5 neglected natural remedies for lower back pain

Take care of your posture

Persistent pain in the lower back is mostly due to our sedentary lifestyle. We often spend a large part of our days sitting. We sit for the entire day in the office working on our laptops, then while commuting, eating dinner, watching our favourite show late at night, everything in a seated position, which puts a lot of pressure on our lower back and in the end, we experience an irresistible pain. Most people either just learn to live with the pain or when it becomes unbearable they take pain killers. But these tricks only provide you temporary relief and the pain returns the next day. Here are some small tweaks that you can make in your daily routine to get rid of nasty lower back pain.

Exercise regularly

As we spend our entire day in a seated position, it is crucial to exercise to relax our back muscles. Exercising regularly strengthens our back, stomach and leg muscles. Strong muscles support our spine and relieve back pain. Yoga, Running, jogging and stretching exercises are excellent to get rid of lower back pain.  

Heat and cold therapy

Heat and ice therapy work well in relieving back pain. Ice therapy reduces inflammation and heat therapy relaxes your muscles and improves blood circulation. For the first 48 hours, it is recommended to apply ice therapy as heat can make your swelling worse.
Never place ice directly on your skin as it will give you frostbite. Wrap the ice cubes in a cloth or towel and apply it on the affected area. 

Get good sleep


Bad sleeping posture can even lead to chronic back pain in the morning. So, make sure you sleep for 7-8 hours at night in a good posture.
Apart from this, your mattress and pillow can also give you lower back pain. So change them if they are 7 years old.  

Avoid high heels


This is especially true for ladies who love to wear heels. You might feel good and confident after putting your favourite pair of heels, but wearing them often can give you back pain.
High heels can shift your center of gravity and hurt your lower back. If you want to wear heels every day then make sure that the heel's height is not more than one-inch.  

Have healthy diet

As per research, there is a link between your diet and chronic back pain. Deficiency of vitamin D, vitamin B12 and magnesium can also be a reason for your never-ending back pain. So eat healthy and nutrient-rich foods to stay healthy and fit.  

Some tips




Quit Smoking- Smokers often complain about chronic back pain. This happens because smoking weakens the bones, causing back pain. So, if you are a chain smoker, it is time to call it a quit.
Check your posture- Slouching or hunching your shoulders is not good for your spine. Check your posture while you are sitting or walking or performing any other activity.
Lose weight- Excess weight strains your spine and back muscles. If you are suffering from the problem of lower back pain, try to lose some kilos.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement     

Home Treatments That Can Help Manage Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a rare inflammatory condition that can be really difficult to live with, but you can help manage the symptoms of this debilitating disease with smart lifestyle choices, ranging from a specific exercise plan to more unusual treatments like acupuncture. This article focuses on these at-home treatments that will make life with this condition easier, can slow down the progression of the disease and prevent the development of dangerous complications.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms Of Ankylosing Spondylitis?

The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) vary greatly, with some patients reporting back pain and stiffness in their late adolescence, and others starting to experience pain or immobility in other parts of the body as late as their mid-40s. Since the causes of the condition are still unknown, it is difficult to predict why people develop AS, but it is known that it may have a genetic component.

Also, men are more likely to suffer from AS than women, and in women, the condition more often manifests itself differently than in men, making diagnosis even more challenging. AS typically starts in the lower back, but it can affect most joints, such as:

• The joint between connecting the spine with the pelvis
• Vertebrae, especially the lower back
• Hips
• Shoulders
• Ribs and the breastbone.​

Despite the great variability, AS can be characterized by the following symptoms depending on the stage of the development of the disease:

• Back pain
• Stiffness
• Symptoms typically worsen during periods of inactivity, such as sleep or long periods of sitting
• Poor posture or stooped shoulders
• Pain and lack of flexibility in the feet
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Anemia or low iron.

If left untreated, the vertebrae in the lower back can fuse together, causing a characteristic tilt forward of the upper body. The complications of the disease include eye damage, problems breathing and even heart damage. Medical interventions and surgery are the traditional ways of managing the symptoms of AS, but doctors urge AS patients to stay active to slow the progression of the disease, as there is no cure for AS.

Below, we discuss natural treatments and why they are beneficial to AS patients.

Yoga and Stretching

Retaining your flexibility and range of motion is one of the main goals for an AS patient, as it helps your posture and reduces the pain. Yoga and stretching on a daily basis can make your spine and joints more flexible and improve your strength. 

Heat and cold therapy

Hot and cold temperatures are your friend if you’re experiencing stiffness or if your joints feel inflamed and painful. A warming shower or heating pads can decrease the pain and stiffness that come with AS, and ice packs may be helpful at reducing inflammation.

