Foot Pain: Its Causes And Prevention

If we don’t take care of our feet, we won’t be going very far, but even in light of this basic fact, many people don’t give their feet the attention they deserve!

Of all the parts that make up your body, your feet probably suffer the most stress on a day to day basis. From uncomfortable shoes to just walking on concrete floors day in and day out, feet can develop pain that ranges from mild to excruciating. With a little bit of thought and effort however, some well-considered foot care can go a long way towards keeping your feet healthy and happy.

When thinking about foot care, one of the most important things to think about are your shoes. No matter what shoes you like to wear, they should above all be comfortable. Some people that shoes should be broken in, but nothing could be further from the truth. If shoes don’t fit right on your feet while you are trying them on, don’t buy them. Shoes that fit poorly can lead to you get cuts and sores on your feet that will take ages to heal.

When you do get sores or cuts on your feet, it is important to heal them as quickly and completely as possible. Remember that open air is good for your feet and when you are spending some time watching television, take off your shoes and socks. Whenever you see a sore developing, make sure to apply medication as needed.

To speed up the healing process, make sure that you wear socks that are extremely clean and soft; socks with a rough texture can abrade and irritate sores. Whenever possible, remove dead skin from the heels and soles of your feet to prevent infection and irritation. A pedicure, whether you’re male or female, can go a long way towards keeping your feet healthy.

One of the biggest problems that affect the foot is that of sweat. When your feet sweat, there is a good chance that you will not be in a situation where you can remove your shoes to air them out. Athlete’s foot is one problem that can occur when your feet sweat excessively, and any sores or calluses that are already on your feet will be irritated and worsen in the presence of sweat.

To prevent this situation from getting out of hand, wear shoes that breathe; canvas or leather shoes are good for this, as are sandals. Don’t wear the same shoes day in and day out and if necessary, use foot powder to dry your feet out a little.

In terms of general foot care to reduce foot pain, there are just a few things to remember. Remember to wash your feet when you bathe and when you do so, rinse the soap off thoroughly to prevent itchiness from dried soap. Also, when trimming your toenails, remember not to trim them straight across. Exposing your nail bed to constant pressure and irritation can cause sores to develop. Keep in mind that many over the count products to dissolve corns and bunions can be harmful and corrosive to healthy skin as well as skin that has been affected.

When it comes right down to it, remember that if you take care of your feet, they will take care of you.

Yoga and Neck Problems

Firstly, a Yoga student, who has such a serious ailment, should get their doctor’s permission before starting to practice Yoga with a teacher. If possible, get a doctor’s referral to a particular Yoga teacher, who is more knowledgeable in this area. Many doctors often network with local Yoga teachers, studios, and ashrams, for the benefit of their patients.

Chair Yoga classes may be advisable in some instances. Yoga postures practiced during chair Yoga classes will not put pressure on the neck. It is also wise to find a teacher who has been thoroughly trained in the use of props, modifications, and completely understands your ailment.

Find a Yoga teacher who is understanding, gentle, and knowledgeable. At that point, set up an interview with your prospective Yoga teacher, and explain your ailment in detail. The methods, personalities, knowledge, and patience, of instructors who are teaching Yoga, will vary.

Some of the poses that I would not recommend would be:
Sirsasana (Headstand); Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand);
Halasana (Plow Posture); or any other posture that could cause severe compression on the cervical vertebrae (neck). Also, your doctor should be made aware of any "risky" movements and positions performed in a Yoga class, such as, chin locks, neck rolls, and fingers clasped behind the neck.

You will find it is important not to do any exercises or postures that hurt, even a little bit. Pain is your body’s way of telling you, "not to do that" and "stop now." The Yoga exercises, that will help you the most, are those where you will feel a smooth and gentle stretch. If you don’t feel a gentle stretch, I suspect those Yoga poses are not doing you much good.

If any Yoga exercises hurt at all, stop doing them
immediately. I have yet to see a student, patient, or
client, benefit from doing any Yoga pose that caused pain. To continue further on this point: Any treatment, of any kind, (Chiropractic, massage, physical therapy, or Yoga), should be with the goal of less pain. Why do it, at all, if you are going to be in more pain?

