Relief For Back Pain » Stenosis

Best Back Pain Mattress

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:37:00 +0000

When it comes to 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 quality and amount of your sleep. This is particularly true for the 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 back pain mattress

for you, including: the type of back problem you are experiencing, your sleep position, mattress support, and your comfort preference.

It would be nice if there was a simple anser to the question of “what is the best back pain mattress?” but like so much in life there isn’t an easy answer. It depends on a lot on these factors.

Type of Back Problem

Different types of mattresses help alleviate pain for different types of back problems and symptoms. People with lumbar disc problems, for example, 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, or that tingley feeling, or leg weakening. Those suffering from this condition would benefit from a firm mattress as a bending or flexing mattress can be very uncomfortable.

Spinal stenosis sufferers, on the other hand, experience pain, cramping or numbness in the back, arms, legs, and shoulders and are more comfortable in a flexed or loose position. Therefore, a slightly softer mattress works better for them.

The most common type of back pain is lower back pain. Usually people experience an aching dull pain in the center of the lower back. A recent 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 type of mattress that works best for everyone with lower back pain.

Sleeping Position

In addition to 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.

Back Support

Another major factor in choosing a mattress is the support that mattress provides. A supportive mattress will offer the right balance of support and flexibility 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.

There is a whole school of thought within the back pain medical field that feels that spring-coil mattresses put pressure on sensitive areas of the back and actually aggravate back pain for some sufferers. This tends to be truer for lower-quality spring coil mattresses.This alternative school of thinking feels that memory foam or visco elastic mattresses are better for most back pain sufferers. These types of mattresses allow your body to sink into them and actually take on the shape of your body, so there is no tension on your spine that results in back pain.

Foundation Or Boxspring

The next element of a mattress set that affects back support is the foundation, or boxspring. The foundation/boxspring absorbs weight for the mattress. If you want this type of mattress set, 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.

Individual Comfort

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.

Even better than this is that most reputable manufacturers of mattresses will offer you a money back guarantee for as long as 60 or 90 days in some instances, so you can try the mattress out in your home or apartment to see if it actually helps reduce your back pain. Many retailers will include free shipping and pickups if you want to return the mattress. You really have no risk in this instance, which is good because good mattresses don’t come cheap, so you won’t take a financial hit if your new mattress doesn’t meet your needs.

Finding the right back pain mattress for you, one that really reduces or eliminates your back pain, can be a godsend. Think about it. Imagine waking up without morning back pain. Or even better, imagine getting a solid eight hours of sleep at night. A good, effective mattress that delivers in this regard would be worth the price!

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.

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Back Pain and Spinal Stenosis

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:04:00 +0000

A recent study published by Boston University has found out that lumbar spinal stenosis affects 4.71% of the general population, which seems like a very low number. However, 47.2% of individuals in the 60-69 age group have lumbar spinal stenosis on their MRI scan, which is a significant number. The individuals that actually are diagnosed with severe stenosis will approach 20%. These patients with significant spinal stenosis have a 3 times higher incidence of back pain than the general population. As our population continues to live longer, stenosis of the spine will certainly be a significant health problem.

Spinal stenosis is the progression of arthritis in the spine occurring in the neck, as well as in the lower back. As we age, the cartilage in the discs of our spine will lose their ability to hold water. The water in the discs is what helps the disc move and remain flexible to bending and compression. As the discs lose their water content, they become more fragile.If the brittle cartilage breaks, the condition is called degenerative disc disease.As discs degenerate, they will begin to expand and put pressure on the spinal canal and nerve roots. This disc bulging will decrease the diameter of the spinal canal,a condition referred to as spinal stenosis. This slows the information that flows between the brain and the extremities. The arms will be affected by spinal stenosis in the neck and the legs will be affected by lower back (lumbar) spinal stenosis.

Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis will feel back pain, as well as leg pain or fatigue. Because of the fatigue in the legs, patients will have to sit frequently during walks.Lumbar spinal stenosis will also cause patients to find benches in the mall and grab the cart at the grocery store, in order to make it through their errands due to the fatigue. Some patients may attribute their fatigue to age and as they continue to remain active later in life, this may severely limit their ability to join in their families activities.The leg fatigue can cause significant pain and cramping during activity, but is lessened when the patient sits down. The act of sitting opens the spinal canal by decreasing the curve in the lower back,which also occurs while the patient is leaning on the grocery cart.

Spinal stenosis in the neck may cause more severe symptoms. The cervical spine protects the spinal cord as it descends from the base of the brain.Because spinal stenosis in the neck puts pressure on the spinal cord, the disc pressure will cause symptoms related to the area. These include a decrease in the ability to walk as well as problems with the hands.Patients may find they tend to stumble, as it becomes harder to control the feet and legs as the disease progresses. They may also find their handwriting getting severely worse and that they have difficulty differentiating the size and feel of coins or shirt buttons.

Spinal stenosis is usually treated with physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy is intended to help position the spine and open the spinal canal. With better posture and stronger core muscles, patients may find their leg symptoms and fatigue improve. They may find they are able to walk farther or faster. Oral anti-inflammatory medications are a first-line option for improving the inflammation related to the degenerating discs. When physical therapy and oral medications no longer provide relief, injections of steroid around the discs and nerves may decrease the pain and symptoms related to the nerve pressure. Some patients are able to tolerate their symptoms with a few injections per year.

