Treatment of Spondylolisthesis Available in India

Spondylo means "vertebra" and listhesis means "to slip". Spondylolisthesis is when one vertebra slips forward over the vertebra below it. Most often, that happens in the low back (lumbar spine) because that part of your spine bears a lot of weight and absorbs a lot of directional pressures.

NON SURGICAL TREATMENT :

Initial treatment for spondylolysis is always nonsurgical. Non surgical treatment includes -
Anti-inflammatory medications : Such as ibuprofen, may help reduce back pain.
Back brace and Physical Therapy

Periodic X-rays will show whether the vertebra is changing position.

SURGICAL TREATMENT :

Surgery may be needed if slippage progressively worsens or if back pain does not respond to nonsurgical treatment and begins to interfere with activities of daily living. A spinal fusion is performed between the lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. Sometimes, an internal brace of screws and rods is used to hold together the vertebra as the fusion heals.

Nerve compression, Damage of Spinal Nerve roots, Chronic back pain these are some complications may causes in spondylothesis.

Conservative therapy for mild spondylolisthesis is successful in about 80% of cases. When necessary, surgery produces satisfactory results in 85 - 90% of people with severe, painful spondylolisthesis.

There are dedicated specialized Spinal ( JCI Accreditaed ) Hospitals in India, like Indraprastha Apollo Hospital - New Delhi, Apollo Hospitals - Chennai, Manipal Hospital, wockhardt Hospital - Mumbai, MOIT Hospital - Chennai etc.

The Hospitals is best in the world in terms of
o State of the art diagnostics.
o World class operating theaters & Intensive care unit.
o Highly Qualified & experience doctors & surgeons may be trained abroad.
o English speaking highly trained paramedical staff

How to Have a Safe Recovery From Spinal Fusion Surgery

Back pain might make someone extremely uncomfortable and it can cause intense pain at times. A doctor might have even added extra stress when they recommended the patient for spinal fusion surgery. Although the doctor may have chosen this procedure over other forms of treatments, the patient can feel like they should have tried more medication and physical treatment rather than impose spinal fusion surgery. However, if the operation is needed, it can provide a quicker fix than some other treatments. Once the surgery has taken place, there needs to be some things that are followed to ensure a safe and speedy recovery.

After the surgery, the patient is required to follow the doctor's advice to the utmost. This can be enhanced through acute listening to the doctor on pain management strategies. Though this seems an obvious tip, it is often forgotten. The doctor will clearly indicate the dos and don'ts after the operation together with a recommendation of a physiotherapy course. The major challenge is actually never on listening to the doctors but rather on following their instructions and guidelines. The advice is meant for the patient's health so it is necessary to follow it straight away and do as directed.

Keeping good communication with the doctor is also vital after the surgery. Spinal fusion surgery is actually associated with various complications hence the need to handle it with ultimate care and attention. In case of any problems, the patient should contact the doctor immediately to allow for diagnosis that will enable the problem to be fixed as soon as possible. In case there is no change in the continuing pain, the patient should discuss it with their doctor to try to come up with some new solutions.

Away from the doctor's requirements, there are many things that the patient can do personally to improve the healing process. All this starts with positive thinking. This, though sounding funny is actually crucial during the recovery. If someone is always thinking that they will never recover, then it is going to be true in real life. It is best for the individual to always come up with ways that they can use to mentally influence and aid their recovery.

Before the spinal fusion surgery, the patient needs to prepare them self for it. They need to bear in mind that the surgery will cause changes in many of their daily activities. The preparation entails having enough food in the freezer such that it may not strain the back while cooking worsening the condition. Properly arranging the house in a suitable manner will help the patient's entry and exit without any problem. It is important to make all the arrangements right before the spinal fusion surgery.

The patient should also exercise routinely as recommended by a qualified therapist. This will enable the individual to gain strength in their back while struggling with the physical limits. It's best to start the exercises as soon as possible. All these strategies should be completed by taking a good rest. This though does not mean staying in bed all day and night.

All in all, it is important for a patient to have a safe recovery from spinal fusion surgery to make sure that they can have a comfortable lifestyle afterwards. This means that the patient should follow their doctor's advice but they should also make a personal effort to carry out what is needed to make sure the recovery is successful.

Symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis describes the narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back (or the lumbar segment of the vertebral column). Someone can develop lumbar spinal stenosis for a variety of reasons, the most common are a previous back injury or just a result from the natural process of aging.

Regardless of the reasons of why lumbar spinal stenosis develops, the symptoms are caused by an abnormal protrusion of muscle tissue or bone, which compress the nerve roots in the lower back. In more severe cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, the spinal cord itself is compressed causing extreme pain and possible paralysis.

There are many common symptoms of lumbar spinal canal stenosis. These symptoms include numbness, cramping, pain or weakness in one or both feet, the legs or the buttocks. Usually, these symptoms will become more pronounced with walking, standing straight or leaning backward. These symptoms will become less noticeable may become less noticeable when sitting down or leaning forward.

Stiffness or tightness in the muscles of the legs can be another symptom. Muscle stiffness is often present in lumbar spinal stenosis patients due to the constant irritation of the nerves that lead to the legs. This irritation causes the nerves to fire constantly, which can cause the leg muscles to spasm and stiffen.

The loss of bladder and bowel control and the incomplete emptying of the bladder is another set of symptoms due to the partial or near-total disruption of the nerves in and around the lower back that are responsible for the regulation of bladder and bowel function. In the most severe cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, nerve function can be lost to the extent that control of the bladder and rectal muscles may be completely compromised.

Obviously, lumbar spinal stenosis will result in back pain. However, the pain may range from almost unnoticeable to a constant, severe pain. When the pain is present, it will feel as if it is radiating from the patient's lower back into the hips and legs. The patient will usually be able to point to specific region on the lower back where their pain seems to be the most severe.

After considering the patient's medical history and the patient's description of symptoms, a spinal doctor will usually order diagnostic testing. Confirming that a patient is suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis usually will require imaging tests, such as Computed Tomography (CT) scans or x-rays of the lumbar region. MRI technologies have been invaluable in cases of spinal stenosis due to their high sensitivity in detecting small changes in the anatomy of the lower back.

Lumbar spinal canal stenosis often is the result of other injuries to the lower back as well as changes in anatomy and function of the spine taking place as part of the natural process of growing old. A complete and conclusive diagnosis should be entrusted to your doctor.

Back Surgery and Its Different Types

Are you suffering from severe back pain that hasn't relieved through non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, medications and steroid injections? If other remedies have failed to provide relief from long-term chronic backache then surgery may be the only option for you.