Learning Yoga for a serious condition, such as a neck
ailment, should be practiced under maximum supervision of a competent Yoga teacher. I would suggest at least one private lesson before trying a group Yoga class. A Yoga teacher may suggest, at least, a few private Yoga sessions, so that the student understands all the safety guidelines.

As educational as Yoga videos are, they are no substitution for the guidance of a competent Yoga instructor.

� Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Article source: ContentLog.com

Have Sex With Back Pain

Whether sex is used a means of pleasure and excitement, or one of those "necessary evils" to keep the relationship going, sex and back pain are generally not good friends, unless you follow some of these simple techniques to make it all work great, and who knows, you might have fun doing it.

Emotional Control
Physical pain, chronic disease and generally things that you cannot control are all negative stress factors that obviously affect our emotional well being. One of the most important aspects to have any chance of overcoming or living with the condition, is the best possible attitude and emotional state towards your state. If you feel depressed, frustrated, angry, or preoccupied you are unlikely to enjoy a sexual experience no matter what your physical state is. First and foremost, you must accept the condition that you have and look beyond it. In fact, as silly as it may sound, use your existing condition as an advantage to do things or ask for things (sexually) that otherwise might not be well received by the opposite party (more on that later). Generally, most of the emotional issues can be resolved with common sense approach, and good support from your partner. If not, don’t hesitate to contact a licensed physician or a mental specialist for assistance. Once you get your attitude in check, the rest is easy.

Physical Limits
To first attack any problem, you must first understand the extent of it. To that effect, you need first to determine the extent of the back pain that you are experiencing. That is, what exactly are the limits of the range of motion after which the pain becomes unbearable? Similarly, what are the positions or movements of your back that feel good? What you find is what I call "movement zones", essentially areas that you know you can create some comfort in within your body. Once you mapped out your inner limits of comfort zones you can begin investigating how to maximize the pleasures in the movement zones that feel good.

Set your expectations
As you and your partner embark on this journey to make sex more enjoyable, keep in mind that things may not necessarily happen perfectly all at once. It will take time; it requires some patience and understanding from your partner. Take your time, go slow. Frustration, at times, is expected; just keep in mind that the reward is worth it. One of the easiest things to "start with" is for you and your partner to start with a hot bath or shower together. It’s predictable, easy and warm. Add a little warm oil massage to decrease overall pain, and relax the muscles and mind. Make sure that you enjoy it; remember this isn’t work, its pleasure that you are after.

Positions
There are many resources that go into a lot of depth and detail as to the various positions that are available to choose from. I have links to these on my site. I will not do that here, as I will not be able to do justice to all of the variations, details and sketches of these positions. Here, we will only highlight the basic key categories that may serve as areas for you to research further.

Standard Group
These are your basic man on top, woman on the bottom (or reverse) in missionary position situations. These are ok if the one on the bottom is the one with the back pain problem, as he/she can comfortably rest on a flat surface. Pillows can be used to prop-up the pelvic area to maximize the thrusting motion of the penis. Research this category a bit more as there are minor variations to this theme.

Backwards Group
The second group is what I call the "backwards" group for one simple reason; most of the positions are such that you are not facing your partner directly, but rather their back side. These positions are best used when the back pain doesn’t ease by lying down, but rather subsides as you either stand, crouch or sit. With certain non-disc spine problems sitting may often be more comfortable during sex. Again, experiment with your partner what works for both of you. These positions often lead to enhanced pleasure situations as they promote fantasies of having relations with other than your partner to occur because of the fact that you are not directly seeing your partner’s face.

Manual / Risky Group
This is a group, which many criticize, is the group that you can take advantage of your situation to ask for things (sexually) that would normally be not easy to get. Again, there is criticism to this group as it takes advantage of your disability, but on the other hand if both partners agree then what’s the harm? Here ask for manual stimulation, such as hand masturbation, or oral sex. In the later, do ask for extremes, such as ejaculations into the face, mouth or swallowing. Again, since your pain may prevent you from "normal excursions", these options may be available. Remember, the key is to make sure that you feel no pain in the position that you are in.

