Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain & Sciatica Relief Strategies

Chronic Pain Syndrome of CFS Affects Over a Million Individuals in the United States Every Year!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a complex disorder about which little is known. The reasons for onset, etiology or cause of CFS are still largely unknown. In spite of the fact that more than one million individuals suffer from the disorder in the United States alone, physicians are still focused primarily on symptoms, rather than causality. There are no physical signs to alert an individual or your medical practitioner to the presence of CFS, nor are there any conclusive diagnostic laboratory tests designed to diagnose it. The only thing more difficult than diagnosing and treating chronic fatigue syndrome, is living with it!

The onset

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome differs from other chronic illnesses in that about three-fourths of occurrences come with what can only be described as an abrupt onset, often presenting suddenly and, seemingly, out of nowhere. Other instances of chronic fatigue spring up after a long period of mild symptoms, generally triggered by a traumatic event or stress. While suggestive, the link between stress and chronic fatigue remains only that…suggestive.

Etiology or Cause

The research into CFS has been extensive, published virtually around the world and in every scientific journal and magazine you can think of, the interest is intense as the disorder reaches epidemic levels. Every organization, from the National Science Foundation (NSF), to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have researched this complex and puzzling phenomenon, but to no avail. There are a number of powerful hypotheses but as of yet no solid data to support any of them. While anecdotal, it seems that the disorder only recently, in fact over the past three and one-half decades, has burst onto the scene, peaking the interest of scientists, researchers, and the medical community as a whole.

Transmission

No solid conclusions have been drawn pertaining to transmission of chronic fatigue. In fact there is no evidence at all to support the proposition that CFS may be contagious. Nevertheless, multiple cases of the disorder have been diagnosed in the same family. There does seem to be powerful suggestive evidence that chronic fatigue may indeed have a genetic component, however, the jury is still out. More research is needed to prove or disprove the suggestion that CFS is or is not genetic.

Symptomology

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is categorized by incapacitating, debilitating, and even totally disabling fatigue. CFS presents with a myriad of symptoms, many resembling other illnesses. Symptoms of CFS mimic those of several other disorders, making it extremely difficult to properly diagnose. Chronic fatigue symptoms are similar to those of Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, multiple sclerosis, mononucleosis, and even Lyme disease. The symptoms are widespread, and are usually broken down into three categories, they are listed below.

General or physical symptoms:

Many sufferers of CFS find it nearly impossible to perform any sort of physical exertion. When engaged in physical activity, such as exercise or any sort of physical labor, the CFS sufferer may experience shortness of breath, light-headedness, and even blackouts. While some individuals are able to conquer the work week, usually exerting tremendous effort to do so, many more are bedridden, forced to rely solely on others, totally disabled. Problems compound in the ear, nose and throat area, appearing to be endocrine driven symptoms (glands and hormones). Sore throats and swollen lymph nodes occur, perhaps suggestive of an infection (antigen/antibody reaction), as when the body attempts to fight off a foreign body or when the body is undergoing an extreme stress reaction. While allergies develop and symptoms become more severe, fevers often present as a symptom as well. Additionally, CFS sufferers will experience night sweats, weight change with little or no apparent change in dietary habits, and they will often suffer from irritable bowel syndrome and bladder dysfunction. Interestingly, many of the conditions listed above are often present during periods of exaggerated stress.

Neurological symptoms:

Sleep disorders are a common symptom of CFS and it has been suggested that increased pain sensitivity may contribute to the restlessness and sleeplessness many experience. Chronic fatigue sufferers often experience difficulty with their senses, mainly in the form of vision changes and sensitivity to bright light, olfactory changes (odor perception) and sensitivity to certain chemicals have been documented. Disorientation may also occur with CFS, while some suffer with problems of balance and spatial perception. Trouble with concentration and memory have also been reported, seeming to present along with impaired word usage during a phenomenon called “brain fog.” Some living with CFS are even subject to seizure-like episodes and unusual and disturbing nightmares.

