I've got a herniated disk in my lower back.  I've found that when I stretch, not only is the pain almost nil, I feel overall better in general.  And no matter what, every so often my back goes out on me.  When I'm stretching, the pain is less, and lasts less days as well.  So, on to the stretches that I HAVE USED that have helped me reduce my lower back pain.  This is the order that I do them, simply because I have found it easiest and most convenient.

Now, I admit, I don't stretch as much as I should.  I mean, it only takes about 15 minutes for my own full routine, but hey, life gets in the way.  I do what I can, when I can.  I prefer to stretch in the evening, but some people can't start their day without stretching first, so do what you prefer.

I focus on my glutes/hips (butt muscles), quads (front of thigh muscles), and hamstrings (back of upper legs).  I'd be willing to bet that if folks just stretched, even for 5 minutes a day, their discomfort levels will be reduced significantly.  All you need is a carpet (if you don't have carpeted floors, you might need to purchase a stretching/yoga mata€¦get the cheapest one you can find!!), and maybe a belt or jump rope (not needed, but helpful).

With all these exercises, I hold the position for 20-30 seconds, then switch legs.  That's my preferred way to stretch.

Remember, talk with your doctor first before trying this stuffa€¦

GLUTE STRETCHES (lying on your back):
- Single Leg Knee to chest.
On your back, bring your right knee to your right armpit, holding your leg at the shin.  Hold for 20-30 seconds, then switch to the left leg.  Do this 2-3 times per leg.

- Single-Leg Knee across body.
Put your right knee perpendicular to your body, foot/lower leg relaxed.  Place your left hand on the OUTSIDE of the right knee, and gently push it down, across your hip.  I prefer to keep both of my butt-cheeks (sorry!!, that's not the technical term!!) on the ground, as it limits the stretch to the glute only.  I don't want to twist my lower back here.  Hold for 20-30 seconds, then switch to the left leg.  Do this 2-3 times per leg.

- Cross-legged Glute stretch.
Put both your knees up, feet on the ground.  Put the right ankle on your left thigh.  Reach through that 'hole' and grab your left shin and pull your left leg/knee to your left armpit.  You'll feel this in the right glute.  Hold for 20-30 seconds, then switch to the left leg.  Do this 2-3 times per leg.

Once you do these, you've stretched your hips out well.  Time to move on to the hamstrings.  Get your rope!

HAMSTRING STRETCHES (lying on your back):
Single Leg Hamstring stretch.
Keep your left leg straight on the ground.  Put the rope around your foot (I try to put the rope around the forefoot part of the foot vs. heel).  Try to keep your foot FLEXED vs. toes pointed.  VERY GENTLY pull the rope with your arms, stretching the leg.  Keep the leg straight.  Hey, I can't even get my leg to 90 degrees (I'm not naturally flexible), so this is a humbling experience for me.  Hold for 20-30 seconds, then switch legs.  Do this 3 times per leg.

Cross Body Hamstring Stretch.
Wrap the rope around your foot (Same as above), and this time, move your leg (keep it straight) across your hip.  You'll feel this on the outside of your quad, and if you can't go far, don't worry about it.  This is similar to the single leg knee stretch, but your leg is fully extended.  Hold for 20-30 seconds, then switch legs.  Do this 3 times per leg.

PSOAS STRETCH (on your stomach):
a€œCobraa€ Stretch.
Flip over on your stomach.  GENTLY push your upper body up, trying to straighten your arms.  Don't shrug your shoulders.  If you feel any discomfort in your lower back, BACK OFF!!  You'll feel a gentle stretch in your abs, and it will feel great.  Hold for 30 seconds, repeat 2-3 times.

QUAD STRETCHES:
Runner's Stretch.
Now, kneel on one foot and the other knee. If needed, hold on to something to keep your balance and then push your hips forward.  Make sure your forward foot is well in front of your body.  You'll feel this in the FRONT of your hip, and is a nice follow up to the Cobra, for me at least.

Single leg Quad Stretch.
Stand up, you're almost done.  Hold on to a chair for balance.  Bring your heel to your glute, and grab your foot.  I prefer to grab the shin bone, as I don't want to pull the foot or ankle.  Hold for 30 second, and switch.  Make sure to keep your stretched quad in line with the balancing quad.  Don't have the stretched leg flying all over the place!

And now, you're done.  That won't take you more than 15 minutes or so, and you can do it while watching your favorite TV show in the eveninga€¦or morning!

For a complete and VERY thorough guide to stretching, where you can plan a custom stretching program, please click here.