However, the surgery cannot be considered as an initial treatment for back pain. In most cases, backache tends to be temporary and can be managed by using non-surgical approaches and self-care. Exercise, physical therapy, and acupuncture are usually successful in treating back and neck pain.

Unfortunately, there is no option left for chronic pain sufferers other than going under the knife.

Back surgery is usually recommended to only a small percentage of cases. In particular, surgical treatment for back may be recommended if a person has severe back pain caused by wear and tear; or pain that continues to worsen despite other treatments; has back instability from injury; has acute arm or leg pain caused by nerve compression in the spine; or has nerve problems.

Back Surgery Options

There are several different types of back surgery. The type you choose depends on your back condition.

Discectomy: Also called open discectomy it is the most common surgical treatment for a ruptured or herniated disc in the spinal canal causing the pressure on the nerve. In this type of procedure, a surgeon removes one or more of your affected discs through a small cut over the center of your back. This relieves the pressure on the nerves.

Spinal Disc Replacement: This procedure is relatively new and is still not widely used by the surgeons. Spinal disc replacement aims to restore disc height and relieve painful movement between two vertebrae. While performing a spine replacement, your surgeon will remove the degenerated or injured discs and replace them with artificial ones.

Laminectomy: This procedure involves the removal of parts of the bone, bone spurs, or ligaments overlying the spinal canal. In a laminectomy, a surgeon cut opens the back and removes or disrupts the lamina, a plate along the vertebra that covers the spinal canal, in order to enlarge the spinal canal to allow more space for the nerves to pass. This relieves nerve pressure caused by spinal stenosis.

Foraminotomy: While performing this operation, your surgeon will carry out a keyhole procedure to widen your foramina- the bony holes through which nerve roots exit the spine. This expanded space reduces pressure on your spinal nerves caused by the inter-vertebral foramen, thereby relieving pain.

Vertebroplasty: During this procedure, your surgeon will first make a small cut on your back. Then, using X-rays as guidance, he/she will slowly inject cement-like mixture into your compressed vertebrae to stabilize the spine and relieve pain.

In a similar surgical procedure, called kyphoplasty, a balloon-like device is inserted in an attempt to widen the compressed vertebrae before injecting the bone cement.

Spinal Fusion: Also known as spondylodesis, spinal fusion is the most common surgery for chronic back pain. This operation is aimed at treating broken spinal bones (vertebrae) and increasing the strength of the spine by fusing two or more vertebrae together.

In a spinal fusion, a surgeon joins two or more spinal bones together using metal hardware, including a bone graft, and special metal scaffolding made of rods, screws or plates.

A spinal fusion is typically done to treat spondylolisthesis (unstable spine), or spinal weakness or instability.

The Lumbar Multifidus Muscle & Chronic Low Back Pain

It is well known that within the general population, 60-80% of individuals will experience an episode of low back pain (LBP) during their lifetime, with many experiencing more than one episode.

Spinal stabilization therapy has become very popular for treating LBP, and appears to be more effective over time than minimal intervention and exercise therapy alone. It has also been observed to reduce pain and disability associated with low back pain, as well as medication use and recurrence rates. Increasing our understanding of the mechanics of the low back - specifically with respect to the ability to stabilize the spinal "Neutral Zone" - was critical to the development of this exercise approach. From a rehabilitation and exercise perspective, our focus has shifted to strengthening and reactivating the stabilizing muscles of the spine, while encouraging proper motor control and "grooving" proper movement patterns. The lumbar mutifidus muscle(s) play a key role in stabilizing the spine. Therefore, neuromuscular training directed at 'neutral zone' stabilization is thought to impact these muscles and the outcome of LBP, disability, recurrence and prevention.

To quickly review, the "Neutral Zone", originally proposed by Panjabi, is defined as the part of the range of intervertebral motion, measured from the neutral position, in which spinal motion can occur with minimal non-muscular, passive resistance from spinal structures.

Lumbar multifidus muscles (LMM) are important stabilizers of this neutral zone, and dysfunction in these muscles is consistently associated with low back pain in existing studies. This dysfunction may be the result of reflexive inhibition from the spine leading to atrophic changes in the LMM musculature and fatty replacement that can be visualized on MRI.

This article discusses the role of LMM in recurrent (chronic) low back pain and reviews several literature-based approaches pertaining to the assessment and treatment of LMM dysfunction. The "Additional References" section below can serve as a resource for those interested in more information on this topic.

Multifidus Function:

• Multifidus are important stabilizers of the lumbar region, and account for more than two-thirds of the stiffness in the spine when it is in the neutral position.

• LMM is divided into deep in superficial fibers: the deep fibers span 2 segments and are tonically innervated; while superficial fibers span 3-5 levels and function physically. This anatomical architecture makes it suitable mechanically as well as anatomically for optimal stabilization.

Multifidus Atrophy and Low Back Pain:

• The pathological process that involves the LMM and can accompany LBP closely includes LMM atrophy and replacement of this muscle with fat (this can also occur after low back surgery). This is typically classified as: none, slight and severe in imaging studies. Such changes have been demonstrated in adults with LBP, and do not appear to be correlated with Body Mass Index.

• "Dorsal ramus syndrome" (low back pain with referred leg pain) produced by the irritation of structures supplied by the dorsal ramus (i.e. facet joints and LMM) might very well explain atrophic changes observed in the LMM after injury. In turn, abnormalities of the LMM might explain referred leg pain in the absence of other MRI abnormalities such as obvious disc or neural compromise.

• Advanced imaging (MRI) of the lumbar multifidus can measure atrophy and fatty replacement with good inter-observer reliability.

Multifidus Atrophy and Reflexive Inhibition:

• LMM is divided into five distinct myotomes, each innervated by a single spinal segment - medial branch of the dorsal ramus - which also innervates the zygapophyseal joints. The shared innervation suggests that nociceptive input from the facet joints could result in reflexive inhibition and subsequent atrophy of the LMM at the same level.

• LMM atrophy seen in the human spine as a result of reflexive inhibition is caused by afferent feedback from the zygapophyseal joint. This in turn impedes the voluntary activation of the LMM. The inhibitory response might explain (at least in part) the efficacy of manual approaches such as manipulation and mobilization directed at the facet joints.

• In animal models, rapid onset of LMM atrophy can occur within as little as three days after experimentally induced nerve root injury.

• LMM atrophy tends to be local in studies comparing multifidus size and symmetry between chronic low back patients and healthy asymptomatic subjects.

• LMM atrophy is typically associated with reduction in the ability to voluntary contract the muscles.

• There is also evidence to suggest that those with LBP and LMM atrophy demonstrate a significantly decreased ability to perform isometric contractions of the multifidus muscle.

