I have a herniated disc between my L5 and S1 vertebrae, and sciatica…my Dr. wants to give me a series of epidural injections for pain relief. Anyone know if this works, or have any experience with it?
I’m looking for alternatives to surgery…it looks like epidurals, or a lifetime supply of Lortabs…none of it is fun in my book…
I never had back pian, except for during "that time of the month", I’m not a small girl, I’m 5’11 and weigh almost 200 pounds, my BF and I went swimming, and decided it would be fun to do some cannonball dives into the pool…sounds fun right, The pool was only 5 feet deep, and I had a running start, jumped, and smacked my butt on the bottom of the pool hard!!!
I was in extreme pain at the time of impact, then it faded, but came back with a vengance the very next day…I went to urgent care, the did an x-ray, found nothing, and tried to tell me it was just a muscle spasm…the pain grew & continues to grow more severe on a daily basis, I kept going to Drs, the kept telling me there was nothing really wrong with me & sent to me tio physical therapy…that did not work…One day, at work, I nearly collapsed because the pain got so bad…I went to the ER, and they gave me a pelvic exam! (DUH). Nothing wrong there!!! It took a year for me to save up for an MRI, and voila! There it was!
I manage a women’s clothing store, and my work is very physically demanding, wich has only made the injury worse!!! I am in constant pain & I’m getting soooo sick of having to take pain meds, when half the time, they don’t help anyway….

With a variety of treatments available now for low back pain relief, most people prefer non-surgical treatment methods. Non-surgical treatment, usually referred to as the ?conservative treatment,? includes heat, physical therapy, hydrotherapy, electrical nerve stimulation, spinal bracing, chiropractic care, epidural steroid injection, tissue mobilization and therapeutic spinal traction.

Low back pain is usually caused by degenerative disc, excessive stress to the back, arthritis of the spine, minimal movement, malpositioning of vertebrae and by problems in ligaments and tendons in and around the spine, spinal cord infection, Piriformis syndrome and other spinal conditions. Low back pain symptoms vary in different people depending on whether the pain is acute or chronic. X-rays and MRI scans are used for determining the source of low back pain.

Low back pain can be successfully treated either with non-surgical treatment methods, conservative care, or surgery. With limited success in eliminating disc problems completely, back surgery is opted only when the non-surgical methods become ineffective. Patients suffering from low back pain can achieve equally beneficial success as those obtained from surgery with non-surgical treatment methods.

Physical therapy is one of the most popular non-surgical treatment methods for low back pain. The non-surgical treatment methods are very effective even for chronic low back pain. The conservative methods make use of manually or mechanically created forces to stretch spinal muscles to alleviate back pain. With the advancement of technology, a new treatment technique called non-surgical spinal decompression (NSSD) has emerged. It has proven to be one of the most effective methods in low back pain treatment and is widely used all over the world. Drugs such as Opioids and Narcotics are used to treat acute back pain. For chronic low back pains, NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are used.

With the latest advancements in the medical field, low back pain relief is possible for most patients. Mild symptoms of back pain should not be ignored and the right treatment should be taken.

By: Igor Stiler

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Igor Stiler is a medical consultant at HealthQuest, a state of the art multi-specialty office in Brooklyn, NY. By combining neurology, chiropractic care, physical therapy and rehabilitation, HealthQuest provides the highest quality care and services available. We have licensed physicians and technologists who are well experienced in offering spinal decompression services.

About 80 per cent of the world’s residents suffer from lower back pain at one time or another. And unlike popular belief an athletic lifestyle offers no warranty against the problem. Improper weight training or sporting activities technically actually increases the load on one’s back and may cause pain. In fact, lower back pain is a common ailment among weight lifters, runners, cyclists, and other athletes. And until now no one has been exactly sure what sports-minded people should do to alleviate – or prevent – the complaint.

Take Paul Hart for example. He?s been suffering with low back pain every day of his life since he injured his lower back during a soccer game when he was14 years old. A growth spurt led to muscle tendon imbalances with tight hamstring muscles, tight low back muscles, and weak abdominal muscles.

Paul?s now 42 and it still feels like someone keeps stabbing him with a knife. He feels it all over and around his spine. The pain even radiates to his legs. Sitting or standing for long periods of time makes his back hurt more. And this pain intensifies as his day goes on.

