Types of Back Pain and Mattresses That Can Help

spinal stenosis

In regards to your health, the most important piece of furniture you own is your mattress. You spend approximately one third of your life in bed. An uncomfortable mattress can have a negative effect on the quantity and quality of your sleep. This is especially the case for millions of back pain sufferers who have been ill advised over the last several decades that a firm mattress is best for them. In actuality there are several factors to consider when choosing the best mattress for you, including: the type of back problem you are experiencing, your sleep position, mattress support, and your comfort preference.

Different types of mattresses help alleviate pain for different types of back problems and symptoms. People with lumbar disc problems have symptoms that include a shooting pain in one leg from the top of the buttock to the lower leg or foot accompanied by numbness, the feeling of "pins and needles", or leg weakening. Those suffering from this condition would benefit from a firm mattress as a bending or flexing mattress can be very uncomfortable.

Sufferers of spinal stenosis experience pain, cramping or numbness in the back, legs, arms, and shoulders and function better in a flexed or loose position. Therefore, a slightly softer mattress works better for them. The most common back pain complaint is lower back pain. Usually people experience an aching dull pain in the center of the lower back. A clinical study out of Spain showed that a medium firm mattress is generally better at relieving chronic back pain than a firmer model. However, there isn't one single style of mattress that works best for everyone with lower back pain.

In conjunction with the type of back pain you suffer from, another factor to consider is the position in which you sleep. If you have a lumbar disc problem then sleeping on your stomach with a flat pillow under your stomach and hips is probably the most comfortable position for you because it reduces stress on the degenerated disc in your lower back. A firmer mattress is best for sleeping on your stomach while a softer mattress will cause an uncomfortable arch in your back that will worsen your condition.

People with spinal stenosis are most comfortable sleeping on their side in the fetal position with a pillow between their knees. A medium firm or firm mattress is good for this sleeping position but most people prefer a thicker padding to reduce pressure on their hips and shoulders. Finally, those suffering from lower back pain should sleep lying on their back with a pillow under their knees to relieve pressure from the lower back. There is no single mattress style that works for all people with back pain, but people with lower back pain should choose a mattress that offers support, comfort, and ultimately, a good night's sleep.

Another major factor in choosing a mattress is the support that mattress provides. A supportive mattress will offer the right balance of support and concavity in order to allow the spine to align naturally. There are several components of the mattress that contribute to how supportive a mattress set is. First, mattress springs and coils are the most important features of a mattress that provide back support. The coil gauge of mattress denotes how stiff or firm a mattress is. The lower the gauge of the coil, the thicker and stiffer the wire, thus, the firmer the mattress. Furthermore, the higher the coil count of a mattress, the better the quality. However, a higher coil count does not necessarily mean a more comfortable or supportive mattress.

The next component of a mattress set that affects back support is the foundation, or boxspring. The foundation/boxspring absorbs weight for the mattress. It is important to purchase the boxspring designed to match your mattress because manufacturers design both pieces to work together. A mismatched set may adversely affect the longevity of your mattress and the level of support the mattress provides.

Finally, the most important key to mattress buying is to buy what is comfortable for you. No two of us are the same when it comes to what we need from our mattress. Therefore, it is important to take time to actually try the mattress out, especially if you suffer from chronic back problems. It is suggested that you spend at least ten minutes on several different mattresses. Turn over from side to side and make sure that mattress provides enough support to allow the spine to rest in its natural state. The mattress quilt and just beneath the quilt, in the middle of mattress, consist of mattress padding made of polyurethane foams, puffed up polyester, and cotton batting. These materials affect the firmness of the mattress. Generally, people find that mattresses with more padding are more comfortable.

Overall, when choosing a mattress, consider all of the factors mentioned above. Ultimately, the best mattress for your back pain is the one you find most comfortable for you and your sleep preferences.

Stenosis Treatments - 7 Ways That Can Help Get Rid of Pain!

spinal stenosis

7 Ways To Help Get Rid of the Pain are below.

Spinal Stenosis Treatments May Include:

1. Laminotomy, which is whereby small portions of the lamina that is inside the top of the vertebrae are "shaved" or even removed in order to allow more space within the spinal column.

2. Foraminotomy, which is whereby the lower part of the vertebrae is removed in order to allow more space for the nerves.

3. Corpectomy, which is whereby the portions or the discs of the vertebrae are removed entirely in order to allow more space for the nerves.

4. Nonsurgical treatments include nonsteroidal medications to help reduce inflammation along with physical therapy and exercise in order to help strengthen stabilizing muscles within the back.

5. Analgesics such as Tylenol sometimes do help with pain management.

6. Supplements such as chondroitin and glucosamine have been documented to give some relief.

7. Walking is recognized to be one of the best things you can do for treatment of your cervical spine.

Should you have any of the following symptoms, I would seek professional help:

1. Stiffness

2. Pain, or numbness in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, or legs.

3. Balance problems

4. Coordination problems, such as if you trip a lot.

5. Loss of bowel or bladder control (incontinence).

Cervical spinal stenosis can be crippling if your spinal cord is damaged. As people age, there may be narrowing of the spinal canal. They may not even have any symptoms.