Clinical Application & Conclusions: Multifidus Atrophy - Treatment:

• In one study a randomized group of patients were allocated into three programs: i) stabilization training, ii) stabilization training combined with dynamic resistance, and iii) stabilization training with dynamic-static resistance. CT scan was used to monitor LMM development over 10 weeks of training. Conclusions indicated that concentric and eccentric contraction phases were critical to induce LMM re-growth.

• Exercise specifically designed to increase the ability to contract LMM improves functions and reduces LBP disability.

In general, the research supports the concept that the LMM are critical stabilizers for the lumbar spine neutral zone, and that atrophy in these muscles is strongly correlated with low back pain & dysfunction. It has been suggested that the atrophy perpetuates an inhibitory feedback loop that begins with pain in the spine and can be associated with additional areas sharing the same segmental innervations (i.e. from the dorsal rami of the spinal nerve), which would include the intervertebral disc and facet joints. The sequela to this is mostly likely reflexive inhibition of the multifidus and fatty replacement of that musculature, subsequent weakening of the area, and insidious dysfunction and pain.

It was noted that LMM atrophy can exist in the general population, including highly active and elite athletes. This may be one reason for the high recurrence of low back pain - particularly after traumatic episodes where LMM atrophic changes occur. This would further suggest that conditioning of the LMM is an integral part of low back function - not only from a rehabilitation perspective but also as a prophylactic or preventive measure for promoting general back health...as always, GET YOUR PATIENTS EXERCISING!

Foot Drop

Foot drop is a colloquial term for a particular symptom often associated with sciatica. The condition is described as the inability to elevate the front of the foot due to actual or perceived muscular weakness, also known as a dorsiflexion deficit. In the vast majority of cases, a structural issue is blamed for the pain and often operated upon using the latest spinal surgery techniques. Unfortunately, many patients do not find relief from their sciatica and associated lower body issues due to poor treatment results, or far more commonly, misdiagnosis of the root cause of the symptoms.

Foot drop is not difficult to diagnose, since most patients will notice it for themselves. It is common for affected sufferers to have difficulty walking normally, since the front of the foot will not operate in a manner consistent with a normal gait. Patients usually shuffle along with the foot pointed straight out, or even down, and typically have difficulty in climbing stairs or moving quickly without hitting their toes. Some patients have variable degrees of a dropped foot, with the symptoms coming and going to one extent or another, predictably or unpredictably. Many other patients have total objective loss of functionality, also known as complete foot drop. These patients can not elevate the frontal foot at all, despite their best efforts.

The most common reason for foot drop to occur is a problem with the L5 spinal nerve root. This structure is located in the lower lumbar spine, right above the lumbosacral juncture. The L5 vertebral level is one of the most common locations in the spine to suffer a variety of degenerative conditions, including the universality of disc desiccation, the common incidence of herniations and the normalcy of spinal osteoarthritic change. Other less common conditions also affect this level more than other spinal areas, including spondylolisthesis, lumbar scoliosis and various degrees of hypolordosis and hyperlordosis.

The overwhelming majority of affected patients will receive diagnostic imaging of the lumbar spine, usually in the form of CT scan, or better yet, magnetic resonance imaging. The findings will almost surely show one or more of these structural degenerative conditions, since these exist in virtually the entire adult population. Regardless of the structural problem located, there is almost a 100% chance that it will be blamed for sourcing the foot drop, without any additional thought. Patients with access to truly quality care will enjoy the benefit of neurological symptom correlation, which is one of the better ways of avoiding misdiagnosis. The rest are simply often scheduled for surgery or long term conservative care with no follow up testing at all...

Foot drop can surely occur due to herniated discs and other structural concerns, such as the incidence of osteophyte growth in the lower lumbar vertebrae. However, in many cases, non-structural processes are at work which cause the drop foot to exist and the structural findings, if any, may be only contributory or even coincidental to the symptomatic expression. I see this often in patients who still have dorsiflexion deficit, despite active and sometimes surgical treatment.

A great many patients have disc or vertebral issues at L5, since these are almost a given in the human spine. However, when symptomatic correlation is performed correctly, the actual expression will usually be far too diverse and widespread to possibly be explained from single L5 nerve compression. Regardless, surgery is often performed and results are, as expected, abysmal. Objective neurological correlation would save these patients from a world of anatomical injury and pain as they waste time, money and hope pursuing treatment which is not appropriate or indicated... Similarly, simply learning more about a diagnosed condition will help a patient see the holes in the working diagnostic theory. It is for this reason that I strongly urge all patients with foot drop, sciatica or general back pain to take active roles in their own care and thoroughly research their diagnoses, treatment options and prognoses, before agreeing to any ongoing or invasive therapy plan.

Manage Scoliosis Pain Using Stretching Exercises For Your Back

One potentially painful malady known as scoliosis is where a person's spine has an unnatural curvature that often leads to soreness and additional health problems. There are many scoliosis stretching workout routines regarding the upper body that will aid to prevent any type of curvature of the back from deteriorating, remove the curvature, build up physical posture, and likewise lessen the pain. Following is are a few stretching physical activities which have long been worthwhile for people with scoliosis.

1. Shoulders Stretching - Standing up with your shoulder-width apart from each other and additionally the knees bent slightly, move just one arm over your chest on a level plane with the floor, and utilize the alternative arm to grab the area around the bicep and bring the arm closer to your chest area. Proceed to stretch out the arm to the extent that you don't feel any pain. Then change to the other side and perform the same thing on the remaining arm.

2. Chest Stretching Routine - Chest stretching exercises are carried out while you are standing with your toes approximately shoulder-width from each other and with your arms thrust out to the side parallel to the ground surface. Drag arms in a backward direction and just push shoulder blades as close together as feels good.

Bicep stretching routines actually are very similar to this, only you will need to moderately contract your knees and also as your arms will be along the side of your body, move palms in a backward direction, after which pull arms back. You will not only actually feel this particular stretching exercise within your chest but inside of the biceps area, too.

3. Shoulder and also Triceps Stretching Workout - Stand in the same position as you practiced in the shoulder stretching routine. Elevate each of your arms above your skull, and next lower each of the arms at the same moment in time down the middle of your spinal column as far down you are able to effectively go.

4. Upper Back Stretching Workout - Using this type of stretching exercise, make sure that body posture is just as upright as is possible. Interweave your fingers together and then you can push arms forward just as far away from the chest as you may reach. You will definitely feel that stretching routine in your top back, especially between your shoulder blades.

It's vital to remember these particular stretching workouts might not be advantageous in all scoliosis patients. It is essential to go to a medical professional or a physical therapist prior to attempting this type of stretching routine. It is best that you only stretch out as much as you find comfortable for you personally. A certain amount of slight discomfort is regular, though nearly anything past that may actually do you harm.

