Sunday, September 12, 2010

Rheumatoid arthritis and Back Pain

Rheumatoid arthritis causes back pain to occur. The disease is a systemic disease that causes inflammation, which targets the synovial joint liners. This is where back pain starts. Rheumatoid arthritis may link to genetic transmissions or autoimmune illnesses according to etiology aspects. Physically speaking Rheumatoid arthritis inflames the synovial membranes, which often affects the pannus. This action causes destruction in the ligaments, bones, and the cartilages. Once the pannus is hit, fibrotic tissues start to replace the pannus. Calcification also replaces the pannus, which results in joint subluxation conditions. Calcification is abnormal hardening, which causes swelling and joint stiffness.

Symptoms;

Once potential Rheumatoid arthritis is detected the doctor considers the symptoms before moving to diagnostics. The patient may experience anorexia (Eating disorder), malaise, fatigue, limited range of motion (ROM), subcutaneous nodules, pain and swollen joints, and rises in body temperature. The joints may also demonstrate mirrored images, which is noted when the symmetrical joints swell. Stiffness in the waking hours often occurs as well, which is followed by “paresthesia of the” feet and hands. Patients also demonstrate signs of crepitus, inflamed lymph nodes, pericarditis, leukopenia, and splenomegaly.

Pericarditis causes swelling. As you can see with so much swelling, the pain will spread out reaching the back. Rheumatoid arthritis itself causes stiffness of the muscles and joints, which creates immeasurable pain. Most times the problem occurs from injury and/or infections.

How doctors discover Rheumatoid arthritis?

Doctors conduct tests, including x-rays, latex fixation, gamma globulin, synovial fluid analysis, and hematology tests. If the tests show positive results, such as spacing between narrow joints, erosion of bones, platelet, WBC, ESR increases, IgM and IgG increases, decrease of opaque and viscosity, and rheumatoid, thus a diagnostic is set.

Once the diagnostics are concluded management, interventions, stress reduction, etc are incorporated to treat the patient.

Management often leads to heat/cold therapy, gold therapy, etc. Gold therapy is used to intervene with infections reaching the inner central of the muscle layers, thus averting them from reaching the wall of the heart. The joints are often extended when and kept in form. Skin care, emotional care, etc are also prescribed.

How to reduce pain:

You will find helpful information at the Foundation of Arthritis. In the meantime, doctors often prescribe stress-reduction strategies. As well, the patient is advised to avoid stress, infections, colds, and remedies that have no concrete discoveries that help Rheumatoid arthritis.

Environmental stress should also be reduced to slow swelling, redness, and pain. Doctors prescribed range of motion exercises, warm compressors, heat therapy, etc to treat Rheumatoid arthritis. Try a few stretch exercises and stay clear of people who elevate your emotions.

It is important when you are diagnosed with any disorder, including Rheumatoid arthritis that you seek emotional and mental support. Express your feelings, otherwise suppression will only increase your symptoms, as well as pain. In addition, you want to learn to live in a calm environment, as well as provide comprehensive care for your feet and skin. Make it a daily habit. If the condition worsens, you may have to endure surgical procedures, such as synovectomy and/or joint replacement.

Unfortunately, Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. The disease carpal tunnel syndrome starts in the hands, yet the pain will spread.

In addition to Rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis can cause back pain. Any form of arthritis limits movement, which causes damage to the joints, cartilages, connective tissues, muscles, bones, etc. Anytime these skeletal and linking elements in the body are interrupted back pain follows. To understand how arthritic symptoms cause back pain, learn more about gouty arthritis.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Sports Injuries Prevention and Back Pain

Learning proper stretch exercises:

In sports people learn techniques, and will train to enjoy the sports. The problem is most trainers fail to train the peers correctly. Injuries occur when inappropriate training and techniques are used. In addition, many people engage in sports failing to wear proper clothing, helmets, etc, and sometimes people will participate in sports when weather or visibility is poor.

When weather is cold, it is important that you wear warm attire. Wearing proper attire can help you avoid respiratory conditions, which affect the liver, lungs, etc, and can lead to back pain. In addition, those joining in exercises or sports should wear proper shoes to avoid slips and falls. Helmets are essential to prevent brain injuries. Brain injuries will affect the spinal columns, which leads to back pain.

