Monday 27 September 2021

Top-Rated Reasons Why You Should Consider a Between Knees Pillow

From thelibertarianrepublic.com

Are you ready to raise your comfort level to ultra-comfy? Sleeping with a pillow sandwiched between your knees is an effortless and effective way to offer an extra layer of sleep lavishness. Your sleep position must align your spine to improve your sleep quality while averting pains and aches. Finding the correct mattress for your preferences and sleep position is your finest bet for ideal support and comfort. But still, utilizing a pillow below your back or between your knees can go a long way. Numerous people unconsciously find an extra pillow fundamental to sleep. If you are among such people, you might have asked if you need a pillow between your knees. While you might know that this position enables you to sleep more comfortably, you might not realize precisely why it feels great to sleep this way. If you don’t sleep with a between-knees pillow, ensure you read this page to realize why you should.



Maintains spine alignment for side sleepers

Side sleepers probably know what it is like to have knees knock together the entire night. While usually comfortable, this sleep position can place strain on the susceptible pressure points of your shoulders and hips. For this cause, many side sleepers need the extra support and comfort of a good knee pillow, such as those on everlastingcomfort.net. As people age, herniated discs and disc degeneration often become a greater danger. If you develop either, use a know pillow for better pain relief and spinal arrangement as you sleep and recover.

Decreases lower back and knee pain

If you sleep on your backside, placing a pillow underneath your lower back or knees regulates strain on your backbone. This spinal alignment is vital to quality sleep and can hinder you from waking up with pains and aches. Lower back or knee pain can be an indicator of sciatica, pain that exudes along the sciatic nerve’s path from your lower backside down your leg. If you suspect you have sciatica, utilizing a between knees pillow can help you snooze more comfortably.

Provides extra support for pregnant women

Getting quality sleep through the entire pregnancy is crucial for both mum and youngster. Nonetheless, it can be tough to get comfortable, partly because the extra weight that comes with pregnancy places more pressure on knee joints. Particularly during the last months of pregnancy, joint pain can feel devastatingly uncomfortable. Sandwiching a pillow between your knees gives extra padding and support for the joints under intensified pressure.

Enhances blood circulation

Have you ever snoozed with your arm beneath a pillow and woken up with a tingling or numb sensation? It can be frightening to wake up feeling as though your arm is no longer connected to your body. This is an indicator of poor blood flow. Adding a comfortable pillow-like the ones on everlastingcomfort.net between your legs or beneath your knees can resolve this problem. By raising and disconnecting your knees, the pillow keeps blood circulating rightly through your lower body. Back sleepers can as well add a pillow underneath their feet to raise them. The elevation naturally assists circulation as gravity draws the blood back towards your heart.


https://thelibertarianrepublic.com/top-rated-reasons-why-you-should-consider-a-between-knees-pillow/

Saturday 25 September 2021

Low Back Ache

From risingkashmir.com

We all have low back ache at some point in our lives. Some of us have it very often while others get it rarely. Our lower back starts right where the rib cage ends. The tissues here include the vertebra, discs, muscles, nerves , ligaments and tendons. 

Any of these can cause low back ache.

Low back ache may be a dull ache or a shooting pain that goes down the buttocks and back of thigh. If it involves loss of control on the bladder( one can't control urination) or bowels it needs emergency hospitalisation.  Pain lasting more than 3 months is considered chronic pain.

Low back ache is most commonly caused by strain of the back muscles, a herniated disc or sciatica. 


Low back ache can be due to poor posture, lack of exercise,  a herniated or bulging disc. Some chronic conditions like spinal stenosis in which the spinal canal gets tight with aging, ankylosing spondylitis,  fibromyalgia and spodylolisthehsis can cause LBA. In some,  a urinary tract infection can cause pain whereas in some it may be a symptom of a tumour. A doctor may order an X ray, CT scan, MRI to reach a diagnosis.  However,  most cases of LBA are benign and can be treated easily.

The most important thing is to maintain a healthy body weight and a good posture. Lift weights with caution to prevent muscle sprain. Do not, I repeat, do not take bed rest for more than a day or two max. Use ice in acute injury and use a heating psd thereafter. In an acute phase,  the doctor will prescribe a painkiller medication and a muscle relaxant. You should do back strengthening exercises and see a physiotherapist. Massages, chiropractic procedures, acupuncture all help and you should see what works for you. Some injections of steroids ate also given in severe cases at the site of pain. Surgery is usually the last option..

Monday 20 September 2021

4 Commonly Overlooked Sciatica Remedies

From spine-health.com

The constant soreness or intermittent discomfort of sciatica can range from a warm, wet feeling in your thigh to shooting and searing pain along your leg. The symptoms may strike anytime, so it is a smart idea to have a treatment plan in place

Read on to learn about 4 commonly overlooked and easy remedies that may help you find quick relief.

1. Apply continuous, low-level heat

A commercial adhesive heat wrap can provide tolerable, low-level heat for up to 8 hours. Heat therapy can help alleviate pain in your lower back and legs caused by sciatica.