Exercise

Exercises that aim to stabilize and strengthen the joints are very beneficial to AS patients. These include range-of-motion exercises and strength training exercises. Strength exercises will also help you maintain a healthy weight, which is very important for AS patients.

Posture training

As we have discussed above, bad posture is one of the symptoms of AS, as the stiffness and the pain in the spine affect one’s posture. Practice good posture, give yourself reminders and be aware of how you carry your weight on a regular basis. You can also use special devices, such as chairs and seats that encourage good posture.

Therapeutic Massages

Therapeutic massages are beneficial for people suffering from AS, as they can help with the range of motion. Both relaxing and invigorating massages are beneficial, just make sure to mention to your massage therapist that you have AS, as deep tissue massage and joint massage is usually prohibited for patients with AS, and therapists use a specific kind of technique to relieve the pain and inflammation for this condition.

Acupuncture

This Ancient Chinese medicinal technique is known for stimulating specific points in the body, which triggers the release of pain-relieving hormones in the brain so this treatment can be beneficial for relieving pain for some AS patients. If you’re considering acupuncture to treat AS, look for a trained professional who works in a clean environment and uses sterile or disposable needles.

In summary, there are a variety of different home treatments of ankylosing spondylitis that will help people suffering from this condition maintain an active and fulfilling life, but each treatment should be discussed and supported by a medical professional for your safety.

See my next post for yoga poses for strengthening spine, thanks

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

                            FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com 

TREATMENT FOR LOW BACK PAIN

 1) Heat and Ice Therapy: One of the most recommended forms of treatment includes heat and ice therapy. You can use a warm bath or a heat compress and heating pad to soothe the area and bring down the pain. Ice packs can be used for inflammation and swelling. While the previous method can be used for chronic pain, the latter can be used for acute pain and more recent accidents. These methods are known to increase the blood flow to the affected area and hence bring much relief when there is pain and stiffness.

2)Choose your Activity with Caution: There are a number of activities that one can carry out even when you are suffering from lower back pain. Mild to moderate exercise that has been approved by your physician can help in soothing the area. The trick in such cases to move at frequent intervals so that stiffness and further pain does not set in. You can embark on walks and even water exercises that will help in soothing the stiff muscles. Having said that, one must remember to avoid exercises that will involve bending and standing for too long as this can aggravate the pain.

 3) Rest: It is essential to sleep in the correct position and get the best amount of rest so that the muscles and joints of this area can get the required comfort and rest before being put to work again. Yet, too much inactivity is also not recommended in such cases, and hence one must not rest for too many days at a time. Further, it is important to rest in the correct position so that the lumbar area does not twist and there is no pressure on the same. It would be best to lie down on the back without crossing the ankles.
4)Pain Medication: You can get a prescription for pain medication in case the pain is unbearable. It would be advisable to take medication after consultation with a doctor. One can have oral medicines or take topical application gels and ointments that will numb the area. One can have ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin and other such medicines to get relief from the pain.

Interventional pain management

Finding the right relief can be tough for patients living with chronic pain. It involves a lot of trial and error to find the therapy that works for you. The Interventional Pain Management is one therapy that is aimed to reduce your pain, as well as provide options for preventing pain in the future. It adopts a comprehensive and holistic look to treat pain with lesser risk and morbidity when compared with surgical interventions.

Benefits of interventional pain management

 1) Surgery cannot be a solution to every health problem, the minimally invasive procedures of interventional pain management are cost-effective
2) Lower risk for infections and complications
3) Lower recovery time as they don’t employ large incisions or anesthesia.
 4) It identifies the source of pain and comes up with the right solution to alleviate pain


Types of interventional pain management

1) Epidural Steroid Injections: The prime aim of these injections is to identify the site of pain and reduce inflammation in the nerve roots as they exit the spine. A local anesthesia is administered and a steroid is injected into the epidural space. More than one injection is needed until there is a significant reduction in pain.
2) Facet Joint Injection and Medical Branch Blocks: This technique helps the patient to manage and tolerate their pain better. A steroid is directly injected into the facet joint to reduce pain. Medical branch blocks target i.e. the nerve that detects the painful sensation and sends messages to the brain. These blocks help further denervation procedure and provide long term relief.
3) Sacroiliac Injections: These injections are administered directly on the sacroiliac joint of the spine which is the cause of lower back pain.
4) Peripheral Joint Injections: Joints like shoulder, knee and hip are injected with medicines that aim to reduce painful inflammation at the source of joint dysfunction.
 5) Radio frequency Ablation: This involves the use of radio waves to create an electrical current that delivers heat to the targeted nerve tissues. It results in the impairment of the nerves to transmit pain signals to the brain
6) Rhizotomy: This is another procedure where the pain signals are turned off. Heated electrodes are applied to the specific nerves to cut off the transmission.
7) Spinal Cord Stimulation: This uses electrical impulses to block pain from being perceived by the brain
8) Nucleoplasty: This is a procedure in which a which tissue is removed from the disc of the spinal cord to decompress and relieve pressure
9) Intrathecal Pump Implantation: A pain pump is placed under the skin that directly delivers pain medication to the targeted area.

