Overcoming Neck, Back, and Sciatic Nerve Pain One Step at a Time!

Well, TuffGuy and I are back at it, dealing with neck pain, back pain, and sciatica one step at a time! We started walking a couple of days ago after taking the winter off.

Wow are my legs sore!

I tried to walk with the little guy a few times when the weather first started to change, but being a short-haired dog, a Puggle, TuffGuy just wasn’t suited for the cold. Add to that, the fact that the salt and ice were tough on his paws, and I quickly realized I had to rethink my exercise program.

I had lost my workout partner!

A funny thing happened on my way to overcoming chronic neck pain, back pain, and sciatica…I got my life back!

As I started feeling better and eventually started walking, then finally exercising, I also started to think about working again. Anyone who thinks retirement is a good thing is nuts! Between the pain and the boredom…I was going bonkers! But every once in a while someone would still say, “Oh, I would love to be in your shoes! I’d fish and travel and do all sorts of things!”

Not!

I remember one trip I took, the girls were still playing soccer. We drove from Ohio to North Carolina for a huge tournament, the Raleigh Invitational Tournament.

I thought I was in Hell!

Very few times in my life have I experienced pain like that and I swore I would never travel like that again.

Back to the sectional!

But I tried!

I really thought my life was over, that for the next twenty or thirty years I was doomed to a life filled with pain, boredom, and Law and Order reruns.

I couldn’t read! How could I?

Between the chronically acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, and the pain medication, I was lucky to be able to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes.

Read? Impossible!

One of the things I enjoyed most in life, after my family and my dogs, was reading. I hadn’t been able to read a book in years!

I really had no idea I would ever be able to work again!

Heck, I wasn’t so sure I would be able to walk more than a few feet without passing out ever again!

Exercise?

Work?

As they say in the movie Donnie Brasco:

“Fahget abaat it!”

Interestingly, as I first started walking, finally exercising, and then even jogging a bit, I began to believe it just might be possible to reclaim my life.

I imagine that? After 10 years of fighting for my life. Was it possible?

Over the past year I have come to believe it is not only possible and probable, in fact, it is a reality.

I can work again!

Starting slow, first helping others deal with the same chronic neck pain, back pain, and sciatica I was beginning to overcome, I branched off into other areas and, before I knew it I was busy again, making a living, rebuilding my life, building businesses!

However, when winter came and I lost my walking partner, combined with the demands of building businesses and rebuilding my life, I slacked off! In doing so, I gained back a few pounds…and so did TuffGuy!

TuffGuy & The Bad Back Guy: Shedding the Winter Weight!

I also noticed an achy feeling from time to time. No, nowhere near the acutely chronic pain I used to experience, but enough remind me that if I didn’t get my act together, get back in the gym, and start walking again, I would pay!

So, with the weather breaking and both TuffGuy and I in need a exercise…we have commenced to walk again. The first 2 nights we did 4.4 miles. Not bad for a guy who couldn’t get from the sectional to the bathroom without passing out in pain, literally, less than 2 years ago.

No kidding!

Permanently catheterized because my bladder didn’t work properly due to the pain, passing out daily and to the point that my wife was afraid to go to work and leave me, and taking enough Oxycontin and Fentanyl to kill a horse (hundreds of 80mg tablets and fentanyl lozenges prescribed monthly), I started by walking to the end of my driveway and back…with Connie’s help.

By the time the snow fell this past winter, TuffGuy and I were up to 7-8 miles a night; and, I was also working out, riding a recumbent bike and lifting weights (Yup!) in the gym every single day, six or seven days a week.

How great is that?

Interestingly, with the snow, the loss of my walking buddy, and the increasing demands on my time building my life, again, I started missing workouts at the gym. Walking was out, it was lonely without my buddy along side, and ultimately I was worried about taking a spill on the ice. As good as I was feeling, after a broken neck, 14 back operations, and a complete shoulder reconstruction (plates, screws, wires, the whole shabang!) , all it would take would be one fall.

So, ice skating, hockey, playing for the Cleveland Browns (well, maybe!), and eventually walking through the snow and ice were out.