Good luck and stay well!

At 5pm, i had a cup of raspberry leaf tea, i took my 2 evening primrose oil capules as normal and i done some acupressure, i was looking up a website that showed how to get labour started and i tried a few of the acupressure sites.

I had some loose bowel movements (diarreha) just before I went in a bath about 6.15, then came out at around 6.45/7pm ish and i started getting really sick, i was getting cramps, along my sides and around my pelvic region, i couldn't relieve them, i tried walking, but i felt sick, i had to lie down but i felt sick really badly, i felt as though i needed to go for a number 2, so i tried, but nothing, i kept having to urinate every few minutes though, my baby was moving quite a bit at this point but still having those cramps. I felt like i was sweating but i wasn't even hot, i was cold.

I eventually fell asleep for 10mins and i woke up feeling better (9pm) i'm still having those cramps around my pelvic region, but i'm not feeling sick anymore, so it's all bearable as i can breathe through them without feeling as though i'm about to throw up and have diarreha at the same time lol.

Any idea what this could've been? Could it have been the acupressure? I've been taking RLT and EPO for about 4/5 weeks so i know it's not a reaction to that, i wasn't dehydrated and i hadn't eaten anything that could've made me feel like that (cereal, toast and pasta).

I'm 36 weeks pregnant today. I've been having period cramps for the past 3 days, but today they were more regular, then i had that spell that lasted for about 2 hours.
Forgot to add, i checked my blood pressure it was - 97/61 which is very low for me, mines is usually around 120/75.
I'm not trying to induce labour, EPO and RLT don't induce labour, the acupressure is supposed to help labour along if your body is ready, i just tried it out of curiousty as i'm usually skeptical about acupressure.
LOLOL you are very uneducated, neither cause miscarriage and neither are dangerous to use. RLT shouldn't be drunk until the third trimester it strengthens the uterus, EPO helps prepare the cervix, the end result makes your labour easier and less painful, not old wives tales but facts!
Irene, i am able to poo, i never said i wasn't, i said i've had diarreha and have been feeling the urge to go alot.

On an inhibitator - Asastrozole - reduce excess estrogen - post menopause...62 yrs. always been very active and healthy. Found small cancer area in right breast. Eating very healthy as always but more vegetables, fruits & protein. gained lots of water -retention - Oncologist & I had a battle why I could not have water pill (temporarily to rid of water gain - 10 pds in 4 months). I know about the how it can affect the kidneys and blood pressures - but I have been on water pills in the past (when needed) and never affected my blood pressure (very good - 123/92) and kidneys excellent. I drink warm water w/lemon in the mornings and natural cranberry juice (no added sugars) with water all day...nothing....very unhappy with the weight gain. Exercise faithfully 3 x a week - Latino dancing, NIA workout classes, yoga, and walking. Going to Acupuncture once a week and meeting with a Specialist who uses massaging/acupuncture technique to help with immune system. Does anyone have suggestions who has gone through Cancer surgery and on an inhibitor to reduce estrogen but had weight (water retention mostly) gain and how or what did you take or do to rid of the excess weight/water retention? Very unhappy with weight gain after losing 14 pds before they found the cancer cells. Appreciate helpful suggestions!
Brenda

Weight loss spas are places where people can have a relaxing holiday whilst they learn how to eat healthily and what exercise is good for them. The focus at these spas is on the physical health and well being of the people who visit them. As well as providing these people with an education in regarding to their habits and changes that they need to make to their life

Im 29 weeks and absolutely no signs of labor, No dilation my baby goes from being down to way up high and no contractions. Should I try the Acupressure. My doctor is a complete idiot. He doesnt tell me anything and my last visit he didnt even listen to my babys heart beat or measure my belly. I woke up with vaginal bleeding, not alot but some and I feel like if I call him he'll say it's nothing and Ill be wasting my time. What should I do?
I ment 39, wow sorry.

Even medical students want conventional medicine to include alternative therapies
by S. L. Baker, features writer

(NaturalNews) Are up-and-coming young doctors going to practice the same kind of mainstream medicine as their predecessors? Will the next generation of docs turn up their noses at alternative therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, herbs and vitamins -- just like the majority of the current crop of docs? In what may come as a surprise to many mainstream physicians, the answer to those questions may be a resounding "no".

According to research published in the online edition of the peer-reviewed journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM), 75 percent of medical students surveyed think it would be beneficial for conventional Western medicine to integrate with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM places emphasis on natural therapies and using the body's own healing powers instead of relying on drugs, vaccines and other standard Western treatments.

