Smoking and Low Back Pain
March 4, 2008
by: Sylvia Marten
The fact that smoking is not good for your health is not exactly news, but most people do not associate smoking with pain.
Lifestyle issues such as smoking, as well as lack of exercise and obesity, hamper the patient’s ability to find sufficient pain relief over the long term. In fact, research has shown that smoking causes back pain.
In my own personal experience with treating back pain patients, I have seen that chronic smokers rarely ever recover from chronic pain conditions even with a variety of treatments.
While quitting smoking is a necessary component of any patients’ personal rehabilitation from low back pain, it is rarely a sufficient means, and other pain treatments such as injections, surgery, medication, and exercising are essential.
As far as spinal fusion surgery for patients with low back pain, quitting smoking prior to surgery is critical. There is a lot of research showing that smoking is detrimental to obtaining a solid fusion, but now there is also research showing that even if a smoker gets a solid fusion, their ultimate result is not nearly as good as a non-smoker. A recent study by Dr. Steven Glassman found that smokers who did not quit at least a month prior to their surgery were far more likely to return to smoking within a year. Given the expense, pain and lengthy recovery of any lumbar fusion surgery it is only reasonable to have the best biological situation for a successful outcome.
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For many patients, there is a distinct choice between continuing to live in pain or going through the challenge and discomfort of quitting smoking. When the pain gets bad enough, the choice can be easy enough, especially if the patient realizes that smoking is very closely related to the pain.
Posted by: Peter Ullrich, Jr., MD
More reading:
First Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery with ProDisc-C
January 25, 2008
by: Sylvia Marten
The very first ProDisc-C surgery was performed last week since the FDA approved the device in December 2007.
Michael E. Janssen, DO, a Denver surgeon and a Spine-health.com Member, became the first physician in the United States to perform two cervical disc arthroplasties using the ProDisc-C Total Disc Replacement System. The ProDisc is designed to treat patients suffering from cervical disc degeneration and disc herniation, which occurs when natural shock absorbers in the cervical spine become worn and start to degenerate, often resulting in pain, discomfort, and impaired cervical mobility creating neck and upper arm pain.
One of the patients was an active 35 year old male with cervical disc degeneration that developed as a result of a traumatic hockey injury, causing pain, stiffness, and numbness in his left-hand. The second patient was a 53 year old female accountant who had been suffering with neck and upper extremity pain from a disc herniation compressing her spinal cord.
Both surgeries were performed on January 16, 2008, and both patients pre-operative symptoms were gone the following day. The patients were discharged from the surgery center on January 17, 2008 with minimal pain.
The full story is available here.
Additional resources:
How I Decided to Have Back Surgery
December 21, 2007
by: Dawn
This is my story about having back surgery that went very well. I think the key for me is that the surgery was done for the right reasons, I had researched my surgeon by talking to other patient’s of his who had the same spinal fusion done, and I had read up on the Internet on some good sites, including www.spine-health.com, to help with my decision to have surgery and help with my expectations.
2 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with Spondylolisthesis Grade 2. After many years of pain in my legs now I finally knew why. I tried just about everything to avoid the surgery. I used a natural anti-inflammatory (Wobenzyme) to keep the inflammation down, I used a rolling pin and rolled my legs everyday to help lessen my leg pain through-out the day. I also tried numerous therapies. I read some of the bad stories on message boards on the internet and didn't want anything to do with the surgery. I really felt that the message boards were discouraging, there wasn’t anything positive regarding the surgery, and everything I read was so disheartening.
I was out to dinner one night and ran into a woman who also had spondylolisthesis. She had surgery to correct the spondylolisthesis 5 years earlier and has had no complications. She had the same surgeon that I had.
In September of 2007 I finally decided to go ahead with the surgery. At this point my leg pain was so bad I could not sleep through the night; I would wake up in pain and toss 5 or 6 times per night. I could not stand for more than a minute, sometimes two. I would have to sit down, and sometimes it didn't matter where I was – my leg pain was nearly unbearable. I could not stand in a grocery line or at the movies.
The anxiety of spinal fusion surgery was another obstacle. With surgery, the “What if’s” are horrible.
- What if I end up in a wheel chair?
- What if the surgeon slips?
- What if they fix the wrong thing?
- And then there is the ultimate" what if I die"? I don't want my children left without a Mother.
