Why are free radicals so important?

Free radical cell damage is caused by many more sources than even a mere 50 years ago. Some of them include:

• Increased stress, especially during economic downturns
• Decreased availability of organically grown, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables
• Produce which is picked green and not allowed to ripen properly and which arrives in the supermarket deprived of many valuable vitamins and minerals, not only from being picked in a green state, but from over-planting which results in mineral depletion of the soil they are grown in.
• Increased dependency on fast foods due to time constraints
• Hormones fed to cows, pigs and poultry which decreases their time-to-market, which, upon eaten, add to the toxic overload experienced by our bodies.
• Artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin, which are added to soda and many different foods.
• Preservatives: Nearly all foods have preservatives added to them to keep them from spoiling. These, too, add to our chemical overload.
• Increased auto and factory pollution in our air which make our liver work harder to filter out these toxins
• Smoking
• Chemicals: Most people think of chemicals as those which come in beakers in a laboratory, but every home is full of chemicals...(dishwasher, laundry, and hand soaps, hand disinfectants, laundry bleaches, clothes softeners, shampoos, conditioners, hair dyes, cosmetics, coffee maker cleaners, ...the list is endless).
• Toxic Chemicals: There are harsh chemicals in many of the everyday items we take for granted as safe to use, such as paints, primers, solvents, driveway cleaners, etc.
• Medicine Cabinet: Each and every bottle and tube in your medicine cabinet contains chemicals,...ranging from your perfume, hair spray, deodorant, after shave lotion, and cold medicines, down to your toothpaste. All contain chemicals.
• Drugs: Unlike 50 years ago, prescription drug ingestion in the United States is amazingly high. 25% of America's children are taking prescription medicine for one malady or another.

Whether prescribed by a physician or purchased over-the-counter, most drugs are taken for granted by the public as safe. However, once again, the liver must continue to work over time to synthesize and remove them from our bodies.

This is where antioxidants come into play. Antioxidants decrease the free radical damage to our cells from all the above sources.

What do antioxidants have to do with back pain? A lot. Whenever a person's body experiences pain, the body is trying to tell them that something is wrong.

Masking the pain, temporarily, with drugs helps in the short term, but in the long term, a change of course needs to be made in terms of proper nutrition, antioxidants, exercise and relaxation time.

Weight loss diets are also helpful to decrease the weight load on the back.

Natural supplements can be very helpful to prevent or to help relieve the inflammation, which many times is accompanied by sometimes sharp, stabbing or even dull, aching pain. However, there is no one-size-fits-all natural supplement that will act as a Magic Pill to cure back pain.

Back pain can have many different causes. However, aside from trauma, normally, as a person ages, spinal disk oxidation causes the disks to become less resilient, which can cause the disks to rub on one another, causing pain. Many men and women over the age of 50 can and do experience osteoporosis.

Almost all fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts have antioxidant properties. Proper nutrition, which includes 4-5 servings of raw fruit and vegetables each day, can begin to alleviate free radical damage.

Another often totally overlooked necessity is the body's need for Vitamin D. Over 70% of the American population (including children) are Vitamin D deficient.

Vitamin D works with calcium and magnesium to make strong bones and muscles. Muscles, too, must have calcium in order for them to function. Each muscle fiber unit (sarcomere) needs calcium in order to contract.

Our bodies synthesize Vitamin D from sunlight. On average, however, most people receive less than 50 days of sunlight per year. This Vitamin D deficiency leads to many joint and back pain issues.

Here is a list of Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms. If you suffer from back pain, increasing your Vitamin D and calcium (taken together) may be wise because taking calcium, alone, may cause kidney stones. Always follow the recommended dosages listed on the bottle. If in doubt, contact your physician.

Many different spinal conditions can cause your back to ache, such as muscle sprains and strains.

Low Back Pain (lumbar spine) is the most common. People often describe it as a sudden, sharp (sometimes dull), but persistent pain felt from below the waist to the coccyx (tailbone).

Most back pain comes from sprains and strains caused by lifting something without using proper techniques or a sudden twisting motion. Muscle sprains or strains usually heal on their own with a little time and rest, but they can really make you miserable in the mean time.

Other conditions that can cause low back pain include:

• Spinal Stenosis : A narrowing of one or more areas in your spine,...most often in your upper or lower back.




• Arthritis (osteoarthritis) is a degenerative joint disease and is the most common form of arthritis. When cartilage in your joints wears down over time, pain develops.




• Osteomyelitis (spinal infection): Osteomyelitis is the medical term for an infection in a bone.




• Spinal Tumor (benign and malignant): Sometimes the cause of back pain may be a spinal tumor,...a cancerous or noncancerous growth that develops within or near the spinal cord or in the bones of the spine.


• Spondylolisthesis: This is caused when one vertebra slips forward over the vertebra below it. Most often, this happens in the low back (lumbar spine) because that part of your spine bears a lot of weight and absorbs a lot of directional pressure.


