Sunday 20 December 2015

Wishing You A Happy Christmas And New Year!

Wishing all readers of "Life With My Pet Back" who celebrate it,  a wonderful time over Christmas and a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.

I do hope that anyone dealing with back or sciatic pain has a holiday time as pain free as possible and that the New year will bring you better health and less or no pain.

Be gentle on yourself and take good care of you 

Thank you so much for visiting Life With My Pet Back. I do appreciate it and hope it helps you in some way.  I look forward to sharing more with you. 


Do consider joining our Facebook Page Sciatica Solutions.



Follow Jasmine Ann Raintree's board Back And Sciatic Pain Strategies. on Pinterest.

Monday 14 December 2015

A Personal Review Of "Lose the Back Pain" System

My Personal Review Of "Lose The Back Pain "






There are a lot of back pain remedies and programs out there so here is a view on my personal use of this one. Here I cover what I thought of it in my situation, the tips to using it, what it covers and includes, what is good and not so good about it, about muscle imbalances and why they are relevant, red flags of back pain and other useful back pain information. 

This is not just another academic review of a back pain system. I have lived with back and sciatic pain and I have used "Lose The Back Pain System". I have talked personally with Steve Hefferon and Jesse Cannone of The Healthy Back Institute and asked them many questions. 

You have maybe tried lots of back pain and sciatica treatments, have some given temporary relief or have you had no relief from pain? Are you Looking for a non-invasive, non-surgical approach? 


Do You Have Any Of These Back Pain Conditions/Symptoms?
  • Sciatica
  • Low back pain
  • Upper Back Pain
  • Hip pain
  • pulled back muscle
  • herniated disc
  • SI joint syndrome
  • spondylilothesis
  • spinal stenosis
  • SI joint syndrome
  • IT band syndrome
  • Generalised back pain without a specific diagnosis.

Lose The Back Pain System helped me to resume my life...


That sounds dramatic and it was..... I was at the point with such severe back and bilateral sciatic pain in both legs, where I was spending most of my time at home, unable to walk much, drive, work,  do anything I needed to do let alone what I wanted to do and I was becoming depressed.....

I had been suffering from persistent low back pain and burning sciatica in both legs hip to toes for over a year; trekking around so many professionals and having so many tests and treatments which only gave temporary relief, if any. Lose the back pain system is the main thing that gave me relief. It took work though and wasn't a "quick fix" but it helped me.

My Back Pain Story...

I never knew muscle imbalances could be important in back pain and sciatica....

In my case, I had very strong quadriceps(front of the upper leg) and very weak hamstrings(back of the upper leg). These imbalances together with others gave me an anterior or forward tipping pelvis which showed excessive lordosis of the lumbar spine, which caused a lot of stress on the discs until they herniated and put pressure on the nerve which gave me pain.

The root cause of my pain was not the herniated disc. The root cause of my pain was the muscle imbalances which resulted in the herniated disc which resulted in pressure on the sciatic nerve which gave me pain.

The doctor had told me to stand up straight. I was asked if I had been a gymnast as my spine was so curved! The physio had told me I had to reduce the curve in my spine and that there was something wrong with my hip position; the osteo had told me that I had slippage of the vertebrae.

I knew from seeing X RAys and MRI that I had a very curved spine and that several discs were herniated, and I knew I had  desiccated degenerative discs...but no one had told me about muscle imbalances which turned out to be key in my case...

Can you see why I am so thankful to Lose The Back Pain?
I had tried everything except the more invasive methods but I could not cope much longer especially with the burning and tingling type pain in my legs, my inability to walk far, sit, drive, etc and the very poor quality of life I was leading and was heading for invasive back surgery.

I had tried many treatments that either did not work at all for me or only worked temporarily and I wasn't making any significant improvement.

My physiotherapy was stopped and I was referred to a neurosurgeon for consideration for back surgery. I had a three-month wait to see him and in the meantime, I decided to try something a bit different...

For me once I addressed my imbalances, my posture improved, my spine curvature became more normal, as I get it the pressure came off the nerve and I was so relieved!!

It Took Time To Get Better...