I could have continued to go to the gym or even bumped up my workouts a bit…but I got busy, started seeing dollar signs, and forgot what had worked, what had been responsible for my ability to walk, exercise, and work again.

Dumb!

But we are all human, right?

Getting back to the story:

We have started walking again and, a guy who could barely make it out of bed two years ago, less than two years ago, went 4.4 miles his first night…little dog right beside me!

It felt great! Even the soreness felt great! Compared to chronic and acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, and all the complications that came with it, the soreness was almost as good as….

Well, almost as good as!

Finally, I want to apologize!

I know I have let my readers down and I will make it a point to keep you informed, offer tips and advice (anecdotal, of course), videos, and articles, here and at Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies to help you reclaim your life, as well. It is do-able! It can be a reality for you too! If I can reclaim my life after all I have been through, you can too!

If you need help, want to walk, or whatever…just ask!

Contact me any time!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526 (home)
440-821-7018 (cell)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com
excellencepaidforward@gmail.com (personal email)

CANI! Constant and Neverending Improvement!

For a year now, and with real intensity and focus since the end of June 2009, I have been attempting to help others deal with their neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. It has been my sincere desire to help as many people as possible overcome their neck pain, back pain, and sciatica and achieve real and lasting pain relief!

The last year has been as much of an education for me as it has been for those of you willing to read my articles and watch my videos…then applying what I have suggested into action.

I certainly hope I have helped at least a few of you achieve lasting neck, back, and/or sciatic nerve pain relief!

Why?

Well, for many reasons.

Yes, I will admit when I started with all of this I thought it would be a decent way to make a living and help people deal with their neck pain, back pain, and sciatica at the same time.

Now?

I have benefitted in ways I never could have imagined when I started this. Not only have I helped others, verified through countless emails, Skypes, and even a few phone calls…but I have also helped myself. In fact, I have helped myself in ways I simply could not have anticipated a year ago.

Ultimate Bad Back Strategies and The Bad Back Guy were perhaps not the best choices for names but they accurately described my condition and my mindset at the time.

And now, I would probably be better described as The Healthy Back Guy! Certainly, a much more positive description than the
former.

In either case, I have been fortunate to parlay my education as a physical anthropologist and my background as a strength coach and trainer of athletes into something useful. Along the way I have learned more about marketing, and I started my marketing career in 1974, so I am not a novice, and, I have learned a great deal more about computers and the Internet.

So, my education, while far from complete, has allowed me to prosper in ways I could never have imagined while helping others deal with their chronic pain; and, in particular, their neck pain, back pain, and sciatica.

I have also helped myself and relieved my own very acute and chronic neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, as well as several other health issues, while I have been at it.

All of this started with a decision!

I got to a point where the pain of being in pain wasn’t as great as the pain of my life…so I acted.

I have never looked back!

CANI! Is a Tony Robbins concept and it means “constant and neverending improvement!”

CANI!, in one form or another, has been taught by the masters from the beginning of history. In fact, there are examples of a consistent and concerted effort overcoming great odds going back thousands of years!

Why?

Because it works!

Consistently applied, constant and neverending action focused on a predetermined goal has moved mountains, literally. It has led to constant and neverending improvement…CANI!

CANI! can certainly work for you in overcoming your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica.

It simply, or not so simply, takes a decision, an action followed by another action, one built upon the next in a consistent and constant manner until the outcome you
imagined, or couldn’t have imagined as in my case, changes your life once and for all.

There!

Did I say that in enough ways…enough times?

Ultimately? It is up to you!

One more time!

It begins with a desicision, followed by an action, and then repeated constantly and consistently over time. If you apply this concept to your life I can assure you of one thing, your life will be different, it will be better, and it will be amazing!

I guarantee it!

Contact me anytime!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad (Healthy) Back Guy
216-712-6526
216-539-7412 (bus)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, If you are ready for that first step, if you are ready for the New Year…to begin anew…with little or no neck pain, back pain or sciatica? Simply click this link and begin today!

Begin With the Foundation: Stretching, Walking, and Exercising…The Legs are the Foundation!

