The Beginning: The 30 Day Walk Away from Back Pain and Sciatica…A Challenge and a Huge Success!

Now We Continue: How to Overcome Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica: The 30 Day Challenge Part II!

Start the Holidays and the New Year Out Neck Pain, Back Pain and Sciatica Free!

Over the past 108 days, since June 28, 2009, I have been on something of a quest to help others overcome their neck pain, back pain, and sciatica through a very simple and straightforward set of pain relief strategies. The response has been amazing, people all over the world have sent me emails, called me on the phone, and added me to their Skype contact lists in order to tell me they had started to walk again, were once again beginning to take control of their lives…any achieving real neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief for the first time in years! Still other people, some suffering with chronic neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica for decades were contacting me via YouTube, on Facebook, and even on Twitter. The feedback has been extremely gratifying and has kept me going with this much longer than I had originally intended…at least in any sort of a public manner.

Millions are Affected by Chronic Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica!

The fact is, millions of people around the world are affected by neck pain, back pain, and sciatica; and yet, most of them have no idea how to deal effectively with their pain. Back pain is the number 6 reason in the entire world why people see a medical practitioner, with millions visiting medical practitioners daily, seeking pain relief! Most people suffering from chronic pain, and as I mentioned above, some for decades, have simply resigned themselves to the fact that neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica is part of their life.

This does not have to be the case!

I actually get angry, infuriated, when I think about how many years, decades, I threw away because of this false notion. Unfortunately, there are millions of people living their lives under the assumption that they are doomed to a life of chronic neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica!

Nothing is further from the truth! You don’t have to live in chronic pain!

But you must take control of your life, and of your destiny, or you are doomed to a life of chronic, debilitating, and ultimately disabling pain!

So, how do you take control when you have had surgery, been through every “alternative” pain relief method under the sun, and have been living with your neck, back or sciatic nerve pain for years?

The Primary Causes of Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica!

Well, there are 5 contributory factors involved in either the onset of neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica, its continuation, or its exacerbation. I have spoken of these 5 factors in previous articles, videos, and blog posts and we will touch on them briefly here.

Excess Weight, Obesity, Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

The first of the 5 factors contributing to or exacerbating neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica is excess weight, meaning either excess weight or obesity. The excess weight and/or obesity issue is a problem throughout most of the modern world and is becoming an issue in developing areas of the world as well. Excess weight is particularly problematic for individuals susceptible to or experiencing spine-related pain of any kind…but particularly lower back pain and sciatica. We will discuss why excess weight and/or obesity is the number one issue affecting people with neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica in upcoming videos and articles over the next 30 days.

Muscle Weakness and Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

The second issue affecting neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica is muscle weakness. Muscle weakness, like excess weight and/or obesity, is often an age-progressive phenomenon. By this I mean that as we age, we are more susceptible to the effects and the consequences of muscle weakness. Muscle weakness has a ripple effect throughout the entire body as we age, often affecting the connective tissue and the skeleton adversely. As muscles weaken, the stress is transferred to the intervertebral discs, the ligaments, and to the vertebrae themselves. As the body attempts to handle the stress once taken on by the muscles, there are a myriad of consequences and conditions that emerge. Again, we will address the area of muscle weakness and how it impacts neck pain, back pain, and sciatica in the coming days and weeks.

Muscle Imbalance and Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

The third issue affecting and often exacerbating neck pain, back pain, and sciatica is muscle imbalance. Muscle imbalance is the least understood of the 5 factors affecting neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. Unfortunately, muscle imbalance is not addressed in medical school and only briefly covered during medical training for any of the other disciplines, sub-disciplines or alternative medical treatment strategies. Muscle imbalance often plays a significant role in neck pain, back pain, and sciatica…and its relief! We will cover this area in depth in upcoming videos and articles. Understanding muscle imbalance is central to any long-term pain relief strategy.

Diet and Nutrition and Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

The fourth area of concern and one with as much misinformation, and just plain bad information, as any of the others, particularly when it comes to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, are the linked and interconnected areas of diet and nutrition…really one in the same. However, diet and nutrition…or nutrition and diet…it’s really a chicken and egg thing, are crucial to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief. If the body can’t rebuild itself, you are in for a long haul when it comes to chronic pain. Additionally, if you body is in a weakened state due to inadequate diet and nutrition, you are more susceptible to stress-related injury and insult (i.e., trauma related neck and back injury).

