This post explores how yoga and mindfulness can help reduce back pain and highlights how these practices offer actionable, science-backed solutions.

The Connection Between Back Pain, Stress, and Lifestyle

The relationship between stress and back pain is well-documented. Stress can lead to muscle tension, which may exacerbate pre-existing back issues or even trigger new pain. Coupled with a sedentary lifestyle—or poor posture from long hours at a desk—this tension can lead to chronic discomfort that is difficult to manage.

Yoga and mindfulness target the physical and emotional triggers of back pain simultaneously. By cultivating awareness, reducing stress, and improving posture and flexibility, these approaches address the root causes of pain, not just the symptoms.

Yoga for Back Pain Relief

Yoga combines various stretches, poses, and breathing techniques to improve flexibility, core strength, and posture—all key factors in alleviating back pain. Here are some of the most effective poses for targeting back discomfort:

• Child’s Pose (Balasana): This gentle stretch helps elongate the spine and relieve lower back tension.
• Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana): A flowing movement that massages the spine and warms up the back muscles.
• Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana): A full-body stretch that strengthens the lower back and encourages better posture.
• Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana): This pose not only strengthens the lower back but also activates the glutes and hamstrings, which support the spine.

Yoga also emphasizes mindfulness through pranayama (breathwork), which enhances relaxation and further reduces muscle tension.

Tips for Practicing Yoga Safely

While yoga is a low-risk activity, individuals with back pain should proceed with caution:

• Consult a healthcare professional or experienced physical therapist before beginning a yoga program, especially if you have severe or chronic pain.
• Start with beginner-level poses and gradually increase intensity as you build strength and flexibility.
• Focus on proper alignment to avoid exacerbating pain or causing additional injuries.

Mindfulness for Managing Pain

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware of one’s thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. When it comes to pain management, mindfulness helps by reframing how we interpret and respond to discomfort.

Studies have found that mindfulness meditation can reduce perceived pain levels and improve overall quality of life for individuals with chronic conditions, including back pain. By fostering awareness and acceptance, mindfulness reduces the stress and anxiety often associated with physical pain.

How to Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Routine

You don’t have to commit to lengthy meditation sessions to experience the benefits of mindfulness. Here are a few simple strategies:

• Mindful Breathing: Take 5-10 minutes each day to focus on your breath. Breathe deeply and evenly, paying attention to the rise and fall of your chest.
• Body Scans: Slowly guide your awareness to different parts of your body, noticing any tension or discomfort without judgment.
• Mindful Movement: Combine mindfulness with yoga or gentle stretching, focusing on how your body feels as you transition through each movement.

Apps like Headspace or Calm can provide guided meditations tailored for pain relief, making it easy to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life.

When to Seek Advanced Treatments

While yoga and mindfulness are highly effective for many individuals, they may not fully address certain severe or chronic back conditions. If your pain persists despite natural remedies, consulting a specialist is essential. Advanced treatments, such as stem cell therapy for back injuries, are gaining traction as innovative solutions for conditions ranging from disc degeneration to spinal injury. Combining yoga, mindfulness, and cutting-edge medical therapies could offer a comprehensive approach to lasting relief.

Final Thoughts

Yoga and mindfulness are more than just wellness trends; they are evidence-based approaches offering natural, sustainable relief for back pain sufferers. From improving flexibility and core strength to alleviating stress and anxiety, these practices provide multi-faceted benefits that address both the physical and mental aspects of pain.

If you’re ready to take control of your back pain, consider incorporating these techniques into your daily routine. Whether it’s starting with a 5-minute mindfulness practice or joining a beginner’s yoga class, small steps can lead to significant progress.

