Do I have a Disc Problem in the Neck? And what can I do to get neck pain relief?

The arc4life cervical linear traction neck pillow

Do yo have radiating pain? Do you have other symptoms like numbness and tingling in the fingers? Do you have severe neck pain? Does it hurt when you cough or sneeze?

If you do, you may have disc pain. But...Even it's a strain I would still recommend the Cervical Traction Pillow!

The "V" actually holds neck fairly stationary which we have found to be very helpful in a patient with disc problems.

Opening up the disc spaces with a little neck traction can help relieve symptoms too...

Additional Reading:

• Getting the right traction unit for your herniated disc symptoms
• How to use the traction side of the traction v pillow for the most pain relief
• What is the hunchback posture?
• What to do when someone tells you your posture is crooked
• Things to do when you have a stiff neck

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.
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Mobility is Key!

You'll notice my title: "Mobility is Key". What I'm trying to say is that motion of your spine is essential. You may have also heard "motion is life".

This is because our spine is designed to move. It is when it doesn't move when we run into problems. You see, lack of motion or restrictions in the spine means pressure on nerves; this equates to pain...So when inflammation builds we get problems. When things move like they should, nutrients get into cells and when things are immobile they don't. Also, inflammation builds, which bis unable to dissipate without motion. This is what really puts pressure on nerves.

We often may think "bone on nerve" because it's so easy to understand; but that's not really what happens. Inflammation builds and puts pressure on nerves.

As a Chiropractor, not only can I restore motion or mobility to an area but I can put things in the right spot too. Over time, if we can not only get motion back but align things as good as possible, painful occurrences are less!

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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Additional Reading:

• How Can You Treat a Stiff neck?
• 6 Reasons why its so Important to Exercise
• Exercises for someone with forward head posture
• The Hunch Back Posture
• Maintaining Good Neck Posture

"I Love Watching TV in Bed, What's the Best Way?"

Trying to be comfortable
and watch tv in bed?

"When I watch TV in bed I usually find myself with 2 or 3 pillows under my head. This way I can lay I my back to watch. The problem is that if I do it too long I get neck pain. OMG, I fell asleep one time like this only to wake up with excruciating pain."

If on your back you need to support and maintain the normal neck curve. With too many pillows your neck is flexed forward. Oh yeah, what if you fall asleep and roll on your side? Your neck is bent to the side for hours...

The bottom line is that watching tv in bed isn't the greatest thing; sit up to watch when you want to. You can use a comfortable bed wedge to make it more supportive and ergonomic.

 Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

Additional Reading:

• Why Posture is Truly the Window to Your Health
• Doing Something about your Hunch Back Posture
• What to do for a neck herniation
• One Simple Way to Appear to Be Taller and Skinnier
• Can Shoe Orthotics help with the neck pain that I have been having?

If I have foot pain, can I get low back problems?

Can Foot Pain be Related Somehow to Back Pain?

If you have foot pain there is a very good chance you might create back problems too. Have you ever heard the saying "a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link". I think that can still apply here because the feet are directly related to the back. Like a house that has a poor foundation, if your base (feet), are not sturdy then you have lost strength automatically. Maybe the foot pain is not structural however. This will play less of a role with the pain in the back but can still affect it. If your gait is thrown of because of it it will work into the back. If you have to wear different shoes it will work into the back. If you can't wear something to give good arch support it will work its way to the back...

Don't discount your feet when it comes to back pain.

Additional Reading:

• Treatment of neck pain for the serious athlete
• How to treat sore muscles using biofreeze
• Products for Posture
• Understanding the Hunchback Posture
• The Queen of Neck Pillows

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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"If Someone Tells Me I'm Crooked..."

If someone says "You're Crooked"; it's probably not a good thing. Assuming they're referring to you posture..., why is this important? Posture is like a window to the spine. If your posture is shifted, then most likely you're spine, inside you, is too. That means possible nerve pressure; and that possibly means pain! Or it could even be something worse.

Additional Reading:

• Misalignment in the neck spine
• What to do for a Stiff Neck
• Top 10 ways to improve posture
• Posture is a Window Into your Spine: Products that help
• Why this posture corrector brace works

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Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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The Arc4life Chiropractic Teddy Bear - The Chirobear

Check out the famous Arc4life Teddy Bear. This chiropractic teddy bear has a little spine that clicks in the back. Great novelty gift for patients, chiropractic students, and doctors. For More information on these bears, click here: The Arc4life Chirobear.  Dr. Bellinger, a chiropractor in Glastonbury CT demonstrates how this bear works below.



