Everyone will suffer pain at some point in their lives. Grim as this may sound, some pain is necessary its a signal from our brain that something is wrong in our body, something we need to address to protect our health and well-being. It can be caused by anything from a dental cavity to a broken bone to a disease. Once we determine where the pain is coming from, we can diagnose and address the health problem, thus alleviating the pain.

Sometimes, however, pain isnt done away with so easily it remains with us despite all efforts to banish it. This is called chronic pain, distinguishable from acute pain by its persistence. Common examples of chronic pain include backaches, migraine headaches, and arthritis.

The most popular treatment for chronic pain are prescription medications, but these often have adverse side effects ranging from nausea to fatigue, and can cease to be effective once a patient builds a tolerance. Acupuncture has been used as a form of natural pain relief and cure for many chronic conditions for over two thousand years. Originating in China, acupuncture involves piercing the skin with thin needles on specific points of the body. Patients have claimed acupuncture has proven effective in treating ailments such as neck pain, migraine headaches, arthritic pain, and even depression.

Herbal remedies offer another time-tested alternative to conventional therapies, providing natural pain relief to sufferers without many of the unwanted side effects of conventional medicines. There usually several herbal treatments for a particular condition; popular herbal remedies include emu oil, which can alleviate the pain of arthritis, and good old Vitamin E, which helps minimize scarring. The downside of herbal treatments is that they often take longer to achieve noticeable results; the upside is that you arent introducing man-made foreign compounds into your body, and run less risk of side effects or damaging your overall health.

Although it may sound like well-worn advice with little glitter or pizzazz, perhaps the best advice is to take care of yourself get proper nutrition by eating fewer processed foods and more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Take care to get enough sleep each night, and take time out of each day for exercise even simple activities like taking the stairs at work or a walk around the block go a long way towards improving your health.

A common problem with many adults is back pain. Many of us experience back pain caused by our daily routines such as when we spend too much time sitting while at work, or when we drive for a long period of time. Lifting heavy furnitures while cleaning up at home, working in the garden, or lifting weights in the gym can also cause back pain. These activities can sometimes put so much pressure and weight on your back causing low back injuries such as muscle strain or spasm, sprain of ligaments, joint problems, or slipped disk. When we have back pain, it affects our daily functions. The feeling of pain can be from slightly tolerable to unbearably painful. Knowing what caused your back pain is something you need to discuss with your doctor.

Slipped Disk or Herniated Disk

When a disk between the bones of the spine swells or bulges and starts pressing on nerves, a slipped disk or herniated disk occurs. This is often caused by twisting while lifting. When you have a slipped disk, you may experience difficulty in doing regular tasks or activities like sitting and bending. When the injury is severe, you will have the tendency to avoid movement due to intense pain. A lot of people don’t realize what caused their slipped disk but it is worthy to know that the injury will not lead to paralysis, and treatment is readily available.

Natural Pain Relief

Treatment options for Herniated disk or Slipped disk can fall into Non-surgical or Surgical methods. Both treatments have risk and benefit factors. It is important that you discuss it with your doctor. However, most back pain can be relieved by a few simple methods that doctors would suggest to try non-surgical means first to reduce irritation of the nerve. Natural pain relief such as enough bed rest, proper posture when sitting, walking, and lying, as well as regular exercise can do the tricks.

When sleeping, the best position is to sleep on your side with your knees bent. A pillow under your head is recommended to support your neck and may use a pillow in between your knees. You can also lie on your back on a firm mattress with pillows under your knees. Or you can lie on the floor with your hips and knees bent and your feet on a chair. This takes the pressure and weight off your back. You may only need about two days of this sort of rest for a hurt back. Too much bed rest can cause your muscles to weaken and slows down your recovery. Try to walk around, even when it sometimes hurt, for a few minutes every hour. Such regular movement can help maintain muscle tone but limit activities such as prolonged sitting, lifting, and bending which can aggravate the symptoms.

Proper sitting position can help provide back pain relief. Choose chairs with straight backs or low-back support. See to it that you keep your knees a little higher than your hips. Make adjustments with your seat or use a low stool to prop your feet on. When you turn, move your whole body rather than by just twisting at your waist.