Combine these natural strategies with informed healthcare decisions, and you’ll be on the path to living pain-free.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

The post Yoga and Mindfulness for Back Pain: Natural Remedies That Work appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

Address the Pain

If you’re already dealing with back pain, adding massage therapy or seeing a chiropractor can provide significant relief. Regular massages can help relax tight muscles, improve circulation, and reduce the tension caused by long hours of sitting. A chiropractor can also adjust your spine to improve alignment and alleviate pressure on your back. Both options target the root of your discomfort and help prevent the pain from worsening.

Incorporating these treatments into your routine can make a big difference. However, to avoid frequent visits to the professional, focus on prevention with the following tips.

Mind Your Posture

Slouching, leaning to one side, or hunching forward can cause strain on your back muscles, leading to pain over time. You want to ensure you’re sitting with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, and feet flat on the floor.

Keeping your body aligned helps reduce pressure on your spine. A simple rule to follow is the 90-degree rule: your knees should be bent at a 90-degree angle, your hips should be slightly higher than your knees, and your elbows should form a 90-degree angle when you’re typing or using the mouse.

Adjust Your Chair and Desk Setup

Sometimes, back pain comes from sitting in a chair that just isn’t supportive enough. You want a chair that fits you properly, with enough padding and an adjustable backrest. If your chair doesn’t have built-in lumbar support, consider using a small cushion or a rolled-up towel behind your lower back to help maintain the natural curve of your spine.

Also, make sure your computer monitor is at eye level so you’re not constantly tilting your head down. This will keep your spine in a neutral position and help prevent neck and upper back strain.

Take Frequent Breaks

Sitting in the same position for hours at a time can tighten your muscles and lead to stiffness. Even if you’re sitting with perfect posture, your body needs movement. Try to stand up, stretch, or walk around every 30 minutes. It doesn’t have to be long—just a quick break to shake out your legs, roll your shoulders, and stretch your back.

Set a timer or use apps that remind you to move throughout the day. These small breaks can do wonders for relieving tension in your back and preventing pain from building.

Stretch Your Back Regularly

Incorporating simple stretches into your day can go a long way in easing back pain. One easy stretch is to raise your arms above your head and stretch upward as much as you can. This helps lengthen your spine and release some of the tension that builds up from sitting.

Another great stretch is a seated twist. While sitting in your chair, place one hand on the back of the chair and twist your torso to one side, holding for a few seconds, then switch to the other side. You can also do standing stretches, like bending forward to touch your toes or standing with your hands against a wall and pushing your hips backward.

Strengthen Your Core

Your core muscles play a big role in supporting your back, especially when you’re sitting for long periods. If your core is weak, your back has to work harder to keep you upright, which can lead to pain. Strengthening your abdominal muscles, as well as your back muscles, can help alleviate some of that strain. Exercises like planks, bridges, and leg lifts can help strengthen your core. Even doing these exercises a few times a week can make a noticeable difference.

Use a Footrest

If your feet don’t reach the ground while you’re sitting, or if you tend to cross your legs, a footrest can help you maintain better posture. Keeping your feet flat on the ground or on a footrest improves your body alignment, making it easier to sit with your spine in a neutral position.

When your feet are properly supported, you’re less likely to slouch, which helps prevent the strain that leads to back pain.

Wrapping It All Up

Back pain from sitting at work doesn’t have to be an ongoing issue. By making small changes to your posture, taking breaks, and incorporating some stretches and exercises, you can manage and even prevent that ache that creeps in after a long day. These tips will help you take control of your comfort at work so back pain doesn’t hold you back anymore.

The post Sit Long Hours at Work? Tips for Managing the Resulting Back Ache appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

We have been trying it for a few weeks now and we have to take it in shifts because it seems to be helping us both. At first I tried it through clothes for a more comfortable feel. The acupressure spikes are positioned to evenly distribute your weight, making them less intense and more relaxing to lie on. I also managed to lie on it without a t-shirt as well. 

I don’t remember much because after about 5 minutes I fell fast asleep. In fact every time I used it I was a sleep in minutes so had to opt for wearing it with a t-shirt as I found myself waking up after a few hours!

Did the acupressure mat help?

