Scoliosis and Back Pain – Symptoms and Treatments

By Sally Ann Quirke

Scoliosis can be simply defined as a curve within the spine – whenever there is a deviation in your spine to the right or left, it is called a scoliosis.

There are 2 types of Scoliosis: Congenital and Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Congenital scoliosis is when you are born with a structural deviation in the spine. Your back will twist either left or right from birth. However, it often only starts to become visible at the ages of 2-5 or sometimes as late as the early teenage years. The cause of congenital scoliosis is not clear. It is basically hereditary and causes bones (vertebrae ) within your back to sometimes fuse together and then further grow in a crooked manner.

When identified early on, congenital scoliosis can be operated on with a positive effect on the growth of your spine. This is, however, a complex procedure and serious thought should be given as this surgical intervention can influence the whole quality of your life. Always look for more than one medical opinion.

Congenital scoliosis also leads to imbalances in the muscles surrounding the spine. Any physical treatment is directed at relieving the symptoms in the majority of cases (management), unless surgical intervention has been successful with structural correction. I find that early physiotherapy post-operation is a necessity in to manage congenital scoliosis effectively.

Idiopathic scoliosis on the other hand is where you develop a twist in the spine after an injury, or a following a medical condition. Examples that I see involve clients over sixty who have osteoporosis or clients who have disc injuries in the back (a deviation happens in the spine to reduce pressure on the disc affected.)

Most idiopathic scoliosis may be corrected with physiotherapy management and other related scoliosis treatments. However, when a scoliosis is left untreated for longer than a couple of weeks a full recovery can become increasingly difficult. There are many causes of scoliosis, diagnosing the cause of scoliosis is most important in the relief of this spine condition. Make sure you get specialist medical and physiotherapy help as soon as possible.

Scoliosis and Related Back Pain.

In my own experience with scoliosis over the past 20 years – muscle and ligament pain are the most common associated back pain. On one side of the spinal twist the ligaments, muscles, joints, discs and nerves are all compressed. By comparison, the other side these structures are increasingly being over-stretched. As a result – you will probably feel pain and symptoms linked with the compressed and overstretched structures. Pain comes about from these soft tissues being overstretched and gradually damaged – resulting in inflammation and degradation with each of these structures. Each one of these can produce the symptoms of back pain you will probably experience over time.

Idiopathic scoliosis can be frequently reversed when tackled early. Mobilisation therapy and exercise and are my own treatments of choice. However, should ignore your scoliosis and its related pain for extended periods, reversing the damage can become more difficult. Eventual joint damage may develop which leads to potentially far more trouble for your back. Congenital scoliosis also demands an early intervention – surgery alongside exercise therapy is the most used treatment of choice with this condition.

In conclusion, it is important to obtain diagnosis as early on as possible. In my opinion, this early intervention will greatly reduce the occurrence of back pain in relation to scoliosis.

Sally Ann Quirke is a Chartered PhysioTherapist based in Fermoy, Cork, Ireland. She specialises in the relief of Back Pain – and also runs a website: http://www.managebackpain.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Ann_Quirke

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Scoliosis Resources

Scoliosis Information
Scoliosis – Mayo Clinic

Herniated Disc

Herniated Disc – Relief and Recovery of a Herniated Disc

By Alan P Turner

Okay you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc. Now What!? Your doctor has probably given you some options from rest to surgery. Let us look at what is involved in the repair and recovery from a herniated disc. If I used my situation as an example, it should give you a good idea of what’s involved.

Last year I was injured at work since then I have explored and experienced most of the procedures currently being used. Here is a look at two procedures that a doctor will probably recommend.

1. Rest: The first thing the doctor did was recommend rest for a couple of days. Be advised that spending several days in bed is not the best thing to do. Recent research strongly suggest that extended bed rest only prolongs the problem and weakens already stressed muscles. A couple of days is okay, but even then you need to get up every hour or so and move. A short walk around the house, some neck and shoulder rolls and gentle stretching is a good practice to follow.