The legs are quite literally the foundation of any neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief strategy. I started with stretching and walking, slow and steady but adding a bit more each and every time over a period of days, weeks, and months…now, it is time for more!

This is a remarkable thing, that I am even able to speak to you about a workout I am doing for any part of my body…but especially the legs! A year ago, housebound, depressed, and suffering from chronically acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica…I was The Bad Back Guy!

As you progress, you must begin with machines rather than squats or lunges. The machines offer more control and a gradual approach is possible. Having suffered with neck pain, back pain, and sciatica for many years, the machines allow me to isolate certain body parts while minimally involving the synergistic and antagonistic muscle groups, this is safer and more effective as I begin.

You may be able to do the same thing, once you get to a certain level with stretching and walking and if, and only if, you feel comfortable in the gym or have someone experienced in neck and back issues to work with you.

I will go into greater depth on this topic but for now, I suggest you visit:

Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies to review the subject, as well.

Watch the videos and read the articles, get an idea of what is entailed.

We will build from there in the coming days and weeks as we continue to stretch, walk, and exercise for neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief!

Contact me anytime!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526 (home)
216-539-7412 (business)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, If you are ready for the next step, contact me or go to http://TheBadBackGuy.net You have nothing to lose but the pain!

The Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief and Treatment 30 Day Challenge!

This is where you find out the secret to my neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief…guaranteed and in the form of a free trial!

This video will take you to a program of relief of neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, often in a matter of days. I have used these strategies and I purchased this program, it works! Not only does this program take you through assessment and implementation of your neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief program step-by-step…it is 100% guaranteed and offers a free trial, as noted above!

If you want the physical version, which is the only the way to go frankly, you may have to pay for shipping and handling but it is only a few bucks and well worth it to get the workbook, the DVDs, the assessment guide, and all the rest.

It’s great!

So, all you have to lose is your pain! Good luck to you and don’t forget, you can contact me anytime!

Once you join, I will send you my personal email address, the one I check 2-3 times a day. And, you will also have access to me via Skype IM too!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526
866-835-2913 (toll free)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, You can go to http://TheBadBackGuy.net to begin the next step, your journey towards a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica free life!

Understanding neck pain, back pain, and sciatica is a crucial as our treatment is often dependent on the ability to describe both the location of the pain and what kind of pain…and its intensity. In order to fully comprehend, treat, and recover from neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica, we need to seek medical treatment early enough after the first expression of neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica and we need to take an active and involved role in the treatment strategy before, during, and after formal medical intervention and treatment.

The Types of Spine Pain (also referred to the general types of back pain)

Back pain is known by a variety of technical terms depending on the location and severity. Neck pain is also known in medical terms as cervicalgia. Neck pain or cervicalgia may vary from dull and aching to chronic and acute and is often associated with pain in the shoulder and tingling and numbness in the arms and hands. Upper back pain, also known as thoracic pain, is also referred to as middle back pain depending on the location. Thoracic pain, like to neck pain, may range from dull to acute and chronic. Lower back pain, also known as lumbago, affects the lower back, as the name indicates, and ranges from dull, localized pain to acute, chronic, and widespread. Lower back pain or lumbago may also be associated with the final classification of back pain, known as sciatic nerve pain or simply sciatica. Sciatica, also known as sciatic neuritis, is often classified as a lumbar radiculopathy (the distinction is beyond the scope of this article). Sciatica, as with the other expressions of spine pain mentioned above, may range from a dull and aching pain, to acute and chronic, many times associated with pain across the buttocks and into the legs. Sciatica may also present with weakness, tingling, and numbness in the legs, feet, and toes.

Describing and Quantifying Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

One of the most difficult tasks when it comes to back pain, in any of its expressions, is to describe the type and intensity of the pain. Because neck pain, back pain, and sciatica vary from patient to patient and incident to incident, and because pain is an abstract concept, not easily identifiable or quantifiable, ranking neck pain, back pain, and sciatica on any sort of a scale is at most minimally helpful and, in many instances, totally ineffective in treating the condition. Because pain is the ultimate symptom of an underlying condition, it is crucial that a medical practitioner be consulted as soon as possible after pain presents itself.