Over the next few days my lower back pain definitely eased, it’s not completely gone but it’s made sleeping a lot easier and using the mat with a combination of yoga stretches I know my back will be back to normal in the next few weeks.

My husband doesn’t normally sleep at all well and has eczema on his back. He tried it with and without a t-shirt and preferred the feeling without the t-shirt. He said he definitely fell to sleep quicker and weirdly his skin also improved on his back, which was an added bonus!

We used it each time for over 15 minutes, mainly because we fell asleep after a few minutes. It has certainly made a good impact on both of us and were pleasantly suprised by the results.

I also tried standing on it after a day in London wearing high heel boots. I actually loved the sensation on my bare feet and it helped with the aches and pains. I couldn’t stand on it very long but with socks it was a lot more comfortable and could stand on it longer.

Our thoughts

Overall we were both impressed with the Acupressure Mat. It is definitely our new favourite gadget for back pain relief and for a better night’s sleep.

Available from Core Balance £17.99 https://www.corebalancefitness.co.uk/acupressure-mat.html

• Measures 63cm x 41cm with a 2cm thick PU foam core to comfortably cushion your back without impacting on the healing benefit of the spikes
• Cover is made from skin-friendly 100% cotton and is machine washable with a Velcro opening for easy removal and loops to hang it up to dry
• Supplied with a drawstring bag to take on your travels

The post Acupressure mat for pain relief and better sleep appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

Chiropractors can now treat more people and work on more injured areas of your body than ever before. And while it’s hard to imagine that treating bodily pain with a simple manipulation or adjustment could be this effective, it is.

People treated by chiropractors have noticed improved quality of life. They can help you sleep better, live healthier, and feel better about yourself — all because chiropractic care can benefit you holistically.

What Is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic is a non-invasive treatment focusing on the body’s nervous system. It was developed in 1895 by D.D. Palmer, and was inspired by his belief that people could be improved through a better understanding of the body’s natural healing processes.

Chiropractic care aims to restore and maintain optimal health by addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual issues and conditions.

The benefits of chiropractic care include:

Improves Neck Pain

A cervical vertebral subluxation is one of the most common types of misalignments in the neck. The root causes of cervical subluxation are often repetitive motion injuries or trauma, which can cause your neck to become unstable and misaligned over time.

Chiropractic care is a great way to reduce or eliminate these conditions and improve your overall health. Relief from back pain through chiropractic adjustment techniques can help patients live pain-free lives by eliminating the cause of their pain and improving their range of motion.

Decreases Stress

When you are stressed, your body releases hormones that can cause inflammation. Inflammation is a sign of stress. This inflammation can damage your organs and make you sick.

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort in your neck, back, and/or upper extremities, it may be time for an evaluation by the best chiropractor in Philadelphia. A chiropractor will evaluate your condition and explain what is causing your health concerns so that you have the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding treatment options.

Eases Back Pain

Back pain is a common complaint that chiropractors treat. Back pain affects about one in five Americans at some point.

Chiropractors use their hands and fingers to adjust your spine so that you feel much better than before without any side effects or complications. What’s more? They offer a range of other treatments, such as joint manipulation, massage therapy, etc., which relieve muscle spasms and reduce inflammation in the body.

Eases Headache Symptoms

Headaches are often caused by stress or tension in the neck and shoulders, but certain conditions can cause them. For example, suppose you have a condition such as arthritis, osteoporosis, or an injury to your spine. In that case, your headaches could be a symptom of a more severe condition that requires medical attention.

If you have a headache that lasts longer than 24 hours and interferes with your daily activities, it’s best to see a chiropractor who can determine what caused it and how best to treat it. A chiropractor will use his or her skills as an expert in spinal biomechanics to assess your condition thoroughly before determining which course of action is best for you.

