Fear and Taking Action

Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica: The Back Pain Complex

Fear is an incredibly powerful force. For many, fear will lock us into destructive behavior, even when to alter our behavior will ultimately lead to a reduction of the pain we are forced to endure day-in and day-out.

Fear of failure, fear of pain, and, incredibly, fear of success are often overwhelming.

I would argue that fear of success is often the most powerful of all…because it walks hand in hand with fear of the unknown. Fear of the unknown may mean many things, something different to you than it does to me…but we all experience it at some point in our lives.

I hope you enjoy this video…or at least get something from it!

Contact me any time!

John

216-712-6526
440-821-7018 (cell)
johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, For more articles and videos, visit the Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Blog. For the program mentioned in the video and elsewhere, go to http://TheBackBackGuy.net It will change you life if you take action and apply it faithfully!

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)

Overcoming Chronically Acute Neck, Back, and Sciatic Nerve Pain: A Life Reclaimed!

First and foremost, I would like a apologize for not posting in a month! I had no idea it had been a month, time has flown by!

There was a time, not too long ago, when the days crawled and were filled with horrible, debilitating neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain. In other words, my life was consumed with pain!

Fast forward a year and a little but and I am literally pain free!

How great is that?

More importantly, what does that mean for you?

Well, if you listen to some of my attackers, and yes, everyone has them on the Internet, particularly if you have been around for any length of time…nothing!

I think the attacks have been almost as painful as the neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain were…almost!

The attacks on my character, attacks for trying to help others reclaim their lives as I have, are quite perplexing.

Have some people become so jaded, so cynical they cannot imagine someone dedicating themselves to encouraging others to take the first steps toward a pain free life, as I have?

The attacks come about once a week, usually on YouTube, and usually by someone who has had an account for quite some time, an anonymous account.

Interestingly, most of the attacks come from people who do not use their names online at all…and they have never contributed a single video, good or bad!

So, I should consider the source, right?

I guess so!

The world has indeed changed and most people are still good, I know that. Most people simply want to get through the day unscathed, contribute to the lives of those they love and care about, and make a living. beyond that, most people don’t have time to attack anyone else…much less think about doing it!

So, why do they do it?

Who knows?

Perhaps they have a different sort of pain, the sort of pain that comes from frustration, negativity, depression, self-loathing, and self-hatred!

Again, who knows?

Ultimately, I can’t be concerned with them.

I block them and move on…add another post, another video, and another article…perhaps helping someone else.

I want to thank those of you who have commented, emailed, and even phoned or Skyped to tell me how much you like, and have missed, my posts….it means the world to me!

I made up my mind when I started down this road that if I helped one person, that would be enough, I would keep going and continue contributing.

I know I have helped more than one, you’ve told me so!

Again, thank you so much!

TuffGuy and I have missed our walks and telling you about them. The weather in the Cleveland area has been rough. We might get a walk in tonight…the sidewalks are clear and I miss saying hello to all the doormen along Detroit Avenue here in Lakewood.

I have ventured out a few times in the snow over the last month to do my 5 to 7 miles but it is not the same without TuffGuy. The doormen seem to agree, they always ask where he is!

Life has been busy. I started a new company and made a big sale my first week! I love it because it is one more way to help people.

Over a year ago Tony Robbins did something nice for me. I was at my lowest point in years and he offered a kindness, asking only that I pay the kindness forward. Tony does a lot of that, it seems!

Well, I have been honoring that request ever since. In fact, the kindness he offered was never “cashed in!” The fact that he offered was enough.

Others were just as kind while my family struggled, struggled just to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. I can never repay the many kindnesses, many would never accept repayment!

So, I Pay it Forward!

Funny how things work out, isn’t it?

So, I will continue to write, suggest, push, and prod as long as one person reads my posts and is encouraged to do as I have, take back your life.

Living pain free is amazing!

After so many years of terrible, debilitating neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain?

To be pain free is wonderful! I have a new life. You can too!

You can live pain free if you take the first step.

The first step is the toughest one, every one after that gets easier until it is finally wonderful.

Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica do not have to be a permanent reality, you can overcome them!

Just give it a shot! What do you have to lose?

Just the pain!

Best wishes and thank so much for being a reader.

Please, leave a comment!

John

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

PS, Start down the road to a neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain free life today: http://TheBadBackGuy.net

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!

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

Whether you are just stumbling upon this for the first time or you have been with us all along, this is a wrap up of the first 7 days of The 30 Day Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Challenge.

The Tools to Succeed on Your Journey Towards Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief

The video below includes everything you need to know and do to begin your journey to a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica free life. If you take the first steps as outlined here, and then continue to follow for the next 3 weeks, and beyond, you will be on your way to real and lasting neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief. It all begins with a decision and builds from there.

CANI! Will Be Your Best Strategy

As Tony Robbins calls it, CANI! Constant and never ending improvement!

In this case, it means building one day on the day before until neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica is a thing of the past. Every day things will get a bit easier, your journey full of anticipation, expectation, and excitement. The fact is, if you are like me, you had almost given up on ever living a pain free life again. Once you accept that it is not only possible but probable…heck, it’s guaranteed…you begin to get excited, you begin to look forward to life again, and you will once again believe there is a life full of promise and joy just waiting for you!

Life can be amazing again and you do not have to endure neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica any longer. Just make a decision, take the first step, click this link, and I will be along there with you…if that is your wish.

A Cautionary Note!

Be careful! Along with your new-found enthusiasm comes a tendency to want too much, too soon. That is a trap! If you do too much too quickly, you may actually derail your entire neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief program. It’s like going out the the very first day running and trying to run the Boston Marathon…it can’t be done. And, it may end up doing more damage than good. So, take it easy, take it slow, build one day upon the one before, and before you know it you will have a new and exciting neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica free life!

Join us and take back your life! You will never be sorry you made the decision to take the first step. Just take the first step, it won’t be easy…but it will be amazing!

I guarantee it!

John

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

PS, Just click this link and begin your journey to a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica free life!

PPS, Enjoy the video…I liked the music!

This is Day 5 The 30 Day Neck Pain, Back Pain and Sciatica Relief Challenge! Today we will discuss ice vs heat. Until recently everyone believed heat was best for neck pain, pain relief, and sciatica. In fact, heat was the best strategy for almost all pain relief…was!

For as long as I can remember, which is a long time (but not as long as my kids think it is!), people have been telling me to use heat for relief and treatment of my neck pain, back pain and sciatica.

Interestingly, this even includes medical pratitioners…including physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons. However, the most recent research seems to indicate that ice, and not heat, is the best neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief strategy, both short term and long term.

There are a number of reasons for the change in thinking among much of the medical community, particularly those associated with orthopedic medicine and rehabilitation, but also pain management specialists.

Interestingly, many of the reasons why ice is such an effective neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief strategy should have been apparent all along!

1) Ice reduces swelling and inflammation. Swelling and inflammation can cause pressure on the nerve roots, and spinal and sciatic nerves generally, intensifying the level of pain. Consequently, more swelling and inflammation leads to acute, and often chronic, neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica.

2) Ice acts as a vasoconstrictor at first, meaning it restricts blood flow to the injured area.

3) While ice initially reduces the tissue temperature surrounding the affected, after approximately 20 minutes ice actually begins to enhance blood flow, increasing the temperature of the neck or back being treated.

4) Ice even accelerates the healing process in addition to alleviating and eliminating neck pian, back pain, and scitiaca.

5) Ice alleviates and/or eliminates discomfort and the muscle spasms often associated with neck pain, back pain, and sciatica.

6) Ice may also reduce or eliminate the chane of blood clots being formed and tissue damage.

7) Ice may also increase nutrient flow to the affected area. Interestingly, the associated blood flow will also help the body rid itself of waste in and around the injured site.

Ice and the associated blood flow, both tissue and arterial, have also been shown to enhance bone metabolism, thus improving the rate of healing in and around the affected, particularly in and around affected joints (e.g., sacroiliac).