To people with scoliosis, yoga may well be an enormously rewarding routine of exercises that is made of many of these upper-body stretching workouts in addition to breathing styles that could relax muscle tissue rigidity and build up physical posture. All of these scoliosis stretching routines may be completed nearly every day and can have tremendous positive effects for a lot of individuals.

Are Front Pocket Wallets a Cure for Back Pain?

A front pocket wallet can solve your back pain problems! Although the issue of fat wallets and back pain is known by most people due to an old Seinfeld episode, there is actually a lot of scientific evidence tying back pocket wallets to back pain.

Are you suffering from any of the following problems?

- Sciatica

- Lower back pain

- Mid back pain

If so, your wallet may be to blame. The main cause of wallet related back pain has to do with sitting on a large wallet for a long period of time. Although most men don't realize it, a wallet can offset their sitting bones significantly enough to cause back problems. Why do traditional wallets cause back problems?

Physiotherapists report that when you're sitting on a thick wallet, your spine has to take a posture that is uncomfortable and dangerous. This posture can affect your nerves throughout your lower back, mid back and legs including the all important sciatica nerve. The sciatic nerve runs through lower back near lumbar segment #3 and then through each leg. When the sciatic nerve is damaged it can cause numbness and tingling throughout your lower back and down your legs all the way to your toes.

The symptoms of sciatic nerve damage, called sciatica, naturally increase after middle age - but sitting on a large wallet all day long can increase the frequency and severity of the pain. Sciatica can make it difficult to walk around, sit down or lie down. When you're suffering from sciatica, the only thing that seems to make the condition better in the moment is standing up.

Back Pain Cures (Besides the Front Pocket Wallet)

Back pain is no picnic and so most sufferers try to alleviate or get rid of the pain entirely. There are a lot of options out there that can provide some relief.

Pain killers - Pain killers (either over the counter or prescription) can offer temporary relief for back pain. The only problem is that pain killers can be habit forming and can have some nasty side effects.

Chiropractic care - Chiropractic medicine is designed to deal with the spine directly, so it's an ideal fit for back pain. Getting a chiropractic adjustment can relieve sciatic pain but unless you continue treatment indefinitely or change your habits significantly you will continue to experience pain.

Acupuncture - This ancient form of medicine is effective, but you'll need to tolerate needle insertions on a bi-weekly basis for a while and then regularly. If you're comfortable with acupuncture, this can be a temporary solution but just like with chiropractic care you will need to go regularly and often.

Surgery - If back pain persists and it is severely disrupting your life, surgery can be an option. Back surgeries come in a wide variety of options but your doctor will likely emphasize other non-invasive solutions before suggesting surgery.

Get a Front Pocket Wallet

Before your back problems become worse, you can head them off at the pass with a front pocket wallet. Front pocket wallets can conveniently hold your smartphone, your cards and your ID without making your back hurt. Not only does a front pocket wallet prevent sciatica and back pain, it can help keep your valuables more secure.

Don't reach for pain pills or expensive treatments. Try out an e-Holster front pocket wallet first and feel the difference.

Chiropractic Solutions for Prenatal Back Pain

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful times in a woman's life. She is growing another human being inside her body. Unfortunately, this period also comes with a lot of aches and back pain. So much so that many women can find it hard to walk by the time, they are 28 weeks. Before the pain becomes severe, you will want to take the time to contact a prenatal chiropractor who can manipulate your body, easing the symptoms.

Chiropractors are ideal for women who are pregnant. They can bring relief from the beginning of pregnancy, to after the baby is delivered. In addition to easing prenatal back pain, women can see relief from headaches, leg pain, fatigue, ankle swelling, and neck pain. This relief comes from having the body put back into alignment.

Why Get Adjustments

When a woman becomes pregnant, they are not able to handle the stress that the baby's weight puts on them. Even the most fit woman will experience prenatal back pain. The abdominal muscles are stretched to their limits and the pelvic bones will move. Chiropractors are able to bring immense prenatal back pain relief by putting the spine back in alignment.

Prenatal Chiropractic Care

It is important when you are pregnant that you seek a chiropractor that specializes in prenatal care. The manipulation is very gentle and is observant to the needs of an expectant mother. Most tables will have a section in the middle that lowers allowing them to lay prone for as long as possible. Chiropractors who offer prenatal back pain relief will make sure that the mother is comfortable during every stage of pregnancy.

Procedure

When you go in for your first chiropractic appointment after you are pregnant, the physician will want to know what your delivery plans are. This will help them create a tailored program that best suits your needs. Women who are delivering the baby naturally will need to be as mobile as possible. This means the chiropractor will work on the back, pelvis, hips, legs, ankles, and feet.

For a mother who is planning on having a cesarean section baby, they will need to make sure that their back and core stay aligned. The physician will make sure that they are healthy enough to have surgery, and their recovery time will be as minimal as possible.

Nutrition

The chiropractor will also offer the best nutrition plan possible. Not just adjustments keep you pain free, but also your health and posture. By making sure your diet is healthy, you are taking a prenatal supplement, and taking a prenatal vitamin, you are giving your body the best chance at keeping the baby well fed. It also will help you limit the amount of weight you gain.

Gaining too much weight, or weight at a rapid pace, can put more strain on your back, pelvis, and legs. A physician that specializes in chiropractic care will know exactly what supplements are best for your body and that of your growing infant.

Post-Natal Care

After you have delivered your baby, you will likely experience back pain again. Labor and delivery is also very hard on the body. It is best if you go back to your chiropractor and have another adjustment performed. While you are there, let the physician align your infant. The process is just as hard on him or her, as it is on you. Chiropractic adjustments will help with the nursing and growing pains.

Seeking relief from all the aches and pains that come with pregnancy, labor, and delivery does not make you a weak person. In fact, it makes you a good parent because you care about yourself and your baby enough to make sure that you can handle the delivery. You will not only notice immediate relief from the back pain, but also see a reduction in your swelling, headaches, leg pain and more.

When you combine the chiropractic adjustments with holistic nutrition, you are giving your baby the best start possible. As well as giving yourself, the best chance at a quick recovery. Many offices can handle all areas of alternative treatments, truly allowing you to enjoy the nine months that pregnancy usually lasts, and then enjoy your beautiful baby for the years afterwards.

Alleviating Back Pain - Artificial Discs

Many of us suffer from back pain. For some of us, we choose to live through the anguish of constant flare-ups, letting back pain become a permanent burden. Others try to find ways to treat lower back pain and relieve some of the pain with special seat cushions and sitting in chairs with special lumbar support.

