How To Heal Your Lower Back Pain

What Is The Prognosis

In general, the clinical course of an episode of acute low back pain seems favourable, and most pain and related disability will resolve within a couple of weeks.6 This is also illustrated by the finding that about 90% of patients with low back pain in primary care will have stopped consulting their doctor within three months.7 Croft suggests that in many patients low back pain symptoms fluctuate over time.w5 Most patients with back pain will have experienced a previous episode, and acute attacks often occur as exacerbations of chronic low back pain. So recurrences are common. Pengel et al estimated the cumulative risk of at least one recurrence within a 12 month period to be 73% .w2 The severity of these recurrences, however, is usually less and does not always lead to a new visit to the general practitioner.8,9 Only a small proportion of people with an acute episode of low back pain develop chronic low back pain and related disability.

Improve Your Posture To Reduce Back Pain

Most of us spend a good part of our day sitting down, which may be more harmful than you realize. You can minimize the impact by maintaining good posture. Correct posture in a chair means having all the bones in your spine lined up neatly, like a stack of perfectly aligned blocks. You should keep your feet flat on the floor and your computer keyboard within easy reach so youre not leaning forward or slumping. This is part of proper office ergonomics.

Many apps and devices exist that can help you enhance your posture. If you work at a computer all day, try the software and app Posture Man Pat. This free app interacts with the webcam on your screen, tracking where your face is relative to your screen. If your posture starts to droop and curve, the app will alert you.

If you are looking to get really tech-savvy, try the Lumo Lift Posture Coach. This wearable device has a sensor that will vibrate when you change your posture from what the posture coach is calibrated to.

Low Back Pain Intensity And Daily Function

In a recent study, Dr. Vertsberger and colleagues recruited patients with CLBP and had them complete daily diaries for up to 30 days in which they rated their pain intensity, pain interference with daily activities, and their use of coping strategies.¹ The participants were part of a larger study of mind-body therapies for CLBP. The final analysis included 1,562 daily diary entries collected between March 2015 and March 2016. The mean age of the participants was 41 years approximately 30% were Caucasian, 18% were Asian, 5% were Black, 8% were of other ethnicities ethnicity was unknown for approximately 40%, and 72% had at least a college bachelors degree. Approximately half of the participants were women.

Across the 30-day study period, the mean average pain intensity was 45.26 on a scale of 0 to 100 .

Interference of pain with activities was based on responses to the question, How much did low back pain interfere with your daily activities today? using a scale of 0 to 100 .

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What Is A Kidneystone Made Of

Generally speaking,16 types of kidney stones can be created in the human body. And what they are made of can help you prevent additional kidney stones in the future.

The two major types of kidney stones are made up ofcalcium and uric acid. Calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, and uric acid, alongwith struvite and cystine stones are the major groupings. Technical names likecalcium oxalate monohydrate, hydroxyapatite, and magnesium hydrogen phosphateare a mouthful, to be sure, but knowing exactly what kind of kidney stone youhave can give you the best clues for preventing kidney stones in the future.

Start by collecting your urine to capture the stone as itcomes out. Or by using a coffee filter to catch the stone. After collecting it,take it to your physician they can send it out for tests. Once the testresults come back you two can craft a treatment plan to help prevent kidneystones in the future. In addition to your customized treatment plan, drinkingmore water, eating less meat, consuming more citrus, and reducing your saltintake are general guidelines that can help reduce the odds of kidney stones inthe future.

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Will Bed Rest Resolve Lower Back Pain

Most people are inclined to rest when they experience lower back pain. Medical practitioners commonly prescribed bed rest to relieve lower back pain in the past. Recent studies, however, show that staying in bed for more than 48 hours doesnt help you heal faster but rather delays recovery.

Extended bed rest causes your muscles to lose their strength and flexibility, leading to more pain and the potential to reinjure the tissue. Prolonged bed rest is only an option for people with back pain due to severe spine injuries.

To get the most benefit from your rest, limit how long you lay down to a few hours at a time and for no more than a day or two. You can rest on a sofa or bed in a comfortable position.

A good way to reduce strain is placing a pillow between your knees and beneath your head when lying on your side, under your hips when lying on your stomach, and under your knees when lying on your back. These positions help reduce the strain that sitting and standing put on your back.