Be sure to follow the package directions to avoid skin and tissue damage. The heat wrap can be worn under your clothing and typically adheres directly to your skin. You can use this treatment conveniently at home or at work during a sciatica flare-up.

2. Stretch and build muscles to relieve physical stresses

Exercises that include stretching and strengthening can help relieve stress in your lower back. Exercise also promotes healing of soft tissues, improves the functioning of the nervous system, and may decrease your sensitivity to pain. Sciatica exercises include techniques that help relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve roots and build strength in the lower spine, abdomen, and legs.

Using infrared or heat therapy before an exercise helps warm up and loosen stiffness in the tissues. You can use an ice pack after the exercise to treat any pain or soreness. Simple stretches can be done at home or at your office when you have recurrent or flaring sciatica symptoms. Always exercise within tolerable limits and start with 2 to 3 repetitions, slowly moving up to 5.

3. Apply a topical pain medication

Topical gels, creams, or patches that contain pain-relieving and/or numbing medication can provide fast and effective pain relief. These medications penetrate into your tissues and act locally. They have a lower chance of producing side effects, preventing long-term problems.

Topical medication can be purchased over the counter and commonly include preparations of:

  • Methyl salicylate
  • Menthol
  • Trolamine salicylate
  • Capsaicin
  • Camphor

In some preparations, more than one drug may be combined together. While using topical medication, avoid using a heat patch or ice pack over the area at the same time. Combining both therapies may reduce and/or alter the effects of topical pain medications.

4. Wear a lumbar or hip brace with groin support

Braces worn over your lower back intermittently and for short durations can help stabilize and support the lumbar tissues. Lumbar braces limit excessive spinal movement and can relieve pain from nerve roots. Certain types of braces also provide additional support to the groin area and may help relieve radiating pain in this region.

Lumbar braces or belts can be purchased online or at drug stores and worn under your clothing. A belt should be adjustable, fit correctly, be made of breathable material, and have an anti-slip design for proper support.

Try one or more of these overlooked tips to control your sciatica pain. A combination of treatments, such as stretching after the use of infrared radiation or topical medication can help reduce pain and stimulate tissue healing. Paying attention to your daily postures, staying active, and preventing a sedentary lifestyle can also help improve your symptoms and provide long-term relief.

https://www.spine-health.com/blog/4-commonly-overlooked-sciatica-remedies

Thursday 9 September 2021

The 3 stages of sciatica recovery

From sciatic-relief.com

Sciatica pain is rarely a constant problem for sufferers, rather it comes in bouts. These can be more or less severe, sometimes only causing mild discomfort, other times leading to serious pain and impaired mobility. The road to recovery comes in three stages.

Stage 1: Sitting and lying

When suffering from a debilitating and painful bout of sciatica, advice to ‘keep active’ can seem far-fetched, if you are currently doubled over with back pain only the gentlest of movements are even possible. So you must look instead at your sedentary habits. Many sufferers find that the worst pain comes while seated. It is a good idea to temporarily avoid sofas and soft armchairs at this stage, and replace them with hard, straight-backed chairs. If the mattress you sleep on is very soft, consider replacing it with a firmer one.

Stage 2: Gentle exercise

Sciatica pain almost always subsides after a period of time, especially if the stage 1 advice above is followed. But if you return immediately to your former lifestyle without making any changes, sciatica is very likely to return. So here you must capitalise on this pain-free window by introducing some gentle exercise into your routine. Swimming is a great low-impact all-round exercise but can be a hassle depending on your access to a pool. Walking is also an excellent option and is much more accessible for most people. Whatever form of exercise you choose, there’s no need to overdo it, just moving on a regular basis will suffice for now.

Stage 3: Mobility exercise

Once you are walking, swimming or doing some other form of gentle exercise on a regular basis, this alone helps a lot to prevent the return of sciatica. But since you are doing so well, why not look into something a bit more advanced? Regular training in an activity designed to increase strength and flexibility, if done properly, is your best option for preventing sciatica returning. The options for this type of training are vast, ranging from yoga to weight lifting. Find something you like the sound of, and give it a try!

https://www.sciatic-relief.com/the-3-stages-of-sciatica-recovery/

Thursday 2 September 2021

The difference between piriformis syndrome and sciatica

From businessdailyafrica.com

There are differences between piriformis syndrome and sciatica, even though the symptoms are similar.

The reason they are similar is due to the fact the piriformis muscle may irritate or compress the sciatic nerve, causing pain similar to sciatica pain that is due to other medical conditions, such as disc herniation or spinal stenosis. It usually takes a physician’s assessment to determine the specific diagnosis.

WHAT IS THE SCIATIC NERVE?

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that branches out at the lower back. It runs through each hip and buttock and down the thigh and leg to the foot. When the sciatic nerve is compressed, inflamed, irritated, or injured, pain frequently radiates down the nerve. The pain originates in the lower spine (lumbar spine) where the nerve begins.

back pain

The pain associated with sciatica can be intermittent or constant but often feels like a sharp pain shooting down the leg from the lower back. FILE PHOTO | POOL

WHAT IS SCIATICA?