Emotional problems:

Depression is often connected with chronic fatigue syndrome. Along with depression, CFS sufferers experience suicidal ideation, anxiety (with or without panic attacks), anger and rage issues, and mood swings ranging from pronounced manic episodes to suicidal depression. The depression experienced alongside CFS may be chemically induced, due to a serotonin and norepinephrine imbalance, as well as a consequence of external events, such as severe pain, disability, and hopelessness due to lack of treatment options.

CFS varies in degree and expression, type and severity, from one patient to the next. In the same individual, chronic fatigue may wax and wane from one day to the next, even hour to hour. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms may be mild to acute, fleeting to chronic, in the same individual and from day-to-day.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome crosses all barriers and touches individuals from all walks of life. There are no clear ethnic, socioeconomic or age-related factors…anyone may be affected. However, there does seem to be a gender issue, with twice as many women as men presenting with the disorder, particularly women between 30 and 50 years of age. Of the known cases of CFS, those with verifiable diagnoses, at least twice as many women have the disease as men. It also appears to affect pregnant women at a much higher rate than the rest of the population. The reason or reasons for the gender discrepancy, like the difficulty with the initial diagnosis, is problematic and requires more research. The complexity of the disorder, combined with a lack of any sort of diagnostic standard, results in a medical community that is reactive, required to treat symptoms, with little or no real idea of etiology (cause). The impact of chronic fatigue on the lives of those suffering from this debilitating and disabling disorder is unfathomable to those who aren’t living it on a daily basis. Like Chronic Pain Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome creates a constellation of secondary and tertiary consequences, some as bad if not worse than the original condition. Until etiology (cause) is established, CFS sufferers deal with, on a daily basis, one of the most debilitating of all disorders. While their load may be lightened with an individually designed and implemented treatment strategy, the ultimate treatment, a cure, still appears elusive.

Claim your own FREE guide to better understanding fibromyalgia (FMS)…TODAY! “Why We Hurt: Your Total Self-Care Guide for Backaches, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.”

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To your health!

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.,
216-712-6526
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com
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Relative to many of today’s diseases and disorders, little is known about the etiology, the cause, and the long-term effects of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). The two disorders share a myriad of characteristics, however, which begs the question: Are they really two separate diseases? How does Myofascial Pain Syndrome fit in? What are the various pain expressions characteristic of each? How are symptoms the same or distinct from each other? Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica have been reported in all three conditions but in varying degrees of intensity and frequency. How are they the same and how are they different? We have already begun to explore the answers to these questions in previous articles, we will continue to do so in this and subsequent articles in this series.

Of the two disorders, CFS is being reported to be nearing or at epidemic levels, affecting many persons at the same time across a wide range of demographic groups. CFS symptoms wax and wane more frequently than symptoms of FMS, and the rate of disability is greater in chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Currently, we don’t know what the direct (or indirect) connection is between chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Early research and speculation has suggested that they could possibly be distinct, meaning the two disorders are not related, identical, the same disorder, but with different names, overlapping, two diverse expressions of a similar disorder or possibly the result of different causes or triggers leading to a common pathway, two subtypes of a larger illness and part of a spectrum of illnesses, including both…and possibly Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Until further research is done, it is difficult to say with any degree of certainty.F

Claim your own FREE guide to better understanding fibromyalgia (FMS)…TODAY! “Why We Hurt: Your Total Self-Care Guide for Backaches, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.”

To your health!

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.,
216-712-6526
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

Treating chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica is always problematic. The condition may lead to debilitating pain and, ultimately, to disability!

Most people, at some point in their lives, experience some type of short-lived back pain. This is usually a relatively temporary occurrence that doesn’t interfere with daily life in a major way. But, for an unlucky percentage of the population, back pain is a chronic problem that’s debilitating physically and emotionally. To make matters worse, treating and managing chronic back pain tends to be a frustrating process because not all causes are totally understood. The first step to treating and managing chronic back pain is finding a doctor who specializes in back disorders, an orthopedic surgeon or a neurologist. This doctor will be able to diagnose what type of pain you have and, hopefully, determine what is causing it.

Neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica may be muscular or nerve-related. It may occur in the upper or lower portion of the back. (Lower back pain is the most common type, and some studies indicate that its prevalence is on the rise, possibly due to a higher percentage of the population being overweight or obese.) It may be the result of an injury or it may be age-related. Common causes of chronic back pain include herniated discs, arthritis and sciatica.

Conventional treatments for chronic neck pain, back pain, and sciatica include oral medications, injections, weight loss and surgery. If you have tried these options without success, or if the cause of your pain has been diagnosed as ‘non-specific,’ it may be time to consider alternatives such as physical therapy, reducing stress, getting more and better sleep, changing your diet, getting acupuncture or acupressure treatments, going to a masseuse regularly, using an inversion board, or getting chiropractic adjustments.

Physical Therapy

If your back pain is caused by muscular stiffness or inflammation, physical therapy may be helpful. The purpose of physical therapy is to loosen and work muscles to improve your mobility. You may be able to independently perform flexion (bending forward), extension (bending backward) and other stretching exercises. Or, you may need to go to a specialist to help you perform the needed movements (possibility in conjunction with apply heat/cold treatments and/or electrical stimulation).

Stress Reduction

High levels of stress intensify the body’s sensitivity to pain. Therefore, reducing stress is one way to reduce neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. Consider visiting a mental health care specialist to develop a plan of action for reducing stress in your life. Managing stress through the use of regular meditation or deep-breathing exercises can be helpful as well. You may prefer to practice such exercises on your own, or as part of a guided group.

Improving Sleep

Not getting enough sleep, or having poor-quality sleep, can be both a cause and a symptom of chronic back pain. If you feel tired in addition to having back pain, or frequently wake up at night in extreme discomfort, consider spending some time addressing this aspect of your overall health. Of course, sleeping on a comfortable mattress that properly aligns your spine is important. But ruling out disorders like sleep apnea is a smart idea. No matter what, if you’re as rested as you can be, you’ll be likely to experience less pain and be better able to deal with the pain you do have.

Dietary Changes

It’s probably pretty obvious that eating a healthful, varied diet and maintaining a consistent, healthy weight is vital to overall well-being. But other, more specific changes to your diet might help reduce back pain and sciatica. For example, you may have food allergies or sensitivities that you’re not aware of, deficiencies in specific nutrients or vitamins (like Vitamin D), or undiagnosed digestive problems (like celiac disease). Elimination diets, allergy testing and other diagnostics can help you determine if a diet-related problem is causing or exacerbating your back pain.

Acupuncture and Acupressure

While not totally accepted in the U.S. nor confirmed to be effective, this practice is gaining popularity. It involves inserting thin needles into the skin at specific points on the body to unblock ‘Qi’ or ‘life-force’ channels. Studies have confirmed that acupuncture may be effective in reducing neck pain and back pain if combined with other treatments. Some practitioners use the same principle to perform acupressure, in which pressure (rather than needles) is applied to specific points on the body.

Massage

As with physical therapy, if your neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica is caused by muscle tightness, massage may help. Massage may be general in nature, or more specialized as with ‘rolfing,’ a practice that involves loosening the fascia (tissue covering muscles) in the back through the use of strong pressure.

Inversion Therapy

If you have back pain and sciatica caused by a compressed disc or sciatica, inversion therapy (a form of ‘traction’ treatment) may provide short-term relief. It involves hanging upside down by the ankles or tipping upside down in a special table, which allows gravity to stretch the spine, decompressing nerve roots and discs in the process. This isn’t a long-term solution to chronic pain, but might be helpful in combination with other therapies.

Chiropractic Treatment

This type of treatment involves physical manipulation of the spine and/or surrounding tissues to alleviate neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica. It is performed by chiropractors and osteopathic physicians, and may be helpful but shouldn’t be used if you have certain conditions such as compressed spinal cord or inflammatory arthritis. Check with your primary doctor first.