 this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.                                                                                                             https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations                                   https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes                 https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement            

Home Remedies for Knee Aches and Pains

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.

PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM      

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR CROCHET DESIGNS- http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com/

 The knee is particularly vulnerable to pain and damage due to its high wear and tear factor. The knee takes the full impact of a person’s body weight, or any added force from running or jumping. However, there are plenty of natural treatments and alternative therapies that can stop you from living at the doctor’s reception room.

Assess your pain

For any moderate to severe pain, you should get medical help because some injuries require physical therapy, a brace or even surgery. Successful home treatments can be done for mild to moderate knee pain. This can be for both pains caused by sprains or arthritis. If you think the pain is due to inflammation, arthritis or minor injury, you can choose from several effective home remedies.
How to treat pain due to injury
If you have suffered a twisted leg, fallen or strained your knee in other ways, a useful mnemonic to remember is ‘RICE’.
Rest - Stay off your feet.
Ice - Apply a bag of ice or a cold compress (a bag of peas also works).
Compression - Wrap a compression bandage around your knee. This prevents swelling. Make sure it’s not too tight otherwise you might cut off circulation.
Elevation - Lie on a bed or keep your foot elevated with a foot stool or ottoman.
How to treat pain due to arthritis
As people age, the lubrication and padding around their joints deteriorates. Without cartilage cushioning the joints, they will suffer bone-on-bone contact and can become inflamed, causing much pain. This is known as Osteoarthritis. For more severe cases, doctors might suggest replacing joints or inserting artificial cartilage. While there is no way of reversing the damage, there are ways to treat mild to moderate pain with natural dietary supplements or alternative therapies.
Try willow bark
You wouldn’t think that a piece of tree bark could offer so much relief, but research has found that willow bark’s active ingredient is salicin, which acts similarly to aspirin. This natural painkiller has been commonly used since the time of Hippocrates. It is used to treat fever and inflammation, as well asheadaches, muscle pains, spine disease, arthritis, and osteoarthritis.

Use ginger extract
Another pain relief option that grows naturally is ginger, which can be ingested in several different ways. You can use the fresh root, drink it as a tea, eat it as a dried spice or take prepackaged supplements. Research has discovered that the phytonutrients in ginger reduce the production of chemicals in the body that promote joint inflammation. Together with prescription arthritis medication, ginger can greatly reduce joint pains, since it acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. Be cautious if you take blood thinners, as ginger has the risk of increasing bleeding.  
Apply herbal ointment
A salve made from cinnamon, ginger, mastic, and sesame oil was found to be just as effective as over the counter medicine, according to a study. Traditional over the counter ointments used to treat arthritis usually contain salicylate, which is used topically to relieve pain.
Heat and cold therapy
It’s worthwhile investing in a heating pad, gel-style cold pack or cool compress for chronic pain. These can easily be found at a drug store, or ordered online. Heat is used to keep joints from stiffening while cold therapy can reduce pain and swelling.

Practice Tai Chi
This ancient Chinese practice is a mind-body exercise, which helps improve balance and flexibility, works twofold for those who suffer from arthritis. A study published in Arthritis and Rheumatism (a journal), highlights that the mental aspect of the practice promotes coping mechanisms for chronic pain, and the physical exercise helps reduce pain and increases range of motion.

Consider exercise and weight management
For some people, knee pain is reduced by moving the joint, so daily exercise is recommended. Keeping a leg stationary can stiffen the joint, and reduce the range of motion. Consider swimming or water walking as these exercises have less of an impact, together with offering countless other health benefits. Carrying excess weight can also aggravate the impact on joints, so it’s important to try and keep off any unnecessary weight. 
Finding care - final note
Your health is important, and sometimes dietary supplements and alternative therapies can conflict with any other medication you might be taking. It’s important to talk to your doctor and find the cause of any pain. Sometimes this might involve X-rays and blood work, but it’s necessary to get on the road to recovery.