Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain & Sciatica Relief Strategies

How to Choose the Right Neck, Back, and Sciatic Nerve Pain Exercise Program and Gym, Health and Fitness Facility or Wellness Center

As we progress through our neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief exercise program, the way we deal our condition in terms of stretching and exercise will evolve and grow more targeted and intense. As our program changes, the need for the proper program and workout facility will change, as well!

The weather is changing here in the Midwest, it is growing cold and wet! However, even for folks Downunder and in other regions of the World south of the equator, facing the prospect of Summer, the next step in a complete neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief exercise program is choosing the right gym. Choosing a gym is second only in importance to chosing your medical practitioner; and, followed closely by choosing a personal trainer, to be covered in a subsequent article.

Choosing a medical practitioner is the single most important decision you will make as you deal with your chronic neck, back, and/or sciatic nerve pain issues. I would argue that choosing the right gym is even more important than selecting a physical therapist whom, after all, is usually someone you are referred to and see only as long as the insurance stays in effect.

Once your medical practitioner has cleared you for a stretching and exercise program, and you have finished the generally short stint with your physical therapist, it is time to chose a gym.

As a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica sufferer, you will require certain considerations a “normal” gym members will not and it is crucial you interview the gym thoroughly and that you make certain your personality and that of the gym are in sync. Gyms, like people, have very distinct personalities and it is crucial to the success of your long term neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain (sciatica) relief exercise program’s success that they match is a good one.

The factors to consider as you consider various gyms and health and fitness centers, those conducive to your neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain issues, are:

1) Location
2) Cleanliness
3) Staff, including the availability of a qualified and competent instructor familiar with neck pain, back pain, and sciatica exercises and, if possible, someone who has first hand experience dealing with the effects of chronic neck pain, back pain, and sciatica
4) The right balance of equipment (i.e., machines, bikes, other types of cardio machines, free weights, etc.)
5) Music and overall socio-cultural personality
6) Locker rooms
7) Shower and restroom facilities (and their cleanliness-a key consideration)
Membership levels and facility size
9) Access to staff and equipment during peak periods
10) Length of contract
11) Trial period availability
12) Availability of personal trainers and/or the option to bring in your own qualified personal trainer familiar with your particular neck pain, back pain, and sciatica issues (selection to be covered in a subsequent article)
13) Price
14) Cancellation policy with refund provision for unused portion of membership, if prepaid
15) Rapport with management, empathy based on experience dealing with clients with neck pain, back pain, and sciatica

The above 15 factors are crucial to your long term success and their importance cannot be overstated!

I will cover many of these in depth in subsequent articles. The match in choosing the right gym for your neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain (sciatica) exercise must be a good one and the comfort level you feel, validated during your initial workout appointment and the trial period, will assure your long term success and ensure you achieve your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief exercise program goals!

To your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros., Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-539-7412 (office)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

P.S., For more information on neck pain, back pain, and sciatica issues go to The Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies of The Bad Back Guy!

P.P.S., For an amazing first step, a program designed to help you deal effectively with your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, just click here!

The Truth About Back Pain and Diagnosis Bias!

Are You a Victim of Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Diagnosis Bias?

Diagnosis bias is a real issue in the medical community, one not often discussed, openly or in private. In fact, diagnosis bias is one of those ”dirty little secrets” only recently addressed; and then, only in closed door conferences and at a few of the more progressive medical schools in the country.

Chronic fatigue and chronic to chronically acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica are among the most difficult conditions to diagnose and treat. A great deal of the reason, or reasons, for the difficulty in properly diagnosing and treating chronic pain and chronic fatigue, to include chronic neck pain, back pain, and sciatica is because while pain is a very real symptom of an underlying condition, and the underlying condition may be recognized and treatment initiated, it is also an abstract concept.

Pain as an Abstract Concept: Difficulties in Diagnosis and Treatment

When I state that pain is an abstract concept, I mean pain in any of its guises, in any and all of its manifestations, is as different from one person to the next as personality and/or fingerprints are. For this reason, and a myriad of others, neck pain, back pain, and sciatica create a number of challenges for medical practitioners, not only in the diagnosis phase but in subsequent treatment.

Value Attribution, Diagnosis Bias, Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatic Nerve Pain (or Sciatica)

When dealing with neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain (sciatica) complaints doctors, like most people, will often make an initial assessment based on value attribution. Value attribution, in this instance at least, is a first impression of the medical kind! Unfortunately for the individual suffering from chronic fatigue or chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica the medical practitioner will often stick to that attribution when making even a critical diagnosis, even in the face of contradictory evidence.

Value attribution and diagnosis bias occur for a myriad of reasons, most of all because doctors are human. Medical practitioners are subject and susceptible to the same biases and prejudices the rest of us are. Interestingly, this bias, once set in place, will often shape the medical practitioner’s future perception of a patient’s complaints, once again, even when confronted with contradictory evidence, and will shape the treatment received…or not received.

Value attribution and diagnosis bias are covered extensively, and quite well, by Brafman and Brafman in their book Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior. I recommend it for anyone who would like to understand why we do the things we do and make the decisions me make…and are forced to live with. This book is particularly appropriate for anyone who feels he or she may have been a victim of diagnosis bias.