Up until fairly recently, a popular surgical procedure for treating collapsed or bulged discs was fusion. Spinal fusion surgery entails the fusing of two cervical discs together with bone grafts in order to prevent disc slippage. Usually, the patient must give up a degree of mobility in order to be without back pain. Today, however, there are treatments for bulging or herniated discs that have shown promise in both alleviating pain and allowing patients to live a normal, pain-free life.

Disc replacement is a back pain treatment that can give people a natural range of motion and mobility, while either partially or totally replacing the damaged disc with an artificial one. Artificial discs will provide the patient with the necessary separation between the vertebrae and completely alleviate any pain associated with bulging discs. The patient will be able to bend, turn and twist with virtually no pain associated with the lower back. Furthermore, patients who receive artificial discs can recover and return to work more quickly than patients who receive spinal fusion surgery.

A spine surgeon can replace a person's damaged discs by a fairly straightforward surgical procedure. The spinal surgeon must have access to the front of the spinal column, so an incision is made in the patient's abdomen. After separating the internal organs and gaining access to the front of the spine, the surgeon will remove the damaged disc material. The new disc, which is made out of either a plastic or polyethylene material between two metal plates, is placed into the spinal column in place of the removed disc and anchored to the vertebrae. The spine surgeon closes the incision and the recovery process begins.

Artificial disc replacement surgery is fairly new in the United States, but it is not unlike knee replacement or hip replacement surgery. The lifespan of the artificial discs could be 15 to 20 years, depending on the amount of strain a person puts on them. With regular x-ray follow-ups, the patient should be free of lower back pain for several years. Physical therapy should also be done in the weeks immediately following artificial disc replacement surgery.

Pain management exercise and a healthy diet should ease the burden on a patient's back after surgery. The stomach muscles need to be strengthened in order to ease the burden on the spine. Carrying excess weight will cause unnecessary strain on the back and could eventually re-damage the area.

Consult a spine surgeon to see if artificial disc replacement is a viable option to treat and relieve your lower back pain.

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy - 3 Useful Tips Toward Back Pain Relief

Everyone knows that chiropractic care can be a great relief to the new mother plagued by back pain after childbirth. But what most people don't know are the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, both for the mother and the unborn child.

1. Some Common Misconceptions

there are many myths about the dangers of chiropractic care during pregnancy. Some of the more common myths concern the discomfort experienced during therapy, awkward spinal positioning during treatment, and undue pressure on the fetus. these myths may discourage pregnant mothers from seeking chiropractic care during their pregnancy, fearing damage to them selves or the baby. It is certain, though, that no licensed and competent chiropractor every did lasting harm to either a mother or her unborn child. It is too bad that these myths are so common, since there are few people who could use chiropractic care more than a new mother in her first pregnancy.

2. The Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

The most obvious effects of chiropractic care during a mother's pregnancy are the relief of pain in the neck, back, and joints caused by carrying the extra weight of an infant in addition to the demands of supplying both herself and the child with sufficient nutrition. What may not be immediately obvious are other benefits such as relief from morning nausea, because of the central nervous system benefits chiropractic care has. Chiropractic care during pregnancy can also lead to shorter delivery times and less time spent in labor. Regular chiropractic care can also prevent any spinal misalignment or damage caused by the excessive spinal curve many mothers develop from the effort of carrying the weight of the child, especially during the last trimester.

3. Finding a Chiropractor

All licensed chiropractors are trained to work with pregnant women, but you should not settle on the first chiropractor you find. If you are newly pregnant, you should try to find a chiropractor ahead of time. Look for one that specializes in and has advanced training for chiropractic care during pregnancy. Larry Webster, D.C. founded the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Ideally, your chiropractor of choice should have an ICPA certificate, be Webster Certified, or hold a DACCP certificate.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is not only safe, but should be actively sought out my mothers who are currently pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant. The benefits to the spine, musculoskeletal system, and nervous system are undeniable. Even the relief from back pain common to pregnancy (especially in the later stages) can be of enormous benefit to both the mother and the unborn child in the form of reduced levels of pain-caused stress hormones.

Strengthening Your Back Muscles Through Stretching

Strengthening your back muscles with stretching exercises has many benefits. Stretches not only help build and tone our muscles, but stretches help to minimize and relieve pain. Our spinal muscles are the most over used muscles of our body. Additionally, this is one of the parts that many people forget to strengthen. If you have ever had pain along the spine, then you know just how painful this can be. As we age, this pain can intensify. When you strengthen your spine, you reduce the risk of injury and minimize pain. Although the lower spinal muscles tend to be the problem area when it comes to aches and pain, you want to ensure you strengthen the entire spine. You can strengthen your muscles through strengthening exercises as well as stretches. The stretching exercises help to keep your muscles loose and toned. This will help you do every day tasks, like twisting, lifting and walking, without feeling the stabbing pain. Here are several upper and lower back stretches you can do to strengthen your muscles.

Strengthening Stretch #1

Pelvic Tilt

This stretching exercise is great for waking up the spine and preparing it for the day ahead. This will stretch the lower back and help strengthen the lower spinal muscles.

How to do the Pelvic Tilt

1. Start by lying on the ground, knees bent and feet flat on the floor.


2. Place your arms out to your sides laying your palms flat to the floor.


3. Starting with your spine flat to the floor, slowly arch the spine keeping your shoulders and buttocks on the floor.


4. Slowly return to your starting position and contract your abdominal muscles slightly to help press the lower spine into the floor.


5. Repeat this 5 to 10 times.

Strengthening Stretch #2

Spinal Twist

This is a great one to really stretch and strengthen the entire spine.

How to do the Spinal Twist

1. Lie on the floor with both knees bent, feet on the floor and your spine flat to the floor.


2. Place your arms out to your side.


3. Now slowly drop both knees down to the floor to one side until you feel the stretch up the spine.


4. Hold the stretch for a count of 30.


5. Repeat to the other side.


6. Repeat this strengthening stretch on each side for 5 to 10 stretches.

Strengthening Stretch #3

Swiss Ball Stretch

This one really stretches out the upper spine and feels great.

How to do the Swiss Ball Stretch

1. Place your Swiss ball on the floor.


2. Lie down on the ball with the center of your back on the top of the ball.


3. Place your legs shoulder width apart with heels on the floor.


4. Now place your arms behind you shoulder width apart and let your body sink into the ball. You should feel the stretch in the spine.


5. Hold this stretch for a count of 30 to 60.


6. Repeat this stretch several times.

These strengthening stretches will help keep your spine healthy and minimize pain. Remember, you use and abuse these muscles every day so treat your back to some relaxing and strengthening stretches. After all, you deserve it.

Should I Have Surgery for Back Pain From Facet Arthritis?

Typically unless there are unusual circumstances the answer is no. Of course there are exceptions such as if the patient has scoliosis or spinal instability.