Dehydration and Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

The fifth area, dehydration or simply inadequate hydration, is one of the least understood of the five factors leading to neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica. Relief from chronic, intractable, and debilitating neck and back pain may be a drink of water away! Interestingly, inadequate hydration and/or dehydration is the one that is most easily remedied. The intervertebral discs, IVDs or discs are made up of approximately 90% water…some say 85% and some as high as the mid-90s. Regardless of the exact number, there can be little doubt that an inadequate amount of water means the IVDs cannot replenish the most important component in their makeup, and thus repair and rebuild themselves. Coffee, diet pop (or soda if you prefer), tea, energy drinks, and alcohol are all diuretic, meaning they promote the loss of fluid, water, and as a result lead to disc degeneration and the possibility of injury. The resulting neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica may be exacerbated by a lack of this most plentiful or all pain relief potions…H20!

Where do we go from here? Real and lasting neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief!

Finally, over the next 30 days we will dig deep into the ultimate bad back strategies, the pain relief strategies you must engage in, and the habits to develop, if you are to lead a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica free life. In the last 108 days many have started down the path to real and lasting pain relief. I hope you will join me, and the others already engaged in the process of taking back their lives, pain free lives! Join us as we overcome neck pain, back pain, and sciatica once and for all, and just in time for the holidays and the New Year!

Start at:

The Bad Back Guy’s Program for Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief: The First Step!

Watch the video below and then take action! I will be there with you every step of the way!

John

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

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The 5 factors, taken as a whole or in part, lead to and/or exacerbate neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica in millions of people in the USA alone every day. Neglect in properly addressing each of the 5 factors leads as many as 6 million to seek the assistance of a medical practitioner each and every day.

The factors contributing to the back pain complex are:

1) Excess weight and or obesity
2) Muscle weakness
3) Muscle Imbalance
4) Diet and Nutrition
5) Dehydration

Taken individually, the 5 factors comtributing to what I have referred to as the back pain complex can lead to an increased incidence of, and higher levels of neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica. However, when taken as a whole, the results are often debilitating and disabling.

As we age, the 5 factors that contribute to neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica become even more of an issue.

With each successive decade we:

1) Put on excess weight, perhaps becoming obese
2) Our muscles become weaker and
3) Muscle imbalances occur
4) We don’t eat right, so nutrition and the body’s ability to repair itself becomes a problem
5) We drink far too many caffeine and sodium rich beverages and they act to dehydrate, rather than hydrate the body; and, consequently, the intervertebral discs.

The spine is a complex system and, just as our behaviors affect the various regions and structures of the spine, the spine reacts in very specific ways to the stress and trauma we place on it on a daily basis. If the spine is not a healthy system, meaning if the 5 factors aren’t in balance and properly addressed, the spine’s health suffers and the result is often neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica; or, we set ourselves up for stress and trauma-related injury and the resulting neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica.

Dealing with the 5 factors in a holistic manner, meaning that we work on all aspects in concert, we can reduce the chance of stress-related injury and the associated neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica…what I call the back pain complex.

The best overall program desinged to take an individual from the beginning through complete and total neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief can be found at:

http://TheBadBackGuy.net

John

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

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The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation recently reported, and John’s Hopkins Medical Center concurred, that a supervised program of exercise, particularly for chronic lower back pain sufferers who had experienced chronic lower back pain for 3 months or more, and as part of a total program, received greater back pain relief, faster, than a control group who just received exercise advice, without a supervised, long-term, and lasting exercise program to follow.

The results validate what I have been saying for the last few months, and what other researchers around the world have also discovered, that neck pain, back pain, and sciatica respond faster and the pain relief is far greater, for individuals in exercise programs, particularly supervised exercise programs.

For many years, it was considered gospel that the best way to treat neck pain, back pain, and sciatica was with bed rest. We have since demonstrated through research instituted, and followed up on, by some of the finest medical institutions in the world, among the authorities and institutions of note are the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins Medical Center, these institutions, and a myriad of others, have demonstrated that the worst bad back strategy, the way to increase neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain levels, is bed rest…the most effective pain relief strategy is exercise! Not just exercise, but low impact exercise conducted in a supervised environment and/or as part of a total neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain relief strategy.

Once again, the data is conclusive! If you want to reclaim your life, a neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica free life, exercise must be an integral component of a supervised, and if possible individualized, program of pain relief…a bad back strategy that works!

For the best individualized program available today, one that can be integrated into a supervised program (call me for details), go to:

TheBadBackGuy.net will change your life!

Wishing you a pain free life!

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

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How to Overcome Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica: A 3am Walk and What Difference a Year Makes!

Imagine it is 3:15am and you have 45 minutes before your next pain meds for neck pain, back pain or sciatica! Now imagine you are able to go for a walk with your dog instead!