The Video, Chronically Acute Back Pain, and Diagnosis Bias

I have first hand knowledge of diagnosis bias as it applies to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica and I discuss the situation and its eventual outcome in the video below. It should be an eye-opener for many, for others living through it at this time, it may give you what you need to press on and fight back, fight against the diagnosis bias that nearly took my life and ultimately robs many neck pain, back pain, and sciatica sufferers every year of the life they could have if only someone took them seriously…or just took them differently!

Chronic Fatigue, Chronic Pain, Empathy, and Abstraction

In fighting chronic fatigue, and chronic pain, one very often goes through the same battles to be heard and taken seriously. Many times even friends and relatives just don’t understand. How could they, pain is such an abstraction and if they have never experienced it themselves? Again, how could they!

Given the above, one would still hope the medical community, and particularly specialists trained to deal with chronic fatigue and chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica would be somewhat immune from value attribution and diagnosis bias. Yet we know that, in fact, some are and some aren’t!

The Good, The Bad, and The Misdiagnosis

Just as there are good physicians and bad ones, there are good chefs and terrible ones, there are good pilots and bad ones…and they all make mistakes. The trick here is to not allow others to lump you into a category before an adequate diagnosis has been made. Whether the condition is a chronic one, one that is chronic and acute or
is relatively new and still very much in the acute phase, do not allow your medical pracitioner to make an attribution, a diagnosis, based on a bias and without all the facts. As stated above, pain in any and all of its guises is a symptom and it is their task to uncover the cause and treat it effectively.

Do Not Take No for an Answer!

And do not take “I don’t know” for an answer! Press on until someone, somewhere provides you with a legitimate diagnosis and the quality care you deserve, care we all deserve. There is a life on the other side of any chronic fatigue and/or pain condition, do not allow anyone to rob you of even one day of your life…much less your life in total, as almost happened to me!

Best wishes in health!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros., Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526
216-539-7412 (bus)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, If you would like to take matters into your own hands and grab control of your life? If you would like to achieve a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica free life? Simply click here and you will be on you way, one step closer to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief…once and for all!

Suboxone is One of the Newest Chronic Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatic Nerve Pain Management and Addiction Treatment Wonder Drugs to Emerge in the Last Two or Three Years!

Chronic pain generally, and neck pain, back pain, and sciatica specifically, have been historically difficult to manage. Relief from chronic and/or acute pain with the use of narcotics is coming under increasing scrutiny as addiction becomes common and the efficacy of narcotics as a pain relief strategy is hotly debated.

The fact is, narcotics are not recommended as a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief strategy. In ever increasing numbers, pain management clinics are coming under fire for prescribing massive amounts of narcotics with little or no demonstrable reduction in the level of pain for their clients. Many pain management clinics have been closed down, either by litigation, the threat of litigation, or by state and federal government agencies. Still others have been forced to rethink and reshape their approach to pain management in order to survive.

Many pain management patients have become addicted to narcotics and have had to undergo difficult and protracted drug rehabilitation therapy once, twice, even three and four times, just to get “clean.” Pain management clinics have been sued by their former patients and many pain clinics refuse to take on new patients already taking narcotics for fear of taking on yet another problem patient.

Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica patients stuck in this trap, with very few options available to them, are often left on their own with nowhere to turn and no physician willing to help them. If additional surgery is required, many surgeons refuse to take on this sort of patient due to the high risk nature of the relationship.

The video below discusses the new drug Suboxone, one that may offer new hope to tens of thousands of pain management patients currently without hope and without a future. Suboxone has been nothing short of a miracle drug for many, contributing to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief, while at the same time allowing an individual to come off of the heavy narcotics in favor of a “kinder gentler” pain management strategy.

While still technically an opiod, Suboxone has features that make it appropriate for not only pain management, still being debated in the medical community, and as an addiction treatment, one for which the FDA regulations were considerably loosened in late 2006. Now, a generic Suboxone is available, making it more affordable for everyone. The loosening of regulations means more doctors can prescribe the drug which means many more will have access to it, thus offering hope to many people stuck in the limbo of pain management, still in pain but wishing to “come clean.”

This is a very anecdotal, unscientific post and before considering any kind of medical treatment, you must, of course, consult your physician!

However, compared to the alternatives: narcotics, addiction and all; methadone, with its own form of addiction and consequences; and, neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, which we have covered extensively; there can be little doubt that Suboxone at least offers a way up and out.

Given the proper management by your medical practitioner, Suboxone may reduce your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica long enough for your exercise program to begin demonstrating results, while at the same time reducing your dependence on narcotics, both physically and psychologically, and restoring control of your life to the one it belongs to…you!

Best wishes for a pain free life!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526
866-835-2913 (toll free)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, For neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief without narcotics and without invasive procedures!

Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica: Understanding and Dealing With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Spine surgeries are performed for a myriad of conditions and complaints every year here in the United States and around the world. Of the spine surgeries performed, an incredibly high number result in what is known as failed back surgery syndrome.

