Lower backache is either the result of an injury like muscle sprain, or an early sign of diseases like kidney infection, arthritis, herniated disc, and spinal cord cancer. It usually occurs in people between the ages 30 and 50, because over time, there is a decrease in the vertebral fluid.
Acute pain lasts for a few weeks, while chronic pain persists longer than four months. Well, in the following write-up, I have jotted down how lower backache is diagnosed, treated, and prevented. Please check them out now.
Lower Backache Diagnosis
Be it a myotherapist of Hawthorn, or a surgeon of any other location, prior to prescribing anything, practitioners carry out a thorough physical examination. This shows where you exactly are feeling the pain, and if it is hampering your range of motion. They also observe the reflexes to make sure that the pain is not affecting your nerves.
Some symptoms such as fever, fatigue, abnormal bowel movement, and rapid weight loss require additional inspection. CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds are common diagnostic tests. If a doctor suspects a problem in your bones, he or she would recommend DXA or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, also known as bone density scan.
Lower Backache Treatment
• Home Care
Although the warmth covers up the pain, relaxes the muscles, and feels good, it actually contributes to the inflammation. The best remedy would be to apply ice cubes for fifteen minutes daily. Stretching, sitting straight, losing weight, and wearing low heels also help.
• Medication
If the lower backache is not serious, a doctor might ask you to consume medications. Major ones among the lot include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, corticosteroid injections, and narcotic drugs.
• Physical Therapy
Spinal manipulation conducted by chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, and osteopathic physicians aims at alleviating low back pain and enhancing physical functions. A controlled thrust is applied manually or by a device to the joint of a spine. The quantity force varies.
Remedial massage is considered ideal for low back pain along with soft tissue injuries. You might experience tad bit soreness initially, but be prepared for a phenomenal improvement within just 24 hours. To go through this process, hire a licensed and qualified professional. The therapists offering remedial massage Camberwell acquired much popularity.
Myotherapy involves using alternate intensities of concentrated pressure on the affected areas. It differs from other kinds of massage in the sense that a myotherapist knows and implements a wide range of techniques to reduce backache.
• Surgery
Severe cases call for surgery. It is the last resort, or in other words, a doctor recommends surgery when other available treatments failed to generate a desirable outcome. Foraminotomy, nucleoplasty, discectomy, spinal fusion, intradiscal electrothermal therapy, etc. are few worth-mentioning procedures.
Lower Backache Prevention
There are several ways to prevent lower backache or minimise the severity of the symptoms.
• Avoid wearing high heeled shoes
• Quit smoking
• Maintain proper posture
• Exercise regularly
• Sleep on firm surfaces
• Invest in supportive chairs
Never suppress lower backache because it might pave the way for irreversible consequences. Remember enduring the pain for a prolonged period can also affect your mental wellbeing to a great extent. It is better to either prevent or seek treatment as soon as possible.
How to Acquire a Good Posture? Five Tips to Consider
Good posture involves training the body to walk, sit, stand, and lie in a way that the muscles and ligaments are not strained. While a wide range of alternative treatments can resolve major postural issues, one of which you are going to read later in this write-up, for now, focus on few natural tricks. Please check them out right away.
- Straighten Up
One of the best ways to get rid of postural problems more or less permanently is by straightening up. Stand up tall, and you will feel as well as look better. Keep the head straight and tuck the chin inside. Remember to tuck in the shoulders, belly, back, and knees. Do not allow the hips to stick out. - Avoid Being a Slouch
Did you know dry needling can fix poor posture in absolutely no time? The procedure involves the insertion of fine filament needles through the skin on specific points of the body.
Well, the experts carrying out dry needling in Melbourne said one of the main reasons people suffer from a poor posture is because they slouch. This puts undue pressure on the joints, muscles, and bones required for holding the backbone in its place. - Beware of Text Neck
Do you spend a major portion of your day on your smartphone? Take a couple of minutes to stretch your neck properly. When you tilt the head down for checking messages, you unintentionally strain your spine. Over time, this adds up to a great extent. To resolve this issue, pick the phone up, and move your eyes rather than the head. - Do Not Be Low Rider
Obviously it is cool and comfortable to recline when enjoying a long drive, but it is unfortunately not great for your posture. Instead, pull yourself as close as possible to the steering wheel, never lock the legs, and bend the knees slightly. Do not forget to roll up a towel or put pillows behind the back for support. - Save Heels Only for Special Occasions
High heels might help you look fashionable, but they negatively impact your posture. Stilettos and pumps push the lower portion of the spine forward, which in turn overarches the back. This completely changes the way the backbone lines up and causes nerve disorders. So, save the heels for special occasions, and for daily wear, choose flat footwear.