At the end of June I started a 30 day challenge to overcome my neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, to finally get real and lasting pain relief. Well, this morning, on my usual midnight walk with TuffGuy, I was struck by the fact that I was just minutes away from the time for my usual pain medication dosage…a dosage no longer necessary.

Real and lasting pain relief is possible, I no longer experience the sort of neck pain, back pain or sciatica that had once debilitated and disabled me, leading to depression and a loss of hope and complete despair.

Now? I walk my dog at 3am and love every minute of it. I don’t have the neck pain, back pain, and sciatica that used to make me so dependent on narcotics for relief that I literally counted the minutes between dosages.

No more!

You can have that sort of reality too!

http://TheBadBackGuy.net

John

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

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3 Major Myths Concerning Exercise and Back Pain: Neck Pain, Back Pain and Sciatica Relief Strategies!

3 myths relating to neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica and exercise may actually be exacerbate pain, hurting rather than helping the patient, they are pervasive, and wrong!

There are many myths when it comes to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica; and, particularly the exercises that are “good for” people with a bad
back.

There are three myths relating to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica which are particularly problematic. The three most pervasive, and
damaging, are:

1) Swimming is a great exercise for people with a bad back
2) That situps are also good for strengthening the back muscles
3) That abdominal crunches are great for developing adominal muscles and for strengthening the back

Swimming, as an exercise strategy for those suffering from a bad back, and particularly from neck pain, back pain, and sciatica has been around for a long time. President John F Kennedy may have had an impact on the pervasiveness of this myth, as it was said that he swam daily, part propaganda and part true…more propaganda. The fact is, swimming, especially early in the exercise process, may actually exacerbate not only back pain but neck and sciatic nerve pain, as well.

Sit-ups were thought to be a great abdominal exercise for years, one also thought to help people suffering from back pain too. Sit-ups have now been relegated to the obsolete exercise category, although the myth that they are a good abdominal exercise persists, particularly among the uninformed. As with swimming, sit-ups may actually exacerbate neck pain, back pain, and sciatica.

The third kind of exercise that falls neatly into this category is the abdominal crunch. The abdominal crunch, or just crunches, came along and replaced the sit-up as the next-best thing for abdominal development, the King of Ab Development. Crunches are also supposed to help with core muscle development; and, neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief through increased and directed muscle development. The fact is, like the two above, the crunch may exacerbate neck pain, back pain, and sciatica! The crunch should never be used early in a neck pain, back pain or sciatica relief exercise program. Perhaps after an individual has progressed a bit, but never early on.

Overall, the 3 exercise strategies above may do more harm than good, mainly because so many, even among the medical community, still believe in their efficacy. However, these strategies, and their ability to help a person suffering from neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica, must be viewed as nothing more than uninformed anecdotal gossip…or as outright myths with very little basis in scientific or medical fact.

When commencing a neck pain, back pain and/or sciatica program, start slow, begin with low impact exercises, and above all begin with a program that is designed specifically for neck pain, back pain, and sciatica sufferers…if possible by neck pain, back apin, and/or sciatica sufferers.

http://TheBadBackGuy.net is just such a program for neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief!

John

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

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Everyone has their Mt. Everest, everyone!

My Everest is a hill at the entrance to the Rocky River Reservation, part of the Metroparks system that wraps around the periphery of Cleveland.

A little while ago I did a video at night, mainly because that is usually when I walk and also because I didn’t want to be seen going up that hill in the shape I was in!

Well, I made it…but just barely!

So, today’s climb was a test to see just how far I have come during The 30 Day Walk Away from Back Pain, a quest I started back at the end of June 2009.

I now have as close to complete neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief as one can achieve.

Go with me as we climb my Mt. Everest!

Find your own Everest and conquer it. You will never be sorry! Begin at the link above and build one day upon the next as you embark upon your own quest to stop neck pain, back pain, and sciatica!

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

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Relief from Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica: The Curvatures of the Spine Part II deals with the pelvis and sacrum.

Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief is achieved primarily through an understanding of the processes that affect the spine, particularly the spinal curvatures, as we age. The primary and secondary curvatures are affected by 5 factors:

Excess weight and/or obesity
Muscle Weakness
Muscle Imbalance
Inadequate Diet and Nutrition
Dehydration

The above 5 factors, taken in concert with the spinal curvatures and the stress placed on them, particularly as we age, contribute to a breakdown of the spine and the supporting structures…and 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

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Back Pain Relief: The 3 Primary Causes of Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica affect millions of people worldwide every year. No group is immune from neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica, although certain demographic groups seem to be at greater risk. The back pain complex may manifest itself as a dull, aching feeling or it may present as a sharp, almost unbearable pain ceasing all movement and activity until properly addressed; and, that means seeing a medical practitioner. Or, the symptoms may appear anywhere along a continuum from dull and barely noticeable to sharp, intense, and debilitating. The etiology, or cause, of the pain may be immediately apparent or an individual may wake up in the morning with a new “friend.” In fact, many of the most serious incidents of neck, back or leg pain (sciatica) are seemingly innocuous at the time, with the individual only later realizing that he or she has injured himself or herself.

