It is a sort of a completion. My act of giving will not be complete unless someone is there to receive.

Recently I got a mail from one of my readers and I would like to share a part of it with you here…

“India’s Total Population 118 Crores.

Daily Death – 62389

Daily Birth – 86853

Total Blinds – 682497

If Daily Dead People Donate their Eyes, within 11 Days all Blinds will be able to See.
Then in India there will be NO Blinds.”

Does this sound fantastic? Yes it is to a certain extent; and we are not looking to eradicate blindness in 11 days ; but does 11 months seem a more reasonable time frame? Why not? Why don’t we all just pledge our eyes to be donated to someone who needs it after our death? We surely will not need them any longer!

I like the thought and hope that you all will not need any convincing for this noble cause; for I have not reasoning to do except to say that it is the right thing to do!

Donate your eyes; give sight to the blind!

Back injuries are one of the commonest workplace injuries and these occur in persons who work on shop floors as well as office bound employees. So let us get hold of a little information on back injuries. This is simple useful information which you will find useful.

Low back pain is the most common and costly of work related musculoskeletal disorders. Other back injuries include:

• Spinal disc rupture (particularly of the lower lumbar spine)
• Nerve compression (the most common is sciatica nerve pain)
• Muscle spasm of the back/hip muscles
• Aggravation of a pre-existing degenerative condition.

The major causes of back injuries are:

• Manual tasks such as lifting, pushing and pulling (by far the major cause at 50%)
• Frequent twisting postures
• Slipping, tripping and falling
• Static sitting or standing for long periods
• Sustained fixed postures (even the most comfortable)
• Vibration (particularly plant and vehicle seating).

Ways to control hazards

• Redesign the work and the manual tasks to eliminate or minimize the degree of handling required. For more information, read how to control specific risk factors.
• If working with a bent back: take short breaks to straighten your back and stretch.
• If lifting repeatedly: take regular breaks, particularly in hot weather when you fatigue faster.
• If continuously sitting: stand and walk occasionally. Store some work items just out of reach so you have to move).
• If standing for long periods: occasionally sit on a high stool or a sit/stand chair.
• When you need to position a load in another direction: turn with your whole body. Do not twist your trunk.
• Store loads close to where you need them to save double handling.
• Return mechanical aids to where they ¿live¿ so others can locate them easily.
• Alternate heavy jobs with light jobs.
• Use assistance to move heavy or awkward loads.

Most of often our aches and pains are caused by our negative thoughts and everything else associated with it. It has been observed that at times when we weighed with a problem and we perceive lack of support in our lives from our friends and family, we experience back-pains.

To let go of it we need to let go of our negative beliefs and perceptions. Those are the times when we are enslaved by our pain and miseries and fail to experience freedom, fulfillment and happiness. Bad, sad, angry or hopeless thoughts cause your body to release chemicals that make you feel physically bad.

The effect of negative thoughts and perception on your body is -

• They increase your heart rate; thus causing the heart to work under pressure and less efficiently.
• They increase your respiratory rate; thus causing hyperventilation and less oxygen delivery to your whole system.
• They increase sweat production and divert blood flow from your hands making them cold and clammy.
• They increase muscle tension leading to headaches and body aches.
• They decrease activity in your brain; thus causing decreased ability to think with clarity & memory, and increased emotional state and depression.
• They cause chronic state of stress; thus decreasing the quality of life.

Compared to these, positive thinking, optimism and gratitude enhance brain function and decision-making skills; thus causing you to be calmer, relaxed, joyful and happy. Choose well always!

To overcome this, you need to visualize positive things happening in your life, like your near and dear-ones supporting you completely, and using positive affirmations effectively for releasing our negative feelings and emotions. It is very important to be relaxed when you are visualizing and affirming.

Exercise: Close your eyes, and sit down or lie down in a comfortable position. Relax completely…take 10 deep breaths and with every count, feel you being relaxed. Now affirm to yourself, ‘People around me love and care for me, their love, gives me strength and courage to handle any life’s problems, I choose to be health and free of pain’.  Along with the affirmations visualize the same positive outcome; as you picture mentally it materializes in your life. As you do this exercise only visualize the positive things, and when encountered by an negative thought or feeling…tell yourself loudly, Stop…whoosh….and breathe out the negativities. See the light at the end of the tunnel, rather than the darkness in it.

Nutrition: Eating a healthy wholesome diet, of whole and fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts helps to provide the body with essential nutrients for better back-health. Quit Smoking: Smoking may increase the risk of developing sciatica or back pain that radiates to the hip and/or leg due to pressure on a nerve.