The tips stated above, when implemented with maximum diligence, let you enjoy a good posture and keep low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, etc. at bay.
Now remedial massage is that alternative treatment that most individuals undertake to enhance their stance. The professionals offering quality sessions of remedial massage Hawthorn said it entails techniques that stretch muscles to relieve tension. It also realigns the entire body, thus, counteracts the negative effects of sitting or standing for long.
7 Effective Alternative Treatments for Pain Management
Whether it is because over-the-counter medications are extremely expensive or outright ineffective, a large number of individuals are relying upon complementary and alternative treatments for pain management. Starting from acupuncture to myotherapy, each procedure mentioned in this write-up has generated the best possible outcome within a short period. Please check them out now.
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medicine technique, has been practiced all across the globe for almost over 2500 years. The fine filament needles are inserted on specific points of the body to control its meridian system. This process cures pain by increasing the production of endorphins or natural pain-relieving chemicals. - Dry Needling
According to the practitioners carrying out dry needling Melbourne, and in varied other locations, placing needles through the skin, on the trigger points in your muscular tissues releases knots, and provides utmost relief from spasms. Also known as intramuscular stimulation, patients admitted noticing improvement within 48 hours or so. - Massage
Massage has been used for treating different types of pain since time immemorial. By manipulating the body’s softer tissues, this therapy successfully influences the muscles, blood circulation, and nervous and lymphatic systems. Recent research has concluded that massage, when conducted regularly, can be beneficial for chronic lower backache. - Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy aims at promoting relaxation to a great extent and induces a rehabilitated state of consciousness. This psychological shift allows people to become more aware, thus, gain better control over their body along with the pain symptoms. Researches suggested that hypnosis alleviates the dependency on medications by eliminating anxiety commonly associated with pain. - Chiropractic
Even though it is a mainstream option, chiropractic is technically believed to be a kind of complementary medicine. Chiropractors try to enhance the relationship between the function and structure of the body for decreasing pain. Most sessions involve adjustments designed for realigning body, thus, promote self-healing.
- Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a highly acknowledged pain management technique that helps patients to affect normal involuntary body functions like muscle tension, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. Although studies have not yet been able to pinpoint why exactly biofeedback decreases, few professionals suggest it reverses symptoms exacerbated by stress. - Tai Chi
Tai Chi was originated in China and referred to as the moving meditation. The practitioners who mastered this treatment implements a wide range of gentle and slow movements, coordinated with deep breathing. In addition to physical ailments, this traditional martial art can also contribute to mental wellbeing.
Besides the treatments specified above, a renowned myotherapist of Hawthorn said myotherapy can also keep soft tissue pain, along with constrained joint movement caused by muscular dysfunction, at bay. Although many people end up confusing myotherapy and remedial massage, it is important to remember that the former involves a much wider range of massage tactics.
How to Treat a Sprained Ankle? 5 Best Treatments to Consider
An ankle sprain could be defined as an injury to the ligaments that encompass and connect bones present in the leg to that of the foot. It happens when you twist your ankle accidentally while playing a sport or exercising and end up tearing or stretching the ligaments.
Few symptoms to look out for include excruciating pain, inflammation, bruising, tenderness, stiffness, and skin discolouration. In the following write-up, I have jotted down few effective treatments for ankle sprains. Please do check them out right now.
- Dry Needling
Many professional athletes suffering from ankle sprains depend on dry needling rather than consuming over-the-counter medications. This process works by triggering blood flow to the ankle, and in turn helping the body’s natural receptors to start healing.
Top-notch practitioners offering dry needling Melbourne and other locations said patients feel minimum discomfort, and the twitches in the muscles are actually a good sign because it shows that the right trigger point is hit.
2. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) Therapy
RICE therapy is believed to be most effective for not so serious ankle sprains. You have to rest because moving the injured part can exacerbate the already complicated situation. Applying ice packs help with the swelling.