When all of these efforts fail, surgery becomes an option for improving the patient s pain.Surgery is aimed toward relieving the pressure from the arthritis on the spinal canal and nerves.The mechanical pressure can only be alleviated by physically removing the bone spurs or disc protrusions. The surgical procedures involve removal of bone and disc, as well as protecting the nerve roots. Fellowship-trained orthopedic spine specialists have undergone the most intense training available in the treatment of the spine and are uniquely qualified to treat patients with spinal stenosis.

Dr. Jeffrey R. Carlson is a doctor at the Orthopedic and Spine Center, a leading provider of Hampton Roads orthopedics services such as Hampton Roads spine surgery, Hampton Roads custom fit knee replacement, and many other services. The Orthopedic and Spine Center can be found online at: OSC-Ortho.com

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New “Open MRI” Technology

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:12:00 +0000

See the full interview with Phyllis Newfield

New “Open MRI” technologies have been introduced to the market and now persons suffering from chronic back pain or spinal stenosis, lumbar stenosis, low back pain, sciatica, and virtually all other types of back pain can be evaluated by an MRI without having to climb into a claustrophobic cylinder. The new “Open MRI” scans the patient while he or she is standing.

p>I can personally attest as a sciatica sufferer myself that one of the things I most fear is getting an MRI. I mean I truly dread it even though I know it provides invaluable diagnosis of my back problems. And I don’t even suffer from claustrophobia, but it still makes me seriously stress out. This is truly good news!

What exactly is an Open MRI?

Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Open MRI) is an advanced diagnostic imaging procedure that creates detailed images of internal bodily structures without the use of ionized radiation (x-rays). Open MRI is able to produce these detailed images through the use of a powerful magnet, radiowaves and a computer. MRI can assist physicians in detecting and diagnosing diseases or other abnormalities in very early stages.

INSIGHT IMAGING is dedicated to the emerging technology of low-field, patient-friendly magnetic resonance imaging systems. Claustrophobic, obese and pediatric patients, along with those suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, are often able to comfortably undergo MRI examinations in these “open architecture” systems while failing to tolerate traditional “closed” MRI systems. Open systems are quieter and more comfortable for patients. Open MRI systems are rapidly becoming a preferred choice for many healthcare consumers.

This new “Open MRI” is fully covered by most health insurers at no additional cost vs. the older “traditional” MRI technology used all other imaging centers.

Stand Up or Sit Down and Watch TV during your Open MRI scan!

Fear of claustrophobia or being squeezed into a tube is non-existent in the totally open MRI scanner.

http://www.washingtonopenmri.com

High Field Stand-Up MRI vs. the Traditional Open MRI

Washington Open MRI now has the revolutionary high field full-body Open MRI scanner that can scan back pain patients in the sitting or standing position.

The new Stand-Up Open MRI technology allows you to watch TV during your Open MRI scan!

Fear of claustrophobia or being squeezed into a tube is non-existent in the totally open MRI scanner.
The world’s Patient-Friendly scanner available at Washington Open MRI’s Stand-Up Open-MRI centers.

This technological breakthrough is second to none in the MRI imaging world, and fully reimbursed by all insurance carriers at no additional cost to the patient.

The revolutionary open MRI scanner features the only MRI-compatible, motorized, multi-positional, patient positioning system, which has been engineered to be fully functional Inside the scanner’s magnetic field. It can position the patient for the full range of conventional “lie-down” MRI scanning, or upright for weight-bearing studies. The full length of the spine can be imaged in the normal weight-bearing posture, even with the patient touching their toes for full flexion images of the lumbar spine. Unusual patient positions that are impossible on conventional “lie-down” MRI scanners are routine on Washington Open MRI’s new Stand-Up Open MRI.

The patient positioning system is tilted back slightly in order to stabilize the patient and avoid body motion during stand-up scanning. Patients can be positioned facing the poles, which enables a large range of motion for scans of the shoulder. Scans can also be obtained with lateral flexion of the lumbar spine NO OTHER MRI can perform this diagnostic procedure.This new Stand-Up Open MRI is based on FONAR’s proven high-field technology, and FONAR is the PATENT HOLDER for MRI scanning technology – all others license this proprietary technology fror their MRI equipment. So who do you think will always be at “the cutting edge”.The combination of the transaxial magnetic field and any of FONAR’s array of high signal-to-noise solenoidal surface coils is one of the key reasons why the new Stand-Up Open MRI is second-to-none in image quality. And as FONAR is the patent-holder of this technology Its full range of advanced software features and state-of-the-art pulse sequences provide unparalleled diagnostic precision.

In Modern Medicine…

Often an upright position is the only position in which the patient’s issues can be diagnosed. Certain cardiovascular and neurological disorders can only be properly diagnosed when the patient is upright. The same is true of the GI tract and the spine and joints, including the upper and lower back, neck, hips, knees and ankles. With the revolutionary MRI’s unparalleled ability to “see” soft tissues, Stand-Up Open MRI gives physicians a more global view of pathology and its impact on function.

From the perspective of medicine, Stand-Up Open MRI provides a dramatic view of the body’s interior. For the first time, Washington Open MRI brings to the medical practice the newfound ability to see all the body’s organs and tissues in their normal position of function – upright.

For more information visit us on the web at:

http://www.washingtonopenmri.com

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Published by Relief For Back Pain

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