Ankylosing Spondylitis is a rheumatic disease which affects the joints between the vertebrae of the spine. It causes to pain and stiffness in the various part of the body such as back, neck, hips, jaw and in some people inflamed eyes and heart valves and totally makes damage to the spinal cord.

Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondlitis :

o Chronic stooping to relieve symptoms
o Eye inflammation
o Fatigue
o Heel pain
o Hip pain and stiffness
o Joint pain and joint swelling in the shoulders, knees, and ankles
o Limited expansion of the chest
o Limited range of motion, especially involving spine and hips
o Low-back pain that is worse at night, in the morning, or after inactivity
o Loss of appetite
o Neck pain
o Slight fever
o Stiffness and limited motion in the low back
o Weight loss

The risk factors that predispose a person to ankylosing spondylitis include:

o Testing positive for the HLA-B27 marker
o A family history of AS
o Frequent gastrointestinal infections

Treatment of Ankylosing Spondlitis :

Doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation and pain. Corticosteroid therapy or medications to suppress the immune system may be also prescribed. Drugs called TNF-inhibitors, which block an inflammatory protein, have been shown to improve the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis.Some health care professionals use cytotoxic drugs (drugs that block cell growth) in people who do not respond well to corticosteroids or who are dependent on high doses of corticosteroids.

Surgery is done if pain or joint damage is severe.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic condition. Also called spondylitis or rheumatoid spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis affects about 129 of every 100,000 people in the United States. Ankylosing spondylitis affects males 2-3 times more commonly than females.

Possible Causes

Upper back pain (sometimes called mid back pain) has many causes. Two common causes include lumbar muscle strains, and discs that are ruptured or herniated.

The lumbar is the lower back, which may lead you to wonder what this has to do with upper back pain symptoms. Well, it's all connected, just like the song goes: "The thigh bone's connected to the back bone, the back bone's connected to the neck bone," and so on. (Likewise, many complain of upper back and arm pain at the same time, or find that stressing one set of muscles causes pain in the other.)

Discs are the rubbery or spongy cushions between the spine's vertebra. When discs get dislocated, this puts pressure on the spine's nerves, which feels like lower back pain, middle back pain, or upper back pain, depending on how and where it happens. Usually discs get pushed out of place when lifting heavy items, or by twisting the back in a way that creates stress.

You may experience this as jolting sensations, or "shock" shooting up to the neck; weakness in the muscles, numb or tingling sensations, and even bladder and bowel problems. The most important step is to rest long enough for the swelling to subside a bit, usually just for a couple of days, since lack of motion can lead to other problems.

Body Awareness

By increasing body awareness, you can often pinpoint the source of your upper back pain.

Pay extra attention to your movement habits, especially any recently acquired ones. Did you start a new job that requires more computer work than you are used to? How about a new movement class, such as martial arts, or maybe a sport such as bowling? Such new and sudden use of back muscle groups often causes muscle stress and tightening. Are you spending more time than usual on the phone, perhaps talking on the cell phone a lot when you drive? Maybe you need to get a speakerphone rather than a specialist. In any case, avoid propping the phone between your head and shoulder.

Some other common causes of new pain: Did you change your mattress or sleeping pattern? How about your computer setup, or your living room setup for watching TV? Does the chair where you do your desk work or watch TV give sufficient support to your back and neck? If you catch yourself craning forward when reading a paper, try bringing the paper to your eyes. How about spending too long with your arms or hands in a fixed or frozen position, like leaning on your shoulder to watch TV? Get up and stretch regularly. A simple change of habit may bring the symptom relief you seek.

Getting Relief

Bring a list of your symptoms to any medical appointment you make to help resolve your back pain, as this can help your medical specialist help you. A doctor can make the initial evaluation of the likely cause of your upper back pain symptoms, and then refer you to a physical therapist if need be. Strengthening and stretching exercises for your upper back, along with regular aerobic exercise such as walking, bicycling, and swimming, are often prescribed as simple and effective ways to relieve many symptoms.

You can do some self-therapy as well. Different sufferers find that different techniques deal more effectively with their particular pain at different times. Some short-term ways to soothe the pain include:

(1) Pressure point massage, several times over the course of a minute, every hour. (Just press on the area of pain for about ten seconds, then exhale and release.)

(2) Fifteen-minute intervals of ice application, perhaps adding or switching to fifteen-minute intervals of heat after several days have passed. (A relaxing shower massage, for example, can count as heat therapy.)

(3) Anti-inflammatory medication for several days. If you restrict your pain reliever use to sleep time, then you get the benefit without the temptation of re-stressing the muscles. Over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are usually sufficient. Acetaminophen is believed to be less effective since, unlike the above pain relievers, it lacks the anti-inflammatory quality that frequently provides relief from back pain symptoms.

Back exercises for lower back pain can be classified into two main categories...those for an injured back, and those that are meant to prevent injury. Both are important.

Lower back pain can be a real problem, and millions of people suffer from it every year, in fact, according to an article on "More than 50 million Americans deal with chronic pain, at a cost of more than 0 billion annually."

The main problem is that the lower back (the lumbar region) is particularly susceptible to injury. It is the area that is tasked with supporting all of our body's weight bearing activities.

If the muscles are allowed to get weak or inflexible, injury occurs. Starting a program of back exercises for lower back pain should be a priority for all of us.

Back Exercises For Lower Back Pain - The Injured Back

Unfortunately there will be times when you pull or strain your back, and you will suffer from lower back discomfort. The biggest culprits are when we undertake a strenuous physical activity (like some sort of sporting activity) without properly warming up and stretching first. Another big cause of injury is when we lift a - too heavy - weight with our back muscles and not our legs.

It hurts - big time - and all we want to do is get some and crawl into bed. But, that is a big mistake. Medical professionals now believe that you need to move to improve. Not moving will allow the muscles to stiffen as well as become weaker making the recovery time much longer as well as increasing the possibility of further injury.

In the beginning moving and exercising may be uncomfortable, however it will help you to recover far quicker. But you have to take care to do the correct back exercises for lower back pain.... These back pain exercises have to be gentle, and help to stretch and strengthen the muscles in your back, which will give you lower back pain relief and help to speed recovery.

The back exercises for lower back pain that you need to do can be done at home with no special equipment making them ideal.

To avoid further injury, you will need to gently stretch your back. Take care to never cause any pain - you should only stretch to a comfortable position. Begin the exercises slowly, and over time and as your back begins to heal, extend the stretches and the amount of time that you perform them. Your target is to stretch to a comfortable position, and hold it for at least 20 seconds.

As you continue doing stretches every day, you will find your flexibility rapidly increases...this will go a long way to prevent future injury.

Back Exercises For Lower Back Pain - Don't Bounce!

Take care to gently stretch and hold the position...too many people bounce or jerk into position which is not beneficial as a stretch and can cause injury.

If you are in a chair at a desk or table you can easily perform the chair stretch, and ensure that your back is being exercised. By leaning forward in the chair you are stretching your lower back, but being gentle in the process. Holding this position for at least 20 seconds, and repeating it three times is beneficial.

With any sort of exercise, if you feel that your back is getting worse, or there is in fact more pain you will need to stop the exercises immediately. However, by taking reasonable care, this rarely happens and you will begin to feel better very quickly.

Back Exercises For Lower Back Pain - Preventative Exercises

The cat stretch is another very popular and easy exercise to perform on your back, and can help to release all of the tension that has built up.

You will need to get down on all fours, and arch your back while contracting your stomach muscles, and letting your head drop. As you let your back drop you will need to raise your head. Repeating this exercise three times can ensure that your back is being stretched.

As a side benefit...this one can also work to strengthen your lower back and abdominal muscles which will help prevent future injury. Not to mention that it feels good and gets the blood flowing! It can be an invigorating way to start (or even end) the day.

Lunges, sit ups, and torso twists are also very good back exercises for lower back pain, and all of these can be done daily. Don't neglect the abdominal muscles. They play a key role in back support!

Even if you are not suffering from lower back pain at the moment, by keeping your back exercised it can prevent injuries in the future. As a precaution...Take care to stretch and warm up before any strenuous physical activities - and make it a point to lift with your legs!

Staying flexible, strong, and using back exercises for lower back pain whenever there is a problem...and you will soon be back pain free.

Research into whether or not there is an association between bras and back pain does exist. However, it has primarily been in the form of large polls, discussions, and anectdotal evidence rather than any level 1 studies. The common thread seen in the research is that an ill-fitting bra can cause significant pain for females. Rather than considering a breast reduction as a primary form of treatment, receiving an "expert" bra-fitting can ease the problem.