Like I said "What if's are terrible!" I even talked to yet another patient (with the same surgeon) who had the same surgery for spondylolisthesis a few months earlier. She gave me the extra strength I needed to go ahead with it.
Admission into the hospital on Oct 1, 2007 at 5:30am, now the stressful “sit and wait game” started 5:30AM; the next 2 hours were the longest 2 hours of my life. Finally they took me into the operating room it was about 7:30am. I asked how many people get up, change their minds and leave. And I felt myself float off.
I was out of surgery at 9:30AM and awake at 11:00AM. By 1:00 I was drinking broth and visiting. At 1:30 I took my first walk down the hall and stood at the end of the hall. As I stood there tears filled my eyes, I turned and looked at Tom (who’s arm I held) and remarked “I'm standing and I have no pain”! I was standing there in the middle of the isle, I let go of him and stood there for a few minutes. This was the first time I stood in one place for more than a minute, possibly 2, without being in horrible pain, and sitting down. While walking or standing I was always looking for a place to sit because I knew it would not be long before I was forced into sitting down. And I was still standing! It was like a taste of freedom, being trapped in a body that can't do the things you would like to do is horrible. I HAD NO PAIN! I STILL HAVE NO PAIN!
I checked out of the hospital the following morning, once home I began walking a 1/2 mile the first day, 1 mile the second day. I'm walking 1-3 miles per day. I have no pain in my legs!! I sleep without pain!! I have truly gotten a part of my life back that I thought was gone. I hiked a mountain in Utah last week; I'm looking forward to so much now. Thanks to my surgeon.
I am not writing this to encourage surgery. It’s just that when I was thinking about spinal fusion for my spondylolisthesis I read so much negative stuff on the Internet, I wanted to write to let people know about a positive experience.
Sincerely,
Dawn
Back Pain and Holiday Blues: 18 Tips to Reduce Your Holiday Stress
December 7, 2007
by: Sylvia Marten
Ah yes, the holidays are upon us once again, and with them the holiday blues. Not everyone is in festive spirits, especially those of us with chronic pain. Often, chronic back pain leads to depression, and alternately depression can worsen physical pain. The added anxiety and stress of all the holiday planning and expectations can intensify feelings of sadness. Travel blues may factor into the equation too - vacation blues catch us off guard as we're taken away from our normal routines and pain management support like special ergonomic chairs and mattresses. Even if it's just a temporary bout of the holiday blues, that doesn't mean you have to simply accept it. Here are some things you can do to reduce your holiday stress.
- Talk with friends on the phone, or over coffee.
- Talk with other people who suffer from back pain or chronic pain on the Spine-Health.com forums:
- See your family doctor or psychiatrist - you may have a physiological disorder that requires antidepressants.
- Improve your diet and exercise regularly, at least on non-party days. Don't stress about weight gain at the big family gathering or work holiday party. Having food you enjoy and chatting with friends releases endorphines. Live a little! On other days, make sure that you eat in moderation and get at least a half hour of cardiovascular exercise, even if that means nothing more than taking a walk. If you have difficulty with certain types of exercises due to back or neck pain, try these exercise tips for people with back pain.
- Seek sunshine - the real thing is best, but if it's dark and dreary outside, spend a few extra dollars and get yourself some full spectrum lighting.
- Set realistic goals and don't be the ultimate people-pleaser. Decide what's important and don't overextend yourself.
- Plan a small gathering of friends or neighbors such as a dinner or wine party.
- Read these Spine-Health.com articles:
- 4 Tips to Help Cope With Chronic Pain and Depression
- 5 Things You Should Know About Chronic Pain
- Chronic Pain Coping Techniques - Pain Management
- Make sure your plans move you toward your goal, and celebrate even minor achievements.
- Cook, buy yourself some new music and/or new books to have on hand. (no depressing music!)
- Go to a museum or concert.
- Plan a short trip to a place you enjoy, either by yourself or with a good friend, and don't forget to take along these pain-free travel tips.
- Rent movies from your local movie store or an online DVD rental company.
- Hug somebody! This is no joke, hugging has positive and real physical benefits. The BBC even published the results of a study stating that hugs increase oxytocin and reduce blood pressure in women.
- Meditate. According to researchers at James Cook University in North Queensland, Australia, meditation offers similar mood benefits to running or other physical exercise. If your pain restricts you from strenuous exercise, consider meditation. Don't know how? You can learn to meditate.