2. Physical Therapy: Next it was off to a physical therapist for some expert help with proper exercise and movement techniques. I do feel the PT was worth the time and expense (I was covered by workman’s comp) I “enjoyed” the attention and was satisfied with my therapist. However It did not fully repaired and recovery from my disc.

Now these procedures are non-invasive meaning that they do not enter the body through injection or surgery and are basically risk free. Do they repair and speed recovery of your disc problem? Maybe, for some this is all that is needed. For me I had to undergo more invasive procedures which I will share with you in another article.

The key to repairing and recovery is finding a life long program of exercise that will prevent back problems in the first place and repair your back if you are injured. But how do you prevent, repair, recover and cure a herniated disc? How do you lose the pain and get on with your life? Well the answer is to find a system that strengthens the back and abdominal muscles correcting muscle imbalance.

One of the top rated programs is This program developed by The Healthy Back Institute has helped thousands to lose their back pain for good. Back Pain This The Lose The Back Pain System custom designs a program of specific movements and exercises tailored to your exact needs.

Living pain free and recovering from your back pain is possible. Your journey starts with taking the first step. Take that step now and start living Pain Free Today! I hope this article was healthful and aids you in living a healthy and active life. For more FREE INFO, TIPS, VIDEOS, Etc. Wellness Secrets

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_P_Turner

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Herniated Disc Resources

Herniated Disc – Mayo Clinic
Herniated Disc Overview

Spinal Fusion

Five Secrets to Perfect Recovery From Spinal Fusion Surgery

By Mike A Reynolds

You are going through intense and debilitating back pain, and now your doctor has told you that Spinal Fusion Surgery is your best hope of recovery. Apart from the pain there is now intense anxiety about having major surgery. This worry is so bad that sometimes you can’t eat or sleep properly. Does this sound like you? Well you are not alone and hopefully this article will help you recover well and gain the life without pain that you desire.

The first tip may seem obvious but it can be forgotten. Listen your doctor, and most importantly follow his/her advice. He/she will more than likely give you pain management, recommend a course of physiotherapy and give you a list of do’s and don’ts. We quite often listen to our doctors, but don’t always put their advice into action. Follow the advice straight away, and stick to it. Occasionally there are complications with Spinal Fusion Surgery, but if you communicate problems to your doctor quickly then there is little reason why your recovery shouldn’t go well. During your recovery your pain should gradually decrease, but if it doesn’t, discuss with your doctor the best course.

Apart from what the doctor orders there are a number of things that you can do to naturally help the recover process. The key secret to aiding your own recovery is to think positive. This can also be called ‘mind over matter’. Thinking that you will never recover will make the process will take a lot longer. Don’t expect your pain to vanish overnight however. Disappointment can also lead to a negative state of mind. Be positive and realistic. Think about ways that you can mentally aid your recovery and try to apply them.

During your recovery you may find that a plate is literally the only thing that you can pick up so before you undergo your surgery it’s a good idea to prepare for your recovery. Get your freezer stocked up with ready cooked meals and as many groceries as you can, arrange your house so that you can get in and out of bed easily and arrange a comfortable chair. If anything needs to be arranged do it before the surgery if you can.

After Spinal Fusion Surgery doctors usually arrange a course of physical therapy with a qualified therapist. He/she will be able to help you with an exercise routine that will regain the strength in your back whilst staying within your physical limits. It’s important to start this as soon as you can. Your muscles need to regain their strength.

Proper rest is also an important factor in your recovery. But it’s also a good idea to get up during the day and wear yourself out a little so you sleep at night. It’s also important to keep the mind active, maybe take up that hobby that you’ve been meaning to for ages. You will be staying at home so make sure that the day and night are separated.