To Sum Up

There’s something to be said about holistic wellness and how it shapes the overall state of your life. We’re not talking about just one isolated health issue here, but a complete approach to focus on your body. It’s challenging to find a doctor who will consider all of your physical ailments, but chiropractic practitioners are experts in this field. When you sit down and consider holistic wellness, you’ll realize how valuable chiropractic care is and all it offers.

The post Best ways Chiropractic Care Can Holistically Benefit You appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

Back pain is something that we all want to avoid. Yet, this statistic shows we are losing the battle to maintain our back health.

The wrong idea

Often, we associate back pain with sedentary lifestyles, yet this belief is misleading.

In my experience as a back pain specialist, back troubles often occur because of poor posture, movement, and overload – especially from exercise.

To make matters worse, things are often exasperated as we grow older.

Complicated causes

There’s no avoiding the fact that – whether in the lower, mid, or higher range – our backs often take the brunt of our well-intentioned workouts.

Because many of us want to retain our fitness levels and carry on doing the things we love into old age, we need to learn new ways of preventing our exercise regimen from leading to injury.

This includes understanding more about the causes of back pain and finding out ways to avoid them.

Common mistakes

The overwhelming amount of people I see daily have one thing in common: They all do too much exercise and/or move in a way that can eventually lead to injury.

It’s almost difficult to believe, but I rarely see people in my clinic who are there because they have done too little.

So, if you are either approaching or well into your middle years, here is some advice that should help future-proof yourself against poor back health.

I hope you find it useful!

1.Prioritize recovery

As we grow older, our ability to build muscle and stamina decreases over time.

But this isn’t as much as you might think.

We still have the potential to increase our fitness levels as we age, however, what changes is our body’s ability to recover.

After participating in high-impact exercise or heavy lifting, ensure that you leave a day or two in between sessions for adequate rest and recuperation.

2.Choose Movements Over Muscles 

When we’re in our younger years, we tend to focus on developing the “show” muscles: Biceps, pecs, calves, etc.

However, in time this can have the effect of overloading a single joint or muscle group and this can lead to injury.

I’d recommend choosing more functional activities – that will help you live your daily life to the max. Such exercises include squats, deadlifts, and push-ups.

These are beneficial because they disperse the load amongst multiple joints and translate to the daily activities/sports that many participate in.

3.Build Durability, Not Brute Strength

Building a strong physical foundation will help you pursue a high-impact sports regime for longer. It’s therefore important to take a measured, sustainable attitude to exercise.

As the saying goes, “if you don’t use it, then prepare to lose it” so aim to build durability by addressing all of the major muscle groups in a dynamic way.

While strength is important, it is important to gain an appreciable amount of strength in certain movements than work until “failure’ each time.

4.Take Daily Walks

I consider walking to be the unsung hero of the exercise world.

Not only is it good for back pain, but it also has benefits to various biological systems, reduces blood pressure, and plays an important role in spine health – particularly if you have a history of back problems and/or sit for long periods.

Take multiple walks a day, but make sure you protect your joints with the right footwear. Swing your arms as you go along to help with flexibility and try to maintain a ‘shoulders back, pelvis slightly forward’ posture to protect your lower spine.

To maintain a healthy back and body, walking is non-negotiable.

5.Build Your Healthcare “Team” 

If you’re active – and want to stay that way – then it’s important to acknowledge that you will have to adapt your exercise regime regularly as the years go by.

The good news is, however, that with the right advice, support, and team in place it’s possible to keep doing the things you love and look and feel great at the same time.

Always have the details of a good primary care doctor on hand as well as a physical therapist, trainer, and manual therapist.

Together, their combined expertise will see your exercise program keeping you in tip-top condition – rather than away from the life you love.

Written by: By Dr. Marc Luko

Dr. Marc Luko

About the Author:

Dr. Marc Luko is the founder of Optimal Performance & Reconditioning.

He is one of only a handful of practitioners in the world that has been designated as a McGill Method Master Clinician through Backfitpro and the world’s leading expert on low back pain, Dr. Stuart McGill.