Driving for long hours can strain your back. Try to sit straight by moving the seat forward to keep you from leaning forward when you reach for the controls. It may help to use a small pillow or rolled towel behind your lower back if you must drive or sit for a long time.

People whose work requires them to stand for a long period of time must find a way to rest one foot on a low stool from time to time, and try to switch with the other foot every 5 to 15 minutes. Maintaining a good posture is necessary in order to avoid back pain. Always try to keep your ears, shoulders, and hips in a straight line with your head up and your stomach pulled in.

To relax painful muscle spasms, try using heating pads for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Likewise, ice packs and massages may also give the same back pain relief benefits.

Pain Medication

Muscle relaxant medications and anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to relieve pain and discomfort until the body heals itself. However, some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs, such as naproxen sodium, may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Always consult with your doctor any medication to determine whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks for you.

Surgical Method

When nonsurgical therapy does not ease your discomfort or the pain is getting worse and becoming unbearable, your doctor may recommend surgical procedure as option. There are various surgeries available that range from the minimally invasive methods to a more serious procedure such as spinal fusion. The complexity of the surgery will depend on the severity of your condition.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation program may vary depending on the procedure the patient went through and the doctor’s preference. Exercise regimen may include

Exercises to strengthen your lower back and abdominal muscles
Exercises to improve your posture
Stretches to increase the flexibility of your spine and legs
Exercises to maintain your cardiovascular conditioning while you recover

Prolonged bed rest is not advised as it can lead to a decrease in your overall physical condition. Get up and move with caution following your doctor’s recommendations regarding specific activities you should participate in.

indeed, back pain relief and the alleviation of other body aches is not impossible. Various drugs and therapies are now available to people who need to reclaim their health and resume their normal lives — free from pain and discomfort.

Katie Blake, age 39, a married mother of two from Somerset, UK, began suffering from chronic back pain after a near fatal car accident which occurred in January 2006. She has recently been feeling very low, due to lack of sleep caused by her back condition. When asked how her back pain had been affecting her sleep, here’s what she had to say,
“Since suffering with chronic back pain after the accident, I’ve found that I constantly toss and turn from one side to another just to try and get some relief.
There are nights when the pain seems so unbearable, almost as though my lower back is splitting in two; that trying to change sides literally leaves me in tears. So, I prop myself up with cushions and try to force myself to lie still on my back, only to wake up as stiff as a board the next morning.
When you’ve got to get up early, to sort out two young kids on after virtually no sleep at all, well, what can I say, it’s no laughing matter is it!”
Unfortunately, Katie’s story is not an isolated one. In fact, just like you, she is among one of the thousands of chronic back pain sufferers, whose quality of sleep is affected in a negative way, by their pain.
Two Thirds Of Back Pain Sufferers Have Sleep Trouble
A recent study conducted by the National Sleep Federation revealed that
As many as two thirds of chronic back pain sufferers have sleep trouble.

The more severe the pain, the more likely it is to affect sleep

Disrupted sleep can make the pain feel worse

Traditional pain relief medication, such as analgesics can disrupt the sleep patterns

and make getting to sleep more difficult.
Vicious Cycle
So as you can see, it’s pretty much a vicious cycle where you find it difficult to get to sleep because of the pain and the less sleep you get, the worse the pain feels.
Assuming you’ve been in the position, where you’ve experienced insomnia; you’re probably familiar with the effects it can have on your body, such as
Feeling un-refreshed and lacking in energy the next morning

Poor concentration levels

Feeling irritable

Impaired ability to think and speak

In a moment, I would like to offer you a glimmer of hope in the form of a natural therapy that might just help you break ‘the more pain equals less sleep cycle’, that you’ve probably become accustomed to.
Therapeutic Powers
Today, I’d like to share information with you, about a therapy that promotes the deep and restorative sleep that has been eluding you all this time. I’m talking about the natural therapeutic powers of Magnetic Therapy.
You’re probably wandering what Magnetic Therapy can do for you; well, let me begin by telling you what it is.
Magnetic therapy can be defined as a safe, natural and non-invasive method of applying high strength magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It is a form of complementary therapy based medicine used to treat certain medical conditions by exposure to permanent or pulsed magnetic fields.