- Go ergonomic. If you're at home, it makes sense to have ergonomic seating available. If you're going to sit and watch TV, eat dinner or pay bills, do everything you can to reduce your pain by giving your back the proper support. Pain management is a key component in managing depression during the holidays as well as throughout the year.
- Get enough sleep. Yes, you have to get to the store, wrap those gifts, bake that cake, etc...but sleep deprivation is a big contributor to depression. Be disciplined - go to bed and get 6 to 8 hours of sleep! If you have difficulty sleeping due to chronic pain, you might want to check out our articles on the best mattresses for back pain.
- Clean up the house and get organized. A clean space can make you feel better about any other holiday projects you have going on.
BONUS "BEAT THE HOLIDAY BLUES" TIP:
- Honor your own feelings. While nobody wants to feel depressed, recognizing your sadness can mean that something isn't working in your life the way that you would like it to. If it's something you want to change, hey, it's almost time for those New Year's resolutions, right? Pay attention to what your body is telling you, and if necessary, seek the help you need.
How to Prevent Osteoporosis with a Once-a-Year Injection
December 4, 2007
by: Sylvia Marten
The need to take a once-a-day or even once-a-month osteoporosis medication may soon be eliminated. Recent studies indicate that a once-a-year osteoporosis injection of zoledronic acid like Reclast® can prevent spine fractures and hip fractures from Osteoporosis. In a 3-year study conducted by the manufacturer of Reclast®, Novartis, it was determined that there was a 70% reduction of spine fractures and 40% reduction of hip fractures in a group of 7,736 postmenopausal women.
Reclast® - now approved by the FDA - is a bisphosphonate, a class of drugs that is used to treat osteoporosis; a class that also includes medications such as Boniva, Fosamax and Actonel. According to the FDA, more than half of postmenopausal women on daily or weekly biphosphonates will discontinue osteoporosis treatment after one year, leading to a higher risk of fractures. Given as a 15-minute infusion, the Reclast® (zoledronic acid) injection for osteoporosis has the benefit of long-lasting protection.
Reclast® was originally used in the treatment of metastatic bone cancer and was found to have positive impact on bone density, reducing the degenerative effects of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease in which one's bone density is reduced over time. It is a silent disease, and most sufferers of osteoporosis do not know that the condition exists until they experience a spinal fracture or hip fracture. Postmenopausal women are at the highest risk for osteoporosis, but osteoporosis can affect anyone, especially individuals over the age of 40 and those who do not have enough calcium in their diets.
Some physicians noted a minor risk of atrial fibrillation, a potentially dangerous cardiac rhythm disorder, when taking zoledronic acid intravenously. However, in the 3-year study, there was not a significant increase in mortality or morbidity. It is always a good idea to discuss any osteoporosis medication risks with your physician prior to treatment.
Source: Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Additional Reading:
Osteoporosis: 4 Proven Steps to Prevent Osteoporosis Fractures What You Need to Know About Osteoporosis Kyphoplasty: Osteoporosis Fracture Treatment Vertebroplasty Interactive Video Resources:
Question: Are You Depressed or Just Feeling Down?
Everyone feels down once in awhile, and for many of us enduring stressful times in our lives, it can truly feel overwhelming. But how do you know if you’re clinically depressed and should see a professional for help? Clinical depression goes beyond what would be considered normal sadness or feeling bleak.
Take this questionnaire and put a check next to each statement that is true for you:
- ___ I have a predominant mood that is depressed, sad, blue, hopeless, low, or irritable, which may include periodic crying spells
- ___ I have a lack of appetite, even for my favorite foods, or significant weight loss, or conversely increased appetite or weight gain
- ___ I have a sleep problem of either too much sleep (hypersomnia), or too little sleep (hyposomnia)
- ___ I feel agitated (restless) or sluggish (low energy or fatigue)
- ___ I have lost interest or pleasure in usual activities
- ___ I have decreased sex drive
- ___ I feel worthless and/or very guilty
- ___ I have problems with concentration or remembering things
- ___ I have thoughts of death, suicide, or wishing to be dead
If you put checks next to at least 5 of the above statements and the symptoms have occurred daily for two weeks or more, you are considered clinically depressed.
Based on what we’ve learned from Spine-health.com’s back pain community, I would add that chronic back pain and any type of chronic pain that seems unresponsive to treatments is also a cause (and/or a symptom) of depression.