When weather conditions interrupt visibility, it poses risks. In fact, various people have sustained back injuries while jogging at night, since these people failed to wear proper attire, such as reflective tabs, etc. Motorized accidents can occur when the driver cannot see the runner, jogger, etc. This means the vehicle hits you and if you are not lucky enough to die, you should pray that you are lucky enough to miss back pain. Back pain is one of the worst types of pain you will ever endure. Since many people are misinformed as to how to stretch the muscles before exercising, we can consider a few helpful steps.

As mentioned earlier it is important to perform proper exercises before joining in sports. Proper exercises start with warm ups. Warm ups include neck, shoulder, arm, and leg stretches.

How to perform neck stretch exercises:

To start neck stretch exercises you want to stand erect. Lift the head so that it extends upward. Now, move your head so that it bends slightly forward. Continue to change directions, bending until your chin rests slightly on your torso. Balance the head, turning it to the left or right and hold your position. After a few seconds turn your head so that it rolls to the other side of your body. Hold the jaw down, hold, and continue stretching the neck up to five counts.

How to perform shoulder stretches:

Again, stand erect. Lift your arms so that it extends above the head. Clasp the hands, joining them and pulling the hands downward and behind your head. Hold and repeat the steps five counts. Next, with your arms behind your back, reach down and hold your hands at a pointing position. That is, bring your fingers together at the points while one arm is over the shoulder and the other arm is behind the back. Pull in opposing directions once in position. If the arms are bent, extend the right arm, bending it back and over the right shoulder and the head. With your free hand, grab your elbow and hold. Pull the elbow gently toward the free shoulder, and repeat the steps on the left side.

You can practice the windmill, shoulder shrug, triceps stretches, arm circles and more to warm up before breaking into a full-speed workout.

How to perform the windmill:

The windmill is one of the oldest stretches in the history of workouts, yet the stretch is often missing in action, since many people do the windmill incorrectly. To start, stand erect. Your arms should be down at your side. Once in position, swing upward, the right arm and bring it to the front, up, and around behind your back so that it forms a circle. Repeat your steps up to five counts and continue to the other side.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

How to Manage Slip Disks in Back Pain

Slip disks is a problem that causes back pain, yet it is one of the many variants as to why back pain starts. Once doctors decide is a disk is slipped they often assign management schemes to the patient. It is important that the patient follow the instructions, otherwise the pain could get worse. Your doctor will provide you systematic instructions if you are diagnosed with back pain, such as slip disks.

How to manage:

Doctors often order back and skin care, such as massage therapy and so on. You can purchase back mats with massagers cheap, as well as sauna foot tubs. Doctors also recommend bed rest, as well as alignment of the entire body. You can learn stretch exercises, which work amazingly to relieve pain. If the disks are causing dramatic pain, doctors may include logrolling strategies ever couple of hours. If you continue treatment in office, doctors will monitor your records and order laboratory tests, such as I/O, VS, and UO. TENS is “transcutaneous electrical nerve” stimulations, which is often ordered as well.

Patients with back pain often set up with diets, orthopedic treatments, meds, and so on. Antacids are recommended for many patients, which include Aluminum hydroxide gels (Gelusil) and Maalox, which are magnesium and/or aluminum based.

Once you are diagnosed with slip disk or herniated nucleus pulposa you will need to continue treatment, including medical administration and nursing interventions. The strategies are set up under doctor’s orders, which vary from patient to patient.

Often doctors will prescribe NAID, which include painkillers such as Indomethacin, Dolobid, Motrin, Clinoril, Ibuprofen, Ansaid, Feldene, etc. Flexeril and valiums are prescribed to relax the muscles.

Doctors will use chemonucleolysis combined with chymopapain treatment as well, or discase. Chemonucleolysis is the process of breaking down “disk pulp” by using enzymes, which are injected into the “pulpy material” of a certain “intervertebral disk.” The purpose is to liquefy and decrease pressure on neighboring “nerve roots” in slip disks. Chymopapain is obviously enzymes from papaya, which is found in juices. The mission is to breakdown proteins. The treatment works alongside common management schemes, such as bed rest, hot pads, stretch exercises, moisture, and hot compressors.

Various other treatments and management schemes are set up otherwise potential complications could arise. The complications include urine retention, infections of the upper respiratory, urinary tract infections, muscle degeneration or atrophy, chronic back pain, thrombophlebitis, progressive paralysis, and so on.