The Etiology and Treatment of Spine Pain

The etiology (cause) of spine pain may be difficult or even impossible to properly identify, particularly if medical treatment isn’t sought immediately. Several studies indicate that the sooner an individual seeks medical attention for their neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica, the better the prognosis. Significantly, one of the biggest challenges facing the medical community, particularly when it comes to spine pain complaints, and I am referring to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica when I refer to an overall category like spine-related pain, is that patients do not seek medical attention early enough, leading to an exacerbation of the underlying condition.

Treatment and Relief of Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

There is encouraging data from several studies that would seem to indicate that approximately 3.5 to 4 in 10 chronic back pain patients, that’s pain lasting more than 90 days, recovered within a year. However, that still leaves a sizable number affected by chronic pain long term. The numbers seem to improve with exercise and there are many studies that seem to indicate that low-impact, supervised exercise is the best overall strategy for chronic neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief. Treatment for acute spine-related pain, meaning pain lasting more than 24 hours but less and 2 weeks, generally requires a different but linked strategy. Overall, early treatment focusing on proper diagnoses and neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief includes ice, use of anti-inflammatories (sparingly), and physical therapy. Bed rest is almost always counter-indicated and may exacerbate the problem.

Pain is Difficult If Not Impossible to Describe and Quantify!

Acute and/or chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica are even more difficult to describe and diagnose because the spine is such a complex system. Only through immediate consultation with a medical practitioner, combined with a comprehensive and individualized neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief strategy can one hope to achieve a pain free life once again.

The answer?

1) Get a proper medical diagnoses.
2) Get active as quickly as possible.
3) Follow up with your medical practitioner at regular intervals until pain free.
4) And, most important of all, get involved in a comprehensive neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief program.

How to Overcome Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica: Finding Lasting Relief

Ultimately, make sure any neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica treatment and relief program includes stretching, walking, and low-impact exercise (particularly at first) to strengthen the musculoskeletal system as a whole, and the spine in particular. Focus on the 5 factors and you will be on your way to a pain free life: lose weight; strengthen your core muscles, specifically, and your musculoskeletal system, generally; work on any muscle imbalances you may have; get adequate nutrition, through proper diet, to ensure your body has the nutrients to rebuild; and finally, take in plenty of fluid to ensure intervertebral disc health (IVDs are 85% water).

If you follow the above mentioned pain treatment and relief strategies you will be on your way to neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain (sciatica) relief in no time!

If you ever have any questions, I would be happy to discuss them with you!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526
866-835-2913 (toll free)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, There is another, more in depth article on the subject of the types of spine pain…to include neck pain, back pain, and sciatica at Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies! Just click here!

PPS, For a comprehensive program tailored for neck pain, back pain, and sciatic relief, begin your new life here!

As you know if you have been following along here for any length of time, this is our second 30 day challenge. The first 30 day challenge was called The 30 Day Walk Away from Back Pain and Sciatica and it began at the end of June.

The current 30 day challenge is about half over and it is my hope that by now you are walking, stretching, and becoming aware of the amazing possibilities life can offer you once you take hold of your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica and decide to implement a program of pain relief. It is not easy but it can be done, in fact people all over the world have emailed me, telephoned me and added me to their Skype accounts so they can tell me what they are doing and ask advice.

I think it is absolutely fantastic!

It is important for you to know that I am not a medical practitioner and any advice I offer is anecdotal, meaning it is based on personal experience and not meant to replace the advice of your medical practitioner.

Phew, now that that’s out of the way….On with the show!

Google Alerts and Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

I subscribe to what is called Google Alerts. For those of you who aren’t initiated in the Ways of Google, Google Alerts tells me when certain words I am interested in come up on their radar. They then make a copy of those article or video links and send them to me so I can review them, either to further my own education or to see what is being said on the Internet about my area of interest, in this case, neck pain, back pain, and sciatica.

Well lately, every day I get at least two emails from Google and without fail my videos and articles are in the emails. But here is the really interesting thing about them, they are not on my blogs or websites, they are being posted on other people’s web properties!

