14 Nov 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Upper Back Pain

Chronic Pain Conditions, ,
Upper Back Pain – It’s just Different The thoracic spine is complexly unique to other areas of the spine, making upper back pain different. Your neck and lower back tend to have greater range of motion and experience greater degeneration during the aging process do to mobility. Underlying conditions can also be the cause of upper back pain; but be less likely to have surgical solution because of the thoracic spine’s proximity to vital organs. Back pain regardless of where it originates in the spine can exacerbate enough to decrease your active lifestyle. In some ways upper back pain can…
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12 Nov 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Stress Induced Lower Back Pain

Chronic Pain Conditions, Therapies & Treatments, ,
Stress. It’s something all of us experience during our lives. But did you know stress could be a contributing factor of lower back pain? Whether it’s changing the way we carry ourselves, maintaining some physical activity, or finding outlets for tension (work, relationships, etc.) it is important to take care of our backs. Taking care of our backs is always important, especially so in times of stress. Avoiding physical activity can negatively affect one’s back pain. Reduced activity is understandable when healing from any kind of pain. Complete inactivity can actually decondition your low back muscles, contributing to the amount…
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08 Nov 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

RA Hand Pain Hacks

Chronic Pain Conditions, Lifestyle Tips for Chronic Pain, ,
Pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, or (RA) can make everyday tasks a challenge. And there are assistive devices out there that can help save joints and minimize excessive energy output. There are hacks that for these devices can be used differently to save you money and further joint pain. Let’s start with hacks to save your hands, fingers, and wrists and repurposing some tools you may already have around the house in new ways. Here are four tips for giving yourself a helping hand Use a kitchen sponge for stability. When handling a mixing bowl with a pinching gesture, place…
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06 Nov 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Leg Pain and Foot Pain Causes

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain, , , ,
Leg and foot pain can originate from other chronic conditions such as lumbar back pain. The nerves that control muscle functions in the legs are located in the lower back, and that’s where symptoms of leg pain can instigate in some cases. Symptoms of leg pain caused by the lower back conditions can include numbness, tingling, shooting pain, or foot drop. Degeneration in our vertebral spine happens as we age, resulting in lost disc flexibility, and can cause pain to radiate down the leg during movement. Leg and foot pain can be symptoms of lumbar degenerative disc disease, along with…
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05 Nov 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

McKenzie Method for Low Back Pain

Chronic Pain Conditions, Therapies & Treatments, , ,
Of the many frustrations back pain patients face, the lack of a standardized or uniform treatment approach is high on the list. Especially for those patients with longer-lasting symptoms of sub-acute pain (lasting between six and twelve weeks) or longer than twelve weeks (chronic back pain), treatment approaches are very inconsistent. While the McKenzie Method is successful with treating acute low back pain, it is also very helpful for those patients with sub-acute and chronic back pain. McKenzie Method Assessment and Treatment One of the benefits of the McKenzie Method (or McKenzie Therapy) is that it is a standardized approach to both the…
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01 Nov 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Improve Diabetes Health With These 7 Must-Dos

Chronic Pain Conditions, Therapies & Treatments, , ,
By Riva Greenberg, Special to Everyday Health Medically Reviewed by Kelly Kennedy, RD A passionate diabetes patient-expert shares small but powerful changes that can help people with diabetes lead a happier, healthier life. Each year, we spend upward of a dozen hours with our healthcare providers, leaving more than 8,700 hours that we must take care of our diabetes. The decisions we make every day, such as whether to follow a healthy diet, make time to be active, adhere to our medication schedule, implement lifestyle changes to improve our lab results, and maintain a positive attitude — can have a major impact on our…
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31 Oct 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Exercising with Lower Back Pain

Exercises to Help Pain, Lifestyle Tips for Chronic Pain, ,
Should You Work through the Pain? If you suffer from a lower back condition—like a lumbar herniated disc or spinal stenosis—your doctor will likely recommend exercise as part of your treatment program. But what should you do if your exercise regimen exacerbates your lower back condition? Should you work through the pain? Soreness vs. pain related to a lower back condition Before we talk about whether you should work through your lower back pain, let’s quickly look at the difference between soreness and pain related to a lower back condition. Minor soreness is a natural result of exercise, and it is especially prominent…
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29 Oct 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Chronic Pain and Insomnia

Chronic Pain Conditions, Lifestyle Tips for Chronic Pain, ,
Patients suffering from chronic pain often find their problems are compounded by insomnia and sleeping disorders. Among those with chronic pain, an estimated 50% to 80% have ongoing sleep difficulties. Back pain is the most common type of chronic pain problem, and is the most common medical disorder in industrialized societies. Back pain is also the chief cause of disability among those younger than 45. Not surprisingly, more than half of individuals with back pain frequently report significant interference with sleep. Research has demonstrated that disrupted sleep will, in turn, exacerbate chronic back pain. A lack of restorative sleep also hampers…
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25 Oct 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Carpal Tunnel vs. Cervical Radiculopathy

Chronic Pain Conditions, Peripheral Neuropathy, , ,
The carpal tunnel is a structure in the wrist that contains the tendons that control the fingers and then median nerve, which innervates the thumb and first two fingers. When the carpal tunnel is too small and/or inflammation occurs in the tendons that run through it, the median nerve becomes compressed, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling in the wrist, hand, and fingers. Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include, but are not limited to, the following: Tingling and numbness in palm, thumb, or first two fingers, especially during the night or in the…
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24 Oct 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

How Does RA Affect the Body

Chronic Pain Conditions, ,
People feel the primary symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in their joints. However, this condition can also affect many other parts of the body, including the eyes, lungs, and heart.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes a person's immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue. When left untreated, RA can have wide-ranging effects. Along with the joints, RA can affect many of the body's organs, including the heart, eyes, and brain, as well as the skeleton. Medication for RA can also cause side effects across the body. In this article, we look at RA's diverse range of impacts. We also discuss the long-term effects of…
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