When you have arthritis in multiple joints on both sides of the spine there really is no good answer with spine surgery. Arthritis usually affects multiple joints in the back and surgery would involve a spinal fusion of quite a few levels. It's very different than a hip or knee replacement, you only have 2 of those. With facet joints you have ten in the lumbar spine alone!

You could do a spinal fusion on multiple levels, but this will limit the person's mobility and cause other potential issues postoperatively such as infection, nerve injury, or worst of all - continued pain. The risk benefit profile for back surgery at numerous levels for facet arthritis is questionable, as a good facet joint replacement does not exist yet.

If the problem is focal and is occurring at one level of maybe two, then surgery may be a very good answer. But normal everyday wear and tear osteoarthritis at multiple spinal joints is not well served with a surgical procedure.

In effectively treating facet joint arthritis in symptomatic patients, the best method is non-operative procedures and other therapy options. These would include physical therapy, spinal decompression therapy, chiropractic treatment, and acupuncture, along with interventional pain management and potentially pain medications.

Nonsurgical treatment for facet arthritis can get typically well over 80% pain relief along with providing very little risk to the patient. The risks are small but real with interventional pain injections, however the benefit achieved can be dramatic and last for months to years.

The same benefit may be achieved with surgery, but the risks associated with this are also much more substantial than what the nonsurgical options entail. So surgery for facet disease really should be a last resort and care should be taken to make sure that there is a really good indication for surgery.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

For patients who are suffering from back conditions of various types, including radiculartype complaints (leg pain) as well as mechanical back pain related to the degenerative process. There is a myriad of new and old technology that allows surgeons to provide the patient significant reduction in their pain with the least amount of surgical dissection. This is typically termed as minimally invasive spinal surgery.

In the past, in the case of spinal fusion surgery, we performed surgery with a large surgical incision for one or two-level disease, with a significant amount of muscle stripping in order to provide adequate visualization to place hardware and bone graft material. With our new technology, we are now able to perform minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery for one to three-level disease in patients who are suffering from both mechanical back pain and leg pain. This technology has improved the patient's ability to recover quickly, reduce their intra-operative bleeding, operative time and hospital stay. It appears post-operatively that many of the patients who have undergone the minimally invasive fusion surgery, as opposed to standard open fusion surgery, have shown a remarkable difference in their post-operative pain management requirements and their ability to return back to a functional life.

Patients with thoracic predominant scoliosis, in the younger population, it is now possible to perform a minimally invasive thorascopic spinal fusion surgery to help correct their curve, reduce their deformity, and thus reduce the risk of progression of their spinal deformity. The thorascopic approach, while incorporating a selective fusion paradigm, has allowed us to again reduce the patient's post-operative morbidity, operative time, blood loss, and reduced pain management requirements. In my hands, we have found thorascopic scoliosis reconstructive surgery to be an important part of our overall treatment for your younger population who has clear evidence of progressive thoracogenic scoliosis.

Minimally invasive surgery is also a mainstay treatment for patients who have predominant radicular complaints (leg pain) in the presence of a corresponding herniated disc. Options include Microscopic lumbar Discotomy, Microendoscopic Discotomy, and Laser Discectomy. In my hands, this is a quick and safe surgical procedure, resulting in a one-inch incision, 25 to 45 minute operative time, with a 98 percent chance of an excellent outcome in the reduction of the patient's pre-operative, disabling leg pain. All patients, with the exception of the elderly population, are able to be discharged from the hospital within hours of the operative procedure, and are able to return back to most of their pre-surgical activities within one to three weeks.

All About Herniated Disc Surgery

According to a plethora of medical research and studies, a herniated disc surgery is not the only treatment for this disorder. There are various other treatments that individuals can be subjected including resorption, where the pain subsides by itself or via the aid of regularly exercising. It is recorded that approximately 50% of individuals suffering from herniated disc recover in a period of a month. On the same hand, 96% of individuals suffering from this ailment fully recover after six months, and only 10% require surgery to curb the symptoms of the ailment. The surgery also enables individuals perform their normal functions and movement.

However, before settling for a herniated disc surgery it is advisable to determine if there is the slightest possibility that an individual will heal with time. It is recommended to persevere through the pain until it subsides than to evade such consequences via surgery. This is because even though the surgery is clinically approved there is a high risk for development of a complication. The different surgical approaches will emanate varying results on different individuals. They may completely reduce the pain or further aggravate it. Moreover, it may take more than a year to recuperate from the surgery.

Therefore, herniated disc surgery is only recommended to individuals whose medical history shows that they suffer from a persistent leg pain for more than a month even after being subjected to non-surgical treatments. In addition, an individual that also suffers from loss of motion, general body weakness and abnormal sensitivity is a suitable candidate for the surgery. On the same hand, individuals that have gone through a computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and myelogram tests to produce results suggesting that they require to undergo surgery in order to fully recover are also potential candidates for the procedure.

In a nut shell, individuals liable to a herniated disc surgery should portray specific conditions with regards to their diagnostic tests, physical examinations and expected results of the ailment. The decision should also be determined by the possibility of using other treatment options and your response to non-surgical treatment. In addition, factors such as severity of the symptoms, age, impact of the symptoms to the normal functioning of an individual and the general health status of an individual play a crucial role in determining whether one should be subjected to surgery or nonsurgical treatments. For example, aged individuals stand a higher possibility of being subjected to surgery because of the risk for the rapid development of other spinal related diseases. Also, if the symptoms are too aggravating to the extent of totally inhibiting the ability of individuals to engage in their normal functions, then surgery should immediately be done. However, individuals that only emanate back-pain as a symptom are rarely subjected to surgery. This is because there is a high likelihood that the ailment the individual is suffering from may not be herniated disc related.

Currently, there are two herniated disc surgery procedures in use, traditional disc surgery and laser-assisted disc surgery procedures like the percutaneous endoscopic disectomy. The latter surgical procedure is the most preferred because it arises lower health related risks, entails the use of a small incision on the patient, portrays rapid recovery and there are high chances that the back or neck pain will completely be alleviated. With the traditional disc surgery, there is a high possibility for the development of stroke and heart attack from the general use of anesthesia. This may eventually lead to death. Moreover, individuals need to use hardware and spinal fusion so as to stabilize the spine after the removal of the affected spinal components. In addition, there is a high risk for development of a wide array of infections as well as bleeding to death. On the other hand, the extensive scar formation may lead to development of new neck and back pain as well as make individuals undergo a lengthy recovery time, which may be weeks or years. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the pain will completely subside.