As a former track and field athlete himself, Dr Luko has dealt with his fair share of injuries. A devastating lower back injury in his teenage years resulted in back and right leg pain. This led him down the path of learning more about low back disorders and into his career as a leading physical therapist.

Dr. Luko received his bachelor’s degree in Health Studies and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Boston University. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

While Dr. Luko treats clients with varying injuries, he specializes in working with clients suffering from low back disorders from all over the world.

The post Just Watch Your Back During Workouts appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

RFA is a surgery performed by the neurosurgeon by keeping the patient under sedation, using electrical current produced by radio waves. The current heats the small area of the affected nerve tissue to decrease the inflammation.

If you are well aware of the Radio Frequency Ablation procedure but are still unsure about its after-effects, you must proceed with the blog and fulfill your thirst for knowledge.

The blog has covered everything that a person requires to know after undergoing Radio Frequency Ablation, the pain relief surgery.

What Happens After The Completion of RFA?

• After the neurosurgeon performs the procedure, the patient is left under the effect of anesthesia. The nurse observes the patient until drowsiness fades away.
• The patients are kept under observation for about 6 to 7 hours to monitor their recovery and ensure that no immediate complications occur after the treatment.
• It is pretty common for the patient to have slight discomfort at the treated area of the body for a considerable amount of time. However, the effects of anesthesia don’t last long.
• Once the healing starts, the patients can go home in the care of their loved ones.

What Is The Recovery Rate After Discharge

• Some patients might recover soon, while some won’t. Know that their recovery rate varies from person to person.
• As per the suggestions of the pain management expert, patients must not create any haste. They should wait to get back to their routine for at least until they have crossed the recovery stage.
• By regularly applying a heat or ice pack on the area, the patient can easily ease out pain after the treatment.

After Effects Of RFA Process

• Slight pain, signs of hypersensitivity, and discomfort are pretty common in the affected area for some time.
• Patients can expect total relief from the after-effects of the treatment in a brief time. It takes time for the treated nerves to die and put an end to sending pain signals to the treated area.
• One might feel weak in the back of the neck during the healing period, which will fade away with recovery.

Continue The Treatment After Recovery?

Yes, the patients must not stop them from taking care of their bodies even after recovering from the Radio Frequency Ablation procedure.

Patients are most likely to have lingering pain in the treated area, which may deplete only after proper care. As per the surgeon’s suggestion, patients must apply ice or heat packs on the treated spot to relieve pain. Other than that, they may even take the medications prescribed by their doctors for early effects.

The Bottom Line:

The treatment takes its time to heal and show you the results. The results last for a long time; however, it is majorly dependent on how the patient has been taken care of. Over time, the ablated nerve from the treatment grows back, which may or may not cause pain again. If the patient experiences pain even after a considerable amount of time, they must consult their doctor, who might recommend a second session.

There is nothing to worry about RFA. Just understand the details of the procedure before you step into making a final decision.

The post What Must A Patient Expect After A Radio Frequency Ablation Procedure? appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

Everyone has a story, everyone has had something major happen in their life, and faced with these challenges, we have two choices, accept or fight.  I chose to fight.

My two spinal surgeries were the result of 5 car accidents… and a bumpy little rickshaw ride that was literally the last straw for my already delicate back.

Within 3 weeks I was completely wheelchair bound, dependant on so many people for everything.

The cumulative  injuries were so bad that the doctors didn’t think I could be fixed in a way that would ever enable me to walk properly again.

One of the lower vertebrae in my lower back had broken, and moved up to the vertebrae above, and totally covered the nerve root, which meant I was in extreme pain, I could not stand or walk. This was, without doubt, the most painful time in my life.

Prior to all this, I had been teaching yoga for 4 years, our studio had people pouring in for classes and amidst all the pain, I had to figure out how I could possibly still conduct classes for my clients effectively and still keep our doors open.