Spinal Fusion Surgery may seem like a scary prospect, but if you follow these simple but powerful secrets there is no reason why you should not have a problem free recovery, and before you know it you’ll be waking up, energised and active without the dark spectre of back pain blighting your life.

Mike Reynolds has put together a comprehensive and complimentary report on Spinal Fusion Surgery that will help dispel any fear and anxiety you may have about this procedure. To download it instantly visit http://www.stressfreebacksurgery.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_A_Reynolds

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Spinal Fusion Resources

Spinal Fusion
What You Should Know About Spinal Fusion

Spinal Surgery

A Primer of Spinal Orthopedic Procedures

Both orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons are trained to do spinal surgery, and many doctors from both disciplines specialize in spinal surgery. The only difference between what they can do is that only neurosurgeons are trained to do procedures that involve the spinal cord, and only orthopedic surgeons are trained to do procedures to correct deformities like scoliosis.

Spinal orthopedic procedures may involve the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (mid and upper back) or lumbar spine (low back). Different techniques are needed in each area, but the spinal orthopedic procedures themselves are very similar.

CLICK HERE For Very Important Spinal Surgery Information

Some spinal orthopedic procedures involve open surgery, where the surgeon cuts through the muscles along the spinal cord and does surgery on the spine. The surgeon is usually able to approach the spine through your back (posterior spinal orthopedic procedures), but sometimes he must go through your body from the front (anterior spinal orthopedic procedures) to get at the injured area.

Some spinal orthopedic procedures can be done with minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. Endoscopic surgery causes less trauma to surrounding tissues and gives the surgeon better visualization of the damage.

To understand the different types of spinal orthopedic procedures, we need to understand a little terminology. The corpus or body of a vertebra is large, round bony part that gives the spine its stability. Between each pair of vertebrae is a disc, a gel-filled cushion that keeps the discs apart so that the spine can move freely and to provide space for the nerve roots to leave the spinal cord. The facets are the joints between vertebrae. The laminae are part of the bone that surrounds the spinal canal and protects the spinal cord.

· Corpectomy usually involves the cervical spine. The surgeon goes through the neck from the front and removes the body of one or more vertebra to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
· Laminectomy involves removing part of the lamina to relieve pressure on a nerve root. The vertebrae may or may not be fused.
· Discectomy is the removal of an intervertebral disc that is bulging out and putting pressure on a nerve root. The spine may be fused to keep the vertebrae apart, or an artificial disc can be inserted.
· Vertebroplasty means that the surgeon repairs the vertebra. This is often done as a minimally invasive surgery.
· Facetectomy is the removal of the facet joint to relieve pressure on a nerve root. Artificial facet joints may be available in the near future, similar to artificial knee or hip joints.

Your surgeon will tell you which spinal orthopedic procedure you need and explain exactly what he will do. This primer only explains the basics; your surgeon will give you information that is specific to you and the spinal orthopedic procedure you need.

About the Author: David Betz is a consultant doing work for Laser Spine Surgery http://www.laserspineinstitute.com and Houston Web Site Design http://www.novatexsolutions.com.

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Spinal Surgery Resources

Laser Spine Orthopedic Surgery
Neurological And Spinal Surgery

Spinal Decompression

Spinal Decompression – Effective Treatment of Neck and Back Pain

Spinal decompression is a drug-free treatment available for treating a wide array of back disorders. If you are tired of surgical processes, this technique can provide you with complete relief. The treatment requires no complicated or risky surgical process and is totally safe. The method was developed from years of research and is ideal for long term relief from pain.

Until recently, patients with back pain were usually given drugs with possible side-effects, referred to physical therapists, or sent for surgery. The structure of our back is comprised of spinal bones (vertebrae), their joints, discs between vertebras, and the muscles and ligaments which bind all the parts together. The discs which act as a cushion between the vertebrae can get damaged and the gelatinous material inside can leak, leading to herniated disc which is the cause of pain. These types of back pains can be treated with modern decompression techniques including Decompression Therapy System (DTS), VAX-D, ABS systems, DRX-3000, DRX9000, and the Accu-Spina System.