An online poll was conducted in 2006 by Harris Interactive for the nonprofit North American Spine Society and the bra company Maidenform. More than 1,300 women participated in the poll. Fifty-nine percent of the women said their bra caused them to have back, shoulder, or neck pain. The biggest problem cited by these women consisted of the bra straps, followed by the bra's band around the rib cage, the supportive underwire built into many bras, and the bra's cup size or cup fit. Not all of the women were unhappy with their bras. Thirty-nine percent of the entire group said their bras never hurt their back, shoulders, or neck. The remaining 2 percent said they don't wear bras.

Women who are suffering from back pain from their bras are often simply wearing the wrong size.

Many female patients who resort to plastic surgery to ease back pain could achieve the same result by wearing bras that fit. In 2009, over 120,00 breast reductions were performed, a 137 percent increase over 1997. These bras can be expensive and are typically not fashionable. It may be necessary to enlist the services of a custom bra maker. However, it's a small price to pay to avoid potential complications of surgery. There are psychological considerations for surgery as well, so it's not a hard and fast rule it can or should always be avoided.

Wearing the wrong size bra can result in the weight of the breasts being carried by the shoulders rather than the chest and contribute to back pain. It is thought women tend to underestimate the width of their back, while overestimating their cup size. This means their breasts don't get proper support and can lead to pain in the chest, neck and shoulders. Here's a link to an article on considerations for a proper bra to prevent resultant back pain.

Have you ever experienced lower back pain? Of course you have, and probably more than once. Most people do. A lot of people deal with a variety of back pains throughout their lives, and suffer the consequences accordingly. They don't have to however. There are some back pain exercises you can do to reduce the level of pain in your back. So here are some lower back pain exercises that work

A simple thing like stretching is something that can do wonders to reducing back pain. The spinal column and its muscles, tendons and ligaments are made to move, so reduced motion in the back can cause pain. Stretching all the different muscles helps gain and maintain greater flexibility in the back.

Stretching the neck and shoulders can help relieve your back pain. The flexion and lateral flexion stretches are great for this. With the flexion stretch, sit or stand and gently bend the head forward while bringing the chin towards the chest. With the lateral flexion stretch, bend the neck to one side and touch your ear to your shoulder and the switch to the other side.

Stretching the back is an obvious thing to do, and here are a few stretches you can perform. With the back flexion stretch, lie on your back and pull both knees to the chest while simultaneously flexing the head forward. With the knee to chest stretch, lie on your back with your knees bent and heels on the floor, place both hands behind one knee and bring it to the chest.

Stretching the hips and gluteus muscles support the lower back where most back pain is located. Stretching these is essential to maintaining flexibility in the back. For stretching your hips, stand and place your feet shoulder width apart, take a half step back with the right foot and bend your left knee while shifting weight to the right hip. Repeat on the other side. You need to do stretches of the piriformis muscle that runs through the buttocks and often contributes to the pain. To stretch this muscle, lie on your back and cross one leg over the other and pull your knee to the chest.

These few stretches are excellent in reducing back spasms, and should be done every day. It'll take a few days for the healing to start up, so make sure you work at it. Everything takes time so take things delicately. It's possible to go from one extreme to another, no exercises or too much too fast. Please don't over stretch anything because that too can cause even more back stress. Do these stretches daily, and the right way, and it will be beneficial to your back. When you have reduced or eliminated your back pain, you will feel generally better and certainly less stressed.

Helping the function of trapezius are the splenius capitis and cervicis muscles. These two muscles are commonly injured with whiplash injuries due to car accidents. Pain and spasm in these two muscles lead to tension headaches and significant neck pain.

The person with problems in these two muscles have difficulty in bending the neck backward. There will also be significant pain on bending the neck sideways and also in turning the head to the painful side. Therefore when you see a person with difficulty in turning the head and neck to the left, consider problems with the splenius capitis and cervicis muscles on the left side and the right trapezius and vice versa. Such a person will usually have to turn the whole body since they have difficulty turning the head and neck. They will often complain that they have difficulty in driving due to difficulty in neck rotation.

The splenius capitis (head) muscle arises from the last cervical vertebral spine (C7) to the third thoracic spine (T3) and from the ligament between the spines known as the ligamentum nuchae to insert into the skull bone behind the earlobe known as the mastoid process.

The splenius cervicis (neck) muscle arises from the third thoracic to the sixth thoracic spines (T3-T6) and inserts into the transverse processes of the first through the fourth cervical vertebrae (C1-C4). Both muscles received nerve supply through the middle and lower cervical nerves.

Neck pain|shoulder pain: Role of deltoid

Neck pain and shoulder pain commonly arises from irritation of the C5 and C6 nerve roots. Both roots supply the deltoid muscle.

Deltoid has three portions namely the portion at the front of the shoulder (anterior deltoid), middle of the shoulder (middle deltoid) and a portion at the back of the shoulder (posterior deltoid). It arises from the front of the outer third of the collar bone, the acromion and the spine of the shoulder blade. It attaches to deltoid tuberosity on the arm bone (humerus). It is supplied by the axillary nerve which carries the C5 and C6 spinal nerve root fibers.

The anterior deltoid brings the arm up and forward (flexion), the middle deltoid moves the arm away from the trunk (abduction) and the posterior deltoid brings the arm backward (extension).
It is a powerful muscle in lifting type activities and also works constantly when the arm is outstretched to the front as in writing, typing, driving etc..

These forward motions of the arm known as shoulder flexion is performed by the contraction of many muscles which are large and powerful such as the pectoralis major, long head of the biceps, coracobrachialis and the anterior deltoid. To stabilize the flexion movement, the muscles that bring the arm backward (shoulder extension) have to undergo lengthening contraction. Shoulder extension is performed by three major muscles, mainly the latissimus dorsi, teres major and the posterior deltoid.

Pain, spasm and weakness of the poster deltoid is thus very common especially since C5 and C6 nerve root involvement is also very common. When the deltoid does not function properly, lifting type movements are performed by shrugging the shoulder, an action of the upper trapezius comes into play by . Since trapezius is not strong enough to perform lifting activities, the trapezius muscle goes into spasm and aggravating the neck and shoulder pain.

Therefore pain in the deltoid region cannot be localized to treating only the deltoid muscle. Selective activation using eToims Twitch Relief method must include all muscles involved in lengthening contraction supplied by the C5-C7 nerve roots and the entire length of the paraspinal muscles from the neck to the base of the spine.

Anyone who has ever suffered some form of back injury has sought relief through the use of back pain medications at some point in their life. In fact back issues are one of the most common conditions that doctors see every year. If you do go to the doctor there are a number of medications he or she may prescribe to help keep the pain under control.

There is a general understanding within the medical community that pain relief is an important part of the healing process. For this reason the chances of being prescribed a drug for back pain when you visit the doctor are rather good. Part of healing from an injury of any sort involves being able to move around, even it it\'s to only get out of bed for a few minutes several times a day. A degree of mobility is important to the general well being of anyone with back problems.

There are several classes of back pain medications that are in use today and these include anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID\'s), acetaminophen, muscle relaxants, and opioids. These can be used by themselves or in combinations depending on the severity of the pain experienced and the cause of the injury.

NSAID\'s are a group of anti-inflammatory drugs that include ibuprofen, aspirin, Ketoprofen, and Naproxen. These drugs have anti-inflammatory and anti swelling properties as well as being able to relieve pain and most can be gotten over the counter. Another OTC pain reliever is acetaminophen which most people know as Tylenol. Anacin-3 and Phenaphen are two other acetaminophen analgesics that can be used to reduce back pain.

Codeine and morphine are to high powered pain killers commonly known as opioids. Doctors will prescribe these for those in severe pain when the pain killer mentioned above do not work. Because opioids do present an addiction hazard they need to be used cautiously and as prescribed.

Muscle relaxants work to control muscle spasms that happen when you injure your back. The reason most people have muscle spasms when they hurt their back is because the muscles around the injured area are trying to compensate for the loss of strength at the injured spot. These spasms can be painful and by relaxing the muscles we get relief from that pain.

Reducing pain is an integral part of healing a bad back and back pain medication should be used to help achieve that goal. Pain relief comes with a caveat; just because the pain is gone does not mean the injury is healed. Far to many people further aggravate their painful back by doing to much when their pain is being controlled by their medication.

There are many available options to use to get rid of your neck pain. For the purposes of this article, we will explore methods you can do at home that don't involve seeing your doctor or taking a pain-killer. Keep in mind, however, if you feel the pain is getting worse, was a result of an injury or accident, you are experiencing visual problems, dizziness, or other neurological deficits, call you doctor immediately.