Sleep Technique: Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness, and use a comfortable pillow.

Dressing: Always wear low heeled and comfortable foot-wear.

Exercises: Regular exercise helps to keep back muscles strong and flexible, by not straining or jolting the neck and back and by increasing the strength and endurance in the back. The exercises that are recommended are, low impact aerobics, walking, swimming, abdominal and back muscle exercises. Make sure that you do warm-up and cool-down exercises for a sufficient time. Remain Active: Do house work, gardening etc. and avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest. Lift things in a proper way, keeping the object to be lifted close to your body and not twisting your trunk when lifting.

Posture: Maintaining good posture while standing for long hours, or sitting for long hours will surely help. One should sit straight in a chair and not slump while working. He/she should take a break for 2 minutes every hour and get up from her/his seat and do some stretches. Also make an attempt to have proper posture while watching TV, either on the couch or bed.

To Be Continued…

Trigger Point Therapy: The goal of trigger point therapy for back pain is to eliminate the trigger points, and thus lessen the pain. Yoga: Proper practice of yoga in chronic back aches is known to help improve the backache. But, I recommend that you find a good yoga teacher and practice it under his/her supervision.

Ayurveda: Spice-poltis, Kathi-vasti and spinal bath are known to reduce pain and sooth the inflamed nerves.

Reflexology: Reflexology involves the application of manual pressure to specific points of the feet, hands and ears, which are believed to correspond to other parts of the body. Reflexology is known to help and more research on it is being carried out.

Others: Homeopathy, Detoxification Therapy, and Spiritual Healing are also known to help, though more evidence of its benefits is desired.

Hydrotherapy: It is a therapy which uses application of water in any form or temperature (hot, cold, steam, liquid, ice) for healing purposes. Regular use of hot whirlpool baths with massaging jets decreases the duration and severity of back pain. Acupressure: The practice of applying finger pressure to specific energy points, throughout the body can be tried. The benefits are seen in reduction of low back pain and improvement of functional status.

Acupuncture: Has shown to have similar benefits as acupressure.

Shiatsu: By incorporating palm pressure, stretching, massaging, and other manual techniques, it has shown to reduce pain and make one feel better.

Magnet Therapy: Has shown to benefit few.

Massage: It temporarily improves the back, but, I would not recommend it when the pain is acute.

Meditation: Patients suffering from chronic low back pain have shown improvement with meditation and breath therapy.

To Be Continued…

Bed Rest: Bed rest for two or three days is sometimes recommended.
It is the foremost and most effective way to treat a backache. There is nothing better than rest which could help you with reduction of pain and inflammation.

Physiotherapy: Heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and muscle release techniques to the back muscles and soft tissues help reduce pain.

Exercises: Exercises to increase flexibility, strengthen the back and abdominal muscles, and improve posture will certainly help. Exercise also strengthens bones and reduces the risk of falls and injuries.

Medicines: Please take them only in consultations with your medical doctor. Anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and narcotic pain relievers will help. Your doctor may choose to use antidepressants for numbness, burning, aching, throbbing, or stabbing pains that shoot down the limbs.

Surgery: It is usually reserved for pain caused by a herniated disk.

To Be Continued…

Genetic: Some causes of back pain, including disc disease, may be passed from one generation to the next through genes.

Race: Some research shows that race can be a factor in causation of back problems.

Occupation: Physically demanding jobs, jobs requiring long hours of standing without a break, or sitting in a chair for long that does not support the back well will easily cause backaches.

Wrong Lifestyle: Back pain is more common among people who are not physically fit, those who smoke; those having poor posture while standing, sitting or lifting things; those who don’t use proper mattress or sleep in right posture; and those who are in sports but don’t take proper care of their back.

X-ray: It shows alignment of the spine, degenerative diseases, fractures, or tumours. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): It shows clear images of disc deterioration, pathologies of the spinal cord, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, spinal tumours, and abnormalities in nerves and ligaments.

Computerized Tomography Scan (CT scan): This helps to show abnormalities in bones and soft tissue.

Myelography: It is used to outline the spinal cord, nerve roots, abnormal disc conditions or bone spurs by using an X-ray or CT scan.

Electromyogram: It helps to know if a nerve root is pinched or irritated.

Spinal Tap: It involves drawing a sample of cerebrospinal fluid and analyzing it for elevated pressure, infection, bleeding, or tumour.

Radioactive Bone Scan: Helps to find a fracture or osteoporosis in the vertebrae.