Conclusion
In lovemaking as a rule, the partner with lower back pain should take a passive role, with the other partner introducing stimulation in a gradual, relaxed manner. Remember to take it slow. From onset, define what movements or positions hurt and should be avoided and which ones feel good and encouraged. Remember to experiment. Trying something new can be extremely rewarding physically and emotionally as it leads to more intimacy between partners. Just because back pain limits one’s physical abilities, it doesn’t have to limit sensuality.

Source. Ezinearticles

Relieve Back Pain Naturally

One of humanity’s most repeated complaints is back pain. It is one of the most common medical problems today, and affects 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives, with pain ranging from a dull ache to a sudden sharp pain. Such pains can be as a result of an infection in the bones, otherwise known as osteomelitis, or in the spinal cord. By far, one of the most common concerns is pain in the lower back, which affects up to 90% of Americans as some point during their lifetime. It is a common problem which is most frequently caused by the overuse or misuse of the back muscles. There are things that can be done to reduce the severity or frequency of back pain, even though it may not be prevented altogether.

Treatment

The treatment of back problems should be directed at the cause. The treatment can range from doing nothing to undertaking spinal surgery. Stretching exercises or alternative therapies such as yoga are found to be relieving for some people. However more intensive medication and treatment may be required to alleviate chronic back pain. There are treatments which can be undertaken at home that are trouble-free, along with the correct body mechanics, which can often heal back pain within a few weeks and keep it functional for a long period of time.

Hot and cold compresses are one of the most simplest ways to temporarily alleviate back pain. However, it is essential to alternate the compresses. Use a hot compress for five minutes, followed by a cold compress for five minutes. This should be repeated five to seven times. It is amazing as to how well this actually works, it gives great temporary relief.

Listed below are some of the most common herbs which are used in the treatment of back pain:

Natural Pain Reliever

- Feverfew
- Burdock
- Stinging Nettles
- Willow Bark
- Ginger

Natural Anti-Inflammatory

- Saw Palmetto
- Rosemary
- Bromelain
- Cat’s Claw
- Licorice
- Valeria

Antispasmodics

- Angelica
- Cramp Bark
- Black Haw

Exercises

For the prevention of back pain it is essential to undertake regular exercise. Exercise can also help to reduce and ultimately eliminate back pain. It is vital that they must consist of stretching exercises, not only for the back, but for leg muscles also. Strength, stamina and stabilizing exercises should be included in any exercise program which includes exercises for the back, stomach and leg muscles.

There are certain exercises which can strengthen and stretch the muscles in the abdomen, buttocks, and back which can help to stabilize the spine and reduce the strain on the disks that cushion the spine and the ligaments that hold it in place.

In conclusion, it must be realized by all that back pain is not a diagnosis, rather it is a symptom of an underlying condition. It is a symptom that can arise from a number of different causes. It is one of humanity’s most frequent complaints that cannot be prevented completely. However there are a number of natural remedies which will reduce the severity of the frequency of the back pain.

How To Eliminate Arthritis Pain

Most of my patients who live with arthritis, including 86 year old lady, Betsy, said she didn't exercise because of the pain. She came to me in a wheelchair and could barely move her arms or legs because of tenderness in her joints. After 8 weeks of consistent functional exercise, she could stand up, walk and decorate the Christmas tree with her grandchildren. But don't think arthritis only affects the elderly. Arthritis affects all ages, Kathy who is in her early 30's has rheumatoid arthritis. Eight years ago, Kathy, a single parent came to me in a lot of pain and reported that her doctor told her she will be in a wheelchair within 5 years. Kathy diligently practiced her functional exercises and today she is a happily married 39 year old able bodied person with a successful business. If you're willing to spend just 30 minutes a day on functional fitness, you won't have to live with stiffness and pain.

A Proven Doctor Recommended Treatment for Arthritis

Do you feel you get enough exercise with daily chores? We all have them, but cooking, cleaning and other activities of daily living don't take your body through the full range of motion your body needs to be functional. Functional movements are crucial to help keep your joints fully mobile, reduce pain and stiffness and help prevent joint deformities. For successful therapeutic arthritis intervention you need to practice two important types of exercise: joint integrity for flexibility and functional strength techniques for arthritis. Strong muscles help support your joints, helping you move freely without pain. To get the most out of your exercise plan, make sure you perform exercises safely.