It took a little while with me, it was not overnight. I think sometimes we hope for results in days with back pain remedies. However, although I was making improvements it was several months rather than days, but it did help me get better! Do I still need to take care of my back, of course, I do but I do not get pain anymore.

What Is "Lose the Back Pain"?

Lose the Back Pain System by The Healthy Back Institute, comprises guided Self Assessments you do in your own time to identify your muscle imbalances. It is a system of self-assessment followed by specific and targeted stretching and strengthening exercises to help back pain and sciatica symptoms.

It is a system you do yourself with support. You get DVD's, CD's and a handbook then do the assessments and exercises in the comfort of your own home. It is available as a manual or online system. 

Steve Hefferon and Jesse Cannone developed the system. In brief, their backgrounds are Steve is a massage therapist and Jesse a fitness trainer. They have both had significant experience in working with people with back pain. They developed this system along with doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals...


Lose The Back Pain includes information:-

  • Pain reduction strategies
  • Back pain relief strategies
  • Empower you to take control
  • Specific corrective exercises and action for the health of your back.

You learn how to eliminate any back pain or sciatic pain you have now, how to prevent future flare-ups, how to eliminate any other ache or pain caused by muscle imbalances...

I know first hand how frustrated you get looking for relief from back pain and sciatica. Lose The Back Pain is surely worth considering.

In addition, if you ever work with a doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist you will get far better treatment and you will know the right questions to ask because you'll know more and be more empowered...


Many people have found relief from their back and sciatic pain through this system when other treatments failed...Why not you?

What Do You Get In Lose the Back Pain System?

The "Lose the Back Pain System" addresses both the cause and the symptoms of back pain, the cause often being muscle imbalances. 

  • Information about muscle imbalances and assessments.
  • The self assessments are a key aspect to the program because you identify what muscle imbalances you have and then can see which corrective exercises you will need to follow.
  • All of the stretches and exercises in the system are demonstrated.
  • Pain reduction strategies. 
  • Specific conditions ie sciatica, herniated disc etc.
  • You also receive:
  • A Reference Manual, including photos and instructions, and pain reduction strategies.
  • A Personal Workbook for you to create your custom plan.
  • Personal Support

Lose The Back Pain -What Do You Learn?

  • How to Assess your imbalances.
  • Why Muscle imbalances are so important if you have a bad back
  • Which muscles need to be stretched and which muscles need to be strengthened.
  • You get a step by step guide on which exercises to do and how.
  • Then do specific and targeted exercise to address those imbalances.

With Lose the back pain you do a self-assessment and find out which of the "physical dysfunctions" as they call them you have. These physical dysfunctions are oftentimes a result of muscle imbalances. You then follow the exercises for that particular dysfunction.

Different exercises for different dysfunctions...to address the muscle imbalances you have, to relieve the pain....makes sense?

You also send in your self-assessment information to the support service and they may give you additional advice depending on your circumstances.

Address the symptoms and the root cause of your back pain."

5 Simple Steps To Back Pain Relief

Five step process to help eliminate your back and sciatic pain. Written by Steve Hefferon and Jesse Cannone of the Healthy Back Institute

Eliminate Back Pain Quickly Without Harmful Medications or Dangerous Surgery

5 simple steps for ridding yourself of back pain
Millions of people suffer from back pain unnecessarily when there is actually a very simple solution, according to Jesse Cannone, certified personal trainer and back pain specialist.

Here's the simple system that MUST be followed if you are looking for real, long-term, lasting relief:

1. Identify the cause - nearly all of the treatments people receive for back pain only focus on the symptoms and the healthcare professionals zoom in on only the problem area. The real key in eliminating back pain is to find out exactly what's causing the problem... and most of the time it's not even the back!

2. Address both the cause and the symptom - the best approach is a combination of treating the symptoms for pain relief while also addressing the underlying cause.

3. Be aware - many people suffering from back pain are not in tune with their bodies and during their treatment they do not realize what is working and what is not. In order to achieve long-term relief you have to understand how your body works, what's causing the problem, and what changes have to be made to correct it.

4. Consistent Focused Action - achieving success in anything requires consistency and focused action. Most people with back pain won't make the time to work on their problem each day... instead they take pain killers which mask the pain and allow them to cause more damage while they continue with their life.

