Back pain seems another plague of the modern world and despite the entire knowledge of the medical community it is growing in epidemic proportions. Four out of every five people in the U.S. suffer from back pain at some point in their adult lives. It is the second most common cause for missed work after upper respiratory ailments.

Broadly speaking, the causes of back pain stems from two main sources; first and foremost are muscular-skeletal disorders arising from muscle or ligament strains and/or poor posture in daily activities; and second from a variety of diseases, such as degenerative arthritis or ruptured or herniated disc.

Contributing factors may include, being overweight, emotional stress and weak abdomen muscles. Back pain is frequently the result of daily activities performed incorrectly, such as lifting, standing or bending or sitting. Slipped or ruptured discs are usually the result of one of the foregoing conditions which, over a period of time has worsened.

There are several other causes of low back pain and injury in particular sports injuries from basketball, football, baseball, soccer, running and golf participants. A 1992 study of injuries among golf professionals sited the most common area of injury is the back caused during the golf swing.

Pain is essential to warn us of the threat of injury. When reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) strikes, messages described most often as burning or stabbing pain are continually sent to the brain. Whatever the reason for back pain it can be treated so the pain is eliminated. Of course a deteriorated disc condition cannot be reversed but it can be treated in order to eliminate pain.

LOW BACK PAIN

It is no surprise that most back problems involve the lower back or lumbar curve. The lower back is the workhorse of your spine. It consists of five vertebrae, separated and cushioned by flexible discs, plus nerve roots, muscles and ligaments.

Your lower back supports most of your body's weight and absorbs nearly all of the stress when you stand, sit or move. Understanding the reasons for low back pain can help you treat and possibly eliminate it.

TREATMENT

It is most important to get a proper diagnosis in order to determine the best treatment. Consulting your doctor and/or chiropractor is the first step to recovery. Once a valid diagnosis is made treatments will range from exercise and physical therapy to drugs and surgery. Most low back pain, acute or chronic, can be treated without surgery.

I.C.E. DOWN

Like so many well-accepted treatments cold therapy is based on real-world clinical experience. Few scientific studies show that cold diminishes pain and speeds healing. Yet that is exactly what I.C.E. DOWN does. It is also why I.C.E. DOWN has grown in popularity and use at sports and rehabilitation clinics, orthopedic surgical outpatient facilities and among fitness-oriented trainers and individuals. It is why I.C.E. DOWN is the most widely used modality for treatment and relief of back pain, low back pain and sciatica.

Back Support Wrap

The I.C.E. DOWN neoprene support back ice wraps is designed to deliver localized cold therapy to any area of the back and neck. The neoprene on the support wrap provides insulation to prevent the loss of cold. The wraps unique design offers posterior support stays, right and left tension pulls to increase back support and a sewn in pad to support the lumbar curve. In this way the wrap can be used as a back support with or without a cold pack.

Cold Pack

I.C.E. DOWN's unique flexible-ice cold pack sustains the cold long enough to reach the deep tissue does is to anesthetize the pain by causing a localized release of endorphins which are naturally occurring opiates produced by the body. Simultaneously the I.C.E. DOWN ® cold pack begins reducing inflammation and subsequent swelling caused by edema buildup.

Since the I.C.E. DOWN ® cold pack is a natural product it may be used several times through out the day without side effects like those caused by pain-killers and anti-inflammatory drugs. After the cold therapy pack is inserted into the coated nylon pocked on the support wrap the cold is delivered without moisture. The "dry cold" allows I.C.E. DOWN ® to be used over street clothes without getting them wet.

The I.C.E. DOWN ® cold therapy wrap offers complete mobility to its user. It may be worn during rehabilitation or exercises specific to recovery and pain reduction, sometimes called cryokinetics.

The I.C.E. DOWN cold pack manufactured by ICD is no ordinary cold pack. Our cold pack is the only doubled-walled cold pack on the market. What this means is that when you buy an I.C.E. DOWN cold pack you get the" best bang for your buck". In other words the I.C.E. DOWN cold pack has the lowest cost-in-use of any other cold pack on the market so the value to you far exceeds any other cold packs available.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

I.C.E. DOWN is contraindicated for use with persons who suffer any of the following conditions:

1. Raynaud's or one the other vasosspastic diseases. 2. Cold hypersensensitivity. 3. Compromised local circulation.

If there is any question about the severity or use of this pack, consult your physician, therapist or medical practitioner.

Links:

For more information on back pain or spine injuries check out these links

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

Spine Health

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Is there any treatment?

Limited rest combined with appropriate exercise and education is often the primary mode of therapy. Nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs — alone or in combination with steroid injections, analgesics, muscle relaxants, or anti-depressants — may be added to the therapy program. Acute back pain often goes away by itself in a few days or weeks. An ice bag or hot water bottle applied to the back may also help to alleviate pain. Prolonged bed rest is not beneficial because it weakens muscles. A physician should be notified immediately if there is no relief from pain after a few days in bed, if pain is severe or recurs, if radiating pain, numbness, tingling, or weakening occurs in the arms or legs, if bowel or bladder dysfunction occurs, if a child or elderly person has back pain, or if fever and/or vomiting occurs with back pain.

What is the prognosis?

Recommendations for preventing initial and recurring episodes of back pain include: regular exercise, stretching before participation in sporting activities, quitting smoking, losing weight, maintaining correct posture, using comfortable, supportive seats while driving, sleeping on the side with knees drawn up or on the back with a pillow under bent knees, lifting by bending at the knees rather than the waist, avoiding standing or working in any one position for too long, and reducing emotional stress that causes muscle tension.