Spinal compression is the common cause for neck and back pain. Spinal decompression causes the expansion of disc herniations, which are the cause for the pressure exerted on nearby spinal nerve roots. Decompression technique works by taking away pressure from damaged discs so that the bulging will shrink back to its original size and thus protect the surrounding discs from getting damaged. The treatment has also proved to be successful in treating spinal stenosis, sciatica, pinched nerve, facet syndrome, low back disc bulge, golf related pain, and degenerative disc disease.

The spinal decompression treatment normally takes about 6-8 weeks. It can be followed by neuromuscular, cardiovascular and diet therapy for even greater results. All treatment methods are affordable and are designed to alleviate all types of back pain. The treatment procedure is effective and results can be seen within the initial weeks of the treatment.

About the Author: 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 through a comprehensive package including heat, soft tissue massage, ice, myofascial release, electrical therapy, stretches and exercises.

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Spinal Decompression Resources

Spinal Decompression
Spinal Decompression Information

Sciatica

Sciatic Stretches – Treating Sciatica Through Natural Means

Low back pain and sciatica can cause great distress to people, at times making them unable to carry on routine day to day activities. Treatment methods can vary depending on what exactly is causing the low back pain or sciatica and how severe the symptoms are. Medications can help in immediate relief to patients, especially for those suffering from acute pain. However the course of treatment and also in cases where symptoms are not so severe, exercise and sciatic stretches can help in sciatic relief.

The cause for sciatic pain should be identified. Often it could be caused by some irritation nerve points leading up to the sciatic nerve, pelvi instability could cause sciatic pain so could some kind of tightening in the Piriformis muscle. Whatever the cause, sciatic stretches have been recommended and found to be helpful to address the sciatic pain. Obviously, the stretches have to address these three areas – the Piriformis muscle, lower back and pelvis – as they have to target those muscles that cause pain.

First, let us turn our attention to the lower back muscles and joints. The sciatic nerve starts in this area and it is important that these areas be corrected first. The best way of tackling problems in the lower back areas would be to combine both lower back stretched and lower back exercises with some joint mobility workouts.

Next, we turn to what relief from pelvis instability. Obviously, the pelvis now needs to be balanced which is achieved with the help of exercises that not only relax the tightened muscles that cause pain but also strengthen the supporting muscles.

Finally, these exercises will aid in the realignment of the pelvis. Relief from pain caused by tightening in the Piriformis muscle can be achieved by stretches that include flexing the lower spine as also stretching the muscles at the back near the spine and consequently, stretching the Piriformis muscle.

One simple exercise to stretch the piriformis and get some relief from the pain can be mentioned here. Lie flat on your back on the floor. Now hold your right knee and pull it towards your left shoulder. You have to pull the knee and the foot across your body. Hold still for about 30 seconds. Repeat the same with the left knee. In addition to these exercises, hamstring stretches are also recommended for relief from sciatica pain. This is because any tightness in the hamstring can put more stress on the lower back and generally leads to a worsening of the situation.

Care should however be taken to see that hamstring stretches are done smoothly, that there is no bouncing and muscle spasms are avoided. Further, Yoga stretches are also found to be fairly effective in sciatica pain relief when it is caused by problems with Piriformis muscle. Again, certain yoga stretches do not help sciatica pain relief and in fact can cause more irritation.

It has been found that stretches for sciatica pain relief help a great deal in preventing future pain. However, always keep in mind that sciatica stretches must be done regularly and correctly to be effective.

For more info on sciatica treatment head to: http://www.sciaticatreatment.org today!

