Back Pain Articles

I distinctly remember the day that my life changed forever. After a few weeks of intense swelling in various parts of my body, my doctor called to give me the lab results at my place of work. She said the rheumatoid factor was positive and that this most likely was due to the fact that I did indeed have rheumatoid arthritis. I took a deep breath and asked, “On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being normal, what can I expect my life to be like from now on?” She tried to avoid the question, not wishing to discourage me. But I typically prefer to know what battle I am fighting, and so when I pressured her, she reluctantly answered: “If you are lucky, maybe a six.”

Within days, I realized that everything in my life now be impacted by my disease and that there would be no such thing as “normal” again. Every detail of my life would change from the simple struggle to open a door, to stand from the chair, to walk across the room, or to shift gears in my car. Although my carefree lifestyle and attitude would stay imbedded within my heart and personality, it would take a back seat while I attemted to simply try to learn to function while in severe pain.

Recently, I received an e-mail from a woman who I went to small high school with of about 300 students–over 25 years ago. She had recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and while surfing the Internet to find information and encouragement, she stumbled upon Rest Ministries website and discovered that I was the founder.

We exchanged a few e-mails and I hope that I was an encouragement to her. This is my best advice for those who have recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness.

[1] Call or go to the website for the national foundation or organization whose purpose is to support people who live with your specific chronic illness. Let them know that you have just recently been diagnosed and are searching for the most basic information regarding what to expect with your disease and where to find current information about treatment options.

Despite the fact that you may have not had a chance to grieve your diagnosis yet will likely make this to seem discouraging, and if you begin to get things in the mail and are not ready to read them, put them aside for later. The important thing is to know that this organization will likely be the one that will provide you with the most current and objective scientific treatment options and you will want to be “in the know.” As your doctors are making suggestion for medications for you to start, and you are torn about them because of the long list of side effects, these organizations will be your best source of objective information.

[2] Read about your disease, but know when to stop. Unless you have some rare disorder, you will find there is no shortage of information about your illness through millions of books, websites, podcasts, magazines, and more. It’s wise to glance over health and illness organization websites so that you have a good selection of credible resources to go to when you are reading for additional information.

You will want to know what some of the symptoms of your disease are so that if they do occur you will be aware that it is part of your chronic illness and not a separate chronic condition. However, don’t be tempted to try to read everything you can get your hands on, as it will simply depress you! Many of the symptoms that people describe may not actually be a part of your illness experience. You don’t want to get too depressed or discouraged over things you may not ever have to deal with!

[3] Don’t lose hope about your future. They are consistently new scientific discoveries that can and perhaps will change how your illness will progress and will be treated. For example, I recently had four joints replaced in my left hand due to the deformities of rheumatoid arthritis in the last 16 years. But my entire medical team, a hand surgeon, rheumatologist, and physical therapist, all commented that they rarely see these kinds of surgeries now due to the new family of medications available which have slowed down the progression of the disease and the destruction of the joints in the last 10 years.

Even if there is not an immediate cure, as we scientifically grow closer to being able to know our exact DNA, we will be able to pinpoint which medication will best treat our disease, without having to jump from one medication to another, losing months and years sometimes of our health, in order to find which one works best. Hope and a positive outlook will have a profound effect on your disease and your life. So don’t give up and assume that your illness will be disabling.

[4] Think about who you would like in your life to be able to talk to about what you are emotionally and spiritually experiencing due to the recent diagnosis. The person may be someone you meet in an online forum for your disease, it could be a pastor, mentor, counselor, or even a good friend who is able to listen without trying to fix it. The most important thing is that you have an oasis where you can share what you are experiencing without feeling like you may be judged or where you will receive ignorant comments such as “no pain, no gain.” Check out your local support groups for your illness, or other support environments such as HopeKeepers, which is a unique small group Christian support environment for those who live with illness or pain.

Consider your own personality and how do we best be encouraged. Would it be with one person, one-on-one, over a cup of coffee? Or are you home-bound, and logging onto a website each day to receive encouragement and even prayer be most helpful? And remember, what works best for you now, may not meet your needs six months from now, and that is okay. Be willing to try new supports environments.

[5] Ask yourself “What foundation do I have in my life that will help me through the difficulties that I will be facing?” Even if your illness does not progress rapidly, the daily aches and pains, as well as the emotional roller coaster and spiritual “why?” questions you will have, will leave you searching for a deeper meaning in life than simply solving your problem with a cup of hot tea. As a Christian myself, I honestly do not know how people live each day with a chronic exasperating illness who do not know the Lord.