It is truly a time-tested therapy, which has been around since 2000 BC. The Ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Indians and Greeks were among the first to use it and give recognition to its’ therapeutic benefits.
I feel it’s important to say that Magnetic Therapy isn’t used as some sort of mystical cure for ailments or diseases. Instead, it’s natural forces are used to kick-start your bodies own systems in to action. Next, we look at how it does this.
When high strength magnets are placed directly above the site of injury or near a major artery, they generate a localised Magnetic Field that is powerful enough to penetrate right through the skin and bones, down to the cells.
This magnetic field also triggers a chemical response, which causes the iron content in your blood to become responsive to it. This reaction results in improved blood circulation. One of the functions of blood, is to transport oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the cells, tissues and vital organs in the body.
Consequently, as the blood circulation system begins to improve, the knock on effect is that more oxygen and nutrients are transported directly to where it’s needed, i.e., to the damaged cells and soft tissues at the site of pain or injury.
On receiving the required fresh supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients, the bodies own healing processes can begin to work on repairing the damage to the cells and soft tissues at an accelerated rate. Whilst the bodies essential repair works get under way, the brain sends out signals to release the internal painkillers i.e. the Endorphins that get on with the job of relieving the pain.
As well as stimulating the bodies healing processes, the Magnetic Field also relieves pain, by tackling any inflammation present. It does this by drawing out excess fluid and toxins from the surrounding tissues and then expelling them on route via the Liver and Kidneys. Once the excess fluid and toxins are removed, the swelling will begin to reduce.
Now, you recall that earlier, I mentioned about Magnetic Therapy ‘promoting deep restorative sleep’, well stay tuned, because we’re going to get into that next.
Magnetic Therapy In Your Sleep
Here’s a fact for you,
Scientific research conducted by a key specialist in the area of Magnetic Therapy, namely, Dr. W.H. Philpott MD of Oklahoma has shown that effects of magnets are at their most powerful at night, and here’s why. Every living thing on this Earth is dependent on Magnetic Energy. In fact, the earth itself is a huge magnet, and as such produces natural Negative Magnetic Energy force.
During the day, we are exposed to the Positive Magnetic Force from the Sun and Negative Magnetic Force at night from the Earth.
The following explains the effects that each type of energy has on the human body.
Effects of Magnetic Energy
Positive Magnetic Energy from the Sun

Promotes deep and restorative sleep

Supports the healing process

Decreases inflammation and relieves pain

Increases cellular oxygen

Negative Magnetic Energy from the Earth

Stimulates wakefulness

Inhibits the healing process

Can increase inflammation and aggravate pain

Decreases cellular oxygen

According to Dr. W.H. Philpott’s theory on the effects of Magnetic Energy, the Pineal gland, located in the centre of the head, acts as a sort of control centre for the immune system, hormones, and enzymes in our bodies. This gland actually contains Magnetic crystals, and is acutely sensitive to the effects of Magnetic Energy.
The Pineal gland secretes the sleep hormone Melatonin throughout the night, when the Earth’s Negative Magnetic force is dominant. The body requires high levels of Melatonin to enable a good night’s sleep.
Significant advances in magnet technology have enabled scientists to duplicate the Earths negative energy and harness it in form of high strength magnets.
Therefore, when you use magnets to surround yourself in a Magnetic Field at night, the effects are intensified for two reasons, 1 The Earth’s Negative Magnetic Energy is at it’s most powerful and 2 The body is in its’ resting and healing phase. As such, you are able to benefit from

A deep restorative sleep that will leave you feeling energised and refreshed when you awake

Improved circulation that will feed your cells with those vital nutrients and oxygen to enable faster healing

Reduced if not eradicated aches, pains and inflammation

The effects of the bodies resting stage, which allows the body to heal itself more efficiently at night.

Hopefully by now, you can begin to see how using Magnetic Therapy can help you break, the vicious more pain less sleep cycle.
In addition, it may interest you to know that there are self-help Magnetic Products readily available that are specifically designed, to provide this nighttime therapy. They are Magnetic Bed Pads or Magnetic Mattress Covers. These products have a series of high strength magnets sewn inside them. In addition, they have been clinically proven to be a safe and effective form of natural pain relief.
So, as I bring this article to an end I just want to say, don’t let back pain continue rob you of the deep restorative sleep that your body so desperately needs. Give Magnetic Therapy a try, who knows, it could work for you.
Donna Gray
DISCLAIMER

The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. The author of this article is not a medically trained physician; therefore, any theories or suggestions put forward are intended to supplement and not replace the advice of medically or legally trained professionals.