Thrombophlebitis is inflammation of the veins, which formulate blood clots. If complications arise, doctors may consider surgical procedures to intervene. The interventions may include microdiskectomy, spinal fusion, percutaneous lateral diskectomy, laminectomy, etc.

Laminectomy is the process of surgically excision the vertebral posterior arch. The patient is administered fluids through I.V. as well as related treatment such as ROM exercises, which are done prior to and after back surgery. Isometric exercises are commonly ordered when back pain is present. Spinal fusions are described as stabilizations of the “spinous” progressions along with the “bone chips” of the ilium and its surroundings, or iliac crest. Harrington rods of metallic implants are potentials as well and describe spinal fusions.

In addition to slip disks, back pain may arise from fractures, which may emerge from trauma, aging, osteoporosis, steroid therapy, multiple myeloma, osteomyelitis, bone tumors, Cushing syndrome, immobility, malnutrition, and so on. Fractures are defined in many ways, which include compression, avulsion, simple, etc.

One thing for sure, when it comes to back pain one must take measures to prevent further complications, since back pain is one of the worst possible pains one can endure.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Synovial Joints and Back Pain

The synovial joints are made up of capsule ligaments, tendon sheath that is the liner of synovium, tendons, cartilages, and synovium. Fluids pass through these joints. The synovial joints connect with the bones, which structured scaffolds of the body joins with additional bones. The joints produce fluids, which lubricates them. The fluids contain itself within the capsules, which promote movement. Movement is limited by bone structures. Flexible sectors can also limit movement, as well as connective tissues and inelastic mechanisms.

When the synovial joints are interrupted, it affects the ligaments. The ligaments will limit movement of abnormal joints. Ligaments induce movement amid “two bones” that make it easy for a collection of muscles to contract, expand, and stimulate the nerves. The nerves expand to CNS. (Central Nervous System)

Bones attach to the muscles via tendons. Tendons are thin and stronger than the muscles, which the tendons permit the muscles to converge by pulling it through small openings. Bursa acts a servant to the joints and muscles, since it precludes friction from traveling amid the “two” progressing exteriors. Bursa is a sac filled with fluids, which if bursa rubs against another joint it causes inflammation. Bursitis can set in if rubbing causes inflammation and the sac fills with fluid. Bursitis usually targets the elbows and shoulder, yet the pain extends to the back. When the bursa fails, it can cause swelling, pain, fevers, and numbness, stiffness of the joints, fatigue, and limited mobility.

The human skeleton is made up of “206” bones. Inside the skeleton system is the cranium, jaw, collar bone (Clavicle), shoulder blade (Scapula), sternum, (breast bone) ribs, humerus, spine, radius, ulna, pelvis, carpals, (wrist bones) metacarpals, (palm bones) phalanges, finger bones, femur (Thigh bones), patella (knee cap), tibia (Shin bone), fibula, tarsals (ankle bone), metatarsals (Foot bone), and phalanges. (Toe bones)

When the skeleton structure is interrupted, it can cause back pain. Most cases of back pain are treated with bed rest, foot elevation, ice packs, compression, and so on. Many diseases can cause back pain, which the cause is found in disruptive blood vessels, soft tissues, etc. The problem can lead to excessive bleeding, which slows the healing process.

R.I.C.E

R.I.C.E is a rule of structure one should keep in mind when treating back pain at home. If you have tension in the muscles, you can use this structure to reduce back pain. Rest is essential if you have tension in the muscles. Rest includes putting your feet up and relaxing the spinal column. Ice packs are used to relieve pain as well. You can wrap ice in a damp, soft cloth and apply it to the area. Keep the pack on the area up to fifteen minutes. You can place an ice pack on the injured region every hour. If you have injured your knee, then elevate the leg before applying your ice pack.

Rest and Ice packs starts R.I.C.E, which continues to compression. Compression reduces looseness of the muscles.

In addition, if blood escapes into injured blood vessels, you can compress the area to apply pressure. Avoid applying pressure surpassing the volume, which the blood from the arterial system needs room to flow smoothly.

Elevation involves keeping the leg a distance from the floor. You can elevate the legs to reduce lower back pain. Lie flat on the back and elevate the leg in a supporting chair. You can also place a pillow between the knees to reduce back pain.

Keep R.I.C.E. in mind when you have tension on the back, or have sustained an injury. However, if you injured your back or joints seek medical help immediately.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Leaning Toward Back Pain

We all lean toward back pain when we fail to note warning signs. Before the back begins to ache, our body sends messages, transmitting them along a channel of nerves, fibers, roots, muscles, etc, thus reaching the brain. The brain spills out the details of the messages sent, which includes the message, stop leaning toward backaches.