This is what holds me together: believing that my pain is never wasted, but that God always has a purpose; understanding that God is always in control and none of my circumstances are a surprise to Him; firmly believing that He has a plan for my life despite any limitations I’ve experienced or goals that I have that may never be that. If you’re not a spiritual person, you may still find yourself facing those middle of the night blues, then I encourage you to look up biblical websites like Bible Gateway and read the Psalms. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised to discover that most people who lived during biblical times also faced hardships, depression, doubts and yes, even chronic illnesses.

So, to sum it up, be well informed, set reasonable boundaries for the quantity of information you will intake, keep hope alive, find support through people, and then search for what will get you through the darkest of moments when the information and people you have counted on disappoint you. Discover a purpose in the pain that is greater than that which the world will tell you. if you put your life on hold completely you will have regrets later on. As the late John Lennon once shared, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.

Read Lisa’s book, Why Cant I Make People Understand? Order at WhyCantIMakePeopleUnderstand.com . Subscribe to a great weekly ezine HopeNotes and get a free download of 200 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend. And tune in to Lisa’s weekly podcast at Hope Endures Radio at the web site. Lots of support is available.

Yoga therapy is a way of opening your body to healing. The yogic philosophy encompasses more than stretching. Through movement, one is able to balance the energy within, calm the mind, and gain harmony between the spirit and the body.

Yoga is a personal practice. Even if you are a part of a class, it is essential to make note of your body and your intentions. Avoid competition with other students, and instead work with a yoga teacher or individual yoga therapist so that each pose can be modified to meet your limitations. You may have had a neck injury. When this is the case, inverted poses, like the plow, must be avoided. Yoga therapy allows you to make changes to any pose to not jeopardize your body. No matter your physical fitness level, a yoga practice will offer both mental and emotional benefits, as long as it is tailored to your specific needs.

Yoga practitioners have been improving their technique for years. It is not easy although to the outside world it seems like simple stretching. There is always room for improvement, deeper stretches, and further connections.

One’s yoga practice tends to vary from day to day. No two days are alike. It is important to realize this and not demand perfection every day. One day you may be perfectly balanced in tree pose, but the next class you find that you cannot even balance on one leg. This is all acceptable and expected. Do not judge yourself for the discrepancies.

Yogic philosophy is focused on joining the body to the spirit. This is done through balancing the energy within the body. There are seven chakras. Each is centered along the spine. The energy of the chakras is tied to the health of the body. If the thyroid is troubled, there may be an issue with the throat chakra.

Spiritual health is tied to physical well-being in yoga. The movements can create many positive outcomes in the body. Therefore, yoga therapy and practice are highly regarded by medical practitioners.

Flexibility is one area of gain. Yoga does not push a person to extremes. Since it focuses on safe stretches, a person can relieve pressure in the muscles. This will relieve pain, stiffness, and fatigue. The flexibility is not only gained in the muscles but in the soft tissues. Patients who add yoga therapy to their exercise regimen will see a marked improvement in flexibility.

Yoga focuses on muscle movement, and many poses will help to increase body strength. Some yoga methods are more focused on strength building. In these classes, there are more poses focusing on building muscles. The core of the body can be improved by bridge and plow poses. Leg muscles are built using static poses like the chair pose.

Good posture is important, especially as we age. Internal organ function is supported by strong abdominal and back muscles. Yoga focuses on keeping these muscle groups strong and flexible. A person’s posture can indicate vigor. And with the muscle system in place and energy aligned, good health will follow.

Our lives are full of stress and tension. Dealing with these in a healthy manner is essential for preventing diseases and improving overall well-being. Yoga therapy focuses on maintain spiritual and physical health by focusing on the body and the mind. Through research, you can find a class that meets your needs. Not every yoga class is the same, and exploration is essential to find the perfect fit. You might also find it useful to practice yoga at home with a DVD for yoga for beginners.

Ever heard of Yoga Therapy? You don’t have to keep suffering-learn the facts about Yoga for Back Pain and feel better naturally. Find out how Yoga can improve your life!

Clinical magnetic therapy also;

Improves your circulation

Allows you to enjoy lengthy, peaceful and restful sleep

Eliminates toxins from your tissues

Gives you a wealth of energy

Strengthens your immune system

How? Magnetic therapy causes two actions in the body; an increase in blood flow and a reduction in inflammation. These two actions have a knock on effect across the body which results in these five additional benefits:

1. As blood flow improves the circulation in the body also improves and works more efficiently. This means the organs, muscles, tissues and cells have a rich and fresh supply of oxygen and nutrients which are essential for cell renewal and healing.

2. Magnetic therapy is known to have a positive balancing effect on hormone levels within the body. These are predominantly insulin, serotonin, endorphins and melatonin. Meaning diabetics, those with depression, pain levels and people with insomnia will all benefit from the hormone regulating properties of magnets.