In order to feel some pain relief, he has visited everyone from physiotherapists to chiropractors. Yet, there was still no pain relief in sight. Here?s why?

Why Your Doctor?s Traditional Treatment Options May Not be the Best Treatment for Your Herniated Discs & Low Back Pain

When it comes to treating herniated discs, 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.

The major problem with these traditional treatments is that they only address the symptoms of a herniated disc. They do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have invasive surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the root cause that caused the disc to become herniated in the first place is still there.

Why?

Because, our bodies adapt and change to our environment. This adaptation over time will cause muscle imbalances. Those imbalances will cause postural dysfunctions. If the dysfunctions are not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs. Sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.

Reduce Sports Injury Induced Low Back Pain and Herniated Discs by Identifying the Underlying Causes of Your Problem.

To reduce sports injury related low back pain and herniated discs you must identify the underlying cause of your problem. Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists don?t spend time or focus on identifying the hidden causes or physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition. So most injured athletes jump from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer with continuous herniated disc flare-ups for months or years unnecessarily.

3 Steps to Reducing Back Pain Fast So You Can Start Playing Sports Again:

1. Understanding muscle imbalances: The solution to a pain-free back during and after pregnancy is based on a better understanding of muscle imbalances and how your body works. You must understand what muscle imbalances are, how they are created and how they cause low back pain.

2. Know your habits, patterns, postures and positions: You must identify your muscle imbalances and understand how they are causing you pain. Assess how you sit, stand, walk lift, bend or otherwise put your body through hell every day.

3. Get the RIGHT Help: Find a qualified Manual Physical Therapist who is trained to assess postural dysfunction. Demand that they create both a short term and a long-term plan of recovery for you filled with the right combination of corrective exercises, stretches and treatments

Understanding back pain and taking action are two totally different animals. But, if you want to reduce back pain and start playing sports again, then you must educate your self and take action everyday. It is never too late to start a program of recovery on your own or with help from an expert.

By: Dr. Robert Duvall, DPT, ATC

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Dr. Robert Duvall has helped thousands of athletes suffering from back pain using this approach in his clinic and around the country. For more information on herniated discs and how you can reduce your back pain virtually overnight so you can live an active lifestyle once again,, get your FREE COPY of the latest Back Pain Advisory from The Healthy Back Institute at: www.losethebackpain.com/herniateddisc.html

What are trigger points and why are they causing my back pain? That’s the question I asked my physical therapist. I had been hearing a lot about trigger points and the role they play in pain management and I wanted to get my therapists opinion as to what there were, what’s the causing this trigger points to “fire up” and what can be done to treat them. Here’s what I found out.

1. Doctors have identified certain focal points located in tight bands of skeletal muscle as playing a role in pain management. When these points are pressed these pints will produce pain.

2. Often found in the muscles of the neck, shoulders and pelvic girdle, muscles used to . maintain body posture. This trigger points can manifest themselves as headaches, tinnitus, jaw pain and lower back pain.

As my therapists explained acute trauma such as whip lash, incorrect lifting or even a sneeze can cause these points to fire up causing pain and decreased range of motion.

Ultrasonography, manipulative therapy and injection, are used to inactivate trigger points. Injections have been shown to be the most effective in reducing pain.

However all these treatments only address the symptoms and not the true cause. Something is causing this trigger points to fire up, many times it is a back dysfunction caused by muscle imbalance. This can be treated with a program of specific exercises designed for your unique condition.

One of the top rated programs is called the Lose The Back Pain System developed by therapists and doctors of the Healthy back Institute. This program has helped thousands by strengthening muscles and eliminating muscles imbalance.

As someone who has suffered with a bad back and who has endured months of physical therapy and an operation, I can tell you there are solutions for your discomfort.

The Buck Stops Here! You deserve relief from your aching back! You deserve to live pain free. There are alternatives to suffering and the risks of surgery. As someone who has lived with debilitating back pain, I believe you owe it to yourself to know all the facts. For more FREE information, reports and videos take the first step to back pain relief and Click Here

Coach Pete Turner is a life and success coach who combines sixty-three years of living with solid methods, techniques, coaching tools and tips helping his clients ride from the ordinary to the extraordinary.