If this is the case for you, please find professional help promptly. There are a wide range of anti-depressant medications available that have helped a lot of people and many types of therapy that can also help. Visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness to learn more about treatment options.
Posted by: Stephanie
Sources:
- Depression and Chronic Back Pain
- American Psychiatric Association. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th Ed. Washington, DC.1994
Also see:
11 Unconventional Sleep Tips: How to Get to Sleep and Stay Asleep
August 8, 2007
by: Stephanie
I have a lifelong difficulty with falling asleep at night and then -- even more problematic -- staying asleep. I don’t have a medical cause for insomnia or any sleep disorders, just a brain that likes to go into overdrive when my body finally has a chance to lie down and rest.
More Mattress/Sleep Info:
I’ve looked to the Internet for sleep advice, but I’ve mainly just found lists with sleep tips so obvious it’s painful -- like “avoid coffee in the evening” and “make your room dark”. It’s taken me a bit of trial and error, but finally I’ve found a number of things that really do work in helping me get to sleep and stay asleep long enough to get enough deep restorative sleep to wake up feel rested and refreshed in the morning. For me, the following has worked well. I call these sleep tips unconventional because I haven’t seen them in the typical sources -- in fact, I often see the just the opposite recommended.
- Nap every single day
Contrary to all the sleep sources that say to avoid napping during the day in order to sleep better at night, I believe it is actually a good idea to nap every day. But in order to make this work it is vital to stick to three rules:- Nap regularly
- Keep it short, and
- Make it in the early afternoon
- Avoid taking a hot bath
There is a lot of advice that says take a hot bath right before bed to relax yourself, but since the body needs to lower its temperature in order to fall asleep a hot bath will actually keep you up. If you find a hot bath very relaxing, enjoy it about 2 hours before your bedtime so that your body has enough time to cool down. Make sure to give your body at least an hour to cool down after a bath and prior to going to bed. - Make your room colder
Similar to the point above, your body needs to cool down in order to fall asleep and stay asleep, so do what you can to make your room cool. For me, a cool bedroom has the added benefit of nestling into a heavy comforter, and I find the heavy warmth on top of me very soothing. - Exercise intensely
Don’t just “exercise”, but do so intensely, to the point of feeling physical exhaustion. At the end of the day, this is probably the single best thing for helping induce deep, restorative sleep. When I say “intensely”, I mean intense relative to your capability. For some this may mean running 5 miles, for others it may mean a brisk 20 minute walk that elevates the heart rate. Physical tiredness is absolutely essential to getting a good night’s sleep.
[Update June 18, 2008] New research presented at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) shows that “an acute session of moderate aerobic exercise, but not heavy aerobic or moderate strength exercises” can improve the amount and quality of sleep for people with insomnia (without resorting to pharmaceutical sleep-aids).
See "Move More, Sleep Better and Longer" for details. - Limit red wine
I can drink a few beers or glasses of white wine and sleep fine, but when it comes to red wine any more than one single solitary glass and I'm in for a poor night's sleep. Drinking more than one glass of red wine is a sure-fire way to wake me up after a few hour's of sleep and make it impossible to get back to sleep. This started after I turned 30 (although I don’ t know why this is). - Get out in the sunlight soon after waking up in the morning
When you wake up, don’t lounge around in bed. Don’t even stay inside. If possible, get out in the morning sun soon after getting up. The bright sunlight (or any bright light) tells your body’s natural biological clock that its time to wake up, and that same clock will then be set to tell your body its time to go to sleep about 14 to 16 hours hours later. - Don’t watch TV
Avoid watching TV (or looking at a computer screen) at least 30 minutes before you go to bed. Many sources of sleep advice say to watch TV or do something similar like surfing the Internet to wind down before bed, but I think this is bad advice. Watching TV and going online are both mentally and visually stimulating. It may feel physically restful, but these activities stimulate the brain instead of helping the brain wind down enough to fall into sleep. - Block out noise
White noise is restful, and even more importantly, it means that I won’t be woken up with every little thump that the house makes. A fan is ideal because it does double duty of providing consistent soft background noise as well as keeping my room cool. White noise machines are also available. I got one from Radio Shack for about $20 that allows you to pick from sounds such as rain, babbling brook, and or a train (no whistles, just the wheels on the track). - Find a bedtime ritual that works for you