Staying active during your discomfort is a better way of managing lower back pain, and its recommended to engage in active rest. Active rest refers to moving as much as can be tolerated while avoiding activities that make your back pain worse, such as heavy lifting or jogging. Alongside appropriate stretches and exercise, active rest can help you quickly recover from lower back pain.

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Changing Attitudes About Back Pain

While back pain may be inevitable for many people, changing attitudes about the problem could be making it worse. In the past, people used to take back pain in stride and didn’t generally seek medical help. “It’s only really been over the past 30 years that more and more people have been seeking health care for back pain,” says Dr. Rainville. But that hasn’t reduced the prevalence of pain or disability. In fact, disability from back pain has actually increased over time.

In 1990, a study ranked back pain as the sixth most burdensome condition in the United States. In 2010, it jumped to third place, behind only heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke .

Where back pain was once viewed a nuisance to work through, today, back pain stops many people in their tracks. “People have gotten stuck because they’ve been given the advice to be careful and stop moving,” says Dr. Rainville. “This runs counter to everything that was taught for decades.”

Many doctors are encouraging a return to the past when it comes to managing back pain, with less emphasis on intervention and more on encouraging movement.

How Long Is Too Long To Suffer From Back Pain

Nothing makes a long day even longer than having to deal with back pain. If you’re suffering from lower back pain, even simple tasks like picking up a bag of groceries can feel overwhelming.

What’s more, the cause of your lower back pain may be more complicated than the actual twisting or lifting that brought it on in the first place and preventing future pain means getting to the source of what caused it.

“If you wait to do something about lower back pain until it’s become debilitating, you’ve waited too long,” says Dr. Hosun Hwang, spine specialist at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. “Most people’s back pain dissipates in about a week or two, but if your pain is long-term or chronic, it’s time to see a spine specialist.”

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For Urinary Tract Infections

Since three of the most common causes of kidney discomfort occur in the urinary tract, here are some remedies to relieve pain in the kidneys related to the urinary tract:

1. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is key to relieving pain in the kidneys since water will help flush bacteria out of the body. Plus, staying hydrated will help clear out the urinary tract as a whole and work to eliminate any possible infections.

Many specialists recommend the 8×8 rule, meaning you should drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day. However, water intake is highly dependant on you and your health, so take this article into consideration when determining your daily amount of water intake.

2. Drink Cranberry Juice

While not scientifically proven, cranberry juice is known to be a remedy for urinary tract infections. If you choose to alternate between cranberry juice and water, be sure to choose a cranberry juice that isnt packed full of additional sweeteners. A cranberry supplement or pure cranberry juice is always the best way to go!

3. Take Probiotics

Its no secret that probiotics are beneficial for you, especially when it comes to fighting bacteria and kidney pain. Studies show that probiotics can improve kidney function and assist in processing waste too.

4. Drink Parsley Juice

You can also mix parsley into a smoothie to make drinking it more bearable. Check out these recipes for inspiration!

5. Take a Warm Epsom Salt Bath

6. Apply Heat

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Ways To Heal Your Lower Back Pains

Sep 24, 2012BJJEEArticles, Health

Lower back injuries are extremely common in Jiu-Jitsu and any type of strength and conditioning training. This article by Traver H. Boehm for breaking muscle covers how to treat and care for pains in the lumbar area or low back.

So youve done it, you pulled too hard with a rounded back on that last deadlift, waited one second too long before tapping, and/or generally had something unpleasant happen right above your sitting apparatus. Unfortunately, low back injuries are very common to beginning CrossFitters and BJJ players.

Herere are some easy steps to get you back in the gym or back on the mat, without pain:

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How Do You Relieve Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is so common that around eight out of 10 adults experience it at some point in their lives. For many, low back pain can be uncomfortable to live with. Thankfully, most peoples symptoms improve with home remedies.

At Advocate Health Care, our team of spine specialists is fully equipped to help you find relief from low back pain. We use a range of tools to diagnose back pain and offer comprehensive treatment that enables you to get back to the activities you love.

What Is A Bulging Disc

The spine is not a single bone but a column formed from bones called vertebrae. These are stacked vertically on top of each other. In order to prevent the bone from rubbing together, intervertebral discs sit between each bone. These discs also absorb shock to the spine. Each disc has a tough outer shell and is filled with a gelatinous material.