• Spinal Fracture:: Spinal fractures can occur as a result of osteoporosis and are quite common. The problem is that the fracture is not always diagnosed,...instead it is often just thought of as general back pain, such as from a muscle strain or other soft tissue injury, or as a common part of aging and is therefore, not treated.


• Herniated Disk: This is a more severe spinal condition that causes back pain.

  Depending on the severity of your pain and its cause, you may require more involved medical help, such as Physical Therapy or even surgery.

Neurologic symptoms requiring immediate medical attention include:

• Colon or bladder dysfunction


• Leg numbness or weakness


• Severe symptoms that do not subside after a few days


• Pain which prohibits everyday activities

Your recovery can also be helped along with natural supplements and increasing antioxidants in your diet to reduce inflammation which is one of the main causes of back pain.

Over-The-Counter or prescription medications can help relieve back pain.

NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs) Be aware that NSAIDs and other medications can have adverse side effects, especially if overused.

Take heart, just because you have back pain doesn't mean you necessarily need serious medical attention or surgery. There are many treatment options.

What are Some Treatments to Relieve Back Pain?

There are many treatments to help relieve back pain such as:

• Rest: If your back hurts, change position or take a little rest for a couple of hours. Lie down and avoid overusing your back muscles for a little while.

  Don't stay in bed for long periods, though, because too much rest can make your back pain worse. After a short rest, get up and move around again.

• Natural Supplements/Antioxidants: Are you taking a daily vitamin as well as extra Vitamin C?




Physical Back Treatments


• Chiropractic Treatment: Chiropractic is a form of conservative care. There is no surgery involved and no drugs.

  In treating low back "slipped discs", a conservative approach should be attempted before surgery is considered, except in acute or severe cases, possibly involving a fracture or broken bone.

  Chiropractic care has a long history of successfully providing conservative care for disc conditions. Some chiropractors also perform heat/cold therapy as well as massage.to bring additional blood flow to the area and to attempt to relax the muscles.
  
  Lower Back and Leg Pain : Manipulation may be the first line of defense against acute and chronic lower back and leg pain.

  Although 1.5 million lumbar MRI scans are carried out each year in the USA for sciatica, only 20% reveal a herniated disk, and about one third of the surgeries fail to relieve the sciatica.

  As a consequence, 80% receive no clear diagnosis and 100,000 people have spine surgery that fails.

• Over-the-Counter or Prescription Medications: Many medications are available over-the-counter at your local drug store or pharmacy. Other medications require a doctor's prescription. Before using these medications be sure and read the side effects.


• Cold/Heat Therapy: Immediately after a sprain or strain, (during the first 24 to 48 hours), use cold therapy such as the application of a coldpack, an iced towel or take a cool bath which can help decrease swelling and inflammation, muscle spasm and pain because the cold reduces the blood flow to the area.

  After the first 48 hours, apply heat therapy to your aching back by using a hot compress, a dry or moist heating pad, or hot bath. Heat therapy increases blood flow to warm and relax soft tissues and can help relax muscles which are tense, decrease muscle spasms, reduce pain, and increase range of motion.

  If you are not sure whether to use heat or cold, a good general rule is "does it make your back feel better when you apply it"? If you feel better then it is working. Remember, never apply cold or heat/hot therapies directly on your skin, wrap it in a towel first no longer than 15-20 minutes.

• Weight Loss: Most people know that obesity contributes to the development of coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer.

  However, did you know that obesity is not only a contributing factor to back pain, but being overweight or obese can significantly contribute to other diseases linked to back pain such as degenerative disc disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis.

  Our spine is designed to carry the body's weight and distribute the loads during rest and activity. When excess weight is carried, our spine is forced to bear the burden, which may lead to structural damage (e.g., injury, sciatica).

  The low back is most vulnerable to the effects of obesity. See the weight loss tips page to help you begin to lose that excess weight.


• Exercise: Lack of exercise and bodily conditioning leads to poor flexibility and weak muscles in the back, pelvis and thighs. Regular exercise can improve your balance, reflexes and coordination.

  This means you are less likely to fall and injure yourself. Injuries from falling can mean disaster to someone with osteoporosis. Healthy body composition means a high proportion of lean body mass (e.g. muscle) to a small proportion of fat.

  Strength training can help by raising the metabolic rate and lowering body fat. Increased muscle strength helps to maintain good posture and body mechanics during activity.

  Not only does good physical conditioning reduce the chance of injury but increases physical performance such as climbing stairs or carrying groceries with ease.

Here are some some short exercise videos from betterhealthworx.com which help strengthen the lower back.

• See Your Doctor: The most important thing to remember about periodic bouts of back pain is that if they occur more and more frequently, increase in duration (more than a few days), or the pain starts to interfere with your usual daily activities, it's time to see your doctor.

  It could be more than just a minor strain. The good news is that most back problems can be treated with methods are that non-surgical. If they go untreated though, they could cause serious health consequences.

• Physical Therapy: Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy by writing you out a prescription. Physical therapy includes a combination of non-surgical treatments to decrease pain and increase flexibility.

