Osteoarthritis related neck pain and back pain is a fairly common complaint, particularly as we age. In fact, most neck pain, back pain, and sciatica complaints are tied in one way or another to aging and/or the 5 factors that cause and exacerbate what I refer to as the back pain complex…neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica (see http://UltimateBadBackStrategies.com for the 5 factors).

Interestingly, arthritis related neck and back pain has become something of a catch-all designation for neck pain and back pain, often without a proper medical diagnosis, particularly among individuals fifty years of age and above. Osteoarthritis is generally characterized by a break down of the facet joints, the joints articulating one vertebra to the next posteriorly. In other words, the joints that join one vertebra with the next at the back of the spinal column, stabilizing the spine and assisting with motion (see video on spinal curvatures).

As we age, the intervertebral joints, also referred to as facet joints, break down, usually due to stress or trauma-related injury to the joint over time. The joint surface, and often the area just adjacent to the joint, will undergo changes to the surface and to the adjoining bone, the breakdown often leading to new bone being deposited.

Often, in advance cases, the connective tissue may even calcify and/or ossify, meaning the ligaments will become bone-like and inflexible. The loss of flexibility, the restricted range of motion, will lead first to stiffness and ultimately to increasing levels of neck pain and back pain, depending on the region of the spine affected.

The most common areas affected are the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine, hence the neck and back pain. These are the two secondary curvatures are responsible for holding our head upright and for head and neck movement, and for standing upright and walking on two legs, respectively. The stress exerted upon the secondary curvatures is much greater than on the primary curvatures of the thoracic and sacral regions. That is not to say that the thoracic and sacral regions are not affected by back pain, they most certainly are, and in some instances the pain can be every bit as debilitating and disabling as neck pain and lower back pain. However, the cervical and lumbar regions are most affected and mimic the curvatures of the spine in prevalence.

How to deal with arthritis related neck and back pain will be covered in future videos and articles but it is crucial that an individual suffering from neck pain and/or back pain related to osteoarthritis maintain and active lifestyle, to include walking and flexibility exercises. Additionally, good nutrition is also crucial, going a long way toward alleviating and ultimately eliminating arthritis related neck pain and back pain.

We will cover how to achieve lasting pain relief from arthritis related neck and back pain in the next video and article in this series. If you are interested in getting active and taking control of your neck pain and back pain, the program at

http://TheBadBackGuy.net

is wonderful and will put you back on the road to a pain free, active lifestyle!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526
Skype: johnzajaros1
JohnZ@UltimateBadBackStrategies.com

Pain caused by arthritis can be among the worst kind of pain,
deal with it once and for all!

Red, burning, swollen and so stiff you don’t want to move…
that’s what those who suffer from arthritis experience on a
daily basis. If you know this all to 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
* tendinitis
* 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 masking 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.

By taking these simple steps to reducing inflammation you will be well
on your way to managing your arthritis pain and it devastating effects
on your mind and body. Everyone should strive to achieve a healthy and
active lifestyle for optimal health and wellbeing.

Finally… A Safe, Effective, All Natural Pain Reliever

Dan Monahan had reached the point where he was willing to try
anything – anything to ease the constant pain and inflammation in his leg. He could no longer walk. Even standing was uncomfortable.

His doctor gave him several prescription medicines but nothing helped. Pain was ruining his life. When Dan saw an ad for this natural pain reliever, he was skeptical. How could this product work when every prescription his doctor gave him hadn’t? But he decided to give it a try. Let Dan tell you what happened:

“Was I pleasantly surprised! After only 2 to 3 days on the activation
dose, I noticed reduced inflammation and less pain in my leg.”

After just three weeks, Dan started walking again. This all natural
product worked for Dan when all of his prescription drugs hadn’t. You can relieve your constant, burning pain when prescription drugs no longer work – just like Dan did – with Heal-n-Soothe.

That’s because Heal-n-Soothe works differently than prescription drugs. Here’s how:

So 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 health and a pain free life!

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.
216-712-6526
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@thebadbackguy.com