Backaches are often caused when the muscles are overexerted. In some instances, hereditary of involuntary diseases cause back pain, which is out of our body’s control?

In life we all may enjoy sports, running, exercise, jogging, sitting, standing, leaning, bending, twisting, dance, etc, yet all these fun activities can cause back pain. You can stop leaning toward pain by using common sense and basic strategies to avert the pain.

For instance, if you weight train and experience pain, you can use over the counter medications on short-term basis to relieve pain. Take the meds prior to workout to stop leaning toward back pain.

In addition, when you lean forward or back you can learn proper methods to avert back pain. In all things we do, there is a wrong and right way to act in life.

Fact: Did you know that practicing to lean correctly has proven to be a mind-blowing treatment for the joints known as sacroiliac derangement?

If you have practiced leaning toward back pain now is the time to stop your action and take control of your body.

Fact: Did you know practices of incorrect leaning could prevent you from bending forward and performing simple actions, such as tying your shoes?

When you learn how to lean correctly, it trains the joints by stretching the muscles that rest amid the pelvis as well as the thoracic spinal column.

Let’s relax your back. If you have stenosis and/or generalized muscle conditions, the action will not reduce your pain. Otherwise, find a hard surface, such as your kitchen table or countertop. Make sure that you can level your weight at the height of your table and/or countertop. Move your feet so that they are slightly apart, and place the palms of your hands on the hard surface, facing backwards. Now, lean to the front while slowly lifting your heels off the floor. Hold your position up to 15 counts, slowly release, and wait a few minutes before leaning toward a healthy sacroiliac joint.

Did you know small things such as wearing the wrong shoes or sitting suddenly could cause back pain? If you didn’t, well you are in for a surprise. When sitting you should always lower the body weight into the chair while using your hands and arms to support your weight. In other words, avoid sitting in chairs that are missing rest arms. What do you think they call them rest arms?

Did you know that curling into a fetal position could relieve pain that emerges from Herniated Slipped Disks? The same position will reduce pain that emerges from arthritic symptoms as well. In addition, if you have muscle spasms, PMS symptoms, etc, curling in a fetal position can reduce your pain.

Hop to it! Lie on the bed, lying on the right, or left side. Bring the knees, extending them upward and toward the torso. (Chest) Take a soft cushion-like object, such as a pillow and place it amid your inner areas at the knees. The cushion will assist in reducing pressure at the hips and pulling of the legs. Do not curl up tightly, or else raise the hips.

Stretching the muscles daily can benefit the joints, cartilages, muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, etc exceptionally providing you do the stretch workouts correctly.

Friday, September 3, 2010

The Outline of the Spine Defining Back Pain

Outline of the spine:

I believe that outlining the spine can help you see the elements that make up our person, as well as give us the ability to perform daily. The spine at the top includes two vertebras and separates by the cervical vertebrae. Between the joining vertebrae are disks and the associating nerve roots. Down toward the center back is the thoracic vertebrae, which below it is the body of the spine. Joining these elements below is the neuroformen, which is slightly higher than the disk that separates the two spines. Below the disk are the nerve roots and to the other side are the lumbar vertebrae. Below the nerve roots is the facet joints and almost adjacent is the pelvis. Below the joints is the sacrum, which adjacent is the sacroiliac joint. The coccyx sits at the bottom of the second vertebrae and completes the spinal column.

Having an outline of the spine can help one appreciate how the back is structured and to see areas that could lead to back pain.

As we look at the outline, it can help us to appreciate that the spine makes up elements that help us to move, bend, slope, and twist, which each movement can cause back injuries.

Within the structure of the spine, we have separate bones. The total count is “34,” which these bones connect with the spinal unit, facet joints, vertebral body, disks, spinal unit, and the facet joints at the lower section.

The coccyx alone makes up the fuse bones, which is around five or less. The bones rest at the base of the spine. The fuse bones are the tailbone in basic language and disable us, since the limb does not poise the spine. Rather the spine is our balance mechanism. Now, when we loose poise, it could cause falls.

The coccyx is at risk, since it could break and lead to coccygodynia. Coccygodynia is a back condition that causes serious pain.

How the coccyx is broke?