In most cases, the options discussed here represent ways to manage chronic back pain rather than cure it. One or more of these options may temporarily eliminate or alleviate your pain, but it’s quite likely that you’ll need ongoing treatment to maintain a pain-free or pain-reduced life. Exercise, weight loss, and any one or several of the above strategies, when applied in concert will alleviate and possibly eliminate neck pain, back pain, and sciatica once and for all!

I hold degrees in history and anthropology. Graduating summa cum laude, I was awarded a doctoral fellowship to study for my PhD as a fellow at one of the nations top consortiums for physical anthropology, made up of Columbia University, NYU, CUNY, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), and others. I commenced my doctoral studies and researched the spine and sacroiliac joint, reviewing and categorizing more than 15,000 modern and pre-Columbian skeletons to understand the age-progressive phenomena affecting humans as we grow older. Having had 14 major surgeries on my spine, I am in a unique position to understand the “back pain complex” as few others can, from the perspective of patient and scientist/researcher. I hope my articles help you better understand your “bad back/back pain” issues.

The Myofascial Pain Syndrome or MPS is a key component in the Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome and chronic pain expression, as is fibromyalgia, as with neck pain, back pain, hip or pelvis pain, and sciatica! Pain is localized and intense, raging from one extreme to the other, and may be debilitating and disabling.

In order to understand the musculoskeletal pain syndrome, we must examine fibromyalgia, which we have already done. Now, we will examine the other half of this very complex pain syndrome, the myofascial pain syndrome or MPS. The myofascial pain syndrome describes and defines a condition characterized by chronic pain, often associated with neck pain and back pain, as well as sciatica. Myofascial pain syndrome is best known for pain caused by “trigger points” or TrPs. Trigger points are localized pain centers or points, at times expressed as painful knots or contractures found in any skeletal muscle, anywhere on the body. Researchers have visibly napped and identified these “knots” which may express pain as anything from referred pain to very specific and intense pain in other parts of the body. In other words, myofascial pain syndrome symptoms may vary from referred pain at various myofascial trigger point,s to specific and localized pain in other areas of the body.

As noted above, MPS is closely related to the complex musculoskeletal pain syndrome known as fibromyalgia. Whereas fibromyalgia pain is expressed generally and occurs above and below the waist, on the right and left sides of the body, MPS, with its associated pain syndrome, is often more localized and found in more circumscribed areas of the body. Myofascial pain is more frequently expressed around the neck and shoulders, and is usually found on only one side of the body.

In both myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and fibromyalgia (FMS) there appears to be an alteration or a problem with the pain threshold, perceived versus actual pain. In other words, there appears to be a difference between pain reported and the actual amount of painful stimuli. MPS appears to be a problem of pain perception and expression. Some of the symptoms associated with myofascial pain syndrome include increased muscle soreness and tenderness, particularly in certain and very specific areas (muscles of the upper back, trapezius). Interestingly, as with fibromyalgia, MPS is found more frequently in women than men, the reason for this is unknown. In addition to chronic and more localized pain expression, the syndrome is also known to be associated with sleep disturbances and fatigue. The pain associated with this condition also appears to persist, and often worsen, over time. While pain appears to be specific and localized, it is also chronic and may express itself as headaches, neck pain, pelvic or hip pain, jaw pain, and even arm and leg pain. The leg pain may be mistaken for or diagnosed as sciatica. Which is a mistake or misdiagnosis, sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis!

The pain associated with MPS is generally expressed as an aching, deep, almost throbbing pain. Often, the pain in the lower back or hips is described as an aching or throbbing pain. As noted above, the pain often worsens and persists longer than expected, given the diagnosis and the underlying cause or suspected cause. The pain is also expressed as a stiffness in the muscles, and the joints adjacent to the affected muscle. The painful contracture or knot is often expressed as an area of stiffness or tension. The affected area feels very much like a tight spot or and knot and may be sensitive to the touch.