Sciatica is a set of symptoms that occur when the sciatic nerve is irritated, compressed, or inflamed. It is usually caused by the compression or impingement of nerve roots due to spinal degeneration. The degeneration could be due to conditions that include but are not limited to: Herniated spinal disc, bulging disc, bone spur, Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine canal), tumour, spondylolisthesis, Injury to the spine and Infections.

The pain experienced depends on the specific nerve root impacted. It can be intermittent or constant but often feels like a sharp pain shooting down the leg from the lower back. Other symptoms include weakness in the leg and foot, numbness, or tingling in the leg’s back.

WHAT IS PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME?

Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle is in each buttock and attaches the sacrum to the top of the thigh bone. The piriformis muscle and the sciatic nerve are in close alignment.

Due to the contractions or spasms of the piriformis muscle, sciatic nerve pain can begin. When the muscle contracts, spasms, or experiences other issues, it can compress or irritate the sciatic nerve. The pain associated with piriformis syndrome is typically felt more in the buttock and hip.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCIATICA AND PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME?

The main differences between sciatica versus piriformis syndrome are: Where the pain is typically felt — buttock and hip for piriformis syndrome, while leg pain may radiate down to the toes for sciatica.

WHAT CAUSES THE PAIN The piriformis muscle is causing the pain by impacting the sciatic nerve in piriformis syndrome, while the pain of sciatica is one symptom of a particular medical condition creating a set of symptoms. What causes more pain — pain increases while sitting for a prolonged period in piriformis syndrome while raising the leg (the one impacted) while lying down may cause pain with sciatica.

SCIATICA & PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME MANAGEMENT

Rest, ice, and heat may help relieve symptoms. A doctor or physical therapist can suggest a program of exercises & stretches and also traction to help reduce sciatic nerve compression. Osteopathic manipulative treatment has been used to help relieve pain and increase range of motion.

https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/lifestyle/health-fitness/the-difference-between-piriformis-syndrome-and-sciatica-3533974

Wednesday 1 September 2021

Back pain: Three warning signs it's caused by a 'medical condition' – and it's serious

From express.co.uk/life-style

BACK pain is considered a "socioeconomic burden", costing the UK around £2.8 billion in taxpayer's money, according to a research paper published in the scientific journal The Lancet

Years of office working – alongside make-shift work spaces at home – has lead to hordes of people complaining of back pain. How can you tell when it's indicative of something serious? The NHS certified that "additional symptoms" in tandem with back pain could be indicative of a "medical condition". In order for this classification to apply, the additional symptoms tend to be:
  • Numbness
  • Weakness
  • A tingling sensation.

Such symptoms may be caused by a slipped prolapsed disc or sciatica.

A slipped prolapsed disc

Also referred to a prolapsed or herniated disc, the condition becomes "painful" when the soft tissue cushioning the bones in the spine protrude outwards, hitting a nerve.

It can lead to lower back pain, tingling in the shoulders, back, arms, hands, legs, or feet, and/or neck pain. This condition may also cause issues with bending or straightening your back.

Woman with back pain

Do you have back pain? (Image: Getty)

Exercises to help recover from a slipped disc

"The type of exercise is not important, just gradually increase your activity level," said the NHS.

Begin exercising in any way that feels comfortable; do not exert yourself so that you're in pain, otherwise the slipped disc may take longer to heal.

The use of painkillers, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, could help to manage feelings of pain. However, the overuse of paracetamol is not recommended – it's best to alternate paracetamol with ibuprofen.

If the back pain continues for a month, painkillers aren't helping, and the pain is worse at night, book a doctor's appointment.

Seeking medical expertise is also warranted if you experience:

  • A fever while feeling hot and shivery
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • A swelling in your back.

A doctor might prescribe a stronger painkiller, a steroid injection, or a muscle relaxant for short-term pain relief.

Further medical intervention might include an MRI scan and a referral to a physiotherapist.

What causes a slipped disc?

  • Ageing
  • Exercising too hard
  • Lifting heavy objects the wrong way
  • Vibration from driving or operating machinery
  • Being inactive or overweight.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back to your feet and, when it's irritated or compressed, pain can continue for up to six weeks.

The defining feature of sciatica is when your bottom, back of your leg, foot or toes feel a "stabbing, burning or shooting" sensation, or it can feel like pins and needles, numb, or weak.

"Your symptoms may be worse when moving, sneezing or coughing," added the national health service.

"You may also have back pain, but it's not usually as bad as the pain in your bottom, leg or foot."

To help relieve sciatica pain, it's important to remain as active as possible.

Heat packs can be helpful in easing the pain, as can placing a firm cushion between your knees when sleeping on your side.

If you're sleeping on your back, place a cushion under your knees to help relieve painful symptoms.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1484506/back-pain-medical-condition-slipped-prolapsed-disc-sciatica