#1 is Ice. Ice helps reduce inflammation, relax muscles, and numb that particular region. The best thing to use is a gel pack; they stay cool longer and are comfortable to lay back against. You can even get ones that are shaped to fit on the shoulders and back of the neck.

#2 is Heat. Heat will also help relax the muscles and dull pain. It will increase blood flow to the area and is especially good in the morning to loosen up the neck so motion is easier. Often, those gel packs I mentioned can be a heat or ice pack.

#3- Muscle-relaxing gels, sprays or rub-ons. The one I find works the best is called Biofreeze pain relief gel. Biofreeze is all natural, lasts a long time, and doesn't have a lot of odor to it. You can also get a gel, spray bottle, or rub-on.

#4- Neck Stretches- Good old fashioned stretching of the neck makes a huge difference. Putting the neck through its normal ranges of motions works well, but also lateral neck bends can be one of the best options. Tilt the ear towards the shoulder and hold 10-20 seconds, it's that simple.

#5 is Neck Exercises- these are different from stretches because instead of stretching muscles we are now working on strengthening muscles to create muscle balance and hold the neck in its proper alignment. These can be done by putting pressure with your hand on your head for resistance. Go through the ranges of motion with your hand giving you light resistance. If in acute pain, exercises often should be avoided until some relief is achieved.

#6- Muscle Massage. There are actually many ways to do this on your own. If you are lucky enough to get your significant other, friend, or relative to give you a neck and shoulder rub- great, but often you need to do more massage than they will give. I find one great way to massage muscles is to reach across your body with the opposite arm to massage your neck and shoulders. Use a circular massage with your finger tips, but you can often press and hold on a trigger point or muscle knot for 7-10 seconds at a time to allow it to loosen or break up. There are also a lot of great tools you can use to massage your muscles so your fingers aren't sore and also will allow you to reach hard-to-reach areas.

#7 is a good Neck Pillow. The right neck pillow will not only give you good support, but relieve nerve pressure as well. It should have a neck roll built in to support the curvature of the spine, which allows the nerves to have adequate room when traveling off of the spinal cord. Not only will this help you sleep at night and give you relief when laying down, it will also help train your posture to improve for the long run.

I've mentioned 7 great, easy things to do, but keep in mind there are also more options. Not only that, there are combinations of the above that can help give you relief even faster.

When it comes to upper back pain between shoulder blades, there is some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that there is a whole host of problems that can cause upper back pain between the shoulder blades.

Fortunately...

The pain is not always the sharp intense pain that is associated with osteoporosis, herniated discs, sciatica, a malformed spinal cord, compressed vertebra, rheumatoid arthritis, or one of the other many degenerative physical problems that can create upper back pain.

These sort of disorders require professional medical treatment - frequently will require surgery - and are beyond the scope of this article...

It's a scary list of problems that can cause back pain.

But, for severe back pain relief, there is hope...

Though it is often far more annoying than the sharp pains mentioned above, we often experience a dull ache between the shoulder blades. This type of malady is frequently muscular in nature and treatable with some simple exercises.

One main cause of this upper back pain between shoulder blades is poor posture. When you have poor posture, the extra pressure placed on the neck muscles is often the cause of upper back pain.

The first step is to be aware that our backache is caused by poor posture - check with your family physician. Then - of course - it is important that you find the best way to get rid of that pain. One of the best treatments to get rid of inflammatory back pain is to exercise.

Not only will exercising the muscles loosen them up, but you'll learn to maintain the proper posture that will keep the upper back pain between shoulder blades away.

Here are 5 ideas...

1. One of the best stretches that you can do to loosen the muscles is to sit with your legs extended straight out in front of you.

Bend forward and reach for your toes, if you can, hook your fingers under your feet. If you aren't able to do that (yet), stretch your arms as far forward as you can. Bending forward helps to loosen the muscles of the lower back, and stretching your arms helps to loosen the muscles of your upper back.

On ALL stretching exercises - do them as a gentle, continuous stretch - don't bounce! Bouncing can strain or even sprain your muscles. In extreme cases it could cause vertebral injury.

Another excellent stretch is to lie on your back and reach your arms and legs as far in the opposite directions as possible. This therapy will help to loosen and relax the muscles that you have tensed up with poor posture.

One way to prevent and relieve the chronic pain we often get in our neck is to actually strengthen our neck muscles.

Here is a simple way you can exercise your neck to build the muscle strength that will help you avoid the causes of and get upper back pain relief.

2. Push your neck in one direction with your finger, while your neck muscles push your head in the other direction.

3. You can also use your head to hold a ball against the wall as an exercise to work out your neck muscles. You can start simply by holding it, then move on to pushing it against the wall 10 or 20 times, then pushing the ball against the wall continuously for 20 to 30 seconds.

4. Work in some exercises to help strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, especially exercises that focus on the upper back. Exercises that require your arms to pull, use your upper back muscles. Strengthening these muscles is one of the best ways to avoid and get relief from upper back pain between shoulder blades.

5. Correct your posture by practicing standing up straight and holding your head up high. Roll your shoulders back in order to lift them and keep your spine straight. Point your chin forward and lift your head to correct your posture.

Be careful if you are going to work out your neck to reduce upper back pain between shoulder blades. Your neck is delicate and can be sensitive, and you could injure it if you aren't careful. Start slowly when doing neck exercises, and slowly increase the intensity of your neck workout as time progresses. If you start to feel sore, stop.

Medication...

As soon as we start to feel any pain in our body, many of us immediately go for the nearest pain medication. Medications (such as ibuprofen) can help with the immediate inflammation...but this can be a big mistake. Medication only treats the symptoms, not the root causes of the problem and you will find only temporary pain relief. As soon as the medication wears off, the chronic back pain comes back.

True, it's more work and a bit of a hassle, but taking the time to exercise and strengthen your back and neck muscles will have long term benefits and is well worth the effort.

Check to be sure you don't have any sort of vertebrae herniation or disease and you'll often find that a simple massage will do the trick! Or possibly a visit or two to get an acupuncture treatment.

The point is, not all back problems are the result of stenosis or osteopathic in nature or require back surgery. Often, to get rid of upper back pain between the shoulder blades, the top therapy may be a daily 10 minute exercise session.

What are trigger points and why are they causing my back pain? That's the question I asked my physical therapist. I had been hearing a lot about trigger points and the role they play in pain management and I wanted to get my therapists opinion as to what there were, what's the causing this trigger points to "fire up" and what can be done to treat them. Here's what I found out.

1. Doctors have identified certain focal points located in tight bands of skeletal muscle as playing a role in pain management. When these points are pressed these pints will produce pain.

2. Often found in the muscles of the neck, shoulders and pelvic girdle, muscles used to. maintain body posture. This trigger points can manifest themselves as headaches, tinnitus, jaw pain and lower back pain.

As my therapists explained acute trauma such as whip lash, incorrect lifting or even a sneeze can cause these points to fire up causing pain and decreased range of motion.

Ultrasonography, manipulative therapy and injection, are used to inactivate trigger points. Injections have been shown to be the most effective in reducing pain.

However all these treatments only address the symptoms and not the true cause. Something is causing this trigger points to fire up, many times it is a back dysfunction caused by muscle imbalance. This can be treated with a program of specific exercises designed for your unique condition.

One of the top rated programs is called the Lose The Back Pain System developed by therapists and doctors of the Healthy back Institute. This program has helped thousands by strengthening muscles and eliminating muscles imbalance.

As someone who has suffered with a bad back and who has endured months of physical therapy and an operation, I can tell you there are solutions for your discomfort.

A mid back pain can make a person extremely uncomfortable. In fact, at times it can get so severe, that it may make the person feel as though they are being stabbed at the back with a sharp knife. There can be several causes to this excruciating problem. Here we discuss a few of them in brief:

Injury

Injury to this part of the body can lead to extreme damage and pain. The damage can be because of any reason, from a sports related injury to an accident. However, proper treatment and precaution can ensure damage control and recovery of the mid-back.

During physical activity people sometimes tend to strain their mid-back muscles. These muscles are very crucial, as they provide proper support to the spinal chord and ribs. If strained, these muscles can cause a lot of mid-back-pain. For that matter, make sure you take proper nutrition and supplements, apart from prescribed treatment, that help the muscles to recover from the strain and rejuvenate them, so that they can perform their task well.

Slip Disc

Our spine is secured by the vertebrae, which consists of several discs that have the functionality of providing tangibility to the spine. When any of these discs slide out or slip, then the nerves start getting excessively pressurized, which results in inflammation and excessive pain in the mid-back region.

