Best Mattress For Back Pain

Posted on April 25, 2012 Written by

A good night’s sleep is very important, but if you are a back pain sufferer it is crucial…

In this article we discuss how to find the best mattress for back pain.

Best Mattress For Back Pain

If you have back pain you owe it to yourself to find the best mattress you can to help support your back. So you can get a good nights sleep.

Having lower back pain by itself can be a life changing experience, however not sleeping on the right mattress can make matters worse.  In this article we are going to discuss how to find the best mattress for back pain.  The simple fact is a poor quality mattress or a mattress that is not suited to your body type can create a poor sleeping environment by not providing adequate support, causing an over stretching of ligaments and muscles and contributing to more lower back pain.

The ideal scenario is finding a mattress that not only provides support to the spine but is also comfortable and suited to your own individual sleeping habits. This is not an easy task, because being uncomfortable during a bout of back pain is one thing, but more often poor sleeping habits contribute to structural issues that can cause back pain in the future. So choosing a mattress that is both comfortable to you when you don’t have pain and one that also supports your back and allows you to get the rest you need when you do have pain can be frustrating, but it can be done.

Best Mattress For Back Pain

As I just mentioned the perfect mattress does exist, it just isn’t the same for everyone. The ideal mattress allows the person a restful night sleep and doesn’t create morning aches and pains. If you are a back pain sufferer then it is very import ant to choose a mattress that not only is comfortable, but also provides the support your injured spine needs. When researching mattresses you want to understand the mattresses construction. In a standard mattress the coils or springs within the mattress provide support to the spine and the rest of the body and depending on the type of mattress the configuration and volume of springs can be different.  Another factor is the actual cushioning on the mattress, which can vary. Most mattresses have padding that ranges from about 7 inches to 18 inches and both of these factors can play a role in your individual comfort.

The ideal mattress will provide good and solid support for the spinal curves to maintain proper alignment and decrease the amount of stress on the back. By supporting the spine properly the supporting muscles and ligaments of the spine avoid overstretching contributing to that morning stiffness and muscle soreness that can occur in the morning.

The fact is unlike other aspects of medical research there is not a lot of clinic information about mattresses.  There are some studies out there that show that a medium-firm mattress can provide better support and relief from back pain then a firm mattress.

The key for anyone choosing a mattress is to create a fine balance between spinal support and sleeping comfort. You have to be comfortable enough to get the rest you need otherwise what is the point in having your back supported? Hard mattresses can make you sore and stiff, because they are unyielding to your body’s natural curves and can create areas of pressure that can lead to soreness.  A medium-firm mattress may be more desirable because your shoulders and hips are able to sink down a little creating a more natural posture. If you need a firmer mattress to support your back a little more in the padding or even a pillow-top addition can help make it more comfortable.

As a back pain sufferer it’s extremely important to have a good supportive mattress, however many people don’t know when a mattress is past its prime. If you can see sagging areas in your mattress it is most likely time to get a new one.  Below are a few helpful tips to utilize when mattress shopping.

  • Don’t let price be the biggest factor when choosing a mattress. This is an investment for you and a purchase you will have for years to come. Higher quality coils, memory foam mattresses and quality padding does cost more, but the overall health benefits outweigh the cost. There are good mattresses however that don’t come with a high price tag. There are a lot of mattress stores out there nowadays and price wars are common. Use the competitive marketplace to your advantage and compare brands store to store.
  • Don’t fall victim to a claim that a certain mattress has any medical backing. There are no definitive studies out there and if there are studies about a particular mattress the manufacturer most likely funded the study. The data may be compelling and even valid to a degree, but  as always use your best judgment.
  • If possible try out a particular brand before investing in it. Some manufacturers like Tempurpedic allow you to try it in your home as part of a trial process. If you don’t want to go that route call around to some area hotels and ask what types of mattresses they use. One chain that I frequent has replaced all of their beds with sleep number beds. This is a great way to try out a mattress prior to buying one. You can also ask friends and family members what they have, and if they have a brand you may be interested in head on over and test it out. A  good 15-20 minutes should be enough to see if a mattress is comfortable enough for you.
  • Look for reviews about the mattress or company you are purchasing from. Look at their policy on returns, warranties, delivery options etc. You can find a lot of this online in forums and back pain support groups.

Once you find a great mattress there are a few things you can do to make sure it lasts and gives you the support and comfort you need for many years to come. One simple thing you can do is rotate the mattress so that it gets worn evenly. You may also want to flip it over if it doesn’t have pillow top to ensure an even wear.