By the way, a herniated disc disorder is a degeneration of the soft tissue (intervertebral disc) located between the vertebrae of the spin because of the daily wear and tear. As one ages, these discs become brittle due to the loss of their water content. With time or due to a traumatic accident to the spine, the outer wall may tear allowing the inner disc material to seep through to the spinal canal. When the material presses any nearby spinal nerve the herniated disc disorder occurs. This disorder is not dangerous in nature and can even occur unnoticed. However, it becomes problematic when the nucleus material compresses the spinal nerves. This results to development of tingling sensations, numbness, pain and weakness along the affected nerve (that is its entire course) mainly along the lumbar and cervical regions. Other than surgery, a herniated disc disorder can be treated via the prescription of pain relief medication, hot or cold therapy, physical therapy and acupuncture just to mention but a few.

How To Relieve Sciatic Nerve Pain

What Is Sciatica?

If you are feeling pain running from your lower back down to your buttocks and to your legs, you may already have a condition that is called sciatic nerve pain, or pinched nerve in the lower spine, or simply sciatica.

The sciatic nerve is the body's biggest nerve. It extends from the spinal cord down to the back of the legs and ending at the foot. This explains why if it gets pinched or irritated, pain shoots all over the back and lower extremities. Some experience numbness in the affected parts which may become extremely painful when subjected to sudden movement, while others report excruciating pain that leave them practically immobile for days.

What Causes Sciatica?

To treat this condition, it is important to understand the causes of it. Some of the common causes of sciatic nerve pain are herniated disc, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease.

Herniated disc or slipped disc usually occurs when one makes a sudden twisting motion or when the back is subjected to a forceful blow or impact, as in the case of vehicular accidents. Sciatic nerve pain is the most common symptom of a slipped disc and may need serious attention.

Another cause of sciatic nerve pain is spinal stenosis or the narrowing of the spinal canal which restricts the spinal cord. People aged 60 and above are prone to getting this condition. Another age-related cause of sciatic nerve pain is degenerative disc disease. This occurs when a weakened disc along the spinal cord results in excessive minute movements that expose inflammatory proteins that irritate the sciatic nerve roots.

Pain Relief for Sciatica

Pilates Exercises

A gentle exercise such as Pilates warms up and strengthens the back and abdominal muscles that support the spinal cord. Pilates targeted towards these muscle groups prevents tightening which contribute to pinched sciatic nerve. Regular Pilates helps you recover more quickly and may prevent future sciatic episodes from flaring up.

Rest

Rest in this case means minimizing movements and avoiding carrying heavy objects. Lying on the bed, unless it is flat and hard, is a no-no because the cushion only aggravates the pinched nerve. Complete bed rest is not recommended. If you have to sit, use a chair with a well supported back. Remember to take everything slowly and carefully, and don't do anything - sitting, standing, or walking for too long.

Use Heat Pad Or Take Warm Shower

Applying heat is a great sciatic nerve pain relief. Adjust your heating pad to low or medium heat then use on affected part for 15 to 20 minutes every 3 hours. You may take a warm shower as an alternative to a cycle of the heat pad.

If the sciatic nerve pain lasts more than a month and if the pain has become intolerable, you may have to see a pain relief specialist who are well versed in anatomy of the body and can perform a combination of myofascial release as well as Pilates exercises that can provide pain relief.

The Most Effective Lower Back Exercises To Relieve Back Pain

Despite what you might think, rarely is the cause of lower back pain at the site where it hurts. Most people and their therapists think it is. That's why they want to heat, rub, crunch, vibrate and slice the spot where it is most painful.

In fact you can tell how good a therapist is by watching where they go in the search for the cause of the pain. Just attacking the spot where it hurts sends out a big amber light.

Surprisingly, lower back pain is a merely a symptom that some of the bones in your lower back are out of alignment. Your immediate task is to get them back in alignment. Do that and there's a good chance the pain will go away.

When the vertebrae move out of alignment, ligaments, tendons and muscles are stretched beyond their pain threshold. The nucleus of discs is squeezed out and the disc collapses. Often the nucleus hits the spinal cord. That's when the pain really starts. You can't sneeze or cough without it feeling like there's a red hot poker being jammed into your back. You can't bend over the basin to brush your teeth. You can't bend down to put your socks on.

So what causes the vertebrae in your lower back to move out of alignment?

Answer! If the pelvis has moved out of alignment, it's highly likely the bones above it have moved out of alignment as well.

Treat the pelvis as the foundation for the bones that are above it and consider this analogy. If the foundation of your house moves then the walls will crack. You can patch up or paper over the cracks, but you'll probably have to continue to keep patching and papering until kingdom come. The solution is to underpin (and square up) the foundation so it can't move.

So the precondition for a spinal column that's in alignment is a pelvis that's in alignment.

So what causes the pelvis to move out of alignment?

Answer! Tight calf, hamstring, buttock and hip flexor muscles.

Which brings us back to the question of what are the best exercises to relieve lower back pain?

Answer! Flexibility exercises that impact on the alignment of the pelvis, particularly exercises that loosen off tight calf, hamstring, buttock and hip flexor muscles.

But that's not the full story. You also need to strengthen the whole musculo-skeletal ecosystem by regularly going to the gym and working out - or if you're averse to lifting weights start on a regular and systematic strength training program at home that includes situps, pressups, squats and the Superman back arch.

It makes sense to have a body strong enough to keep the bones of your spinal column in correct alignment.

Interestingly one of the best predictors of risk of lower back pain is the ability to do pressups. While you're doing pressups the muscles of your trunk are all being strengthened, front, back and core.

If you're looking for targets for situps, pressups and squats, 20 of each is good, 30 is better and 40 is best. Build the Superman back arch up to a couple of minutes of gentle ups and downs without your chest or legs touching the floor.

The last piece of the lower back exercise jigsaw is some relaxing exercises to settle the spinal column down, exercises where you lie on your back with both legs bent at 90 degrees and the lower legs supported by an ottoman. This is known in the trade as the static back exercise and lying in this position for 20 minutes will bring temporary relief from back pain, and over the weeks and months assist the vertebrae to gradually get back into better alignment.

Another relaxing posture using the ottoman is lying on the floor with one leg on the ottoman and the other outstretched on the flood for 20 minutes - then change legs. This is the supine groin stretch. Over 20 minutes the hip flexor muscles will gradually relax and over the weeks and months allow your vertebrae to move back into better alignment.

If you're diligent you'll spend a couple of hours on the floor each evening while you watch TV, read a book or just drift off with the faeries doing the flexibility exercises and the relaxation exercises.

The strength exercises you can do after you've been for a walk, shuffle, jog, swim, cycle... in the morning.

Now just as Rome wasn't built in a day, your lower back pain wasn't caused in a day. For most people it happens over decades, due to a poor sitting posture and lack of strength and flexibility exercises. Being 20 or more Kg over weight doesn't help matters.