All matters concerning your health require medical supervision.

Please ensure that you consult your GP prior to adopting any suggestions put forward by Magnetics 4 Back Pain, as well as about any condition that may require medical diagnosis or medical attention.

Magnetics 4 Back Pain is not responsible in any manner whatsoever for any injury sustained either directly or indirectly from information put forward in this article.

Historically it is reported that magnets have been around for an extremely long time. Magnets were first documented around 2500-3000 years BC. Their origins are first noted in Asia Minor in a vast land called Magnesia. The earth there was enriched with iron oxide which attracted metals to it. The locals named it Magnetite.

Another story is told of a young boy, who lived 2500 years BC, called Magnes a shepherd on Mount Ida. One day he was tending his sheep whilst wearing sandals which contained iron in the sole. He found it hard to walk up the mountain as his feet felt heavy and stuck to the rock face. Mount Ida was found to contain a rock called Lodestone, which is the first known magnetic mineral. It is reported that Lodestone was named Magnes after the boy who discovered it, and it later came to be known as magnet.

Cleopatra was probably the first celebrity to use magnets. It is documented that she slept on a Lodestone to keep her skin youthful. The therapeutic knowledge was passed to the Greeks who have been using magnets for healing since 2500 BC Aristotle and Plato talked of the benefits of Lodestones in their work.

Magnets have been used in Chinese medicine from around 2000 BC in-conjunction with reflexology and acupuncture. It is still used today as a first line treatment for many common complaints.

3,500 years after they were first discovered, magnets have gained popularity in Europe and the USA. In the 15th century a Swiss physician Paracelsus recognised the therapeutic powers of magnets. He wrote medical papers on the influence of magnets on the inflammatory processes within the body.

In the 16th century an English doctor Dr William Gilbert made a scientific study of electricity and magnetism. He published one of the first books about magnetic therapy called De Magnet. Dr Gilbert was also Queens Elizabeth I personal physician and it is said that she used magnets under his direction.

Michael Faraday, also known as the founder of Biomagnetics made extensive discoveries in magnetic healing during the 18th century. His work is still used as a framework for modern day magnetic treatments. Dr Mesmer the father of hypnotism and Dr Samuel Hahnemann the father of homoeopathy also contributed to his remarkable work.

20th century pioneers include Dr Kreft a German doctor who in 1905 studied the healing effects of magnets on rheumatic disease, sciatica and neuralgia. 1926 revealed Dr Criles work on the impact of magnets on cancer cells and this was followed 10 years later in 1936 with Albert Davis carrying out tests on the effects of the north and south poles of a magnet.

However the last 15 years has shown a prolific increase in medical research into magnetic therapy. There have been over 57 studies in the USA into incurable diseases and magnetics. Some of the most recent are

1990 University if Hawaii tested magnetic fields on patients with osteoarthritis.

1992- Stiller et al a randomised double blind trial of wound healing in venous leg wounds.

1999- New York Medical College tested magnetic insoles on diabetic patients.

2001- University of Virginia tested magnetic mattress covers on patients with Fibromyalgia.

2004- University of Exeter and Plymouth tested magnetic bracelets on patients with osteoarthritis

Magnetic therapy is gaining in popularity worldwide with many celebrity devotees including Cherie Blair, Bill Clinton, Anthony Hopkins, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II, Shirley MaClaine, Venus Williams, Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi, Jack Niklaus and many more.

Magnetic devices are now registered as prescribable medical devices in 54 countries worldwide With new research being completed each year and doctors at last acknowledging that it is not witch doctory we shall hopefully see, with in the next few years, magnetic devices being prescribed on the NHS in-conjunction with conventional pain killing drugs.

The back is indeed one of the most functional part of a persons body. Everyone basically needs to rely on their backs as the central workforce of the human body, for it is very important in almost all bodily movements and functions. Functional as it is, the back, however, is also very susceptible to pains and injuries.