I took control of this situation – I decided to fight.

• I taught from a wheelchair verbally, I could move my arms but nothing else
• I sought out clients who didn’t mind being my demonstration ‘models’ while I verbally taught what they were doing
• We found lots of laughter which is a great distraction AND releases endorphins
• I found acceptance that this is how things needed to be – for now.
• Meditation, the ONLY answer for me, when you have good mindset you have everything.

I cannot stress enough how the power of our minds have the ability to dictate the quality of our lives.  My meditation strengthened my mind, which in turn strengthened my body.

After surgery of Discectomy, the doctors were quite sure that things would not get better for me,  but again, my spirit would not hear of it.

While I listened to my body every day, I would make sure I was doing all the right things, to serve my mind and body. Slowly, slowly my body responded.  Eventually I could walk, and I could live an almost pain free life.  I did not require a wheelchair and I was more than ‘just fine’… but little did I know my spinal journey was not over.

In August 2019 I was living life normally, and one day I felt just the slightest ‘twinge’ in my lower back, so I went to the doctor to get checked out.

One scan revealed so much, one scan scared me more than any other. One phone call put my life on hold for another year.

Another surgery – this time to fuse my spine at L4/5/S1 – was required, but I had to wait 8 weeks for the right surgeon to be available.  The pain was intense, and the condition of my spine was precarious that I was under strict instructions not to move too much or the damage may be permanent …. So I was back in a chair teaching – not a wheel chair this time, just a normal chair, determined to keep going.

I now have 2 rods and 6 titanium screws that hold my spine in place, and I’m back in the yoga studio, fully functional.

I have come back from trauma so many times, I am a different person for it, but a better person and so fulfilled.  I tell everyone that you can overcome anything in your life with the right mindset.

During my down time I wrote a book and became a published author of FUSED and created a Back Pain Yoga Series.

Words by: Trudy Vains www.backpainyoga.com.au

The post The power of the mind, resilience and determination – A tale to show everyone they can survive anything. appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

Regenerative orthopaedic and back pain – paradigm shift.

And this is how I came across regenerative orthopaedics. For me it’s been a paradigm shift. Let me explain. For many years we believed that spine pain was caused by one, sometimes two pain generator in the spine, namely disc, facet joint, nerve root and so on and our role is it find this pain generator, treat it and pain will go away. This is very “surgical” approach to the problem: find what is wrong, cut it off and patient is cured. I am not saying that this is overall wrong approach. Quite oposite, very often it is a life saving approach. But not in case of back pain. What I have learned from regenerative orthopaedics is looking at the spine and the rest of musculoskeletal system as a whole, as a well oiled machinery. And when one, even the smallest, element of this machinery fails the whole system brakes down. So if your disc doesn’t work properly, not only your facet joints will start suffering but even your knee joint will start hurting. And this is the beauty and wisdom of regenerative orthopaedics: to take you body as a whole and to treat it as a whole.

Regenerative treatments for back pain.

As I said above, I look at the spine as a whole. And I am able to offer a wide range of interventions, such as stem cells, platelet rich plasma and platelet lysate injections to epidural space, around the nerve roots, into the facet joints and discs as well as to stabilising muscles and ligaments. I make sure that the patients see more here about how the treatment provides help to painful structures as well as improves spine stability and strength.

No quick fix.

And no intervention will help your back pain if it is not foregone by correct diet and supplements intake and followed by exercises and lifestyle change. That is why we always advise our patients to prepare for the treatment by reducing sugars, red meat and alcohol prior to the treatment, by taking supplements such as fish oils and turmeric. And there is no point to carry out the treatment if patient doesn’t commit themselves to healthy diet and lifestyle afterwards. My point is, that if somebody promises you a “quick fix” of your spine problem, run away, don’t fall into the trap of easy and quick solution. There is no such one. Back pain is always complex and we are here to help you to manage it but without your engagement and effort no intervention will be successful.