Warm milk? Yech. A cup of herbal tea? No thank you. These are commonly advised to help you rest and fall asleep. I say find the routine that works for you - whatever it is - and just do it every night. For me, it’s the simple act of shutting the house down. Turning off all the lights, picking up stray toys, reviewing the schedule for the next day, planning breakfast for the morning rush, and locking each door. Feeling organized about the house helps me feel less anxious. This simple routine tells my body that its time to close down for the day, and it really does help. Find what helps you feel less anxious at the end of the day and incorporate into a nightly ritual. - Do what it takes to manage stress in your life
At some points in our lives we are burdened by a great deal of stress. It may be chronic pain or other health condition, a family or work situation, financial stress, or all combined. And the stressful situation may well be unavoidable. But do what you can to take some control over the stress. There are so many ways to do this -- I encourage you to try some and just keep trying until you find what works for you. Simple meditation works best for me. It forces my mind to focus on something, thereby freeing up all the clutter to float to the surface, be recognized, and be gone. For others it is guided imagery, either with the help of a professional or with CD’s, regular massage, yoga or tai chi, calming music, or a therapeutic run or bike ride after work. We all have different preferences -- try one that sounds appealing, but if you find it difficult to stick with it, then try a different one. - Keep pen and notebook next to your bed
Often when I’m lying in bed, or even while I’m sleeping, I’ll think of a new idea for work. Or I’ll remember something important that I forgot to do during the day. Rather than try to remember it, which causes anxiety (which is stimulating) I write it down so it exists on paper and doesn’t have to stay in my head. And if I keep a notebook for these things right next to my bed I find I’m more likely to write it down.
For those who are curious, I have tried sleep medications, biofeedback, and many other sleep aids as well, but the above combination has worked the best. I think the bottom line is to re-condition yourself to positively associate the process of going to bed with sleep, which ultimately is an act of letting go -- and to get your brain to stop stressing.
The preceding tips worked perfectly for me and I hope will give you at least some ideas of what will work for you, too. What do you think? Do you have a tip that didn’t make my list? Let us know in the comments.
Sweet Dreams!
Posted by: Stephanie
Additional resources:
How and When to Get a Second Opinion Before Surgery
August 15, 2007
by: Peter
It is often said that no one should have spine surgery unless they receive a second opinion from another surgeon. On the surface, this would sound like good old common sense, as two opinions are better than one. However, there is a trap in this line of thinking. When a patient sees a physician for a second opinion, this next opinion has a tendency to always sound smarter than the first opinion. This is a well-recognized phenomenon, but in reality the second opinion may not be the best one.
When should you get another opinion?
- Certainly if you are not comfortable with the first physician, then seeing another surgeon for an opinion is a good idea.
- If a surgeon cannot answer questions about the rationale for a proposed procedure or is vague on the surgical plan, another opinion is a good idea.
- If you suspect that the initial referrals was made on the basis of economic interests rather than who is best suited for your surgery, go for another opinion. (Referring physicians favor local surgeons who will do the surgery in a local facility, especially if they are in a multispeciality clinic. This is not saying that these physicians are not capable but that there is a possibility that the first referral one receives may not be the best.)
- Another time it is good to get a second opinion is if the initial back surgery did not work and another surgery is being proposed. This is especially true if it involves fusing further segments of the spine. Often, if the initial fusion surgery does not work, further surgery will not be helpful. Only in very specific circumstances (i.e. pseudoathrosis) is further surgery likely to be beneficial.
- There are times when a surgeon will ask a patient to get a confirmatory opinion prior to proceeding with surgery. In these cases it is best to let the treating surgeon pick the second opinion as they are best able to determine whose opinion they would value.
Otherwise, picking a surgeon for a second opinion is often difficult. As previously stated, the goal is to get an opinion from a respected, experienced and ethical surgeon.
The best thing for a patient seeking another opinion is to keep an open mind. You need to be as judgmental about the second opinion as for the first, and need to grill the second physician even further than the first. Beware of surgeons toting unrealistic expectations or who are overly dependent on “cutting edge” technologies. Focus on their experience with your specific type of back surgery and what the surgeon's past outcomes with that surgery are. What are the alternatives to a proposed procedure, and what is the expected natural history of the patients condition if they do not have the procedure? What are the risks and possible complications of the procedure, and if it doesn’t work, what would be the subsequent plan? Read all 38 Questions to Ask Your Surgeon Before Having Surgery.
Remember, the worst thing to do is assume the second opinion is automatically going to be better than the first. Keeping an open mind will prevent you from falling into this trap. And if you’re still not sure, ...get a third opinion.