The coccyx can be broke when a car accident occurs. In addition, trauma impacts can break the coccyx, as well as falling backwards.

How can I tell if I have coccygodynia?

A stabbing pain often occurs in the back, which sometimes the pain is sharp. This is a clear indication that potential damage has occurred to the coccyx. If you have difficulty sitting, you may have coccygodynia also. If sitting is difficult, likely you will feel pressure at the right side. Sometimes bowel movement is difficult as well.

What should I do if these symptoms arise?

Ask your doctor to test you, using x-rays. If the x-ray is negative however, you may have only bruised your coccyx.

Additional fused bones climb the steps up the spine, making up another five bones. The sacrum meets in this area, which is a bone as well. The sacrum is a triangular-like bone at the lower back and joins with the hipbone on either side, forming the pelvis. The sacrum connects to the only area of the back limbs at the lower region. At the outer area of the pelvis rests the iliac bones. The larger bones connect to the joints known as sacroiliac. The joints are part of the hip ilium bones and the joints between the sacrum and the ilium.

The joints at this area shape similar to a horses saddle and interfaces the pelvis sides flanking between the pelvis and sacrum. Why are we discussing this area, since it really does not make up the spine? Because, this region is the single common section of the connective parts to the spine, where the lower back pain starts due to asymmetric, and deformity.

Relieving Stress Fractures to Avoid Back Pain

You can relieve back pain if stress is affecting a fracture. The zones you want to focus on are the femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsus, and the metatarsus. Fractured bones to be precise are broken bones. The bones however are detained and held in tact by surfacing tension, as well as tissues that surround the bone. Fractures occur when the muscles are overexerted.

Many people are at risk of fractures, especially those who overexert the muscles while exercising. Some people strive to loose weight and fit in a bikini, accordingly these people may workout 7 hours in a day, which is overexerting the muscles. What these people fail to realize is that the muscles need rest, and that working out 30 minutes daily will help you loose weight.

Overexerting the muscles is one of the leading causes of fractures. To spot the problems doctors will use X-rays, bone scans, and so on. Fractures can worsen if left unattended. In short, if you injure the area and fail to seek medical assistance, your problem could worsen. While the body has elements that heal through a natural process, nature is interrupted as we age, which leads to slow healing. If you have sustained a fracture, it is wise to avoid workouts that overexert the muscles. It depends on the bones, i.e. if the elongated bones are fractured; you want to avoid overexerting the muscles up to eight weeks at most.

Fractures can affect the muscles. The muscles skeletal structure is made up of elongated threads of fiber. The fibers assist the muscles by supporting contractions and shortening, which joins the ending attachments. Tissue sheaths enclose around the fibers, which shape specific muscles. Within the muscles, blood will smooth out traveling over the muscles, which the blood will then spread out to the fasica and/or epimysium. The blood travels to the bundles of fasciculus, endomysium, nuclei, fibers and cells, etc.

Damage can occur to the muscles and tissues named. Damage includes complete and incomplete tears. Prolific bleeding may occur if the muscles are completely torn. The muscle damage can be treated with R.I.C.E, i.e. bed rest, ice packs, compression packs, and elevation. You will need to visit your doctor as well.

If the muscles are incompletely torn, likely sections of the sheath are interrupted as well. The injury is also treated with bed rest, ice packs, compression packs, and elevation.

Other tears occur in the muscles, which include intramuscular tears. The tear causes squander to enter the muscles, or blood and travel to the tissues. Fluid is restricted. The condition causes tenderness, and pain. Mobility is limited from this condition, which is in medical terms known as “intramuscular haematoma.”

If you are diagnosed with this condition, you will need bed rest, ice packs, compression packs, elevation, yet you should challenge the muscles in a couple of days. In other words, start moving around after you have rested in a couple of days.

Failing to do so will lead to worse conditions. Muscles can reduce contractions, which makes the muscles stiff and scar if movement is not applied. Calcification interchanges with the pannus. The results lead to joint subluxation disorders when calcification does not interchange. Calcification is irregular solidification, which can cause swelling and stiffness of the joints. In some instances, intramuscular haematoma can create calcification. Calcification disorders will deposits of calcium salt to occur, which makes the muscles unchangeable and inflexible. Unfortunately, intramuscular disorders can heal slowly, and sometimes surgery is necessary to correct the condition.

Back pain also occurs at what time the tendons are interrupted.