5. Don't do what doesn't work - we already know that most traditional treatments for back pain don't work.... The real key to eliminating back pain is to identify the true cause of the pain and then address it with a combination of treatments to treat both the cause and symptoms. Over 80% of all back pain is caused by muscle imbalances... NOT a lack of medicine or surgery!

Find out what's going on in your body and take action.

Courtesy of Steve Hefferon and Jesse Cannone of the Healthy Back Institute.

What Is A Muscle Imbalance?

If you have heard about muscle imbalances great! If not do not worry , you are not alone. A brief extract of an explanation from the guys who created Lose the Back pain.

"The reason you have back pain is because your body and spine have been pulled out of their normal position and into what we call dysfunctions...
If you are like most people, you move around and live your life without ever being aware that you are forcing your body to work with these dysfunctions, and sooner or later your body breaks down...
As you can imagine, it doesn't take long before this results in pain. It's very important to understand though, that these dysfunctions don't just appear out of nowhere - we create them!"

For a more detailed explanation please read the link below...
Back Issues can "develop over time and are the direct result of imbalances between various muscle groups, what we call "muscle imbalances".
(Steve Hefferon/Jesse Cannone of The Healthy Back Institute)

Ten Good Things About Lose The Back Pain System.

  1. The exercises are specific and targeted to the imbalances you identify in the self assessments, not generic.Having all the exercises demonstrated makes it very easy for you to check your form and make sure you are doing them as they should be done.

  1. You get to be in control of the way you look after your back.

  1. You learn to listen to your body and become more educated about your back.You do get a whole host of other information to help you such as back pain relief strategies.

  1. Many people get fantastic results in a relatively short timeframe.

  1. If you do it there is a good chance it will work.

  1. You don't have to do weekly or tri weekly visits to a healthcare professional to do your treatments.You do it in your own time to suit you and your lifestyle.There is no driving to appointments, parking, arranging for people to look after the kids etc...

  1. It cost less than a couple of treatments from a professional.

  1. If you do continue to have professional back pain treatments you can use what you learn to enhance those treatments and be more proactive in your care.

  1. You do have access by phone or email to optional personal support.( I felt I had more time to ask questions this way than I did in a quick treatment appointment.)

  1. You do have access to the Healthy Back Institute Blog covering a wide range of back and health topics.

Six Things Not So Good About Lose The Back Pain System. 

  1. It does require commitment and self motivation from you to follow through.

  1. There are no "instant" results, although many people have reported good results within days, others (like me), take longer. 

  1. It wont work if you don't do it.

  1. You don't have a professional taking you through each exercise and showing you or watching you while you do it.(but you do have the DVD's to refer to which demonstrate all the exercises)

  1. It may not work for everyone in every circumstance.(what does?)

  1. It does cost money.(but has to be said less money than a couple of most treatments)


Who Are Jesse Cannone and Steve Hefferon?

Jesse Cannone At The Healthy Back Institute

Jesse Cannone, has worked personally and helped many people navigate through all the information and learn what really works to achieve their wellness goals.

He spent years working with individuals with special conditions like stroke recovery, Parkinson's, and pre-post rehabilitation on everything from tennis elbow to back pain, and back pain is one of the most common. Because so many people he worked with were dealing with back pain, he quickly became a recognized expert and resource.

Jesse has a strong passion for helping people educate themselves about health, fitness, and their bodies. He is a national fitness presenter and author.

Steve Hefferon At The Healthy Back Institute

Steve Hefferon,CMT holds a B.S. degree in Health/Fitness and an A.S. degree as a Physical Therapy Asst.

Steve Hefferon is both a Fitness Trainer and a Certified Massage Therapist and has combined his skills to become a Post-Rehabilitation specialist.
Steve works with back pain suffers, athletes and everyday people who have pain for which traditional treatments just do not work.

Steve has written many articles on back pain and has been published by hundreds of online and printed publications.

He is a Certified Massage Therapist in the State of Maryland (MD#000039).Approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider. Spent 6 years working as a physical therapy assistant.

Former Director of the National Capital Area Sports Massage Team (1998 to 2005)

Professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association.

Steve spends much of his day giving support to Lose the Back Pain customers from all over the world.

