first started them, although you cannot do them all in the water(lol)
Ideally i aim to go two to three times a week.

I felt very self conscious when i first started doing all these movements in the water but they helped so much i didn't care and now quite often peple ask me what i am doing and they share that they are in the water because they get pain too!

I met a lady in the pool today who said the only time she is without pain is when she is in the water.

I am lucky that i found what worked for me in the lose the back pain system. and i know how to manage my back issues so i don't get back pain really now. However, lately i have been doing a lot of sitting and driving for a long time without breaks which are the two worst things for my condition(and i should know better!).If I'm honest really neglecting my back -which i just cant do and i had noticed feeling achey in my back and down my left leg.

Its all about listening to your body and i know the warning signs so, busy as i am, i took time out to get in the pool and i am resuming my exercises for a while to rectify any imbalances which i no doubt have built up by not looking after myself lately...

So if you are feeling achey or have more serious back issues as long as you check it is OK for you to do so, getting in the pool may be beneficial for you .

You don't need to swim, in fact if you have back conditions probably best not to unless a professional has guided you on that, you just need to walk, move gently, float, just be in the water and see how that works for you. 


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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.

Just remember that ant!! High Hopes.

OK this is totally off topic...or maybe not. Maybe the lack of sunshine is getting to me....Well i'm here in UK where we are suffering from intense bad weather and flooding and i am rather proud of how ordinary people are coping generally and pulling together against this monsoonal type rain and severe flooding that has affected so many people.

Anyway i was thinking of peoples stoic nature and perseverance through all this and also of the determination and trials people who suffer from back pain and sciatica go through on a daily basis, who no one ever hears about and just do their own personal battle with pain and come out with fire in their belly to beat this thing.... and it all put me in mind of the song sung by Frank Sinatra about the ant and the rubber tree plant which i think goes something like this...

"Next time you are found, with your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned, so look around

Just what makes that little old ant
Think he' ll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant

But he's got h-i-g-h hopes, hes got h-i-g-h hopes
Hes got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time your getting low
instead of letting go....
Just remember that ANT
Oooops - there goes another rubber tree plant!!!!"

Guess there is maybe something in the saying "if you think you can you're right and if you think you cant you're right!

Anyway hope you enjoyed that little diversion(if you want it "live" with sound click on the video "Just for fun HIgh Hopes")

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.

Do you have a herniated disc?

Diagnosed With a Herniated Disc?

By: Dr. Robert Duvall, DPT, ATC, MGFI

You've probably heard people say they have a "slipped" or "ruptured" disc in the back. Sometimes they complain that their back “went out”. What they're most likely describing is a herniated disc. This condition is a common source of back and leg pain.

Discs are soft cushions found between the vertebrae that make up the spinal column (your backbone). In the middle of the spinal column is the spinal canal, a hollow space that contains the spinal cord. The nerves that supply the arms, leg, and torso come from the spinal cord. The nerves from the neck supply the arms and hands, and the nerves from the low back supply the butt and legs. The discs between the vertebrae allow the back to move freely and act like shock absorbers.

The disc is made up of two main sections. The outer part (the annulus) is made up of tough cartilage that is comprised of series of rings. The center of the disc is a jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. A disc herniates or ruptures when part of the jelly center pushes through the outer wall of the disc into the spinal canal, and puts pressure on the nerves. A disc bulge is when the jelly substance pushes the outer wall but doesn't completely go through the wall.

What do you feel?

Low back pain will affect four out of five people during their lifetime. The most common symptom of a herniated disc is “sciatica”. Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back of one leg. This is most often caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve that exits the spinal cord. Other symptoms include:

· Weakness in one leg or both legs

· Numbness and tingling in one leg (pins & needles)

· A burning pain centered in the low back

· Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek medical attention immediately)

· Back pain with gradually increasing leg pain. (If you have weakness in both legs. Seek immediate attention.)

If you are interested in learning more about a way to get rid of the back pain and sciatica take a look at the lose the back pain system for great back pain and sciatica relief exercises, back pain information, support and expertise to help you get rid of the back pain and sciatica.

How do you know you have a herniated disc?

Your medical history is key to a proper diagnosis. A physical examination can usually determine which nerve roots are affected (and how seriously). A simple x-ray may show evidence of disc or degenerative spine changes. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is usually the best option (most expensive) to determine which disc has herniated.

Why do discs herniate?

Discs are primarily composed of water. As we become older (after the age of 30), the water content decreases, so the discs begin to shrink and lose their shape. When the disc becomes smaller the space between the vertebrae decreases and become narrower. Also, as the disc loses water content the disc itself becomes less flexible.

While aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of discs, the primary cause of a herniation or bulge is uneven compression and torsion that's placed on the discs.

This uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the spine out of its normal position and then your body is forced to function in what I call a physical dysfunction. Every human being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they cause enough damage to create pain.

The best treatment options

When it comes to treating a herniated disc, there are traditional treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be temporary if at all.

But the major problem with these traditional treatments is that they can't fix or heal a herniated disc as they do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have a surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniated in the first place are still there and if not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs and sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.

Without identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the problem, which is the physical dysfunctions caused by imbalances in muscles, you will likely continue to suffer with this condition and the continuous flare ups for years.
Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists don't spend time or focus on identifying the physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition so most people end up jumping from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer for months or years unnecessarily.

If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or are wondering if your back pain may be caused by a herniated disc, either way you must identify and address the physical dysfunctions that are causing your pain as part of your recovery.

If you are interested in learning more about a way to get rid of the back pain and sciatica Consider the lose the back pain system for great back pain and sciatica relief exercises, back pain information, support and expertise 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.

Choosing a car if you have back issues. Eight essential checks

Back Pain Hints and Tips on Choosing a Car if you have Back Issues or Sciatica Symptoms. Eight essential checks.

If you have back pain or sciatica symptoms or one of the many back pain conditions you may want to think about a few extra points when the time comes to be choosing your next car. As sitting in a car and driving was the worst thing for me when I got back pain and sciatica and always aggravated my pain significantly this is a subject close to my heart…and my back!

Wouldn’t it be nice if all we had to concern ourselves with was the colour, sleekness, safety features, performance and all the great gadgets? You will have your own priorities for any vehicle you want to purchase such as space, petrol/gas consumption, eco friendliness, child safety features, room for dogs etc. You know what your needs and wishes are on all those points.

So now whether it is a brand new car or new to you what additional points do we need to take into account if we have back pain and sciatica?

• Look for a car you can get in and out of easily and without aggravating your back pain or sciatic symptoms too much. Cars that are positioned too high or especially too low may prove difficult for you to negotiate with a bad back in the long term. The sales folk may think you are crazy, but do get in and out of the car several times and see how it feels to you. See if it is comfortable to enter and exit and if it feels difficult, you get spasms or additional pain or it gets progressively awkward for your back it is likely not right for you.

• If the cars steering wheel tilts this may make it easier for you to get in and out of with back issues, ask if it has this feature and try it out. Test how easy it is for you to operate.

• Power steering is wonderful and will help you a lot if you have upper or lower back pain and sciatica. Most cars do have this now but do check.

• Check out the seat controls and test just how adjustable they really are. Ideally every feature including headrests, seat position, easy forward and backward adjustment, lumbar support, and tilt should be adjustable and if the adjustments are automatic that is all for the better. I have struggled to find a car seat with sufficient lumbar support to keep me and my back happy (in my price range!) so if you have back pain and you find a lumbar support helps you take it along and see how it works for you in the test drive.

• Examine if the seats have heat controls. If they do this can be great to be able to switch on soothing heat while you travel which can ease aching muscles and help to lessen stiffness in your back muscles incurred in driving. It would also save the need to carry heat pads for your journey. However if it doesn’t have heat controls, or you have to pay a lot extra for them using heat pads is good alternative.

• Inspect the boot or trunk. Test how easy it is for you to open and close it. Bear in mind that you will often be lifting items, some heavy, in and out of it. The shallower the boot and flatter the lip or overhang of the boot/trunk edge, the better for your back. Lifting suitcases or shopping bags into a deep boot/trunk is often difficult for people with back issues.

• Check how easy it is for you to reach all the controls in the vehicle, both for the driving controls and the maintenance controls. Are you able to manage the essentials such as lifting the bonnet or hood of the car to inspect the oil, water e.t.c.

• It is essential you take a thorough test drive to ensure the vehicle meets all of your needs. You need to know how it feels to drive the vehicle for some time in a variety of situations to judge the impact on your back. Take it on a variety of roads and try to choose a vehicle with good suspension which minimizes any bumps and jarring on your back.

So as with most things in life if you are coping with back pain and sciatica symptoms or other back pain issues you just may need to take a little more care over your choice of vehicle. It is worth taking the time over it, checking out the vehicle in WHICH guide http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/cars/index.jsp

and asking questions. Most of all you need to test it out thoroughly.

Your back will thank you for it!

If you are interested in learning more about a way to get rid of the back pain and sciatica I have written a review on the system I used consider the lose the back pain system for great back pain and sciatica relief exercises, back pain information, support and expertise 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.