Arthritis Tips for Safe Exercise.

1. If you wake up stiff, have a warm shower to warm up your muscles

2. Set up an exercise schedule and stick to it!

3. Arthritis pain can be persistent. Be more persistent and consistent with your functional exercise program.

4. Practice strength training 3 days a week, every other day. For example on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday and the flexibility on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

5. Slowly build up your tolerance to a level that your body is comfortable with. Listen to your body. Muscles that you haven't used will feel uncomfortable at first. It's just their way of getting reacquainted with you. However, if discomfort lasts more than 4 hours after exercise, do fewer repetitions until your tolerance increases. You will get stronger and the pain will decrease as your muscles build up strength. Functional Fitness will only deprive you of pain, stiffness and fatigue.

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How to Cure Gout Attacks

Gout is a very painful inflammatory condition of the joints, caused by crystallized uric acid collecting around the affected joint. The most common joint affected is the big toe; however, gout can affect the ankle, instep, heel, knee, spine, elbow, wrist, and finger. In severe cases, gout can deform the affected joint.

People prone to gout tend to have high uric acid levels in their blood. The high uric acid levels may be caused by the kidneys’ failure to adequately remove uric acid from the blood.

Uric Acid Level

You say, "Okay, my kidneys aren’t working properly. So what can I do to cure my gout?" The answer is you can do a lot.

First of all, certain foods and beverages heighten the body’s uric acid level, and certain foods and beverages don’t. So if you avoid the foods and beverages that heighten your uric acid level, and partake in the foods and beverages that don’t, you will never get a gout attack - thus curing your gout condition!

What are the foods and beverages that heighten the body’s uric acid level, causing a gout attack? Meats and seafood promote gout attacks. Do you like beef, pork, lamb, liver, bacon, fish, lobster, mussels, scallops, or shrimp? Sorry, you have to pass on these. To a lesser degree, chicken, turkey, and duck promote gout attacks. Do you like beer? Well you don’t anymore, because beer promotes gout attacks.

High-Protein Foods

Avoiding meats and seafood puts you in a dilemma. You avoid these foods to avoid gout attacks, but your body cannot function properly without protein - meats and seafood are common sources of protein! What do you do?

Luckily, there are high-protein foods that don’t cause gout attacks. They are listed below categorically.

Eggs and Dairy Products: High in protein are milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, and eggs.

Grains and Cereals: High in protein are buckwheat, amaranth grain (usually sold in health food shops), and quinoa.

Nuts and Seeds: High in protein are peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds.

Beans including Soy: High in protein are tofu, soy milk, beans, soy beans, and split peas.

Red Wine

So all you have to do is substitute these high-protein foods for the meats and seafood that you usually eat. "But what about beer? Is there a substitute for that? I need to have a beer to unwind after work," you say. Once again, you are in luck.

Since red wine doesn’t elevate the body’s uric acid level, it doesn’t cause gout attacks. In fact, red wine may even lower uric acid levels! And certainly red wine is just as effective as beer in helping you to unwind.

High-Dose Vitamin C

Not only may red wine reduce uric acid levels, vitamin C may also do likewise. High-dose vitamin C reduces uric acid levels in most gout sufferers. However, for some gout sufferers, high-dose vitamin C worsens their condition.

A dose of 500 mg per day significantly reduces uric acid levels in most gout sufferers. But before you begin a vitamin C regimen, you should get your physician’s approval; because high-dose vitamin C might possibly eliminate uric acid from your body too quickly, causing kidney stones.

Is Protein Substitution Practical?

Some of you may be saying right about now, "Okay, this all makes sense, but it’s impractical. This protein substitution lacks variety; there’s no way I can follow it." Lack of variety? Let’s see. I’ll attempt to brainstorm a variety of gout-safe high-protein foods.