Back pain can be very distressing and disabling for most people. Eight out of 10 adults suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is among the top reasons for health consultations of adults to doctors and experts.

Although back pain is a very common illness that one can easily acquire or develop, it is actually a very treatable health condition. There are a lot of simple back pain remedies that a person can perform in the comfort of his home. Also, proper health maintenance is also essential to avoid having back pains.

Most cases of back pain generally improves when treated with simple, alternative cures. However, if the condition does not show any improvement, then it needs to be consulted immediately to a doctor.

The following are some back pain conditions that require one to immediately consult a doctor

1. If the pain is intense and constant.
2. If the pain causes numbness and weakness in the legs.
3. If the pain goes with sudden weight loss.
4. If the pain causes bladder or bowel complications.
5. If the pain is accompanied with fever or abdominal pain.

For non-serious cases of back pains, the following are five simple treatments that are known to provide back pain relief

1. The power of heat and cold

It is said that heat and cold are among the best mediums to treat back pain. A hot bath and a cold compress are sure to give soothing relief to aching back and inflamed muscles. Most people prefer to use a cold treatment first to calm the spasms in the back muscles. When the spasms subside, a heated pad is applied on the aching back to loosen the tighten muscles.

2. The magic of pain relievers

Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and aspirin are among the commonly recommended back pain relief medications by most doctors today. These anti-inflammatory drugs control stiffness, pain, and swelling.

3. Acupuncture as a stimulating treatment

As acupuncture becomes a popular alternative cure for a number of health conditions today, it is also a perfect complementary remedy to simple back pain conditions. This type of back pain relief treatment can stimulate the bodys central nervous system to discharge natural pain-relieving endorphins.

4. Simple stretching routines

Perhaps the simplest form of back pain relief is stretching. Back pain is relieved in this simple routine as one stretches his back gently, thus, making the muscles relax. Stretching prevents the muscles become tense.

5. Move, move, move

If a person is suddenly attacked by serious back pains, he tends to crawl back to bed, thinking that it is the best way to relax the aching muscles in his back. This doesnt, however, help in any way to remedy the pain. Instead, it is better to avoid doing the things or activities that trigger back pains, and just continue doing other tasks that are not painful.

A wise man once said “The world can be divided into two groups of people people who suffer from back pain and people that will suffer from back pain. The reason to why this smart man is correct must be found to get a relief for back pain. Today, the chairs are better and the mattresses are best designed to support the back. But, more then in any given time in the history of humanity, people suffer from back pain. This article will reveal the reason and, even more important, a few ways to overcome it.

The root of the problem goes all the way back to our childhood. Have you ever seeing a 3 year child complaining about back pains? Probably – not. Children do everything naturally, you can learn a lot from them, especially from their movements. When they sit, they sit upright. They will always lift things using their legs and not their back, and I could go on and on.

Grownups lose these natural habits and tend to adopt wrong ones instead. The stressed way of life prevents people from taking proper care of their back. Instead, people tend to sit for hours and hours in back hurting positions ending up with a sore back. Moreover, kids run and play all day long keeping in shape Grownups stops all sport activities as a lack of time or the feeling that they are unable too. As a result the body becomes over weight and not flexible, this only increases back pains. Wrong habits lead to wrong posture and when attempting to correct it people tend to do the same mistakes they have done before.

The solution is going back to a healthy way of treating our back, sit properly, get up from time to time and stretch up, lift things properly, and
1. Keep you back and especially your shoulder blades covered, in bed.
2. The height of the pillow should let the neck part of the spinal to be balanced with no pressure.
3. It is recommended to sleep in a fetus position lay on your side with your legs against the chest.
4. Avoid sharp movements in the morning. Warm up your back first. Consult an exercise expert.
5. Sit upright but naturally with no pressure on your lower back.
6. When you sit make sure your feet, all of the sole, is fully placed on the floor for support.
7. Get up and stretch once in 30 minutes when sitting for a long time.
8. Use your knees to lift things and not your back.
9. Warm up before any physical activity.
10. End up physically activity with stretches.
11. And last but not least, listen to your body and avoid painful situations and activities. If you feel pain, check it.

It is simple, it is natural, and it is what we would have done in a more natural sane world. Watch the kids for the best live-show on how you should do it. They make excellent teachers for their movements are still pure.