Factors that may be instrumental in bringing on myofascial pain syndrome may include muscle injury, continued stress, both psychological and physical stress to a localized muscle or muscle area, age (MPS is more likely to be diagnosed in middle age women but is also diagnosed in men), a sedentary lifestyle and/or inactivity may bring on pain at certain trigger points in the muscle, and finally, anxiety and stress. Individuals under a great deal of stress often express pain at various trigger points, perhaps due to muscle tension as a result of stress. Some researchers have suggested that the clenching or tightening of muscles associated with stress is a factor.

If pain persists or worsens, or seems to have no real reason for being there or appears to be localized, as with trigger points or knots, then a medical specialist should be consulted. Complications of myofascial pain syndrome may include muscle weakness, particularly due to inactivity as the pain sufferer is on able or unwilling to tax the painful muscle area. Additionally, as noted above, sleep may be a problem, as it is often difficult to get relief from the pain long enough to fall a sleep. Lack of sleep or sleep disturbances may be one of the reasons why chronic fatigue also seems to be related to this condition. Finally, it has been suggested that myofascial pain syndrome may evolve into fibromyalgia in some patients. While MPS is localized and unilateral in its pain expression, fibromyalgia is widespread and chronic, and it is thought myofascial pain syndrome may play a role in this condition.

Myofascial pain syndrome treatment generally includes some sort of trigger point injection and/or oral medications, as well as physical therapy, exercise, stretching, and massage. Once trigger points are identified, the medical practitioner may use an injection strategy called “needling” to localize pain at various trigger points. Stretching is generally done to ease the pain at the affected muscle trigger point by gently stretching the area. At times, medical practitioners employ a freezing lotion, spray or solution to numb the affected area or trigger point while treating it. Gentle massage also appears to be effective in some instances, although trigger point sensitivity is a problem. Finally, medications are often used, to include NSAIDs and depression medications, particularly tricyclic antidepressants. Depressants seem to help with chronic pain symptoms and with sleep disturbances, thus reducing stress.

Ultimately, taking care of your self, relieving or alleviating stress, combined with a strategy of exercise, relaxation, and a healthy diet has been shown to be effective. Taking care of one’s self may go a long way towards effectively dealing with myofascial pain syndrome. Exercise, particularly a program that allows for gentle stretching and controlled movement, is effective. Walking has also been shown to alleviate tension, improve muscle tone, and reduce over all pain sensitivity in many patients. If the myofascial pain syndrome patient is tense, anxious, depressed, and/or stressed more pain may be experienced, particularly neck pain, back pain, hip pain, and sciatica or sciatica-like pain. Meditation, social interaction, either in person or online, writing, journaling, acupuncture, and, in some instances hypnosis, have all been demonstrated to alleviate stress and reduce pain levels. Finally, take care of yourself! Taking care of your body, eat the right kinds of foods, as in a healthy diet full of vegetables and fruit, combined with enough sleep, will help the MPS sufferer cope with the chronic pain, fatigue, and stiffness associated with myofascial pain syndrome.

These are some of the programs I recommend. I hope they help you as much as they helped me! They are ordered in terms of preference! All three are great but number one is amazing! It works!

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Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@UltimateBadBackStrategies.com

I hold degrees in history and anthropology. Graduating summa cum laude, I was awarded a doctoral fellowship to study for my PhD as a fellow at one of the nations top consortiums for physical anthropology, made up of Columbia University, NYU, CUNY, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), and others. I commenced my doctoral studies and researched the spine and sacroiliac joint, reviewing and categorizing more than 15,000 modern and pre-Columbian skeletons to understand the age-progressive phenomena affecting humans as we grow older. Having had 14 major surgeries on my spine, I am in a unique position to understand the “back pain complex” as few others can, from the perspective of patient and scientist/researcher. I hope my articles help you better understand your “bad back/back pain” issues.