Cervical spinal stenosis does not cause any symptoms until or if the spinal cord becomes somewhat squeezed. The gradual symptoms may develop over a lengthy period of time.

I know we've been told for years -- "diet and exercise" and it is very true. Should you feel you need professional intervention, Google spinal stenosis treatments Pittsburgh or wherever you may live to find the help you need to alleviate your pain.

Spinal Ailments

spinal stenosis

Like the foot, the spinal column is one of the parts of the body under the most stress. It supports your entire upper body and protects your vital spinal cord. Also much like the foot, it is very prone to disorder because of the stress it goes through. In fact, spine-related problems are one of the most common ailments in the world.

There are four general types of spinal ailments. Degenerative spine disease involves all types of wearing down of the spine due to many reasons. This mostly happens to older people because of their advanced age and years of stress weakening the spinal column, but it can also occur in the younger population. Too much back strain can cause this to happen earlier in life. Common examples of degenerative spine disease are herniated discs, spinal stenosis and spinal instability.

Spine trauma involves any injury that can affect the spinal column. Any injury to the spinal column, spinal cord or the spinal tissue can fall under this. Injuries do not merely involve direct ones. Being hit in the head can send pressure down the spine, causing injury. Spinal trauma cannot be generally diagnosed and treated due to its unique nature. Spine injuries are almost always unique since the spine is composed of so many different interconnected parts. Trauma to the bones and ligaments will only cause pain. Injuries that affect the spinal cord can cause various nerve problems like paralysis, loss of feeling, involuntary movement, and more.

Spinal tumors is exactly as it says; tumors in the spine. It can either be a primary or secondary tumor; coming from the spine or somewhere else that infected the spine, causing the tumor. There are three possible places for a tumor to grow; on the spinal cord itself, in the spinal canal's dural covering but not the spinal cord itself, or the outside, the soft tissue and bone. The most dangerous are tumors on the spinal cord, since it can cause paralysis and irregular nerve signals. Ones on the tissue and bones often cause mostly pain.

Spinal dysraphisms are spinal cord or vertebral column abnormalities, mostly related to its development. This type of ailment can be any of the following: spina bifida occulta, meningocele, myleomeningocele, and syringomyleia. These all involve an error in how the spine grows, either by natural, deliberate or accidental causes. The spine can be bent into a strange shape, and this can affect the spinal cord itself.

If you think you have any of these problems with your spinal column, don't hesitate to consult a doctor. Prevention is better than cure.

Non-Surgical Bulging Disc and Spinal Decompression Therapy Symptoms and Treatment

spinal stenosis

Bulging disc and spinal decompression or herniated disc may be the result of degenerative disc disease, or an injury to the spine causing the spongy, gelatinous nucleus of the disc to bulge out of the protective annulus layer. A bulging disc and spinal compression may occur over time as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, or the degeneration of the discs that can come with advanced age.

The herniated disc can impinge on the sciatic nerve causing shooting pain or numbness and tingling in the legs. A bulging disc might never cause pain or be detected unless it begins to cause friction against a nerve. If a herniated disc occurs in the neck area of the cervical spine, the pain will radiate to the shoulders and arms.

What is a bulging disc?

Let's take a step back and get a clear picture of what is going on if you've got a bulging disc. Spinal discs act as shock absorbers in between each vertebrae of the spine. They provide a supple cushioning effect that absorbs the stress and pressure placed on the spine. The disc has a soft, spongy nucleus, which is encapsulated by the annulus, which is a protective outer layer. Over time this protective layer can get worn down and compressed in people who may not be very active or get poor nutrition.

The disc will finally begin to bulge out from between the vertebrae. The pain you feel is from the nerves whose job it is to make sure that you feel everything. Nerves transmit sensation--both pleasurable and painful--from the extremities back to the central nervous system, which is connected to the brain.

When this network of nerves gets impinged upon, you will definitely feel it in the form of shooting pain, numbness and tingling, or even muscle weakness when the nerve is being compresse. It's not unlike getting a crimp in the garden hose. If you stand on the hose you can diminish the flow of water from a gush to a trickle.

Treatment for bulging disc

Medical doctors that practice conventional, Western medicine may prescribe medications to relax the muscles and relieve the pain. They also offer cortisone injections and epidurals, but these are only temporary solutions that mask the symptoms rather than treating the cause of the bulging disc.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

Your local Chiropractor has a painless, non-surgical treatment option to relieve the pain of bulging disc and facilitate the restoration of the disc. It's called spinal decompression therapy. Non-surgical Spinal Decompression is a revolutionary new technology used primarily to treat bulging and herniated discs in the neck and low back. Spinal Decompression Therapy is designed to take the pressure off the bulging disc and compressed nerves by slowly and gently stretching the spine at a certain angle followed by cycles of partial relaxation. This pattern of distraction and relaxation creates a "vacuum effect" or negative intra-discal pressure.

The negative pressure may induce the retraction of the bulging or herniated disc back into the inside of the disc taking pressure off of the nerve. The cycle of decompression and partial relaxation, over a series of visits, promotes diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids into the disc. The nutrients enable the torn and degenerated disc fibers to begin to heal.