Gas issues

Excessive formulation of gas inside the stomach may also lead to mid back-pain. The gas produced starts to exert excessive pressure around the area and the back, leading to anguishing pain. Hence, if you have a bad stomach or gastric problems, then make sure you do not neglect it and take proper treatment. This can save you from back-pain.

Pregnancy

Fertility and conception lead to certain health problems in women. As the months get ahead, the weight on the spinal chord also increases, leading to back-pain. Moreover, pregnancy also leads to problems in the woman's metabolism, which also cause mid-back pain.

The mid back is the area that begins just below the neck and extends till the rib cage. It is very crucial, as it is the compensatory region of the back. Hence, if you ever feel any kind of mid-back pain, from light to extreme, make sure you go to a doctor and get yourself treated, before it's too late.

Since last 25 years, it has been discovered that non-Hodgkin lymphoma has tremendously increased as lymphatic system cancer. Non-Hodgkin lymphomaa is not single disease, it is a group of similar cancers that hinders the immune system and affects lymphatic system of the body. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is mainly divided in two groups, namely, T-cell lymphomas and B-cell lymphoma.

Some people have a myth that non-Hodgkin lymphoma and neck pain are related to each other which is not true. There are various patients with the physical symptoms and signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In most of the cases the lymph nodes of the patients is found to be swollen and is the most common sign seen in people suffering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. In some cases there is no pain whereas in others patients suffer from lymphoma symptoms and neck pain . Lymph nodes may get swollen or enlarged in various parts of the body such as arms or neck. If the lymph nodes of an abdomen are enlarged then you might experience a bloated feeling, swelling, back pain or discomfort. In the case of groin you might suffer from swelling in legs and ankles.

Symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are unexplained weight loss, chills,lack of energy,fever, itching, neck pain and night sweats. If you feel any of these then you should consult your physician immediately as all these indicates the presence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Many people complaints that their physician is not considering non-Hodgkin lymphoma even when they have symptoms such as neck pain or other lymphoma symptoms. The reason behind this decision is that if there is a serious illness then it never disappears repetitively. Therefore, non-Hodgkin lymphoma should be checked only if you face persistent symptoms of the disease and not in the case of patients non-specific complaints.

Your doctor would initiate a thorough physical examination to figure out lymphoma symptoms and neck pain to ensure that you suffer from non-Hodgkin lymphoma or not. Some of the common symptoms that doctors usually look for are swollen lymph nodes in the groin and armpits, tonsil and neck area, on the elbows, under the chin and above the shoulders. If you have enlarged internal organs or swollen lymph nodes in your abdomen then there would be signs such as, fluid or swelling in your abdomen. If you are suffering from an enlarged lymph node pressing on the spinal cord or nerves then there may be signs of paralysis or weakness. In cases where neck pain and lymphoma symptoms shows signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, doctors prefer to do a list of tests such as blood tests, x-rays, biopsy, and many other tests.

Does neck pain cause headaches? It can cause a certain type known as cervicogenic headache. What's that? Just a fancy medical term for a "pain in the neck" that causes headache. Many people experience this when they have a minor car accident and this results in neck strain.

Sometimes it occurs when you might have lifted something heavy. You strain the muscles in your neck and if they don't heal quickly, the continuing spasms can cause headaches. There are over 20 muscles in the neck that can refer pain up to the head. No wonder it hurts!

Herniated discs in the neck can also cause spasms and result in cervicogenic headaches and migraines. In patients who already have migraine, this can provoke more migraines. The pain will start at the base of the skull and cascade forward to the front. By the time it hits the temples, a migraine starts.

OK you say, now how do I get rid of this?

Several methods have shown to be effective for this type of headache and some are medication, some are lifestyle.

1. Physical therapy. This is best attempted after an anti-spasmotic medication is on board, but once done properly can really help with neck pain.

2. Medication. In this case there are a great variety of anti-spasmotics that can help cervicogenic headache. Some like Elavil for cervicogenic headache can ease spasms and help you get to sleep. Ask your health care provider if this might be best for your needs.

3. Pillows. Surprise! This really has an effect on neck pain and many people just don't consider it that important. I recommend using only one pillow at night. More than one will cause the neck to be in abnormal positions during sleep, and then create more spasms and pain. Find one that best suits you and supports the neck.

4. Chiropractic care. This may really help you once severe spasms are under control. Like physical therapy, do not attempt this until some anti-spasmotics are on board as you may get worse.

5. Trigger point injections. Trigger point injections are small amounts of a numbing agent with a little steroid mixed in. They are placed at the pain points along the muscles of the neck. They are also known as headache pressure points. When pressed, if the muscle is in spasm, trigger points hurt! Injections will help calm the pain down.

6. Stretching exercises. These will be given to you by the physical therapist and can only really help if you do them daily for awhile. Do not stretch to the point of pain!

How does posture have anything to do with neck pain?--Neck pain comes from pressure on the nerves. How does this happen?--Usually pressure from a misaligned neck spine. When your spine is misaligned (some call that subluxated) it does not move like it should and in turn creates inflammation in that area. Either out-of-alignment spinal vertebrae (spinal bones) put direst pressure on nerves or the inflammation, or built up degeneration causes the pressure.

The most common misaligned postural pattern in the neck that will result in neck pain, stiffness and lack of mobility is forward head carriage. This is when the head posture is forward of the shoulders and almost always reveals loss of the normal neck alignment or curvature.

In the neck spine we should have a well defined neck C-curve of approximately 40-60 degrees. Anything less and there is unwanted pressure on the nerves. Pain is often a sign that there is pressure on the nervous system but not all of that system is designed to feel pain so you may be pain free yet still have improper alignment.

With people today, more than ever we are seeing a misaligned neck posture of the neck curve flattening or straightening and protruding out forward. One of the reasons is that more and more people these days are on computers for long hours. Many jobs now require you to be on a computer continually, and even the people without a desk job are on the computer for hours on end; nights, weekends, mornings, you name it.

Also, more people are on the road driving. When driving, the majority of people's heads, over the time traveling, drift forward. Some people are affected worse than others. Just recently I looked to my left while at a light and the woman next to me had both hands on the wheel with what looked like a death grip, and she just looked like her muscles were extremely tense and her head was about 6 inches forward of her shoulders. These are just a couple examples, others are: Poor sleeping habits, holding a phone on your shoulder for long periods, reading or studying with your head down often, etc...

Guilty of some of these examples or often suffer from neck pain?

Here's how to improve your neck posture-

Postural exercises for the neck Eliminating bad posture as much as possible A good support neck pillow for sleeping.

These to do's all help correct and maintain the proper alignment of the spine. Our spines are ergonomically built to withstand the forces of gravity. When looking at an individual from the front or back, the spine is straight should be up and down. From the side however we have distinct curvatures that are there for a reason - so our spinal cord is relaxed with no tension and our nerve roots coming off the spinal cord have no pressure and interference. Our spine is at it's strongest position with this alignment as well. And don't forget, why is it important we are in optimal alignment? Not only because it is the most beneficial for strength of our spine but because it is the healthiest position as well. Putting any pressure on nerves will decrease the bodies ability to perform at it's maximum. Any pressure on nerves decreases your body's function and therefore health.

The best postural exercise to eliminate forward head posture are Head Retractions. Pretend your head is on a sliding track and pull your head back keeping it level. For example sit fully back against a wall or chair pull your head straight back without tilting or extending your head until you touch the wall, top of chair or headrest in your car.

Eliminate forward head posture as much as possible. Notice if your head is drifting forward; usually you may feel strain in the muscles of the back of your neck. Read with books propped up against something, take periodic breaks when working on the computer or driving for long periods. Sit up staighter, and keep your head up-right.

At night, you can not only protect yourself from poor posture but also can literally improve it as well, while you sleep. If you use a good support pillow like the Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow you can correct neck posture while resting comfortably. Sleeping on your back or side is perfectly fine. Stomach sleeping is not good because you have to crank your head to on side or another to breathe. Individuals who commonly sleep on their stomachs will find themselves waking up often with a sore, stiff, painful neck.

Be more aware of your posture. Poor posture means a poor spine and therefore pressure on nerves that will not only just cause neck pain but can cause other problems as well. The easiest way to start improving neck pain and neck posture is to use the proper neck pillow. The Cervical Linear Traction Pillow can be found at http://www.arc4life.com .

Crystal healing is a powerful way to deal with emotional and physical ailments including neck, shoulder and back pain. This type of healing is part of a larger field known as energy work. In crystal healing, the vibrational energies of the crystals work with the vibrational energies of the body and help balance the body's energy channels and free them from any blockages. Learn how to choose and cleanse crystals.