Now, in the “real world” this would be considered plagiarism and a rip off. On the Internet, however, it is perfectly fine, in fact it is great! It means the video or article is “going viral.” Viral simply means other webmasters, Internet marketers, and medical providers think enough of the content to place it on their sites, complete with the links back to my blog or website…a really cool thing!

Significantly, what all this really says is that what I have been trying to convey for the past year, give or take a couple of months, is good information…and others think so too. I even got an email from a medical practitioner who is going to do a 30 Day Challenge to get people ready for the holidays!

Where have you heard that before?!

Interestingly, this same medical man’s emails seem to parrot the content in my articles and videos almost verbatim! Again, in any other realm this would be seen in a negative light, and don’t get me wrong, I have been ripped off on occasion. But the thing is, I don’t care. I am in it for you, in order to help as many people as possible take back their lives, as I have. So, the more the merrier!

The best part of this whole day was an email I received offering me membership in an Internet community exclusively for physicians. I am, of course, a physical anthropologist. My doctoral studies are along the lines of what Randy Pausch’s mother (The Last Lecture and one of the most amazing men of our times) said about his doctorate:

“He’s a doctor but not the kind that helps people!”

Too funny!

Well, it is my sincere wish that you will take what you learn here and via the programs I recommend and live a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica free life. I know it is possible! I have done it after 15 major surgeries, 14 on my spine. You can find real and lasting neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief through the self-administered treatment and exercise program at:

http://TheBadBackGuy.net

Begin today and take back your life! Enter the holidays and the New Year pain free…you will never regret it and you will once again have your life before you…a neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica free life!

Yours in Health!

John

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

PS, I added an article on failed back surgery syndrome and neck pain, back pain, and sciatica at my Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Blog! Hope it helps you!

How to Find Permanent Relief from Chronic and/or Acute Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica!

Well, it has been just about two weeks since I announced the latest Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Challenge and the response has been quite good. People are stretching, walking, and exercising their way to pain relief and a new life! I have quite literally received emails, Skypes, and telephone calls from all over the world…how incredible is that?

The challenge is a take-off on Earl Nightingale’s The Strangest Secret, and if you don’t know what it is or haven’t taken the 32 minutes you need to listen to this amazing recording, I will put the link blelow. It has been a part of my personal library for more that 30 years now, closer to 35, and I still listen to it whenever I get a bit off course…in any of life’s arenas! Earl Nightingale’s 30 Day Challenge has inspired me to do great things in the past because, after all, who can pull themselves up and go all out for 30 days?

And, the most amazing thing of all? Once you have done it once, you will find yourself doing it again and again. You see, you can apply it to virtually every area of your life and get amazing results.

I usually break my 30 day challenges down ever further and challenge myself each and ever day. This mindset, this technique has worked for everyone from 12 steppers in the various addiction programs to Tony Robbins’s students integrating CANI! into their lives:

Constant and Never Ending Improvement! CANI!

The fact is, we all have a sort of socio-cultural ADD/ADHD, in that, with so much going on in our lives and around us, it is often difficult to stay focused on a single task for very long, at least until we find out whether it works or not. Once we know it will pay off, it is usually a no-brainer…but until then it is often difficult to stay focused. Or, in my case, to keep people focused long enough for them to see for themselves that they can change their lives and achieve real and lasting neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief by applying a few sound principles and pain relief strategies.

Over the past 4 months, if you have been following along, you have experienced a profound change in your life.

Not only will you have experienced neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief, you will have experienced a new energy level, new focus, newly found optimism, and an enthusiasm for life you may have thought was gone forever!

The momentum that comes from taking one day and building upon the day before, taking small and gradual steps, integrating one strategy and then another until you begin to experience a new and exciting life is contagious; and, the enthusiasm you experience spills over into virtually every area of your life!

I have lost weight, lost inches, found new energy and vitality, my neck pain (2 compressed vertebrae and one surgery), back pain (13 surgeries and everything from T12 to S1 is fused), and sciatica (see above!) are a thing of the past, and I quite literally have a new life!