As an effective strategy for managing lower back pain choosing a mattress is a key strategy and taking things slow and not getting drawn into the hype is important. Another important thing you can do is ask your spine specialist. Many doctors who deal with back pain regularly more than likely have been asked the question hundreds of times and in most cases they have done some research of their own and can often give you a good recommendation.

No matter what the cause of your back pain is, find the best mattress for back pain can be a challenge. Utilizing the tips outlined in this article hopefully will put you closer to finding that ideal mattress to help relieve your back pain.

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Lower Back Pain In Early Pregnancy

Posted on April 22, 2012 Written by

Lower Back Pain In Early Pregnancy

lower back pain in early pregnancy

Suffering from lower back pain in early pregnancy is common, however there are some things you should know.

Lower back pain in early pregnancy is a relatively common occurrence. For many women it may be the first signs of early pregnancy as the body begins to change in anticipation of the months to come. These lower back pain symptoms may be experienced quite differently from women to women as the pregnancy begins to unfold.

For those who have never given birth before, your body is adjusting to a completely new condition. Often the lower back pain is less intense for 2nd and subsequent pregnancies. As ligaments begin to stretch and the uterus begins to get ready for the process the initial lower back pain can be  similar to what you experience during a heavy monthly cycle.

For many who know they are pregnant however, this begins to worry them and the health of the baby is a primary concern. In addition to the lower back pain and increased level of nausea, frequent urination and a general feeling of lethargy can also accompany the symptoms.

More often than not the lower back pain in early pregnancy begins in the 3rd week for most women. At this point unless a pregnancy is planned or being monitored many women will not even be aware that they are pregnant. It is usually after a women is aware of the pregnancy that the concern of the increased lower back pain can turn to worry. Usually it is a normal sign that things are beginning to change, the uterus is expanding and the tethering ligaments in and around the pelvis become stretched. This tension leads to over all tension on the connective tissues that connect into the back muscles and am general uncomfortable feeling begins to occur.

As with anything as fragile as a pregnancy it is very important to consult with your doctor and report all symptoms. In most cases as outlined above this is a normal process. The concerns usually increase if the lower back pain in early pregnancy is associated with any blood or discharge of any kind, general malaise or feeling ill or any other abnormal symptoms. The process of carrying a baby is very stressful on the body and can cause a lot of discomfort for some women. There are some things you can do during this process to minimize your lower back pain.

1. Many women find it helpful to visit a chiropractor skilled in treating pregnant women. Spinal manipulation can ease the tension on the spine and pelvis and as relaxin a pregnancy hormone is released in body the chiropractor can provide gentle relief while they keep the hips, pelvis and spine moving properly.

lower back pain in early pregnancy

Even early on in pregancy lower back pain can cause alarm

2. Another gentle and often soothing treatment is pregnancy massage. Many massage therapists specialize in prenatal massage and gently apply massage techniques to the pregnant mother, soothing and relaxing tense muscles and helping relieve pain.

3. Acupuncture can also be used to relieve lower back pain in early pregnancy. A skilled acupuncturist can apply a gentle program of acupuncture to relax and soothe the pain, as well help your overall general well being.

Hopefully these techniques can help you if you suffer from lower back pain in early pregnancy. Home remedies such as gentle stretching and exercise can also aide in lower back pain relief. As can heat and ice therapy. The more natural you can keep the treatments the better, you don’t want to take any unnecessary medications while you are pregnant. As always please consult your physician prior to taking any advice including ours, we wish you a healthy and happy pregnancy and as always if this post was helpful please share it on Facebook.

 

 

 

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Spinal Decompression Therapy and Back Pain

Posted on April 17, 2012 Written by

 

Spinal DecompressionSpinal decompression is often confused with traction. It is a treatment for neck pain and back pain and is given to give relief from pain caused due to compression on one or many pinched nerves of the spinal cord. Spinal decompression can be achieved both with surgical intervention and non-surgical intervention. It is especially used to treat chronic pain conditions such as sciatica pain, spinal stenosis, disk bulge, disk herniation, degenerative spondylolisthesis, etc.

Non-surgical spinal decompression:

Non-surgical spinal decompression is a much more sophisticated form of manual traction which was used by physical therapists and chiropractors decades ago. It helps to relieve back pain by gently changing the force and positioning of the spine. The decompression helps to take off the pressure from the spinal disc which is a gel-like cushion in between the bones of the spine. When the pressure is removed water, oxygen and other nutrients freely reach the disk so that it heals.