Some actors and actresses use a daily regime of crystals in their bath, more or less as a ritualistic process, such as Shirley MacClaine, who says that this daily ritual "refreshes both the mind and body."

The process of using crystals for healing came about when the well-known American psychic Edgar Cayce, who healed individuals while in a trance-like state, gave information on how crystals have extraordinary power back in the 1930's. Amethyst and quartz are said to be the most popular stones in the modern age, and they can be used for a number of purposes. There is a crystal stone for practically every ailment that you can imagine.

Crystal Healing Therapy is an alternative technique for strengthening the body and resolving issues and patterns. The theory is that crystals carry vibrational rates. By placing these vibrational rates within the aura - your aura's vibrational rates also change. Often the effects are indirect but very potent. Other times, the effects are very direct and repeatable.

All crystals have their own quality and are beautiful. You can carry crystals in your pocket, wear them on a chain, put them in bath water, or place them in your home to bring the power of healing within reach. Different types and colours of stones or crystals are promoted to have different healing powers and some people claim certain gemstones or crystals carry special energy that can be transferred to people to provide protection against disease, restore health, and provide spiritual guidance.

There are lots of great uses for crystals, you can set a crystal in your pets water bowl to keep water pure, fresh and beneficial or you can place a crystal in your cat's water bowl for purification and place crystals on your cats bed, under pillows, on table tops place crystals around the house for harmony hold one in your hand while stroking your cats or just relaxing for psychic work, energy healing, and overall wellness. Once a month you should place your crystals in the sun to recharge them, other than quartz, as they can get so hot that they can start a fire.

Do you hate going to sleep because you don't want to wake up with another miserable headache?

Do you think it's amazing that we can do things to hurt ourselves even when we are asleep? I know I do.

Have you ever thought your headache or migraine might be caused by your pillow? Or, that the position you sleep in causes your headaches?

Does your doctor or neurologist just give you medicine for head pain? That's typical because most doctors know very little about the roles of muscles in headaches, neck pain and migraines. They get much more training in drugs than in muscles. As a result, muscles are usually overlooked as a cause of head pain by most doctors.

Muscles which are not supported well can get downright cranky. And, they do. They like to be kept in fairly neutral positions. Aggravate your muscles and they will aggravate you!

So, here are several suggestions to help you get a better nights' sleep and wake up feeling well.

Side-sleepers often tilt their chin to the ceiling or floor. Then your neck is not straight. It's bent, curved sideways. You also squash, overstretch, compress and shorten the muscles on the top, front and around your shoulder. None of this is good for your muscles and they will complain. Ideally, you would learn to sleep on your back with your neck and shoulders properly supported.

Back-sleepers can wake up with headaches, too. If your pillow is too fat it pushes your head too far forward and causes muscle stress or strain in the back of your neck. Those muscles attach to your head. If your pillow is too hard, it won't support the natural curve behind your neck. That also creates muscle strain.

Side-sleepers can buy a special pillow for people who sleep on their sides. It has some "loft" or "fluff" all around but a firm core. This pillow needs to have enough height so your neck bones are straight and supported, and not allowed to curve to the floor or ceiling.

Back-sleepers can use a "shaped" pillow to support the natural curve of their neck. These pillows come in various sizes, although "medium" is most commonly found in the stores. Some are temperature-sensitive foam and are firmer in cold weather than in warm weather. Most seem to be too big, fat or hard for many of our necks.

A soft, flat down pillow ("for stomach sleepers") might also work well for you. Puff up the area that will be under your neck and "pull" the side tails up after your head is on the pillow. The tails will keep you from rolling your head into strange positions that will strain your neck and cause headaches or migraines.

If you can't find a pillow that gives your neck the correct amount of support (not too much and not too little) you can make your own with fiberfill. Buy a batt of fiberfill (fiberfill is the stuffing in quilts) at a fabric store or department. It is very inexpensive. Don't get the loose fill. Be sure to get a batt.

Open the package and unroll the batt. Roll the batt into various thicknesses until you find the one that feels best under your neck when you are on your back. Cut the batt and tape the roll so it will keep its' shape. You might want a flat thickness or two (or three) under your head as well.

Play with the thickness of the neckroll and for under your head until it feels comfortable for you.

You could sew nice covers for your homemade pillow, or you can just do as I do. Put your pillow in a pillow case - no sewing involved.

You might want to make a few different size pillows and switch around to whatever feels most comfortable at the moment.

If your head is far forward ("forward head posture") and it is hard for you to lay flat, you may need to prop your pillows differently to support your back, neck and head without strain.

Whenever you are suffering from a degenerative disease in your spine, it can cause you to feel pretty bad. You will feel intense pain all the way from your neck to your lower spine. The good news is that there are many ways in which you can get the relief you are looking for. The majority of the options available to deal with a bulging disc neck pain do not even involve surgery. More doctors are turning to medication to deal with bulge disc pain. If you are facing taking this kind of medication, it is a good idea to know what your options are.

The first thing you will need to know is whether you are dealing with a sciatic nerve pain or from a decompression in your spine. The difference between the two can mean the difference between medication that you can take on your own and something which will have to be administered to you. You will also find that there are some doctors looking to use something like a DRX 9000 to give you the relief that you covet. Before long, you will get rid of that bulged neck problem and you will be able to start enjoying life again.

Get Help Dealing with a Pinched Nerve

When you are feeling rather intense shoulder and neck pain, it is a good idea to remember that the pain you are feeling is a result of a pinched nerve. This means that the disc needs to be put back into place. There are medications which will strengthen the muscles around the spine to get everything back in alignment. Normally this means injecting steroids in the area and boosting the ability of the muscles to do their job. It may take a week or so to start to feel results, but the results are long lasting, and in many cases, it is permanent.

Get Help with a Compression

If the feeling that you are feeling is stiff along with pain, it is likely that your spine is compressed. It is possible to get relief from this bulging disc neck pain by having your spine decompressed. See a specialist which uses a DRX 9000. This is a machine which allows you to be able to have your spine pulled until it is realigned and put back into place. It can help you to feel your absolute best. Through these kinds of methods, you will be on the road to recovery in no time at all.

The whole structure has experienced a deeper felt sense of space, organization, and integration by the seventh hour session: Palintonicity/Adaptability (7-8-9) core expressing through lower pole (push).

The amount of stress that the visceral cranium and neural cranium exhibit on the whole organism is immense and release in this session allows the work to transmission from the earth to the clouds. '''If we establish a spanning polarity between the top of the head and the base of the sacrum in relation to the directional span of the gravity field, we have a new kind of structurally integrated man"-IPR. In the seventh hour we deal with the relationship of the head and neck to the rest of the body via the thoracic inlet/outlet and continue support in the upper ribs and thoracic inlet for a horizontal shoulder girdle. Continue core/sleeve/axial complex differentiation of the shoulders into head and neck relative to a functional axial component and address the hyoids, SCM and trapezius. Special attention should be given to posterior cervical and occipital fascia as well as side bends with rotations of the cranial bones.

Address space or lack there of with the viscero-cranium for the first time by resolving rotations and compressions inter orally. This can be done now and possibly again later in another session which includes and is not limited to the exterior and inter oral fascia, temporalis, zigomatic arch, masseter, cheeks and mandibular line, tounge, hard and soft palletes (especially with roto-scoliosis), lateral/medial pterygoid. The inter nasal work will cultivate integration of the neuro-viscero cranium components.

Depending on the lines of tension, back work should be seated from head to sacrum, integrating everything from the bottom off the feet to the frontalis, represented by SBL model or gallbladder channel. The best way to end this session is a ocular decoupling exercise that completely disengages and integrates the neck and head. Pelvic lift or tilt ends seventh-hour.

The Certified Rolfing Ten Series has the potential to reduce pain and release tension in the connective and myofascial tissue of the body associated with TMJ, CTS, RLS, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, Fascitis, Bunions, Scoliosis, and Cerebral Palsy. Fascial asymmetries can cause foot, leg, knee, hip, back, shoulder, neck, arm, hand, and head pain; integration therapy is necessary. Orthopedic, Chiropractic, Physical, and Massage Therapist recognize Rolfing and Rolf Movement as premium pain management utilizing Structural, Functional, and Postural Integration. Before and after photos of some of my clients proven results available only on my website.

The common person hears about someone dying from a brain tumor and then questions why the medical personnel did not pick up on this diagnosis during routine physicals, or that the individual had not noticed any ailments early on and sought medical help before it was too late. What most people do not understand is how very difficult it is to detect a brain tumor in its initial stage of growth. And, although the main emphasis of the tumor is most certainly within the brain itself, there are many other areas of the body that will be affected by this devastating medical condition.