Using compression pads or wrapping the ankle with a tight elastic bandage will stabilize the joints. Lastly, always keep your ankle in an elevated position while sleeping. This also reduces swelling.
3. Surgery
Although immensely rare, some ankle sprains need surgical intervention. The procedures, such as reconstruction or arthroscopy, are performed when the damage is severe and does not improve even a tad bit with the nonsurgical options.
Rehabilitation is a significant part of the entire recovery process. You must attend follow-up sessions with your doctor and practice varied physical therapy exercises for regaining motion and reinforcing the ankle muscles.
4. Garlic Juice
Owing to having abundant anti-inflammatory properties, garlic has been used for treating ankle pain since time immemorial. It alleviates discomfort to a great extent and boosts the immune system.
Clean the affected area thoroughly with plain lukewarm water, and dry it. Mix garlic juice and coconut oil in a small container, and apply this on your ankle. Massage for at least ten minutes and then wash with warm water. Repeat this home remedy for two weeks to notice improvement.
5. Myotherapy
A renowned myotherapist of Hawthorn, along with the ones practicing in several other noted locations all across the globe said their approach to ankle sprain usually begins with gently massaging the muscular tissues surrounding the foot and calf.
While everyone responds differently to this treatment, some common signs that arise within a day of a myotherapy session are lethargy, nausea, headache, and deep muscle ache, which most people perceive as ‘good pain.’
Ankle sprains can, unfortunately, prevent you from carrying out even the most minor household chores. Well, individuals can lower the risk of experiencing this particular condition by performing strengthening drills, wearing sturdy footwear instead of high heels, paying proper attention to the surfaces they are treading on, enhancing the body balance as much as possible, and taking a break when feeling exhausted. Remember, if left untreated, an ankle sprain can cause permanent instability and chronic pain.
5 Major Benefits of Remedial Massage and Myotherapy
A large number of modern-day individuals are undertaking myotherapy and remedial massage, both of which are different because the former draws on techniques like dry needling, cupping, musculoskeletal alignment, stretching, and various rehabilitative exercises, while the latter depends only on special oils.
Are you planning on booking a session? If yes, first, be thoroughly acquainted with the benefits.
- Prevent Surgery
Neurosurgeons, or any general practitioner for the same, recommend surgery. Now while few cases require such intervention, we must first explore the alternative therapies available, which do not cause sudden bodily complications or scarring. Experts carrying out myotherapy and remedial massage Camberwell said these procedures can fix impaired lower back, knees, shoulder, neck, etc.
- Improve Sleep
Many people complained that they have insomnia, or in other words, cannot sleep properly at night. Few said they walk in their sleep. According to studies, an amalgamation of pain, stress, muscle cramps, anxiety, and headache cause irritability, and compels one to toss and turn on the bed.
Addressing neck, hip, and shoulder ache, mastering the best sleeping position, and using a comfy pillow makes a lot of difference. After massage therapy, people slept without any interruption.
- Improve Joint Movement
Muscles overlap joints so any sort of tightness can completely restrict movement. If a person is suffering from joint dysfunction, the concerned massage therapist would first check softer tissues, which will reduce pressure, and reinstate function.
He or she can now move joints without experiencing discomfort. Shoulders are extremely affected by their muscles and tendons. Bicep tendons and rotator cuff muscles pave the way for chronic shoulder ache.
- Amend Posture
Many individuals have admitted straining their shoulders, neck, and lower back by prolonged sitting at work. Well, postural problems and alignment are evaluated right at the beginning to detect imbalances in the body, which might be causing dysfunction or pain. Remedial massage and myotherapy can successfully cure affected areas by extending muscular tissues as well as balancing out overall posture configuration.
- Alleviate Stiffness and Muscular Pain
A reputed myotherapist Hawthorn said massages work to deactivate rigid muscular trigger points, which are held responsible for stiffness and a dull ache. Few stretches are prescribed that can restore muscles to their previous healthy state. They also let abundant blood flow to the tissues and break down tension knots, also known as adhesions. While pharmaceutical drugs only reduce symptoms, massages address the root cause.
Apart from the benefits specified above, top-notch medical professionals said that myotherapy and remedial massage can also positively affect the immune system. They decrease stress hormones to a great extent along with enhancing lymphatic drainage and blood circulation, thus, help human body heal seamlessly.
Remedial Massage 