What is a herniated disc?

I’ve had a couple people ask me exactly what a herniated disc is and if it is at all similar to a ruptured, bulging or slipped disc.

Well, let me begin by saying that I’m not a medical professional but having been plagued with back problems for most of my life, I have spoken to many healthcare professionals and have studied the back at length.

I, myself, have been diagnosed with a herniated disc so I’ll just say that this qualifies me to at least speak about my own condition. A herniated disc is basically the same as a ruptured, protruding or a slipped disc.  These terms seem to be used interchangeably when referring to a herniated disc.  A bulging disc is what happens just prior to the disc herniation. 

As you’re probably already aware, the spine is a series of vertabrae all stacked on top of one another, each with a soft, spongy shock absorbing disc in between to keep the vertabra from rubbing against one another.

The disc is made up of 2 parts. The inside of the disc is made up of a jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. The outer covering is made up of tough cartilage called the annulus. A herniated disc occurs when some action causes the jelly-like center to push through the outer wall and into the spinal canel. A disc bulge, on the other hand, is when the disc compresses and the jelly-like center pushes on the outer wall but does not penetrate it. When a disc herniates, it usually pushes against the nerve roots exiting the spinal canal causing varying degrees of low back pain and sciatica.

The most common symptom of a herniated disc is sciatica. Sciatica pain can vary greatly.  Some will have severe pain and numbness and tingling down one or both legs.  Others, like myself, may experience lesser degrees of pain and just some tingling down one leg.  Other possible symptoms may be weakness in the legs and in severe cases, loss of bowel and/or bladder control. In these sever cases, please seek medical attention immediately.

Fortunately my research led me to find a solution for my herniated disc and for most back pain symptoms. Find out more at www.stopthebackache.com

Tips on Avoiding Low Back Pain while Fly Fishing

When I first started fly fishing I could stand in one spot for hours and not feel any ill effects from it. Of course I was just getting started back then and have learned many things since.

First of all, you shouldn’t be standing in one spot for hours in the first place. If the fish aren’t biting, move on. Seems simple, but when I was younger my thinking was quite different. I’d often find myself saying things like “This is such a beautiful hole. There just has to be something in here.” I’m much older and much wiser now and rarely will stand in one spot more than 20 minutes. Continuously moving up or down stream has proven to be much more effective.

Of course, this constant movement has as much to do with my back as anything. Unfortunately other, more strenous sporting activities have taken a toll on my back and I now suffer from multiple back conditions including a herniated disc and spondylolisthesis (slipped vertabra). So, I now practice different on-stream techniques that can still keep me on the stream for hours.

Another thing you may want to explore is potential foot problems. If you have high arches like I do, you may want to head the local drug store or supermarket and get a pair of the gel arch supports and put them in your boots. This has helped me immensely. You can also go one step farther and pay a visit to your foot doctor. If a problem is uncovered, you may get fitted for orthotics as well. Either one will have your back thanking you.

The next issue is stretching. Stretch out your back and your upper legs (quads and hamstrings) including your glutes and hips before and after you hit the water. This will help to keep any soreness at bay that evening and the following day. You will also want to periodically stretch out your back every 5 – 10 minutes if you are standing in one position. Don’t let your back get to the point where it feels stiff because it will be much harder to deal with at that point.

Now let’s talk about your stance. It needs adjusting, you know. Seriously, you want to continuously adjust your stance. Stand tall and do not slouch. The tendency for fly fishermen is to hunch their shoulders forward in anticipation of that big strike. Resist the urge. Hunching or slouching puts much negative pressure on the low back and shoulders. Stand tall. Stand with one leg slightly in front of the other with your knees slightly bent. Alternate legs often. Bend your knees every so often to stay loose. Its amazing how much this one simple thing can help your back.

Back pain can make any day on the water a complete disaster. Use common sense. You’ll know what works for you and what doesn’t. Try these tips the next time you hit the water. I’m sure at least some of them will help.

Get your FREE Back Pain Relief Guide and find out more about how you can maintain a healthy back and get long-lasting back pain relief completely on your own.

To your Healthy Back,
Steve

Welcome to the Healthy Back Blog!

Hi and Welcome to the Healthy Back Blog courtesy of  www.stopthebackache.com.
My name is Steve Haupt and I am a back pain sufferer.  I have created this website as a resource to help people finding alternative solutions to the conventional back treatments, many of which simply do not work.
Since being diagnosed with a herniated disc and spondylolisthesis, I began doing extensive research for a solution.  It became a journey that led me to alternative solutions.  I talked to numerous people that had gone through back surgeries that seemed to work at first but that eventually failed.  The reason is simple…the surgery fixed an immediate problem but not the underlying causes for the problem.
I will post articles as often as possible and I encourage people to post questions or comments and I will help anywhere I can.