As it grows, if the brain tumor has increased its pressure upon the central nervous system, the individual will most likely experience associated tumor symptoms, such as headaches, neck discomfort or even signs that their body's intestinal system has been aggravated. Another danger to that individual is that the brain tumor might also be the cause behind recurring seizures. Unfortunately, because these symptoms are very slow in appearing, but the time a patient starts describing their unique and irregular sensations to their doctor, the chance that a stroke may occur has been elevated.

Another obstacle that prevents a brain tumor from being detected at any earlier stage in that this medical condition often parallels numerous other stressors of the neurological system. Varying locations of the tumor within the brain itself can stimulate assorted tendencies. Some of the more common symptoms described by brain tumor patients themselves are double vision, confusing thought patterns, memory loss, increased drowsiness and a weakened sense of motor function throughout the body.

The most common denominator shared by individuals who have actual brain tumors are the headaches associated with this abnormal swelling. Although frequent headaches by no means translates into an immediate medical diagnosis of a brain tumor, if you are experiencing them, that symptom alone is enough of a red flag and should be mentioned to your physician at your earliest convenience.

Another intriguing fact that puzzles the layperson is that there are different types of brain tumors, with each one prompting a range of treatments. Although its cause is still under investigation, when a patient is diagnosed with a primary brain tumor, the medical team looks at that individual's family history, as well as a range of environmental factors from that person's life circumstances. It is very important for all of these factors to be taken into consideration as the prognosis and treatment of a brain tumor patient is directly correlated to the diagnosis.

Through extensive medical research, it has been revealed that tumors located within the brain are the most common form of central nervous metastasis.

(Metastasis is when there is a spot of cancer that moves from one part of the body to another.) Thanks in part to today's advanced technology, an exact determination of a brain tumor has been made possible through the examination of a cell sample beneath a microscope. Fortunately, metastatic brain tumors usually have very distinct symptoms and tendencies which enable doctors to rule them out as primary brain tumors. Knowing the tumor's diagnosis can make a difference in the type of treatment plan the patient pursues.

Also interesting to note is that brain tumors can occur in people of all ages, although those tumors that fall within the metastatic category are more prevalent in adults than children.

Normal and short-term phenomenon

Early pregnancy back pain is a normal phenomenon in this most beautiful period of a woman's life. Most of the expectant mothers witness some degree of back pain during the early phase of pregnancy and this pain generally subsides after about 20 weeks. Backache or spasm, which is reflected by stretching of muscles or burning pain in the left or the right side of the quadrant, is normally the result of the softening of the supporting ligaments and disks due to an increase in the progesterone hormone during the early stage. In some cases, urinary infection during pregnancy can also result in pain in the back amongst pregnant women. The extra weight of a pregnant women's body and the change in her centre of gravity also result in backaches and pain.

Remedies For Pregnancy Back Pain

The most important and safe remedy for the treatment of early pregnancy back pain is exercising. This is mainly because certain medications for back related pain is contraindicated during early pregnancy. Walking, pelvic rocking, bridging (done by lying down on the floor, bending your knees and lifting your buttocks into air), mini-crunches (done by lying down on the floor), bending your knees and lifting your head on exhalation, are good exercises for relief from pack pain during early pregnancy. Pregnant women do these exercises on their own to relieve back pain.

The right body posture and good body mechanics also play an important role in keeping one free of early pregnancy back pain. The right posture for prevention of back pain is standing straight and tall. However, the importance for correct postures is as essential in early pregnancy as before that. However, in late pregnancy, as the uterus becomes big, one tends to pull back her shoulders to offset the additional weight, which results in a back strain. You can reduce this pain during later stages in such a position by frequently changing your sitting position and avoiding standing for long periods.

Adequate rest and sleep are also essential for avoiding or eliminating early pregnancy back pain. You should take proper rest and avoid strenuous activities to avoid it during your pregnancy. You can also do normal yoga exercises to eliminate minor pain. However, if it persists you should consult your doctor and take proper medication for relief from back pain. In some cases of pain in the back, doctors may prescribe physiotherapy for relief. Massages and use of special mattresses are also effective for back pain relief during pregnancy.

When we experience muscle pain, one thing is for sure: we want to get rid of it as soon as possible. As a provider of in-home massage therapy services, people often contact my company first when seeking relief from things like neck pain, low back pain, and other pain. In most cases we do recommend massage, but oftentimes when the condition is severe, it will be in conjunction with therapies and/or recommendations from other health care providers in order for an individual to get the most immediate and effective results.

So where should a person with muscle pain turn first and why? Primary Care Physician? Chiropractor? Massage Therapist?

Making the right choice largely depends on how a person answers the following questions:

What is the severity of the condition and how long has it been present? What is your general health condition and history, including family medical history? Are you willing to take medication prescribed by a traditional medical doctor or must the therapy be all "natural"? Is the pain caused by something specific like an injury or a pre-existing condition? What kind of insurance, if any, is available and what services will it cover? If there is no insurance to cover therapy, what kind of budget do you have to pay for treatments out of pocket?

This may seem like an overly conservative if not complicated approach if we're just talking about a stiff neck, but the idea is to identify any potentially more serious health conditions, and also to avoid paying for anything that could be covered by insurance.

First let's get the insurance question out of the way. When it comes to massage therapy, often the only kinds of insurance policies that will pay for it (including at home massage) are auto insurance or workman's compensation insurance for car and work injuries. Massage therapists can not officially diagnose any condition, so a doctor's prescription is always required. There is a lot more to this particular side-topic, so for additional information about how this works, please see an articles I have already written about what kinds of insurance covers massage therapy.

It should also be noted that normal health insurance may cover physical therapy, but this is quite different from massage therapy and often requires a prolonged treatment plan.

Next and perhaps more importantly; when someone approaches us with serious pain, we want to make sure that it's not something they should see a doctor about first. If it is something with a sudden onset, highly abnormal (not just a stiff neck), or possibly associated with other health problems (just to name a few possible red flags) we might recommend seeing a medical doctor first. This assumes that the individual would be open to using medication, because in addition to the myriad of tools at physician's disposal, it is highly likely that a doctor will prescribe an anti-inflammatory or possibly a prescription pain killer if the pain is severe.

It's important for people to understand that while massage therapy can be very effective in reducing pain caused by muscle tension and related restrictions, it can only achieve so much with one visit. Typically, in order to address more chronic kinds of pain, multiple sessions will be required to make significant headway. Therefore, it is often not a bad idea to see a doctor who may be able to prescribe medication to help the condition, both in terms of reducing pain immediately, and also for reducing inflammation in general, which is often largely responsible for musculoskeletal pain. These efforts can actually make subsequent massage therapy sessions even more effective.

Think of the tight muscles like a frozen stick of butter. If you try to press into it when it's right out of the freezer, it's almost impossible to make a dent. However if it has been defrosted to room temperature (like muscles on an anti-inflammatory), it could be in a much easier state to work with in the care of able hands. This being said, it's also important to be careful about the use of pain killers before getting a massage and advise the therapist of the current use of any medications.

Another option for those with muscle pain which would fall somewhere in between going to a medical doctor and seeing a massage therapist would be going to see a chiropractor. While a chiropractor can not prescribe medication, they can diagnose certain conditions, perform x-rays, and provide natural therapy including "adjustments" among some other things that massage therapists are not authorized to do. In some cases they may also be able to accept normal major medical health insurance along with a co-payment. For some people this is a good "in-between" option providing a relatively high level of care that is also "natural". At the same time, there can be drawbacks.

Your neck consists of seven very small vertebrae and supports the entire weight of your head. The average weight of the human head is 10 to 12 pounds, which isn't very light when you consider the neck is constantly supporting it!

Add in how much neck strain is incurred when you sit for long periods in front of the computer and you steadily increase the amount of work and strain you are expecting of your neck.

The neck also allows your head in nearly all directions which adds even more stress to your neck. With all of this responsibility, the neck is subject a great deal of stress, which often results in chronic pain and stiffness.

Once neck pain has been persistent for any period of time, you may begin to develop neurological symptoms. These may include numbness, tingling, or a "pins and needles" feeling. Usually these complaints are in the neck at all, but can be felt in the fingertips or up and down the arm.

If you begin to experience any of the neurological symptoms, this is usually an indicator that the neck problem is becoming worse. The early phase of pain is just stiffness, then it moves to real pain that can be sharp in nature. The pain will continue to get worse until the radiating symptoms begin.

Many people have neck pain and it is often extremely bothersome. Medical doctors cannot do a whole lot to permanently relieve neck pain. They can prescribe medications to mask your neck pain and they can do x-rays and other tests to see where the pain is coming from.