  Even before your incision(s) completely heal, physical therapy is needed to bring back full range of motion.

  Ice and heat therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, gentle massage, stretching, and back/neck traction are some examples. In 4-6 weeks, the majority of patients find their symptoms are relieved without surgery.

  Being optimistic about your treatment plan is a plus and remember that less than 5% of back problems require surgery.

Compare Insurance Coverage

If physical therapy is prescribed, you may wish to check with your insurance company as to the length of time for which your policy will pay for physical therapy. Physical therapy may be required for a longer period of time than your policy covers. Physical therapy can be quite expensive if you have to pay for it "out-of-pocket".

You may wish to ask your doctor how long he or she feels physical therapy would be prescribed and then contact your insurance provider to find out whether you can purchase additional coverage relating to this or get additional insurance quotes before you make a decision to have an elective back surgery.







• Massage: Massage therapy can help relieve muscle tension, aches, muscle spasms, inflammation, both muscle and joint stiffness, and pain. Always be sure to drink lots of water both before and after a massage to help your body remove the toxins which have been broken loose out of the muscles.

  It can also help improve circulation, flexibility, and range of motion. Massage can be administered by a professional (massage therapist) or you can give yourself a mini-massage using hand-held massagers that can help increase blood flow and relieve pain.

• Surgery: Although most patients respond well to non-surgical treatments, some patients do need surgery. In general, surgery should be considered only after several months of non-surgical treatment.

  Many surgical procedures can be performed using minimally invasive techniques such as less "cutting" and entering the body. This results in smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, less pain after surgery, and a faster recovery.

  If your doctor recommends surgery, always ask the purpose of the operation, results you can expect, and possible complications. If back surgery is suggested by your doctor, don't hesitate to ask for a second opinion. This is your right. Most back surgery requires several weeks or months of recovery times.

  Your doctor will be able to refer you to a specialist who can take another look at your condition and possibly make other suggestions.

Take your time and do not make these decisions right away.

Ergonomic Computer Chair: Most people don't realize how important it is to properly support their spine. They will refuse to wear shoes that don't provide the correct arch support, but they forget that if they have back pain or hip pain, they probably won't need to worry about proper arch supports in their shoes because their back pain will prevent them from doing any excessive walking.

So, in addition to adding more antioxidant-rich foods to your diet, and increasing your Vitamin D, another wise course of action for pain relief is to purchase an ergonomic computer or desk chair to relieve neck, back and shoulder strain.

If you sit for more than 2 hours every day in an ill-fitting chair, hunched over a keyboard, or lie in bed looking at your laptop, in an unnatural position for your spine, especially if you don't get as much exercise as you know you should, you are probably aggravating an existing spinal problem more than is necessary.

Ergonomic chairs have proper lumbar (low back) support. By supporting the lower back and hips correctly, this takes some of the strain off an already inflamed vertebra disk and can not only help reduce the resulting pressure and inflammation, but reduce the need for pain medications, as well.

The Herman Miller Aeron Chair was introduced in 1994 and still remains as the top-selling ergonomic desk chair for both home and office use.

The Herman Miller Mirra chair is also very popular, especially for people with back problems. The link, above is for the fully loaded version. There is also a basic version, but compare the differences so you don't choose the chair based on price, alone.

Both chairs are expensive, but read the reviews from people who have bought them. Most people who own them say they are worth the extra money in terms of reducing back pain, especially if you sit for long hours in one position.

Perfect Chair: Possibly the most comfortable "easy chair" to take the weight off the lower back and distribute it properly throughout the entire length of the spine is what is called the Zero Gravity Perfect chair. Once you lean back in it, every single weight bearing part of your body from your head to your thighs actually rests directly on the chair.

Your entire body immediately begins to relax, and, in fact, you can easily (and quickly) go to sleep in it. Why is it called the Perfect chair? Well, ...it's just about as perfect as any chair gets to total relaxation of every part of your body.

Why is it called a Zero Gravity chair? Sit down in it, push the button and choose the angle at which you would like the powered Perfect chair to recline. Your body truly does feel almost weightless due to its well thought out ergonomic design that fits the curves of your body,...from the neck, to the shoulders, the lower back, hips, knees and finally your thighs like no other chair you have probably ever owned.

The Perfect chair is expensive, but worth every penny. By correctly removing pressure and that compressed feeling from the low back, and distributing your weight along your entire body, it can relieve tension and inflammation, which can help the body to begin the healing process. Some of them also come with heat and massage therapy.

Anti-Fatigue Mats: Another easy way to help reduce hip and knee pain are anti-fatigue mats which can be placed in front of your kitchen sink, stove, workbench or any other place in which you stand in one position for extended periods of time.

Used by chefs, sales personnel and grocery store clerks, anti-fatigue mats reduce wear and tear on sore knees, lower back muscles and tired feet and can help to decrease back, hip, knee and even shoulder and neck pain.

Learn more about relieving chronic and acute back pain naturally through wellness technologies for pain relief without drugs.

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