The following foods contain cheese, and can be served without meats and seafood: pizza, cheese ravioli, baked ziti, mozzarella sticks, eggplant Parmesan, cheese omelette, lasagna, muffin egg and cheese sandwich, macaroni and cheese, baked potato with cheddar cheese sauce, stuffed shells Italiano, cheese manicotti in marinara sauce, salad with blue cheese dressing, cheesecake, broccoli cheese soup, asparagus with Parmesan cheese, smoked mozzarella fonduta, fettuccine alfredo, penne with goat cheese, and ricotta gnocchi.

The following foods contain buckwheat, and can be served without meats and seafood: buckwheat pancakes, buckwheat breads, buckwheat muffins, buckwheat crackers, buckwheat bagels, buckwheat cookies, buckwheat tortillas, some breakfast cereals, buckwheat grits, kasha, buckwheat porridge, buckwheat salad with mushrooms and parsley oil, kasha varnishkes, buckwheat noodles, Japanese soba noodles, California buckwheat chapati, kasha knishes, and some blini.

The following foods contain peanuts, and can be served without meats and seafood: peanut candy, salted nuts, peanut butter, peanut butter sandwiches, vegetable salads mixed with peanut sauce, peanut-based dipping sauce, peanut butter crackers, mandelonas (peanuts soaked in almond flavoring), some health food bars, some breakfast cereals, peanut butter cookies, celery sticks filled with peanut butter, honey peanut steamed tea bread, cherry peanut granola, peanut squares, peanut butter crisps, trail mixes, some spaghetti sauces, boiled peanuts, peanut butter spread on toast, gorp (good old raisins and peanuts), Cajun flavored peanuts, peanut soup, peanut rolls, peanut muffins, peanut cake, peanut pudding, baked peanuts with rice, and peanut stuffing.

The following foods contain tofu, and can be served without meats and seafood: tofu with vegetable medley, tofu muffins, tofu and cheese omelet, sauteed tofu steak, tofu caramel custard, tofu anmitsu (traditional fruit salad), broiled tofu steak, tomato and olive tofu spread, braised cubed tofu steak with eggplant and zucchini, tofu steak with teriyaki butter sauce, tofu steak sandwich, tofu steak with salsa sauce, tofu steak nuggets, tofu steak fajita, tofu steak with Asian mushroom sauce, tofu and egg burger, tofu and vegetable burger, tofu burger, tofu quesadilla, oriental tofu salad, split pea soup with tofu, creamy oriental tofu dressing, tofu broccoli lasagna, grilled tofu and cheese, tofu spaghetti sauce, Spanish rice with tofu, tofu and vegetable stir-fry, zesty Italian pasta and tofu, spicy tofu chili, spicy tofu burritos, Tex-Mex tofu lasagna, pita stuffed tofu salad, tofu custard filled cake, pineapple tofu pie, and tofu custard with sesame flavor.

Attempting brevity, I only brainstormed gout-safe high-protein foods containing cheese, buckwheat, peanuts, and tofu. If I were to include gout-safe high-protein foods containing milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, amaranth grain, quinoa, almonds, cashews, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, soy milk, beans, soy beans, and split peas, I would end up writing a novel. Though I only focused on foods containing cheese, buckwheat, peanuts, and tofu, you can see that there is plenty of variety.

Warnings, Interactions, and Side Effect

Gout attacks can be cured by following the dietary changes suggested here. However, please keep in mind that it is easier to prevent gout attacks than intervene in the middle of gout attacks. So it is best to use the suggested dietary changes proactively rather than reactively.

Some foods suggested here can dangerously interact with some prescription drugs or medical conditions. For example, eating cheese while taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can kill you. Also, drinking red wine while having liver cirrhosis can worsen your condition. So to be on the safe side, you should get the approval of your physician and pharmacist before following the suggested dietary changes.

Gout-prone people can have a side effect from aspirin. Though normal people can take aspirin without having a side effect, gout-prone people can have the side effect of a gout attack. So if you are gout-prone and have a headache, it is best that you take Motrin (ibuprofen) instead of Bayer (aspirin).

Summary

Though prescription drugs such as allopurinol prevent gout attacks, some people prefer a more natural prevention. This article outlines a gout prevention plan, consisting of protein substitution, alcoholic beverage substitution, and taking high-dose vitamin C supplements. This article proposes that dietary changes alone can prevent gout attacks.

Font: Ezine articles

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