3. It isn’t just hormones that are regulated by magnetic fields. Electrolytes, which are present in each living cell, are affected by magnetic fields as they have positive and negative ions (just like the ends of a battery) If your electrolytes are not balanced the cells will be invaded by excess fluid and toxins as with inflammation. This can cause the body to have up to 2 litres of excess and unwanted fluid.

Stabilising the body’s electrolyte an fluid imbalances enables damaged cells and tissues to repair and also causes any nerve cells which were compressed by the swollen tissue to be de compressed alleviating nerve pain.

4. As surplus fluid and toxins are passed out of the body as much as 2 litres of waste fluid can be removed from the circulatory system. As the heart does not have to pump such a large volume of circulatory fluid around the body it does not have to work so hard. Blood pressure naturally reduces as does the heart rate. Those who suffer with high blood pressure find that it returns to normal levels and many have medication reduced or stopped altogether. When the heart’s workload is reduced you will have more energy and a tremendous sense of wellbeing.

5. Lastly, the accumulative result of more oxygen, more nutrients, balanced hormones and a rested heart results in a strengthened immune system. You will be less likely to catch “bugs” and viruses. You will be able to fight infections better and ward off coughs and colds. Your immune system protects your body from attack and harm. To protect your body your immune system must be strong and healthy.

Magnetic substances can be dated back to 2500-3000 years BC. The first recording of magnets originated in Asia Minor, in a place referred to as Magnesia. The land was saturated with great quantities of iron oxide causing the earth to exert a pull on any metal. The citizens appropriately called it Magnetite.

Another story is told of a young boy, who lived 2500 years BC, called Magnes- a shepherd on Mount Ida. One day he was tending his sheep whilst wearing sandals which contained iron rivets in the sole. He found it hard to walk up the mountain, as his feet felt heavy and stuck to the rock face.

Mount Ida was found to contain a rock called Lodestone, which is the first known magnetic mineral. It is reported that Lodestone was named Magnes after the boy who discovered it, and it later came to be known as magnet.

The ancient Egyptian heroin Cleopatra could possibly be the first famous person to use the benefits of magnets. A Lodestone was used in her bed to refresh her skin and protect her looks. The knowledge of these benefits were shared with the Greeks and philosophers Plato and Aristotle wrote if its medicinal use since 2500 BC.

Following on from the Greeks, Chinese medicine then began to use magnets in 2000 BC along with their other treatments, reflexology and acupuncture. In fact, its popularity in the east remains today and is widely used for many different ailments.

Western cultures in Europe and America have also use magnets with ever increasing popularity. A Swiss physician in the fifteenth century called Paracelsus, penned numerous research papers with regard to the reduction of inflammation within the body caused by the placement of magnets on a person.

In the 16th century an English doctor Dr William Gilbert made a scientific study of electricity and magnetism. He published one of the first books about magnetic therapy called “De Magnet”. Dr Gilbert was also Queens Elizabeth I personal physician and it is said that she used magnets under his direction.

In the 1700s Michael Faraday made many discoveries into the healing properties of magnetic therapy. He thus earned the title “founder of biomagnetics”. In many modern magnetic treatments today his original studies provides a starting point. Doctors of Hypnotism and Homeopathy, Dr Mesmer and Dr Hahnemann worked with him and included some of their own work with his ideas.

Modern faces include a German doctor, Dr Kreft. In 1905 he looked at how magnetic fields can improve the symptoms of conditions such as neuralgia, rheumatism and sciatica. In 1926 Dr Criles ran studies on how cancerous cells would react to magnets. Then ten years later, Albert Davis was responsible for the accurate testing of magnetic north and south poles.

The examples of research and studies have grown with its popularity during the last 15 years. In excess of 57 studies have been carried out in the USA on all manner of illnesses and magnets. Here are a few of the most modern research programmes;

1990 – University of Hawaii studied the presence of magnetic fields on osteoarthritis sufferers.

1992- Stiller et al a randomised double blind trial of wound healing in venous leg wounds.

1999- New York Medical College took patients with diabetes and did tests using magnetic insoles.

2001- University of Virginia tested mattress covers with magnets on sufferers of Fibromyalgia.

2004- University of Exeter and Plymouth tested magnetic bracelets on patients with osteoarthritis

Magnetic therapy is gaining in popularity world wide with many celebrity devotees including:

Bill Clinton

Venus Williams

Bill Clinton

HRH Queen Elizabeth II

HRH Prince William

HRH Prince William

Cherie Blair

Shirley MaClaine

Venus Williams

Anthony Hopkins

Jack Niklaus and many more.