Chronic Pain

Acupuncture Cures Sceptic’s Back Pain

30/07/12

I have regular acupuncture and the benefits I get from those tiny needles are tremendous… Some of my friends on the other hand think I’m a bit of a mug to have bought into this quackery…

Turns out many people feel the same way about acupuncture. Recently I watched a television programme, which debated the benefits of natural medicine. However, acupuncture came up with such frequency that it became a battleground issue.

There was no “winner” in this debate. I expect some viewers went away with respect for acupuncture, after the programme. I’m sure others remained sceptical.

To those sceptics I would just say this: I don’t blame you. Your scepticism is reasonable. After all, we’re talking about using needles to move energy through invisible channels in the body.

Listening To Music Can Help Reduce Chronic Pain

06/06/12

Research published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing has shown that listening to music can not only lift our spirits, but also reduce pain. The study showed that listening to music can reduce chronic pain by up to 21 per cent and depression by up to 25 per cent. It can also make people feel more in control of their pain and less disabled by their condition…

Natural Painkillers Can Safely Eliminate Back Pain

27/04/12

People who regularly suffer from back pain may heavily rely on drugs to relieve their pain, relax muscles and reduce inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen are usually tried first.

NSAIDs actually sabotage your body’s own healing efforts by accelerating arthritic degeneration. If NSAIDs don’t bring any relief, your doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers. These potent prescription drugs can be addictive and cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them. As a last resort, steroid drugs or injections may be administered to the affected area to reduce inflammation.

Six Ways to Prevent Crippling Back Pain

25/04/12

Stretching your muscles regularly with movement therapies like yoga and the Alexander technique is valuable for another reason: supple, well-stretched muscles are less prone to injury, while shorter, less flexible muscle and connective tissues restrict joint mobility, which increases the likelihood of sprains and strains.

Cycling, swimming and walking are all safe aerobic exercises because they are low-or minimal-impact exercises that strengthen the muscles which support the back. Football, tennis, gymnastics, wrestling, weight lifting, rowing, running and aerobic dance are all relatively high risk for back injury because they are high-impact. If you do weight training, never lift weights that are too heavy for you. Get help.