Non-surgical spinal decompression technique is used to treat:
Sciatica pain: this pain ranges from mild-to-severe and is caused when there is compression in of the nerve roots located in the lower back. This leads to numbness, weakness, tingling sensation that radiates to the legs.
Bulging or herniated disk: When the normal cushion or gel-like padding between the vertebrae of spine ruptures due to degeneration or any other reason, the disk pushes out and put pressure on nerves. This eventually leads to symptoms of pain, numbness, weakness, tingling sensation etc. Spinal stenosis: When the pathways of nerves constrict and become narrow or clogged then they compress the nerves and ultimately lead to spinal stenosis. Trauma or injury: Motor vehicle accident or any other job-related or other accident may impact on the nerves or lead to injury to the nerves.
Spondylolisthesis: When one vertebra slips forward or is displaced, compression occurs and leads to back pain symptoms.
Piriformis syndrome: When the Piriformis muscle develop spasms and compresses and irritates the nerve then decompression treatment can be used. Degenerative disk disease: due to degeneration, normal wear and tear may occur and it may compress the nerve roots, resulting in back pain.

All these conservative decompression techniques do work in most cases, but if your pain persists for more than 6 weeks and if non-surgical treatment fails and movement becomes unbearable then you may consider surgical intervention for spinal decompression.

Surgical spinal decompression procedures are:
Microdiskectom or microdecompression: This surgery is used to treat lumbar herniated disks. In microdecompression, a portion of the disk that is compressing the nerve is removed so that extra space is created and the nerve heals. Spinal fusion: this procedure is performed when a disk wears out due to degeneration and is considered the last resort. In this two or more vertebrae are fused or joined together. Laminectomy: this involves surgical removal of herniated disk. It is an invasive technique where a small portion of the vertebrae bone is removed and this alleviates pressure on the pinched nerve. It is also known as open decompression surgery. Diskectomy: This involves surgical excision of diseased disk.

Your doctor will decide whether you need a surgical or non-surgical spinal decompression technique. But usually invasive techniques are used when all other conservative measures failed. Nonsurgical spinal decompression involves very little risk and for this therapy doctors generally treat with electric stimulation, ultrasound or heat and cold therapy. As no anesthesia or post-operative care is involved, the risk is very minimal.

The most common risks involved in surgical spinal decompression are infection, bleeding, blood clots, nerve or tissue damage, or allergic reaction to anesthesia. It is also not sure whether your back pain symptoms will be alleviated or not.

However, there is very little literature available which supports non-surgical spinal decompression therapy, it still has a large following and many clinics swear by it.  With the latest advancement in techniques related to diagnosis, instruments, and new procedures a lot of improvement has been done in the existing treatments for spinal decompression.

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Back Pain Relief Advice You Can Trust

Posted on April 13, 2012 Written by

If you are suffering from lower back pain, neck pain, sciatica or hip pain we can help. We offer the latest advice on treatments for back pain all in one easy to navigate location.

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Chronic Pain patients suffering from herniated discs, degenerative discs, sciatica and spinal stenosis have already seen several doctors and specialists, tried bed rest, a variety of strong drugs, chiropractic, physical therapy and many, sad to say, surgery. They come online looking for answers because they’re still in pain …and they are searching for answers…real answers that are proven effective and trusted.

Many are close to losing hope because even after all the consultations, tests and treatments they’ve been through, they still don’t feel like they used to-and unfortunately they have never really been told what the problem is and nothing seems to be able to really help or address their issues…

If this describes you, a friend, or a loved one, we’re here to tell you that you can get better. You can leave the burning, stabbing, and constant pain behind. You can begin to get on with the rest of your life and rid yourself of the back pain, sciatica or neck pain you’re experiencing.

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Our Site is unlike any other website online regarding back pain. We’re the premier information resource for non-surgical and minimally invasive procedures. The treatments we review offer you the best chance of treating chronic neck pain, shoulder pain, lower back pain and sciatica.We review treatments from medical doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors and allied health professionals. We look at proof, he treatments track record and reputation of the provider as a clear sign that a practitioner is offering a worthwhile treatment option. We investigate treatments like spinal decompression, laser spine surgery and manipulation under anesthesia.

In addition, we review lifestyle options to help you live pain free. We look at the best mattresses for back pain, supplements for pain relief, alternative treatments to lower back pain, remedies and devices to alleviate your discomfort. We leave no stone unturned in our quest for truth about how you can find lasting back pain relief.

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We want to help. So if you want to end or lessen your pain today, take some action now. Look around our site, educate yourself and ask questions…we are here to help. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter as well. Good luck and we’ll see you on the inside.

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