Explaining Your Back Pain - Communicating back pain and sciatica symptoms

Many Back Pain conditions and the resulting pain are hidden and describing the pain can be difficult and frustrating.
This information covers how to communicate your pain more effectively to professionals or even family and friends.

Five Top Tips To Effective Use Of Lose The Back Pain System. 

1.Everyone is different but this is just an idea of how you might approach all the information you will receive when you get your copy. It's just suggestions, see your healthcare provider for advice or if you are a Lose The Back Pain customer create a support ticket for personal support.

2.When you first receive the lose the back pain system I would advise you to watch the 2 DVDs first through before you do the assessments. Then familiarise yourself with the rest of the material.

3.Then do the assessments, take your time over these and go back and do them again if you are not sure. You can do these alone but it may be helpful if you have someone with you.

4.If you are clear which "dysfunctions " you have you can go ahead and start the exercises. If you are not sure ask for feedback from the Healthy Back Institute.

5.Your body is in pain and you are likely not used to the exercises so do take it slow and steady.

 Here are some previous comments from readers.

DynamicProducts1 
I've suffered from lower back pain for years. Really great article to write about.

howtocurecancer 
I need this, I have back pain like all the time......

Fit_Over_40_Buzz 
This is a great lens. (page)Thanks for making it. Very informative. I gave you a thumbs up
cause I like your lens.


RaintreeAnnie 
Just wanted to Thank you all for your comments, I do read them all and appreciate you taking the time :) Love to hear from you!


chloecavanaugh 
I suffer from back pain daily. Standing for ten hours a day doesn't help, I'm sure. This is something I am considering.
*****
Chloe

ElizabethEckert 
Those 5 steps make a lot of sense to me. For anyone reading who has **other** pain, like headaches or neck pain for example, the same kind of thinking could help with that, too.

frances lm 
Very full and balanced information. Deserves 5*s.

anonymous 
Was looking for info on "lose the back pain" and found great reviews and info. Thanks

teamlane 
Another great lens on back pain, and another 5 from me!

anonymous 
Great info, thinking about getting this.

Classic LM 
Hello This is such a wonderful informative lens! I gave you 5*s! If you have time, please visit my new lens Amaryllis Express. Thanks and have nice day!

RaintreeAnnie 
Thank you for all your comments:)

anonymous 
Hi Jasmine,
Great site, I too am a Lose the back pain customer, but I have had a bit of a rollercoaster ride with it. I can do it for days and I will be fine, and then I get spasms. Any advice from you would be great :)
And well done again on the info ;)
Dan

flaminglacer 
Glad to have you as a member of the Health and Wellbeing Group - drop by the Group HQ sometime and see what is there for you

anonymous 
After injuring my back gardening, and being in pain for quite a while, doctors not much help, i looked around for something to help me and found that system you talk about and it is working wonders for me! Thanks jasmine ann for all this helpful info on your sites.


gpower2llc 
Hi Jasmine, very helpful information here. I have had a bad back since high school football. My chiropractor is my best friend. Maybe I could go there less. Thank you.

Red Flags And Back Pain - If you have Back Pain-When You Must See a Doctor quickly.



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.

Thursday 19 November 2015

How To Sleep Better With Back or Neck Pain

Back And Neck Pain? Gain Better Sleep With A Body Support Pillow

Back pain can be a leading cause of sleep discomfort.  Maybe you are coping with sciatica, back pain, head or neck pain. This post is about sleeping with these types of issues more comfortably and the full body support pillows that can help you get more comfortable. These are lovely to give support or sink into for sleep comfort. 

For many people sleeping comfortably with a bad back or sciatic pain is a nightmare.

People have problems sleeping for many reasons including head and neck pain and a bad back. Sometimes it is muscular in the back muscles, sometimes spinal issues structurally or sciatic nerve issues. 

It is also vital that your head and neck is properly supported while sleeping as well as your back and hips. This is to ensure that your spine is in full and proper alignment all the way from your neck to your hips. The full body sleep pillows like this Comfort U Total Body Support Pillow (Full Size) do this for you without you having to think about it. 

Always check with a qualified medical practitioner if you are experiencing head, neck, back or sciatic pain.