A University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of California, San Diego, research team comprised of experts in the fields of CAM, integrative medicine, Western medicine, medical education and survey development created a first of its kind 30 question survey that was distributed to 126 U.S. medical schools. Some 1,770 medical students completed the survey -- roughly, about three percent of the 68,000 medical students nationwide. Although the response rate to the survey was fairly low, the researchers say it provided valuable insights into current medical students' perceptions of CAM.

For example, the findings revealed that 77 percent of the medical student participants agreed patients whose doctors are knowledgeable about complementary and alternative medicine in addition to conventional medicine benefit more than those whose doctors are only familiar with Western medicine. In fact, 74 percent agreed that a medical system which integrated conventional medicine with CAM could be more effective that either type of medicine used independently.

A whopping 84 percent of the participants surveyed said CAM contains beliefs, ideas and therapies that could benefit conventional medicine. Some of this attitudinal shift in medical students could be the result of personal experiences -- almost half

There exists the common back soreness and there is severe lower back discomfort. Amongst the different pains in your back that result from the execution of numerous daily responsibilities, extreme soreness within the lower back could be the worst. It can take away your ability to conduct standard daily activities and can entirely take up your thoughts.

But you do not have to live with the pain. There are various studies that have been done on the disorder and some common factors emerged. Among these are the triggers that are causing relentless pain in the lower back. These include poor physical mechanics, degenerative disorders, obesity, and previous back injuries that have not been treated properly.

Each of the above factors can cause severe lower back pain. One of the most popular methods for treating it is through surgery. But before you resort to this treatment, it is important that you exhaust all other forms of treatments. Your spine doctor will give you this advice, too. You should also consider the expense of surgery.

It is essential that you assess your lifestyle in treating severe pain in your lower back. Sometimes, it just takes a little rest; although it might be something of a luxury if you are leading a very busy life. If you can have some rest though, it might be the best treatment for the pain. It relaxes your whole mind and body and you do not have to pay a penny for it as well.

There is also another relief for severe lower back pain that is a bit conservative but effective, and this is the use of back support. The support works by lifting the load off your lower back biomechanically, thereby reducing or taking away the pain that you feel. Among the problems that it can solve are muscle strains, disc problems and arthritis. If the pain is associated with a kidney problem, though, the back support would not do a lot of help.

Serious lower back soreness could be a real problem that has effects on your day to day lifestyle. You should not have to go through life struggling with the agony and regularly missing out on typical daily activities. You will discover a variety of alternatives offered to you to help with the pain. You'll be able to get back your agony free life, you just will need to be proactive, and keep on evaluating various treatment options until you discover the one which will work best for you.

so im posting this AGAIN b/c i got NO ANSWERS the first time and ended up having to delete the question.. : /
i really would like to hear some answers so hopefully i get some this time..

ive been reading all through the internet that alot of sex and walking are really good to induce labor naturally.
ive also seen that acupressure works the best..but where i read that you have to buy the book to see how to do it yourself...and from all the testimonies.. it works in 3 days or less.
i really wanna try it..so does anyone know how to do it???
its said to be safe for mom and baby and have no side effects besides labor starting.
its also said that acupressure starting labor makes labor quicker and easier.

ANYONE KNOW HOW I CAN DO ACUPRESSURE?? ANY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES????

10 PTS TO BEST ANSWER!!

btw im 39 wks on sunday..and ready for my baby to be out

Here is the situation: I have pain when I play piano, also sometimes when I don't. Sometimes I get pain from doing absolutely nothing stressful to my arms. It often seems that when it happens for no reason I am sitting down, although resting my arms in my lap, usually they don't hurt when I am standing up. The pain is locating on both L and R forearms, the underside upper half by the elbow, but not quite to the elbow. The exact location of the pain is hard to pinpoint. Sometimes it is shoots through for a few seconds, sometimes a dull ache for a few hours.

I've tried the following treatments with no relief whatsoever: Chiropractics, icing, rest, active release therapy, meds, stretching, exercise, accupuncture, and etc.

It's not a pinched nerved, carpel tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, tendinosis, thoracic outlet syndrome, MS, tennis elbow, or focal dystonia. Anybody have any ideas? Don't say something just to get points please, thanks a lot!

I am continuously getting backpain and I'm fedup of spending large sums of money for acupuncture treatment and getting deep heat.

I need correct analysis and treatment of the pains and recitification but I fear doing this would cost a lot more money. If I get health insurance/medical insurance, can it cover my costs for treatments?

Does anyone know any insurance that covers for this type of problem?