When they do find something wrong with the neck they will probably want to schedule surgery, which can prove to be a painful procedure with a long recovery. Surgery, while sometimes necessary, really should be considered a treatment of last resort. You can always do the surgery, but if you do the surgery first, you eliminate many other effective and conservative options.

If you have neck pain it may be wise to consult with a chiropractor before going to the extent of something much more serious such as surgery. Some of the first things that a chiropractor will do on your first visit will be to ask you questions about your neck pain.

Some questions they may ask are:

- When did your neck pain start

- What have you done to try to ease your neck pain

- Are there any other parts of your body that your neck pain stems to or from?

These are a few questions that your Chiropractor will most likely ask. After the initial consultation they will then perform a physical examination. The examination will consist of chiropractic tests, orthopedic tests, and a neurological examination. This entire process will allow the chiropractor to get to the root of your problem and allow him or her to come up with a solution to your pain.

A common practice of chiropractors is to perform a neck adjustment. A neck adjustment is a form of spinal manipulation, and is very specific in nature. This is a very precise technique and is usually very effective in alleviating neck pain.

When I talk about neck support I am referring to keeping your head and spine in a normal healthy position. This means keeping the spine straight from the viewpoint of anterior to posterior and a smooth curvature in the neck from the side view.

In other words, when you look at your posture from the front or back your neck and head should be straight up and down. When you look at someone's spine from the side there is a "C" curve in the neck and the ear lines up with the shoulder, and the shoulder lines up with the hip.

So someone sleeping with a very flat pillow or no pillow, tends to flatten their "C" curvature. With too many pillows or something much to thick tends to push the head up, straightening the curvature and pulling the head out of alignment forward.

When someone is sleeping on their side, a pillow too flat causes the head to tilt downward. With a pillow too high the head will bend toward the ceiling. So you can see when looking at this person their head and neck are not straight up and down but laterally bent to one side or the other.

So what's the problem you may ask?

The problem is that misalignments of the spine of only millimeters is often enough to put pressure on nerves causing pain and muscle irritation. And if you allow your head to be shifted out of normal, good alignment, night after night for hours on end your spine will start to shift permanently in these directions causing neck issues and pain more often.

Using a good support pillow should prevent any problems. I use the cervical linear traction neck pillow which gives support under the neck when sleeping on your back and keeps the head level when on your side.

This pillow has some extra material built into the neck roll that goes right under the neck. This keeps the cervical curvature in its best position, supporting the spine and eliminating any nerve pressure. Keeping the head level when on your side also prevents any nerve pressure. And as you may know - keeping the nerves free from pressure will eliminate pain!

The best pillows for neck support should have the right firmness to support your neck while perfectly conforming to the contour of your head. There are different types of support pillows today that it's quite hard to pick just one. The following information is important to take note of to get to the best pillows for neck support.

If it looks pretty and feels comfortable, you should purchase the neck pillow immediately. If that's how easy it is to pick a neck support pillow, we won't be having this discussion about the best neck pillows for support. Normally, the wrong types of neck pillows will cause symptoms like sore neck, back pain, snoring, numbness of arms and hands. If you're experiencing any of these problems, then it's really time for you to switch to better pillows.

Just by looking at the size of the neck pillow, you'll pretty much have the idea if it will work for you or not - if it's too large or too small, immediately skip to the next pillow available. It is important that the pillow should not place your neck too high or too low, but it should align your neck to the rest of your body.

Touch and get a feel of the firmness quality of the neck support pillow. It shouldn't be too rigid because it has a big tendency to go against your neck and press hard on your neck muscles - the only thing you'll get from this type of pillow is a stiff neck. The best neck support pillow should curve to the shape of your head and still support your cervical area.

The size and shape of the neck support pillows are not the only details you have to think about. There are also different types of pillows out there that you'll find helpful.

Memory foam pillows - probably one of the most popular types of pillows today - are resilient and are able to return to their original state when not in use. These give out excellent neck support and retain their shape pretty well. These pillows are more ideal for colder places than hot because these tend to retain body heat.

Buckwheat pillows have its origin in Asian countries, like Japan. These are filled with dried buckwheat husks that provide excellent air circulation. These pillows feel cool during warm weather conditions and warm if it's cold outside.

Neck roll pillows, which include memory foam, adjustable, and inflatable types, are good neck support pillows. These are not strictly for your neck, but also for your hips, ankles, and at the back of your knees.

If you think about it, the best pillows for neck support are the ones that will specifically address your health issues and provide great sleep quality as well. And the only way to achieve that is to learn as much as you can about these types of pillows and take your time in choosing.

Do you often wake up with a stiff neck? Feel like you always have soreness across the shoulders? Notice you can't turn your head like you should be able to? Sometimes feel the tension going right up into your head, causing a headache? Or even find it often difficult to work on the computer or drive for a long period without having your neck tension increase?

Many people suffer from tightness, spasm or sore muscles in the neck. Often times if you feel the neck you can find hard nodules which are knots in the muscles or what I call trigger points. It is very common.

Usually the source of the problem actually stems from the neck spine and nerves in the neck. Why is this so? Well, to start, the nerves control our muscle function. If there is pressure on nerves in the neck your muscles are not getting proper communication, so they get imbalanced and don't work like they should. Next, a spine that is misaligned will not only contribute to possible direct pressure on a nerve by a spinal bone or bones misaligned but also it can create an uneven ness in the spine so that the muscles are not balanced. For example, if your spine is not straight u and down from the front to back and has a curvature to the side then the side the curve is toward has a constantly stretched and tense muscle. The opposite side will have a shortened muscle. Simply because of mechanics you may be able to tilt more to one side whereas the other side is limited.

Let's take another example of the forward head. From the side view our spine should have smooth flowing curves. The neck should have a C-curve of 40-60 degrees. This keeps the spinal cord relaxed and the nerves that come off it free of interference. It also allows your spine to with stand the forces of gravity at it's best. It has been shown that for each inch of forward head drift or carriage can cause 10+ more pounds of gravitational forces pressing down on you. Not to mention those muscles in the back of the neck that now have to work harder to hold the head up and in alignment.

So you can see from just two examples how misalignments can cause tension on the muscles and/or put pressure on the nerves causing pain and blocked communication of the brain and spinal cord to those muscles.

How can I get rid of this neck pain and tension?

Fix the cause - the unwanted misalignments and nerve pressure.

Get your spine treated by a Chiropractor or Osteopath. A Massage Therapist or Physical Therapist can help as well. The Chiropractor or Osteopath can adjust or manipulate the spine into it's best position. They may also use muscle stretches or trigger point release techniques as does a Massage Therapist or cervical traction, electric muscle stimulation or postural exercises that a Physical Therapist may do as well.
Be aware of your posture - remember posture is a window into your spine. If your posture reveals a forward head carriage for example then your spine has lost some of the normal curvature and is out in front of your center of gravity. Make sure your work station is ergonomically correct and also be aware of things that increase neck tension and stress.
Sleep with a good neck pillow. I recommend one with support for the normal cervical curvature (normal neck alignment). Arc4life offers a wonderful neck pillow called the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow. Forward head posture is the most common misalignment I see. A good cervical neck pillow or cervical traction can help correct this problem without much effort at all.

So, correct the root cause - pressure on the nerves and misalignments and you will correct the muscle soreness, tension, trigger points, and muscle pain.

Did you know that 80 percent of American will experience back pain during some point of their lives, and that an increase in extreme sports is resulting in injuries occurring at a younger age than ever before?

While certain high-risk sports like football and gymnastics have been around for a long time, other relatively-new sports like all-star cheerleading, skateboarding and trick bikes are creating a new wave of back injuries and pain for children and teens. Potentially high-impact and "jarring" activities like intensive tumbling and stunting and highly-reactive body movements can create back and neck aches and injuries -- some of which can become sources for chronic pain later.

These activities for children and teens are considered a good news/bad news scenario, because there is growing concern about sedentary and overweight youngsters and the push for increased physical activity is being promoted more and more. At the same time, however, the activities that draw in a growing percentage of youth are ones that have the greatest potential for excitement and intensive exercise -- coupled with increased likelihood of muscle and bone injuries.

Each year, back pain costs Americans about 0 billion in medical bills, disability and lost productivity, according to recent health insurance reports. Those figures typically do not include injuries from children and teenagers.

If you or your child is participating in a so-called extreme or high-risk sport or activity, ask about potential for back and neck injuries and what safety precautions are put into place to help minimize the risk. You'll also want to know what medical plan is in place in the event a back or neck injury occurs -- and whether the instructor or coach possesses training to help deal with a potentially-catastrophic injury. Know your risks and understand what safeguards may or may not be in place before choosing to participate -- or allowing your child to do the same.