When referring to the terms spine surgery and back surgery, I will be applying them in their broadest sense, meaning neck, upper, middle, and lower back surgery.

Back surgery is generally the result of a number of complaints and conditions, usually all related in some way to acute and/or chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica. Failed back surgery syndrome is generally a continuation of pain, known as chronic pain, and other symptoms affecting the patient.

The medical names for the various back pain expressions are as follows:

1) Back pain, also known as dorsalgia, is a generalized pain experienced, mild to acute, isolated to chronic, in the back and originating as the result of a number of conditions, affecting a variety of structures (e.g., nerves, vertebrae, joints, intervertebral discs, etc). Back pain is said to affect as many as 95% of all adults at some time in their lives.

2) Neck pain, also known as cervicalgia, affects as many as 66% of all adults at some time in their lives. Neck pain may also express as pain in the shoulder, arm, and hand, with associated numbness and tingling into the hands and fingers.

3) Upper back pain, also referred to as thoracic pain or middle back pain, is expressed along the spine from C7 to L1, or from the base of the neck to the base of the thoracic region of the spine. Upper or middle back pain is often but not always isolated to a specific location and has a lower incidence than neck or lower back pain.

4) Lower or low back pain, also known as lumbago, is pain in the lumbar region and may be localized or may radiate laterally. In its worst form, lower back pain will be accompanied by sciatica or leg pain radiating into one or both legs.

5) Sciatic nerve pain or sciatica, also referred to as sciatic neuritis, often associated with lumbar radiculopathy, and commonly referred to as “leg pain,” generally arises as a result of an irritation or compression of one of the five nerve roots that ultimately make up the sciatic nerve. The leg pain may extend into the feet and often ranges from acute to chronic and sensation from tingling to numbness of the legs, feet, and even the toes.

Stress and Trauma Induced Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

The pain expressions listed above, neck pain, upper and middle back pain, lower back pain, and sciatica, are complex and often arise as the result of stress placed on the spine and the reaction of the spine and the supporting musculoskeletal system to a specific stressor or constellation of stressors, whether generalized or specific. The spine may also be traumatized as the result of an isolated event, thus resulting in pain to a specific location and ranging once again from acute to chronic, depending on a myriad of factors.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: Failure of Expectations

Often, particularly when the reason for the back pain is the result of a number of factors, back surgery may not yield the anticipated result. The failure of the back surgery thus leading to a continuation and, in many instances, increasing levels of neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica, and failed back surgery syndrome.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: Odds of Success and Behaviors

It is estimated that several million individuals see a medical practitioner daily for neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain and that between four hundred thousand and five hundred thousand individuals in the United States alone undergo back surgery in one form or another every year. Of the half a million neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica sufferers who submit to back surgery every year, between 20% and 40% continue to have significant issues, to include similar or increased levels of pain, overall muscle weakness, excess weight and/or obesity, sleep disorders, depression, numbness and tingling of the extremities, and disability…to list just a few.

Failed Backs and Frustration Across the Board!

There is a general sense of frustration, not only on the part of the surgical patients and their families, but also within the medical community, as failed back surgery syndrome is one of the most perplexing issues facing orthopedic medicine today. The condition is not an isolated syndrome, and in fact to call failed back surgery syndrome a “syndrome” is a misnomer, it is a condition resulting from a constellation of issues and a myriad of factors, many completely unrelated to the surgical procedure itself.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: Reinforcing Results and Behavior

Individuals with failed back surgery syndrome, also referred to as post-laminectomy syndrome and failed spine surgery, or simply failed backs, generally have chronic to chronically acute pain affecting the original area of concern. Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica may grow worse with time and the pain may become debilitating and disabling. The resulting pain often leads to guarding, decreased activity, loss of muscle tone and sensation, over all malaise, and often addiction to pain medication.

A Mixed Bag: Why FBBS?

Failed back surgery syndrome may result from an ill-advised surgery, an ill-prepared surgical patient, an improperly executed surgical procedure, an incomplete surgical procedure, an incomplete or inadequate post-operative experience to include under prescribed physical therapy or incomplete physical therapy regimen, and a myriad of other reasons and consequences. Failed back surgery syndrome may also be the result of a number of psycho-social and socio-economic factors, as has been suggested in the medical literature lately as orthopedic medicine attempts to come to grips with this complex and frustrating issue.

The Reality of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: Get a Second Opinion!

The reality of the matter is, regardless of cause, failed back surgery syndrome is a fact of life for tens of thousands of neck pain, back pain, and sciatica sufferers every year…and there is little hope in sight that this complex issue will be resolved any time soon. Ultimately, before agreeing to any sort of surgical intervention for neck, back or sciatic nerve pain, an individual should get a second opinion and explore every avenue of relief possible first…because the risk of a failed back surgery is real.

More in the next article: How to Deal With Failed back Surgery Syndrome

You can also see several videos dealing with failed back surgery syndrome and neck pain, back pain, and sciatica at my blog covering The 30 Day Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica!

John

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

PS, If you want to win back your life and live neck pain, back pain, and sciatica free? If you want to find real and lasting pain relief in a program of self-treatment with great individualized support? A free trial that is 100% guaranteed? Just click this link and begin your new life today!

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!