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Sciatica Resources

What You Need To Know About Sciatica
Sciatica – Mayo Clinic

Memory Foam

Understanding the Need for Memory Foam Bedding and Memory Foam Pillows

By Vikram kuamr

It’s a fact that all people need to have enough sleep to be restored and revitalized for the next day’s activities. Yet it is also a fact that there are people who are unable to get enough sleep. Worse, there are people who are finding it hard to sleep at all. One way to have complete and restoring sleep is to lie on a comfortable bed. Indeed, certain types of bedding can help improve one’s sleep. People suffering from insomnia, back pain, muscle pain, restlessness, and numbness should use the right bedding to at least get a little of the sleep they need.

Generally, difficulty to get some sleep is caused by a physical or emotional condition. A person who has a sleeping disorder naturally have to seek medical advice. However, they should also use things that will minimize the disorder. One of the things that can help them improve sleep is the bedding, and they would feel better if they use the so-called memory foam bedding.

A memory foam bedding is a unique kind of bedding. It is made up of high-density materials with single separate cells. It helps relax muscle and body parts of users. Users can lie on his back, sides, or stomach and still feel comfortable in any way. The material for the memory foam bedding also eases pressure points. When it comes to the pillow, the memory foam pillow evens the head with that of the body thus eliminating muscle pains and back pains. It adjusts to the structure and position of users, eliminating pain and improving sleep.

Aside from the fact that the memory foam bedding and the memory foam pillows reduces muscle pains and improve sleep, they also last long than ordinary beddings. They adjust to different temperatures of the environment. Under warm temperature, the bedding or pillow becomes more elastic. In a cooler environment, the foam becomes a little harder. In other words, it does not get easily destroyed by warm or cool temperature because it regulates naturally. At the end, users can enjoy a long-lasting comfort with memory foam bedding and memory foam pillows.

Availability of Memory Foam Bedding

Although the memory foam bedding is unique, it is not hard to find. You just have to know where to look. First stop, you can utilize the Internet. Among many websites that offers the said bedding, there is one that can be considered as one-stop-shop for all your bedding needs. And it definitely sells memory foam. This site is called Home Textile.

Home Textile offers wide range of textile products for the home. Here, you will definitely find memory foam bedding. They are available in different sizes ranging from single beds to super king size beds. You can even buy other bedding needs such as children’s bedding, luxury bed linen, duvets, sleeping bags, waterproof bedding and FR bedding.

Buying from Home Textile is easy. You just have to connect to the Internet and browse through the wide selection of memory foam bedding and memory foam pillow. You can check on the site’s purchase policy and FAQ for more details of how to purchase. You may also contact them directly for more inquiries. Once you are settled with their policy and the items to buy, you can start putting your purchases to your virtual shopping cart. It will go all the way to paying and having your items delivered right at your doorstep.

Home Textile provides memory foam bedding and memory foam pillows . They also offer other products for all your bedroom needs.

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Memory Foam Resources

Memory Foam
Memory Foam Mattresses

Spinal Stenosis

Thoracic Spinal Stenosis Symptoms and Treatments

Thoracic spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal cord or spinal nerves are compressed by narrowing of the spinal canal or the openings between vertebrae. The thoracic spine has some unique characteristics that make thoracic spinal stenosis a little different than stenosis in other areas. Thoracic spinal stenosis rarely occurs in isolation, but is almost always accompanied by stenosis in the lumbar area, and sometimes also the cervical spine.

There are 12 thoracic vertebra and they articulate with the 12 sets of ribs that protect our major organs. The thoracic spine curves outward, and the curve is gentler than the cervical or lumbar curves. Because of the ribs, the thoracic spine is more fixed than the cervical or lumbar areas, too. Most of the motion of the thoracic spine is rotation, with little flexion or extension.

The spinal canal is naturally narrower in the thoracic area, even though the size of the spinal cord remains the same. That means there is less extra space, so it takes less obstruction to cause problems.

Symptoms
Like cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis, thoracic spinal stenosis can be congenital or acquired. There is a great deal of difference, however, in how it is manifested.