So if you suffer from back pain, please, book a consultation and I am happy to discuss your treatment options. More information on our website: www.algocells.com

The post Everything you always wanted to know about back pain but were afraid to ask… appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

What do steroids do?

Steroids are hormones produced by our body or by pharmaceutical companies. The former play role in regulating certain physiological processes in our body, such as immune response, water and salt physiology, metabolism, inflammation and many more. Steroids made by pharmaceutical companies mimic the natural ones. Patients take them for many diseases like for instance rheumatoid arthritis and after organ transplants. They are also widely used as an injection for pain conditions caused by inflammation, such as osteoarthritis in the joints or spine.

How do steroids work for pain?

Pain is caused by inflammation. Inflammation is how our own body responses to injury and trauma. Our immunology system sends several various cells to inflamed area in order to contain inflammation in this area, get rid of it and heal the injured tissue. Unfortunately this process is painful. And if the inflammation is chronic, like in osteoarthritis, the pain is chronic as well. And here come steroids. One of their mode of action is to suppress immune system and stop body’s natural response to inflammation. So, although they help to alleviate pain, they do it by switching off your own defence system, rather than by supporting it. This is one of the reasons why beneficial effect from steroids injection is usually short-living. Important fact to remember as well is that the standard dose of steroid shot, for instance 40mg Triamcinolone is ten times (!!!) more that daily dose of steroids naturally produced by our body.

Why steroids are dangerous amid coronavirus pandemic?

Fighting any infection, be it bacterial or viral , requires a huge mobilisation of your body’s own defence system. Your immune system has to fight bacterias and viruses, stop them spreading in your body doing harm. And if you happened to take a steroid shot, you jeopardise your whole immune system for a while. In practice, it means that you put yourself in a risk of loosing the battle with the infection. In case of Covid-19 the risk is deadly…

Many health organisations, such as Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and British Society of Skeletal Radiologists have issued their guidelines where they advise a great caution regarding steroid shots during the pandemic.

Is it safe to have steroid injection after the pandemic?

It is a difficult question. First of all we have to accept that the virus will stay around for a while so the risk of infection will be still very real, at least unless the vaccine is available. The possibility of second wave of pandemic or indeed a new pandemic cannot be reasonably discounted. But also we have to look from broader perspective: what we have learned from the current pandemic is that one needs a strong and robust immune system in order to survive. The lesson is that we should protect our immune system and make it strong by avoiding anything what might jeopardise it, like steroids, and by helping maintaining its integrity and strength, by the way of right supplements, diet, and healthy lifestyle, including exercise, good night sleep and so on.

What are the alternatives to steroids?

Obviously, there are conditions which require taking steroids for many years or even whole life. In such cases it would be dangerous not to continue taking them. But there is a good and safe alternative to steroid injections for musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis.

The alternative is offered by regenerative medicine. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injection is simple, effective and safe way of dealing with inflammation and pain. How PRP is different from steroids though? First and foremost, PRP stimulates immune response to trauma and inflammation. So it works in oposite way to steroids which suppress immune response. Blood platelets contain a large amount of growth factors and anti-inflammatory factors which directly reduce inflammation at the site of injury. So PRP enhances natural reaction to injury and promotes healing. Secondly, it is your own blood so there is no risk of cross-infection or overdose like it is with any drug.

So if you suffer from joint, spine, ligament, muscle pain and you think or you have been offered steroid injection, think twice before you decide to have it. Consider safe and highly effective alternative such as PRP injection. To learn more about the alternatives visit our website www.algocells.com .

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Phynova Joint and Muscle Relief Tablets is a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the relief of backache, rheumatic or muscular pains, general aches and pains, exclusively based on long-standing use as traditional remedy. Contains Sigesbeckia.

We tested during a skiing holiday and have used it for muscular pain following sports activites and found it to be a good alternative to traditional painkillers

For more information visit their website www.phynovajointrelief.com

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