To Your Healthy Back,
Steve

Back Pain? Neck Pain? Sciatica? Read This Free Book

If you suffer from any type of back, neck or sciatic pain, then you need to go grab a copy of my good friend, Jesse Cannone’s new book, “The 7-Day Back Pain Cure” asap…

Right now he is actually giving it away… you can also buy it on amazon, but if you grab one of the free copies from his website he is going to donate $2 to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Habitat for Humanity – you even get to choose the charity!

Get your FREE copy now.

Now, I’ve known Jesse for a while now and he is known as the “back pain relief guy” because he’s helped so many people to finally get rid of their pain… and I personally have learned a lot from him…

But his new book is incredible… in it he does what no one else in the medical community does, and that is put together all of the pieces… see, most people when they have back pain usually get treatments that only mask the pain… and even then, the treatments only address the physical symptoms…

In this book he shows you:

- Why traditional treatments always FAIL to deliver lasting relief
- The 7 mistakes that most people make that keep them in pain
- How to identify the real, underlying causes of your pain
- Which treatments work, which ones don’t and how to know which is right for you

So if you have ever suffered from back pain, or are currently dealing with it, I highly recommend you grab a copy of his book now – and you can’t beat the price (FREE)…

But don’t wait or ‘think about it” as he has only has a very limited supply available to give away and there are literally millions of people with back pain who are likely to hear about this.

Get your FREE copy now.

To your Healthy Back,
Steve

Take control of Arthritis, and Get Your Life Back!

Red, burning, swollen and so stiff you don’t want to move…that’s what those who suffer from athritis experience on a daily basis. If you know this all too well, you are probably one of the 46 million Americans (that’s 1 out of every 5 people) that are living with arthritis every day. To better understand how to get relief from this debilitating disease we need to dive deeper into its root cause.

Some of the types of arthritis which are associated with inflammation include:

    * rheumatoid arthritis
    * gout
    * tendonitis
    * bursitis
    * polymyalgia rheumatica

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis actually means joint (arthr) inflammation (itis). Arthritis can be used to define a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and other conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints or any part of your body.

Additionally, it can damage the joint cartilage which can lead to joint weakness, instability and visible deformities that can interfere and, in severe cases, limit a person’s ability to perform most basic daily tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, using a computer keyboard, washing dishes or brushing your teeth. Arthritis can affect anyone regardless of age and most commonly affects joints in the knees, hips, hands and spine. If left undiagnosed and not treated properly, arthritis can cause irreversible damage to the joints, bones, organs, and skin. Not to mention dramatically impair your quality of life.

Arthritis-related conditions primarily affect the muscles and the bones but it is also considered to be systemic, affecting the whole body. Arthritis can cause damage to any bodily organ or system, including the lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, skin and even the heart. The Arthritis Foundation sites two independent studies (Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota) both of which prove that the widespread inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is linked to heart disease and an increased risk of early death.

No one really knows the exact cause of arthritis but there are certain risk factors to keep in mind:

    * Genetics – likely to contribute to risk but no one knows how much.
    * Age – the older you are the more at risk you become.
    * Weight – maintaining a healthy weight will ease the load on the joints.
    * Previous Injury – major injuries are likely to contribute to risk.
    * Occupational Hazards – repetitive, high demand jobs increase risk.
    * Certain Sports – high level, high demand sports can contribute to arthritis (however, general exercise is always a plus)
    * Illness or infection – an infection in the joint or gout can lead to arthritis.

What we do know is that when you have arthritis your immune system goes into over-drive and causes the joints to swell and become inflamed. Therefore, treating the inflammation becomes key in managing the pain and discomfort associated with this condition.

Sadly enough, the Arthritis Foundation reports that half of those Americans with arthritis don’t believe anything can be done to help ease their pain. You may be in that situation yourself, having thrown your hands up in frustration and simply decided to live with your pain. The good news is that by reducing the inflammation you can significantly ease the painful symptoms associated with arthritis.

Here are a few ways to reduce your inflammation:

    * Exercise – less weight equals less stress on joints
    * Diet – Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products; limit sugar, salt and fat (especially saturated fat found in animal products)
    * Rest – a good balance between rest and activity is the key to joint health
    * Over-the-counter and prescription medications – while these may provide temporary relief by asking the pain they are not always get to the root of the problem – inflammation. They can also have serious side effects, especially with long-term use.
    *Natural anti-inflammatory supplements – probably the most promising natural approach to reducing inflammation in a long while. We recommend looking for supplements containing systemic enzymes and all-natural herbal ingredients for long lasting arthritis relief.
By taking these simple steps to reducing inflammation you will be well on your way to managing your arthritis pain and the devastating effects on your mind and body. Everyone should strive to achieve a healthy and active lifestyle for optimal health and well-being.

If you’re in constant pain and prescription drugs no longer help, don’t wait another second.  Click here to ease your pain and cool inflammation with Heal-n-Soothe!

To your Healthy Back,
Steve