Most thoracic spinal stenosis is due to degenerative changes—arthritis in the joints, bone spurs, disc degeneration and other changes due to aging. As the degeneration progresses, you may experience pain in your back and legs, either aching in your legs when you walk that gets better when you rest, or pain that radiates down your back or legs. You may develop problems with walking or loss of bowel or bladder function.

Because the thoracic spinal canal is already naturally narrow, people with congenital spinal stenosis cannot tolerate any extra pressure on the spinal cord. They tend to develop symptoms of cord compression (loss of sensation or movement below the injury) rapidly after minor injury.

Treatment
Degenerative thoracic spinal stenosis may get better with conservative treatment, which includes anti-inflammatory medications, pain management and physical therapy. Steroid injections or nerve blocks may help manage the pain.

If the pain is uncontrolled or if there are signs of cord compression, however, surgery is necessary to relieve pressure on the cord or spinal nerves. Traditional surgical options are laminectomy or corpectomy to provide more room in the spinal canal and spinal fusion to stabilize the spine and prevent damage to the cord.

Minimally invasive surgery may be an option for some cases of thoracic stenosis. Surgery is done through an endoscope using a microscope to directly visualize the spine. Microsurgical techniques allow the surgeon to perform precise, delicate maneuvers to remove the nerve pressure and repair structures.

About the Author: David Betz is a consultant doing work for Laser Spine Surgery http://www.laserspineinstitute.com and Houston Web Site Design http://www.novatexsolutions.com

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Spinal Stenosis Resources

Spinal Stenosis
Spinal Stenosis – Mayo Clinic

Back Surgery

When Do You Need Back Surgery?

Most of us are familiar with back pain of some kind. You bend over to pick something up or twist the wrong way, and the pain hits you like a baseball bat. Even though it hurts a lot, however, you usually get better in a few days by resting, using a heating pad or ice packs and taking anti-inflammatory medications.

Sometimes your back pain doesn’t go away, though. It may have been getting worse for a long time, and you’re tired of suffering with it. You’ve probably tried a lot of things besides home treatment, like prescription medications, steroid injections and physical therapy, and you’re still not getting relief.

Physicians are reluctant to suggest back surgery unless it’s really necessary and nothing else helps. Any kind of surgery has risks associated with it; some risks associated with back surgery are:
· General surgical risks, such as reaction to anesthesia, bleeding, infection, lung problems and blood clots.
· Problems with the surgery itself, like poor healing of bone grafts.
· Problems due to spinal nerve damage, like weakness and paralysis, urinary or fecal incontinence and sexual dysfunction.
· Poor surgical results. Back surgery doesn’t always relieve the pain, and some people even get “failed back surgery syndrome” with persistent pain.
· Problems due to scar tissue formation. As time goes by, scar tissue shrinks, and it can cause pressure on the spinal nerves and your back pain can come back.

There are some newer “minimally invasive” procedures using endoscopes. The surgeon inserts a small endoscope through a tiny incision. Using a microscopic camera, she can directly visualize the damage and repair it through the endoscope. Instead of cutting the muscles, she pushes them aside, which means there is less scarring after surgery. This is an exciting development because endoscopic surgery can be as effective as open back surgery, there are fewer complications, you’re in the hospital for a shorter time, and you recover faster.

With all of that said, however, there are times when you really do need back surgery. Your doctor may recommend it if:
· You’ve had back pain for six months or longer that is not getting better with other treatments.
· You have weakness in your arms or legs, trouble grasping things or numbness/tingling in your legs and feet.
· You have lost bladder or bowel control
· You have spinal instability.
· You have spinal deformity.

When you can’t manage the pain or when you’re having functional problems because the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves are being impaired—that’s when you need back surgery.

About the Author: David Betz is a consultant doing work for Laser Spine Surgery http://www.laserspineinstitute.com and Houston Web Site Design http://www.novatexsolutions.com

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Back Surgery Resources

Back Surgery
Back Treatment