Over time, the outer layer of this disc can be weakened, allowing the inside to push out and bulge the outer rim of the disc. Picture a balloon that is losing air and can have pouches form on the top or bottom. If the outer layer is weak enough, the inner gel may come out known as herniation into the bulge, or even break through and become a free-floating fragment. Ultimately, the herniation will interfere with the surrounding nerves, causing a range of issues. This may include pain, tingling, numbness, or even weakness.

Most often, this occurs as a result of a degenerative disc condition that is a result of aging and wear and tear. However, sudden trauma and mechanical pressure can also trigger the discs to move unnaturally and bulge.

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Gently Stretch Your Joints And Soft Tissues Through Yoga

Yoga is an effective way to stretch your back, improve the health of muscles and joints, enhance distribution of healing nutrients through blood circulation, and increase the flexibility of the spine.12

See Healing Benefits of Yoga

When you start, perform the stretches slowly and advance only if you feel comfortable without pain. Gradually, you will be able to add more stretches to your routine. An ideal time for yoga is early morningto help loosen your spine and also reduce stiffness and aches in your back.

See 3 Beginner Yoga Poses for Lower Back Pain Relief

Do Kidney Stones Hurt Worse When Lying Down

In some cases, the symptoms may be very subtle and build up slowly. In other cases, they may come on suddenly, with no early warning signs. This pain can be severe and may lead to nausea or vomiting, or both. People often experience sharp, stabbing pain, and common measures such as rest or lying down do not relieve it.

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Ways To Manage Low Back Pain At Home

Back pain is one of the most common physical ailments. Studies show that eight in 10 Americans have back pain at some point in their lives, usually in the lower back.

Your might have sprained it while working in the yard or cleaning house. Or your back might hurt from an old sports injury or a chronic condition such as arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.

Sudden or severe back pain should be checked by a doctor or a physical therapist. That also goes for pain that wonât go away.

But sometimes you can treat nagging pain and discomfort on your own.

Wilson Ray, MD, chief of spine surgery for the Department of Neurological Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, says home remedies â tend to be better when they’re combined than alone.â

What Causes Kidney Stones

There are several types of kidney stones, each the result of different causes or processes in the body.

• Calcium stones: These are the most common type of kidney stone. They are composed of calcium in combination with other chemicals. These occur when there are excess levels of calcium circulating in the blood. This may be due to medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism and sarcoidosis, or as the result of a diet high in meat, fish, and poultry
• Uric acid stones: These kidney stones occur when excess amounts of uric acid are present in the blood. They tend to occur in people who do not drink sufficient fluids or lose a lot of fluid, and in people who eat a high protein diet. Many people with this type of kidney stone also develop gout a painful form of arthritis caused by solid deposits of uric acid in the joints.
• Struvite stones: These kidney stones are composed of magnesium, ammonia, and phosphate. They tend to occur in people who have repeated urinary tract infections
• Cystine stones: These kidney stones are relatively rare and associated with a disorder that a person may inherit from their parents in how their body processes cystine, which is a substance produced when the body digests protein. Cystine stones may first appear when a person is in their teens, 20s or 30s.

General factors that can increase the risk of developing kidney stones include:

In the majority of cases, the precise cause of a persons kidney stones remains unknown.

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How Is Back Pain Diagnosed

Your health professional will first assess your back pain. They may ask questions including:

• When did your back pain begin?
• What activities were you doing differently to normal before your back pain started?
• How would you describe the pain? Is there tingling or numbness?
• What makes the pain better or worse?

If your pain doesnt settle after a few weeks or starts getting worse, ask your doctor or other health care professional about other management options. You may be referred for tests if there is reason to suspect a more serious cause for your back pain.

In most situations, imaging such as X-ray, CT or MRI scans are not helpful unless there is an obvious injury or strain.

Unnecessary tests can be expensive, and many investigations will show changes in your spine that reflect the normal passage of time, rather than damage to your spine.

Could Your Lower Back Pain Be Kidney

Understanding what kidney pain usually feels like will help you figure out if your pain is caused by a kidney problem or a musculoskeletal problem.

Common features of kidney pain include:

The kind of pain you feel depends on the condition causing it.

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