All of the changes in my life, all of the improvements came as the result of a single step, a single decision I made to change my life!

The greatest things about my transformation and my neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain relief? I can do the following:

1) Pick up my granddaughters and hold them without having to be seated first!
2) I can walk my dogs and enjoy the outdoors again!
3) I am once again dating my wife, even making it to an Indians game this summer…for the first time in years!
4) I can live for more than a few hours without thinking about when my next pain medication dosage is!
5) I can drive and travel more than a few miles without being in agony because of the back pain and sciatica!
6) I can work in the yard!
7) I can read! Something I had all but given up because of the combination of the pain, particularly in my neck and back, but also because of the pain medication and its effect on my concentration.
I can work out again! Something I had all but written off and missed terribly!
9) I can jog…yes jog! The proper shoes are crucial for this and don’t do this too soon!
10) I can be intimate with my wife!!! I am not going to draw you a picture but the combination of the pain and the pain medication was a definite libido killer!

I could go on for pages!

Ultimately, it is up to you, you can either continue as things are and forget about the rest of your life…or you can make a decision and put a plan into action!

I did and my neck pain, back pain, and sciatica are a thing of the past, they are no longer a factor in my life. I now follow a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief and treatment strategy daily and it works. My life is my own once again, you can have yours…it is up to you!

John

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

PS, Don’t forget! It all begins with a single step. Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica can be a thing of the past…just click this link!

PPS, Nope! I didn’t forget, here is your link to The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale, and it is amazing!

A Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Update from Our Spot!

Neck Pain, Back Pain, Sciatica, Relief and Treatment: Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is one of the most widely diagnosed and least misunderstood of all diagnoses affecting neck pain, back pain, and sciatica sufferers. There are a lot of reasons for this; and, the name itself has something to do with it:

Degenerative Disc Disease

You see, degenerative disc disease is not a disease at all but a condition, an expression of the failure of the overall health and condition of the spine due to a constellation of behaviors.

I have covered degenerative disc disease, and how it affects neck pain, back pain, and sciatica sufferers in a series of 3 articles at:

Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies of The Bad Back Guy

So, if you would like a clear understanding of the nature of this condition and how to deal with it effectively, go to the link above. Then, once you have a clear understanding of degenerative disc disease and how to deal with it, take the next step and start the program at the program I personally endorse at:

The Bad Back Guy’s Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Treatment and Relief Program

Degenerative disc disease is one of the most difficult diagnoses to treat effective and the pain can be acute and chronic, it can also be diffuse throughout the spine, affecting the neck, upper middle and lower back, and the legs. So, it is important to integrate an overall program into your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica treatment and relief strategy.

Begin today and your neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain will be a thing of the past in no time. It is up to you! Deal with the factors affecting 95-99% of all neck pain, back pain, and sciatica suffers and you will be on your way to real and lasting pain relief.

Join me at:

The Program of The 30 Day Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Program

Once you take the first step, pain relief will come quickly! I guarantee it!

John

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

The Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief 30 Day Challenge Continues

With a Look at Failed back Surgery Syndrome and Chronic Back Pain

We recently dispelled the notion that degenerative disc disease is a disease, in much the same we have discarded the notion that failed back surgery syndrome is a syndrome. Failed back surgery syndrome is a not a syndrome, it is a reaction to a myriad of factors, a set of behaviors and stresses placed on the body generally and the musculoskeletal system, and the spine, specifically.

Failed back surgery syndrome begins, necessarily, with spine surgery at some level. Back surgery, and I am speaking about neck and back surgery when I refer to back surgery, is the ultimate deadend. There is no coming back from it, pun accidental but I’ll take it. Once you open Pandora’s Box, your body is never the same. Many, myself included, have said time and time again that we will not submit to more back surgery, only to plead for our surgeon to do the deed one more time.

The neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica drives us to relent, to give in and give up, regardless of the incredible pain we know will be waiting for us upon awakening in the recovery room.

But this does not have to be the case! There is a solution, and it is not a painful one.