Comfort U Total Support Body Pillow

How To Sleep Better With Comfort-U Total Body Pillow - Full Support Pillow To Help Your Back, Head And Neck Pain.

Full Sized Body Pillow

Full body support to cradle you during sleep for a restful night. Very good for people with back or sciatic pain.

There is a full sized version Comfort U Total Body Support Pillow (Full Size) and is very lovely and supportive. It does take up room in the bed but is so worth it if you get a good nights sleep with your back properly supported.
There is also a petite version if you think you may prefer that one.

How Do You Sleep? My experience with how to sleep with sciatic and back pain and full body pillows

When I had severe back and sciatic pain I struggled with how to sleep. I have coped with back and sciatic pain and know first hand how useful these sleeping pillows and full body pillows can be.

I used to use pillow supports either between the knees or under my lower back and I have to say pillows do a good job to an extent or for an occasional remedy, but not in my experience longer term.

However having used both normal pillows and a body pillow I find body pillows are much better than messing around with normal pillows which seem to fall out of the bed and just not give the total support you need. I have found body pillows excellent for me.

How To Sleep Better With Full Body Pillows

Leacho Body Pillow

Better Sleep With Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow - Firm support cosy pillow

 These Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow, White body pillows are good for pregnancy but not only for that, they are excellent for all of us who have back and sciatic pain. 

You can sleep with this body pillow tucked in between your legs which I find a good position to support my spine.

Trying to do the same with pillows never quite worked for me as I am a bit restless sleeper and pillows kept slipping and then of course I woke up !

With a body pillow like this there is much less risk of slippage. It does take a little time to get used to but is well worth trying.

Back Pain And Sciatica Sleeping Positions-Video

Demonstrates ways to sleep and ways not to sleep. In brief the best sleeping positions are on our side or on our back. The worst sleeping position is on your stomach. 



How To Sleep Better With Comfort U Ergonomic Body Bed Pillow.

No struggling with pillows any more or trying to get in the correct sleep position, This Comfort U Ergonomic Body Bed Pillow - Regular provides lovely supportive comfort.   

This body pillow gives a very supportive sciatica and back pain sleeping position. It can be used in multiple sleep positions so you can get a comfortable nights sleep no matter what type of position you like or have to sleep in. Great for anyone with back issues and for pregnancy

You can also read more reviews at Amazon from people who have used these back pain pillow supports too. I hope this helps you on your way to sleeping better with back pain and sciatica. That way you will not be straining your neck or back while trying to sleep.

Getting Out Of Bed. 

It is also important to know how to get out of bed safely and minimise pain if you have back and sciatic pain. The following video shows you how. 




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.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

How To Sleep Better During Pregnancy

Pregnancy And Back Pain- Trying To Sleep?

Pregnancy is a special time for you to take care of your body and your baby. Sleep, relaxation and excellent support is very important at this time as your body goes through many changes.

It is vital that you and your baby bump are well supported in order for you to get a good nights sleep. However many women get back pain or sciatica during pregnancy which makes sleeping much more difficult.

You need to have enough support and comfort to give you the best chance of a good nights sleep.

**Always check with a qualified medical practitioner if you are experiencing back or sciatic pain.**

Some women try to manage with a range of pillows to support their head, neck, hips, and back during pregnancy. (You will see examples in a video below).Some people are OK with this approach but others are not.

I know having tried pillows that they are not always the right density or give enough support or maybe too bulky or too thin. They can and do slip and become uncomfortable. You may end up repacking them through the night, which can be disruptive to you and your partner. If you only require one pillow its not too bad, but when you need more support it gets more difficult.  

A full body support pillow can be a good choice to help you get physically more comfortable. There are a wide range available and essentially they take the place of using multiple pillows to support your back, hips, neck and bump. Yes they do take up room in the bed, but far less than a whole array of pillows. 

Leacho Snoogle Total Body Pillow 

This Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow is mentioned as being the best selling body pillow on Amazon currently.

Its patented design was developed by a mum and a nurse to give support and comfort. This also has a removable cover for ease of washing. 

For more details please follow the link Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow, White 


Here is a video about sleeping during pregnancy. A full-body support pillow will make all those pillows redundant and is a lot easier! 





How To Choose a Body Pillow.