Posted by: Peter Ullrich, MD
10 Best Laptop Setups
August 13, 2007
by: Stephanie
In this day and age many people use their laptop as their primary computer, so it’s important to have it setup correctly in order to avoid back pain, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal injuries or strains. The problem is that laptop computers are designed with portability in mind rather than sound ergonomic principles. Basically, if the screen is at the right height then keyboard is too high, and if the keyboard is in the right position, then the screen is too close and too low.And laptop touchpads and trackballs are never very user friendly. Given these challenges, here are 10 simple tips for the best laptop setups:
- Use a large screen. Get a laptop with the largest screen possible for your needs to avoid the stressful posture that results from straining to see the text on a small screen. Many laptops offer large screens (15" plus), but these can be difficult to use while on the go. There are a number of smaller notebook and ultra-portable laptops on the market, and while a smaller screen (12.1") can be useful in mobile settings, make sure that you’re able to read the screen characters and easily use the keyboard (the smaller the laptop, the smaller the keyboard). If you find yourself straining to see your screen, increase the font size.
- Place the screen at eye level. Ideally, set your laptop height and screen angle so you can easily view the screen without bending or rotating your neck, and put it about an arm’s length in front of you. To do this, you will usually need to elevate the laptop a few inches above your desk, which you can do by placing it on a stable support surface such as a laptop stand or on a thick book.
- Don’t slouch. Despite the name “laptop”, you want to avoid propping your laptop on top of your lap as this requires you to slouch down to see the screen.If you have to work on your lap, such as while you’re on the train, at least put the laptop on top of your computer bag or briefcase so you can raise it up slightly.
- Use a separate keyboard. When using the laptop for extended periods, use an external, full-sized keyboard with your laptop and position it at a height that allows your shoulders and arms to be in a relaxed position, with your elbows at a 90° angle when typing. Ideally, place the separate keyboard on a keyboard tray beneath your desk surface to help ensure that your wrists stay in a neutral (flat) position.
- Use a separate mouse. Be kind to your wrists by using an independent mouse rather than the mouse that’s incorporated into your laptop keyboard. Ideally, place the mouse on an adjustable-position mouse platform so you can keep it near your body and keep your wrist flat while using it.
- Recline slightly. If you can’t use a separate keyboard and mouse, an alternative is to find a chair that allows you to recline slightly. This will allow you to position the laptop keyboard and mouse with the least strain on your neck. Angle the screen slightly upward so that you can view the screen without having to bend your neck too far down.
- Prop up your feet. If you have to raise your chair so that your arms and wrists are positioned comfortably, check to see how your legs are angled. Your knees should be at about the level of your hips. If your hips are too high, you need to put a footrest or small box under your feet to prop them up and keep excess strain off your lower back.
- Make your chair work for you. The type of office chair you use is critical.Basically, any office chair that is fully adjustable and has lumbar support will work, but you need to be sure to set it up correctly.Follow this diagram on how to set up your office chair.
- Take a break. Take brief breaks every half hour, at the very least taking your eyes off the screen and letting them rest on something in the distance, and doing some simple stretches while at your desk, such as stretching your neck, shoulders, arms and legs. Every one or two hours, leave your desk to walk around to get your blood flowing and move your muscles. Downloadable Stretch Break™ software reminds you to stretch and gives you stretching ideas.
- Travel light. Be careful when carrying your laptop around. The power supply cord, spare battery and other accessories in your laptop bag may add a lot of weight. If you carry your laptop to work and home again, get duplicate power cords and other peripheral components to leave in each place so that you don’t have to carry everything back and forth. Carry your bag across your lower back in a messenger bag style, or use a backpack with dual padded shoulder straps (and avoid draping the bag over just one shoulder). If your laptop and components weigh more than 10 lbs, a roll-along carrier is the best choice.
I realize that not all of the above tips will always be practical, but if you use your laptop daily, paying attention to how you set it up will go a long way to easing back pain and strain on your joints and muscles.
Posted by: Stephanie
Additional readingWhat Nerve Pain in the Feet Feels Like
When a low back problem affects the nerve that runs into the feet, it can feel like you're standing on a cactus - or a hundred bees. Also true with diabetic nerve pain.
July 19, 2007
Posted by: Stephanie.
Courtesy of Ron on the Back Pain and Chronic Pain Discusson Forums.