We simply have to change our habits and our behaviors in such a way that we deal effectively with the 5 factors I have spoken about at length:

1) Obesity or excess weight

2) Muscle weakness

3) Muscle imbalance

4) Inmproper diet and nutrition

5) Inadequate hydration leading to dehydration

If we deal with the 5 factors listed above and addressed previously, either before surgery or after, we may be able to:

a) Avoiding back surgery altogether by dealing with the 5 factors and thus alleviating and/or eliminating neck pain, back pain, and sciatica

Or

b) Assuring ourselves that we are in good shape going into the surgery, if there is no way out, and thus ensuring our recovery…and perhaps we will not have to repeat the same scenario time and time again!

Ultimately, failed back surgery is about behavior, or lack of behavior, and the failure on our part to deal with the 5 factors leading to the majority of neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. It is also about the failure of the medical community, reactive instead of proactive and preventative in nature. The combination of a lack of education, and a reactive mindset and method of treatment for neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, ensures a continuous
highway into the operating room…and a revolving door at its entrance.

I will deal with this in greater depth in a series of articles at:

Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Strategies of The Bad Back Guy

And we will continue The 30 Day Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Challenge here!

Don’t hesistate to contact me if you have questions, comments, or concerns.

John

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

PS, Don’t forget to get started and reclaim a pain free life, overcoming failed back surgery syndrome, if appropriate, at the single best neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief and treatment program I have found!

Chronic Neck Pain, Back Pain, Sciatica, and Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

In order to properly understand failed back surgery syndrome, we must first define it. Unfortunately, failed back surgery syndrome is something of a misnomer. In fact, FBBS is no more a syndrome than degenerative disc disease is a disease, and yet, they both contribute to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. FBBS is actually an expression of chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica after one or more surgeries.

The etiology of chronic back pain associated with FBBS is usually attributed to one or more failed spine surgeries, along with a myriad of other contributing factors. The failure of the surgery, combined with an array of physical, psychological, cultural, and even socio-economic factors, results in what is commonly referred to as failed back surgery syndrome.

Failed back surgery syndrome is one of the most perplexing, and costly issues facing orthopedic medicine generally, and orthopedic surgeons specifically. The cost of FBBS is not only a reality in terms of the human cost, it has trememdous social and economic costs, as well.

Particularly problematic is the fact that the spine is an incredibly complex structure and there are as many reasons why people have neck and back surgery as there are reasons why that surgery fails. Researchers have generally divided back pain sufferers who have undergone surgery into one of two groups.

In the first instance, the first group, the neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica sufferer underwent surgery that was never really called for or, if it was called for, a positive outcome was doubtful from the start. Or, the patients had surgery, it was necessary, but the outcome was less than desirable. Interestingly, individuals with a sciatic nerve pain complaint, sciatica, were more likely to achieve a positive outcome. However, individuals complaining of the more general “back pain” did not.

The remaining group of neck pain, back pain, and sciatica patients underwent operations that were inadequate and/or incomplete. Patients in this category, particularly those affected by a bulging or herniated disc, often had other pathologies, such as stenoses, that were overlooked, missed or even ignored.

Failure in most of the medical literature to address things like patients returning to work and to a productive lifestyle, make it difficult to quantify with any confidence the long term success of most back surgeries. However, the data suggests that the overall outcome is not good, particularly when the area causing the pain cannot be clearly identified or when more than one level of the spine is affected, as in the case of an individual presenting with chronic and/or acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica; and, showing signs of advanced degenerative disc disease.

Failed back surgery syndrome is a major problem for patient and surgeon, alike. Not only are there issues associated with continuing neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica but there are social, cultural and financial considerations as well.

In the next two articles we will explore in depth some of these factors and why an individual should do everything possible to avoid spine surgery if at all possible. The best strategy for neck pain, back pain, and sciatica treatment and relief is not back surgery, in fact it should be the last alternative, one that should be avoided if at all possible. Failed back surgery syndrome is one of the most complex and least understood issues facing orthopedic medicine, we will discuss the reasons for this next.

John

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

PS, Considering back surgery but want to take steps to avoid it and overcome your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica at the same time? Just click this link and take the next step to a pain free life!