9) Ice may also reduce neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica in individuals just beginning to exercise. Ice may be appropriate during gentle, range of motion exercises early in the rehabilitation process.

Overall, ice is the ultimate neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain treatment and relief strategy. Ice has long been thought of as a first step in an overall treatment strategy leading to heat as the second and final step, and that it was thought heat would enhance healing, while ice would not. Most of the medical community now realizes that this is not the case, ice is an effective immediate and a long term neck pain, back pain, and sciatica treatment and relief strategy.

The application of ice can take many forms but the overall strategy can be implemented by using the well-known mnemonic….R.I.C.E…rest, ice, compress, and elevate the area above the heart (when appropriate). Ultimately, an ice-compression brace works best because you can slip it on and go about your daily activities if you need to…or you can sit back in your recliner, as I have demonstrated in a previous video, and wait for the neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief to begin.

As an overall pain relief strategy, you simply can’t beat ice!

John

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

PS, Don’t forget, for real and lasting neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief…join me! Guaranteed and the 30 day trial is free. It doesn’t get much better than that. Imagine? Relief from your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica begins with one click…and a single step!

The Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief 30 Day Challenge: Information Update

Over the past 3 months I have learned a lot about video and one of the problems I have is that I have people watching these videos at many different sites. Some of the sites do not accept longer videos and laeger files. Consequently, not everyone sees all the videos on a day-to-day basis.

Therefore, I will make sure all of the videos are made available, along with a detailed synopsis, which will include extra facts and insights I can’t possibly put in the video, here, daily!

So, each day I will add the video, a synopsis, and links to related resources that may be of value to you as you begin to stretch, walk, and exercise during this 30 Day Challenge, and beyond.

I will also make sure all the videos are available on YouTube. YouTube allows for videos up to 10 minutes long and a larger file size than any of the other sites. So, if for some reason you can’t find the update here or you want to refer back to a video from some time ago, you may do so at YouTube or, quite possibly at one of the other video sites, like Viddler, Break, or one of my other blogs:

Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain & Sciatica Relief Strategies

I hope this helps!

The next video may be a bit longer, so it may only be available on a few video sites. I thought this might help those of you who wish to follow and apply the neck pain, back pain, and sciatica treatment and relief strategies on a daily basis throughout the 30 Day Challenge!

John

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

PS, Don’t forget the ultimate neck pain, back pain, and sciatica treatment and relief program is a click away!

Imagine a little over a year ago being in so much pain you spent 2 of every 4 weeks out of every month in the hospital, from December of 2004 until April of 2008, several years lost forever due to chronic pain and depression.

Depressed and suffering from chronic neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, I rarely ventured out of the house. In fact, I left the house just once or twice a month, and then only to go to the doctor’s office for appointments or to go to the hospital to be admitted. That was my life, consumed by pain for years with no resolution, no relief, and no effective neck pain, back pain or sciatic nerve pain treatment offered…no hope, no future in sight. Or so I thought!

Failed back surgery syndrome or more simply the phrase “failed back,” degenerative disc disease, arachnoiditis, scar tissue, and several other conditions were diagnosed and depression was an obvious result, a black hole many chronic pain sufferers endure daily and for months, if not years, at a time.

So, when you see the video here, keep in mind that this is a year or so later. I have been reborn, there is no other way to describe it! It started with a decision, the first steps were the most difficult, and the most painful. But what was the alternative? A life of neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain and depression? There had to be a better way!

I found it and you can too! A life free of chronic pain, no more neck pain, back pain or sciatica…ever again!

It is up to you because there is a way out, there is a way to beat your pain, to find real and lasting pain relief, and it doesn’t have to include surgery.

Go to what I feel is the best self-help treatment around, one I wholeheartedly endorse, and one that can change your life forever! I have a new life and you can too!

http://TheBadBackGuy.net

Begin a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief program that can change your life, forever.

Go to:

Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies for more articles and information on pain relief for various “bad back” conditions.

Follow the 30 Day Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Challenge!

Join us!

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