The Process of Aging

So, who is most likely to suffer from this common, often debilitating condition? The most obvious answer is everyone. However, while true, certain groups are at greater risk, for a myriad of reasons from aging to the type of work we do. The first reason, the most common reason, is that we get older; and as we age, certain parts of the body, in this case primarily the neck and back, just don’t handle the aging process well. The older we get, the greater the likelihood is we will develop symptoms associated with what is commonly referred to as a “bad back.” As a rule, middle-age (30-40 years of age) is when the symptoms associated with the back pain complex first present themselves; and, men are more likely than women to present with symptoms. The difference between men and women tends to balance out somewhat after menopause, and this is generally associated with the consequences of osteoporosis.

Sedentary Lifestyle and Inadequate Fitness

The next cause of neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica we will examine is poor or inadequate fitness. Significantly, poor fitness ranges from carrying a few too many pounds around the midsection, to consequences associated with a sedentary lifestyle. The secondary curvatures of the spine, the curvatures associated with the neck or cervical region, and the lower back or lumbar region, are most affected because of their function and the biomechanics involved with walking on two legs. The neck and the lower back are particularly prone to injury, and with it varying degrees of pain. As we age, as our muscles weaken due to inactivity. The muscles atrophy, meaning they get weaker and lose tone and strength. As the muscles weaken, the secondary curvatures of the cervical and lumbar regions come under tremendous pressure as they are responsible for holding our heads upright and standing upright, walking without being bent over. The atrophied musculature, no longer doing an adequate job of supporting these two vital areas, have some of their work taken over by the intervertebral discs (IVDs) and the vertebrae themselves. When this transfer takes place, the spine comes under constant assault, and injury is the result. Degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, bulging discs, osteophytosis, and back sprains and strains are just a few of the many things that can go wrong as a result of poor fitness.

Overweight and Obesity

The third and final reason to be covered in this article is obesity. Obesity in the United States, and in much of the developed world, has reached epidemic proportions. If we carry just an extra 20 pounds, we are seriously affecting our overall health, as well as the health of the musculoskeletal system. The spine, already at risk due to inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle, comes under incredible stress, particularly at the secondary curvatures of the neck and lower back. Much of the neck pain, back pain (particularly lower back pain), and sciatica are the direct result of too much weight being carried by the body, too much stress placed on the spine.
Think about the following example: Take a 20 pound dumbbell or a 20 pound bowling ball and put it in a book bag, one of those the kids use for school. Now, wear it in front instead of on the back, and wear it all day. Get the idea? Carry that around all day, with the weight forward, and see if you can still move by the end of the day. Interestingly, most overweight individuals are more than 20 pounds overweight and experiencing neck pain, back pain, and sciatica they don’t have to, just because they are overweight!

The Back Pain Complex: In Concert

Taken in concert, aging, poor fitness, a sedentary lifestyle, and obesity lead to what I refer to as the back pain complex. The back pain complex, meaning any combination of neck pain, back pain (again, particularly lower back pain), and sciatica is avoidable or treatable, depending on your current state of fitness. Failed back surgery is a reality, a rather harsh one for many. Many never had to undergo surgery the first time, had they simply followed a few simple to implement bad back strategies.

I hope you will continue to read: Part II of Back Pain Relief: The Primary Causes of Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica.

Tired of neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica? Join me as we take back our lives…back pain free! Get pain relief by taking the first step with me!

Act now! This is the answer and you are entitled to a free trial, you have nothing to lose but the pain!

Just click here and get started today!

Best wishes for your health and a pain free life!

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

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This program will change your life! You can either continue to deal with your pain in a haphazard manner or you can step up and change your life! It is up to you. If you would like to reclaim your life and live pain free? Do this now!

Click this link, watch the video in its entirety, and act! Change your life forever! Live your life pain free and join me in a celebration of what is possible in life once again!

Best wishes for a wonderful life! Before you go, sign up for The Bad Back Guy’s Ultimate Bad Back Strategies Newsletter, it will add to and supplement the wonderful journey of a pain free life you are about to embark upon! Imagine, if you will, waking up in the morning without pain…for the rest of your life! How amazing would that be? How much would that be worth to you?

What do you have to lose…but the pain?!

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

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