The following video concentrates on the brand 
Comfort U MATERNITY Full Body Pillow. I thought it was interesting as it shows you the different ways you can make use of a body pillow. It does not have to be used just for sleeping. So some of the pillows can be used for a longer term functions.  



The Comfort U Maternity Full Body Pillow


Designed by a Registered Nurse who suffers with fibromyalgia, this 
Comfort U MATERNITY Full Body Pillow is a generous oversized pillow in a "U" shape which enables support for both sides of the body, surrounding you in comfort in almost any position. 

As it cradles and supports the body it helps to ease tossing and turning. It keeps good alignment of your body without you having to think about it. Your neck, shoulders, back and hips are kept in much better alignment all night. 

It can also be used as a wonderful comfortable support for reading, watching TV, nursing, etc. 

For more details please follow the link Comfort U MATERNITY Full Body Pillow - 3 piece
   

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.

Friday 13 November 2015

Interesting Stress Reduction Methods

Goose flapping Wings











Stress reduction....Here are some interesting and perhaps novel methods of reducing or managing stress in our lives. Writing, laughing, crying and hypnosis.

If you are dealing with pain on a regular or even constant basis you may find yourself becoming stressed. Stress reduction methods are worth looking into to see what might help you.

We are all individual and what helps one person may not help another. You may think some of these ideas are a little crazy, but if they help us to reduce anxiety and stress-well, I'm prepared to give it a go!! :)  


How To Reduce Stress Through Cathartic Writing

It can be cathartic to write down all your thoughts and feelings.

Sometimes and for some people it may help to just write down all your concerns, worries, stresses and anxiety.
Sometimes when it is down there it is a cathartic process of letting it all out.
It may also seem a little easier to handle if it is written down rather than swirling around in your head. All you need is a notebook and a pen and just write.Its not for anyone else , just for you so just let your thoughts and feelings flow. 


"The mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it."
Author Unknown



Yoga Laughter- Is It Good For Stress Relief And Depression?

See what this video on laughter has to say....

Laughter And Stress Reduction, Its all about lifting your mood
Is Laughter the best medicine? All too often we are expected to be serious and keep a "grown-up" perspective rather than seeing the fun side of life.

 It is a novel and very interesting idea. I am not sure i totally have my head around it , but maybe it wouldn't hurt to let go now and again into laughter, even if we do not feel like laughing at all. 
Well as long as it doesn't hurt you physically to laugh it can be fantastic for your emotional health.

Take a look at this video for 100 laughter exercises! You may need to be careful with some of the more physical ones or if you have very high blood pressure or cardio issues. You know your own body or do check with your healthcare provider before trying.

Go gently at first or skip the exercises that you feel are not for you.  I wouldn't try all of them at once. You may feel rather silly but isn't that part of it? 







If this is a step too far for you laugh at a good comedy film, some antic one of your pets is up to, share a joke with your child, or if you can, just laugh for no good reason!

If laughter is not for you just try a great big smile every day, its free and worth giving a go :) 

It is hard if you don't feel like smiling but maybe its worth a try ? 

Crying- Can It Help To Reduce Stress?

If you need to cry then have a good cry, recoup and go forward. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to have a good cry.

We often bottle up our emotions so much it can be like a pressure cooker.
Many of us will have been brought up to hide our feelings and to be "brave", "be strong",  and keep a "stiff upper lip" etc. This is not always healthy. No one wants to feel like they are wingeing but bottling up your emotions all the time is not good for you either. 
If you have pain you are going through and coping with a lot. Sometimes you feel like crying and you should...without feeling guilty.


De Stress Yourself Dick Sutphen and stress relief.

Dick Sutphen is a best selling author of New Age books. He offers hundreds of mind-programming CDs and books to improve your life.


He is a professional hypnotist who instructs medical professionals in how to use his life-changing techniques.

Banish Stress by Dick Sutphen is available for anyone to try to help reduce anxiety and stress. 


You may be interested in these related posts about managing stress.

Depression Back Pain and Stress 

Meditation, Music And Relaxation

Reduce Stress With Knowledge Of Back Pain

Massage And Reiki


Ease Back Pain and Reduce Stress With Water Therapy

Signs Of Stress With Back Pain




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.