Neither will back pain be cured in a day. Depending on how far out of alignment your pelvis and the bones above it are, it may take a couple of months for you to experience real relief and up to a year before you can say, 'I no longer have lower back pain.'

But the good news is that if you start doing something now, there's an 80% chance for 80% of people that they will get themselves back to 80% of good nick within a year. If you've got back pain them's good odds.

In the meantime stay tuned, highly tuned and make an immediate start on a serious strength and flexibility training program.

Back Pain Relief Using Inversion Tables - Do They Work?

Spinal traction of any kind is a pulling force intended to stretch the ligaments and muscles in the spine and add to the space separating the vertebrae. It is used by physical therapists and chiropractors, along with other treatments, to ease lower back pain in general and treat sciatica in particular.

Inversion therapy

This form of traction has been used since ancient times, and it involves having the patient hang upside down to relieve pressure on the spine, Today, a well-known piece of equipment, the inversion table, is used for this purpose, and the patient's body weight is used to stretch the spine in the inversion process. Some people feel more comfortable with partial inversion, and an inversion table can be adjusted to tilt at different angles, even a slightly inverted level of 20 - 30 degrees.

As people adjust to the treatment, the slant can be increased to 60 degrees, which will automatically add to the stretch. There is also a psychological component to this treatment, and if they feel insecure in the optimum inverted position, the muscles will contract, which will defeat the purpose of the therapy.

Adjusting to the treatment

The amount of time people spend using an inversion table is correlated with the particular angle being used at the time. Ordinarily, they start by inverting for a few minutes and work up to 10 minutes as they adjust to the process and become more relaxed while doing it. (Many patients use the inversion table 2 or 3 times daily to relieve their lower back pain.)

As the back is stretched, pressure in the nerve roots and intervertebral disks lessens and back pain is reduced. This treatment can also be beneficial to individuals with poor posture as it elongates the muscles, and medical professionals sometimes rely on using the inversion table to increase the flow of blood to the brain and boost the patient's mental alertness.

Recommendations before using an inversion table

Always consult with your physician before taking this step, and note that it is not recommended for individuals with osteoporosis, coronary or circulatory problems, high blood pressure, or related conditions. Note also that it has not been proven scientifically that the use of any type of traction will ensure long-term benefits, but it is generally used and accepted as a means of providing temporary relief for people living with chronic pain in the lower back.

What You Need to Know About a Slipped Or Herniated Disc - Part 1

Have you ever experienced serious back pain? I'm talking about back pain that was so bad that you couldn't walk or sleep or go to work? Researchers estimate that 60-80% of Americans will experience lower back pain at some point in their life. While it is not debilitating in most cases it can be quite severe and even life threatening. When your pain is as intense as what was described at the start you may have had a friend suggest that you could have a "slipped" or herniated disc. This article will describe exactly what this condition is and how you can tell if you might have it.

Your Spine: First, you must understand that the spinal column is made up of 25 movable segments. The bones in your spine are called vertebrae. Vertebrae are stacked on top of each other and span all the way from you're the base of your skull to your tailbone. The purposes of this column of spinal bones are to protect the spinal cord and to allow or limit movements. In between adjacent vertebra are intervertebral discs. These discs are made of a substance called fibrocartilage which is tough and rubbery. At the center of every disc is a gelatinous core called the nucleus pulposus. The purposes of these discs are to govern the flexibility of the spine and absorb the shock of forces on the spine.

Disc Injuries: Occasionally these rubbery discs can bulge or even tear. When this happens it is possible for the disc to deform to the point that it starts to compress nerve roots coming off of the spinal cord. These nerve roots provide all of the nerve connections from the body to the brain. Whether its fingers and toes or the liver or the heart, all parts of the body communicate with the brain through the nerve roots which are attached to the spinal cord. When these nerve roots are compressed it can cause numbness, tingling, or even weakness to muscle groups supplied by that nerve root. The most common locations for this to happen are the low back (most common) and the neck (next most common). This occurs in the mid back, also called the thoracic spine, as well but very rarely. A low back disc herniation will cause some leg symptoms and a neck herniation will usually cause arm/hand symptoms and very rarely leg symptoms as well. Disc bulges are more common and less serious than herniations. A bulging disc may not even cause any symptoms at all. This is just a stretching of part of the disc causing it to bulge in one direction. Often these will resolve own their own without any complications.

Herniations, on the other hand, occur when the outer fibers of the disc are torn and the nucleus pulposus begins to leak out. This can cause the nerve root to become compressed or inflamed. Disc herniations are usually symptomatic and can take months or years to resolve if they are not managed properly. Ways that you can determine whether your problem may be a herniated disc is the subject of my next article. Continue reading for specific signs and symptoms that you may have some damage to your disc. Once you know what a disc herniation is and how you can tell if you have one, you will be ready to learn about some of the treatment options which will be the topic of the third article in this series.

Baby Jewelry Is a Great Gift Idea - Reasons Why

There are many solid reasons why the gift of an item of baby jewelry is a great idea, both for baby and her mother. The most obvious reason is because jewellery, whether it is a bracelet, a bangle, a brooch, an anklet, a pair of earrings or even a necklace, looks simply beautiful on the infant, whether she is newborn or celebrating her first birthday.

Another reason why it's nice to give an item of jewelry to the baby, is that she will be photographed in her jewelry at all the special occasions her family attends, as well as for her Christening or Baptism, and of course, for her first birthday. For the rest of her life when she, or her family or friends, peruses her baby photos, she will see her little bracelet, or anklets which she wore especially for her portraits and photos. This means your gift will never be forgotten, nor who gave it to her at the time. Her photos and portraits will be kept in the family forever, and be a permanent reminder of her baby jewelry.

Baby jewelry is usually a treasured item. This is because we all recognise that jewelry is special, is given for special reasons and makes the recipient feel special. It will be well cared for by baby's family and can be stored easily, taking up very little space.

Baby jewelry never goes out of fashion. In fact some of the older jewelry is seen as the most beautiful of all. Unlike gifts of clothing, toys, baby equipment, which is quickly worn out, broken or superseded, baby jewelry stays up to date, always.

Baby jewelry that is saved, is often considered to be a "family heirloom." The family heirloom will occasionally be brought out during her growing up years, to show friends. Her family will occasionally sort through her jewelry, reminiscing about her babyhood.

Best of all, baby jewelry can be easily kept for the next generation. Imagine the excitement when a new baby girl arrives and the grandmother hands over the childhood jewelry box containing all her baby jewelry, to be passed on to her own baby girl. This of course, increases the sentimental value enormously.

So if you're in the market to buy a new baby girl a gift, think of these great reasons to buy an item of baby jewelry. It really is the best baby gift of all.