Painful and pesky shoulders, necks, and backs afflict many of us - as much as 90 percent of us - from time to time. The pain can be mild to intense, and it could manifest itself as a dull ache, sharp throbbing, or constant tingling. What is the root of the pain and how can you relieve it? When ignored, the pain can go from bad to worse, and can become chronic and debilitating. For these reasons it's important to pay attention to these problems and address them quickly.

For many people, what causes upper back shoulder pain and neck pain are misaligned vertebrae and slipped or burst cervical discs. Although this may sound scary, fortunately, these kind of alignment and structural problems are not life-threatening, but they can be annoying. Visiting a chiropractor is the best way to get started on healing the pain.

Muscular problems might be what causes upper back shoulder pain and neck pain. Pulled muscles and fascia are examples of muscular problems. This affliction is quite widespread and can be prompted by sleeping in a strange position, hefting heavy items, or even toting around a small child. Taking anti-inflammatory medicine, resting the muscles, and icing the painful area can help. Herbal remedies are also available to treat inflammation. Looking up back pain product reviews can help you make a decision.

In some cases, what causes upper back shoulder pain and neck pain is "referred pain". This can happen if what is causing the pain is due to a problem in a different location from where the pain is felt. Generally speaking, the referred pain is benign, but it's still good to get a check-up, in case the pain is being referred from the heart, gallbladder, gastric system or somewhere else that needs attention.

What causes upper back shoulder pain and neck pain varies from person to person, but in many cases it is "idiopathic" or without any known cause. Rather than being from an unknown physical ailment, or from something that remains undiagnosed, this is actually a problem with the nervous system. The pain receptors in the brain and spinal column are not communicating properly.

For people with idiopathic pain, back pain releif can be achieved by practicing relaxation and visualization techniques that help calm these pain receptors.

Some of us may occasionally have discomfort in the upper back. The upper back is the 12 vertebrates with ribs attached to it that connect to the breastbone. This skeletal area is commonly referred to as the thoracic cage. It provides protection for the major organs of the body. This area consists of the thoracic cage and the soft tissues and muscles between them.

This higher back area generally experiences little movement. It is meant to be flexible and to provide a protective area for the major organs like the heart and the liver. Other areas such as the neck and lower back have greater range of motion than the upper back area.

There are a number of conditions which can affect the back. Although, upper back pain is less likely then lower back pain or neck pain. However, there are situations involving the thoracic area. This can lead to pain, soreness and discomfort.

The upper portion of the back has two main functions in the body. The first is providing the major organs with a protective barrier. The second is to transmit the body weight between the head and the lower extremities. Although it is not move as much it must be flexible to help distribute weight of your body.

What are causes of upper back pain? There seem to be two main groups of discomfort coming from this region. One general group is joint dysfunction. The other is classified as soft tissue irritation.

In the case of joint dysfunction, this generally involves the soft tissue and state of the bone in the spinal column. The spine consists of many small bones and the soft tissues in between. Discomfort can result when these joints do not function correctly.

The other common cause of discomfort and the upper part of the back has to do with the soft tissues. The soft tissues hold the vertebrae together and maintain the flexibility of the spinal column. Pain can result from over exerting this area or from injury.

When we picture over exerting our muscles, we think that we are strenuously working them out. In the case of upper back pain, working at the computer can cause much discomfort to this area. If the muscles are held under tension, they become fatigued and stiff.

There are a few cases which are less common problems for the upper back. Certain conditions such as a herniated disc, or arthritis, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia can be severe situations. These can involve a variety of treatments including surgery. These situations can also cause much discomfort and pain to those with it.

Some of the typical treatments for upper back pain are exercises, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment and massage therapy. Exercises include a lot of stretching to improve flexibility. Physical therapy uses stretching exercises and massage to naturally help the body. Chiropractic manipulation may be used to help straighten and better aligns the spine. Massage therapy may be given by therapist or a massage chair.

There are a number of treatments for upper back pain. Normally, your physician or chiropractor will perform a number of tests to determine what the situation with you is. However, the tests are not always 100% accurate in detecting the root cause. This area the body is very complex and sometimes difficult to diagnose.

It is always important to check with your health advisor about your situation. If you are experiencing pain and discomfort, see your physician and find out what options may be available for you.

A contour pillow is an orthopedic pillow that is often made of memory foam. It is a temperature sensitive foam that takes the shape of your body specifically the neck and head to provide support and maximum comfort. Using this type of orthopedic pillow is recommended for people who are suffering from neck pain and sleeping disorders. People who do not experience these conditions can also use it for prevention or for a peaceful good night sleep which results to a refreshed and great morning. Good mornings will lead to a stress free and very productive day.

Even if you are sleeping on your side or back, a contour memory foam pillow can still perform its function very well. It is known to provide complete support to your neck and head that regular pillows do not. With consistent use, the pressure points on your body will be reduced which is good for the back and spine. Aside from these things, there are other advantages that this pillow offers such as the ability to resist bacteria and molds to grow on it. It also durable which means that you do not have to replace it every once in a while because can use for several years.

If you are always on a business trip or you travel too much that lying on your bed while using a contour pillow seems to be impossible; you can use a contour travel pillow. This pillow is suitable for travelers because it is really intended to serve this specific purpose. It doesn't take so much space in your luggage, so it won't be so much of a burden on your part. With this, even if you are always on the go, you can still have a restful and comfortable sleep with a contour travel pillow.

How to adjust your own back is a question that many people have. I know it was a big question of mine. And, I have known many people that wanted to know this as well. It is an especially big question for people with chronic back pain. You might want to know how to relieve mid back pain, or it can be of low back pain that is your concern. It doesn't matter, if it hurts you want relief. You want it adjusted right away, you don't want to wait another minute.

A chiropractor can adjust your back for you, but that costs money, and sometimes it hurts. Some chiropractors are better than others, but you won't know until you shell out your hard earned money to find out. It's really hard to pay for something that is supposed to give back pain relief, and it ends up causing pain. Sometimes more pain.

Here is one method that can help. It works really well for the middle and upper back pain. It can work lower down on the back, but probably won't work for the very lowest areas. Sometimes it can work for neck pain.

What you'll need are two tennis balls and some duct tape. You tape the two balls close together so that they won't roll away from each other when you lie down on them. Adjust the distance so that they will be just to either side of your spine.

All you need to do is lie down on your back with one ball on either side of your spine where it bothers you. Relax as you lie on the balls so that the muscles release allowing the adjustment to happen. It only takes a few seconds after you relax.

This works because the vertebra tends to rotate out of alignment. Lying on the balls allows the area to release so that the vertebra drops down into alignment. It doesn't matter which way the vertebra rotated out since the balls are on both sides.

One issue you need to be aware of though is that sometimes there are reasons the back is out of alignment. If you've ever gone to a chiropractor and had your back hurting again within a day or two, then you've experienced this.

One of my friends who is in her third trimester downplayed my excitement about her. Expecting a baby is one of the most wonderful time in a persons life. Even you can call it a miracle of life.

To look at her, I sort of had to agree. What had happened to that "glow" pregnant women are supposed to have? It had been replaced by a puffy nose and dark circles under her eyes.

She explained that as soon as she hit her third trimester, she started having chronic pain. This was not just a problem during daylight hours. She also found that she had trouble sleeping, which actually seemed to make the neck pain worse.

Neck pain is one of the most reported discomforts of pregnant women. In fact, over eighty percent of pregnant women have complained of neck pain, back pain or a combination of both.

First thing is during pregnancy there will be sudden increase of weight and typically the weight will be more in the uterus. So it alters the woman's balance in the body. And the body tries to adjust in size and weight almost on a daily basis.

Even if a woman gains weight all over the body, and the weight gain itself can cause neck and back pain. In fact, neck and back pain is commonly reported as a concern for obese men and women.

During pregnancy the hormones can affect the joints and ligaments and this can also cause pain.

Typical remedies include specifically designed cervical pillows in order to align the spine, applying ice to the affected area and head and neck exercises. In fact, a client of mine has stated that for each of her two previous pregnancies, she experienced excruciating neck pain.

Only after the delivery of the baby and complete recovery she noticed the improvement in the neck pain. For her the pillows and ice packs provided little comfort during her pregnancy. Her doctor suggested she look into specific exercises for the neck and to take a preventative approach, meaning, start the exercises before the pain started. I'm happy to report that she is delighted with my Neck Pain program!

I highly encourage you to try my Neck Pain program, regardless of your reason for pain. The program is all natural and the results are guaranteed!