Additional Reading:

• The Arc4life Chiropractic Teddy Bear
• Purchase the Chirobears in Bulk for your office
• The Neck Pain Support Blog
• The Neck Pain Relief Shop
• Arc 4 Life

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious
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My Pain Is At The Base Of My Head

At the base of the head or skull, in the back, are the occipital muscle. Often, individuals with upper neck pain or headaches have tension in these muscles. The occipital muscles connect the base of the skull to the first two vertebrae. When the neck is out of alignment, or gets strained one will most often get spasm or trigger points in these muscles.

One of the best ways to get some relief is muscle massage. Here's how to do it at home on your own. Place your open hands over your ears. Notice you thumbs land right on the occipital muscles. Dig your thumbs into the occipital s, hold for 7-10 seconds and relax, then repeat 2 more times. This is "trigger point" massage!

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

Source of Picture: Ehealing.us

Additional Reading Resources:

• How Muscle Spasm in the Neck Happens.. and how to handle it...
• You Wake up with Neck Pain. What Exercise Can you Do?
• Neck and Shoulder Pain
• What is the best pillow for my neck pain specifically?
• Hard or soft pillow? Which is best for me?

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"No way I'm doing Surgery!"

This may be the case, but sometimes it is warranted. I will say however, that it is overdone. In a USA Today series called "When Health Care Make You Sick" they talk about just that.

Thousands and thousands of time a patient goes into the operating room when it's just no necessary. These typically include a variety of heart procedures, hysterectomies, C-sections, back and neck surgeries, and more...

There are often safe, non-surgical ways to help with the pains you may suffer with.

One is, simply the pillow you sleep with. Arc4Life's Cervical Linear Traction Pillow has helped so many people, it's hard to keep track.

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Solutions for chronic neck pain
• What to do for neck and shoulder pains
• Don't let your back pain be an excuse for everything
• Pillow Review of the arc4life natural alignment pillow
• Get the right pillow for what you need

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Can My Feet Be Contributing To My Neck Pain?

Your feet can often be a factor in your neck pain. Here's why...the pain or misalignment lower in the body tend to work their way upward. Similar to a tall building; it's only as strong as its base. Just like a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Work on fixing the neck - a neck pillow, muscle massage, and heat pack or ice pack; but make sure your body alignment is correct lower down too.

Also, the whole body works as one. If their is a problem somewhere the body must focus its attention there. This is one reason why why suffering from a cold or flu, you neck starts to hurt. So, yes, your feet can definitely be a hidden neck pain culprit, but your overall health may be a factor too.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Hot and Cold Therapy that Helps with Pain
• Neck Alignment: How does it affect our neck muscles
• Hunchback posture: FAQ's
• What is important when choosing a neck pillow?

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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A Poor Night’s Sleep Can Cause Much More Than A Sluggish Morning…

Scientists have discovered that sleep plays a big role in the body’s healing. More specifically: immune system functioning, memory, and your metabolism to name a few.

If your immune system isn’t functioning at its best that means you are leaving yourself open to many things; much worse than feeling sleepy…

Here’s one example, in a study by the Institute of National Health and Researchers from the Netherlands discovered that lack of sleep can equal a greater chance of cardiovascular disease.

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

Additional Reading Resources:

• The Arc4life Traction V Pillow Vs the Arc4life Linear Grav Pillow
• Remedy for a Stiff Neck
• Get a Better Sleep Regimen at Night
• Get healthier and happier by getting better sleep at night
• Numbness and Tingling at night

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What's Most Important When Choosing A Neck Pilow?

The most important aspect of your neck pillow is comfort. Try sleeping on that neck pillow that's just too hard, or even just squishes too much - you may wake up with pain and tingling in the arms, who knows. The next most important aspect in general for a pillow is the neck roll. This is there to help improve and maintain that ever so important, cervical curvature. Everyone is a little different however. A hypoallergenic pillow like most of our pillows may be necessary for someone with allergies. Someone used to memory foam may prefer one slightly more firm.

A Comfortable Pillow is Important to Help you Fall Asleep

Also remember, when choosing your pillow, it's gotta have good neck support but comfort is king! (only get the large size if you are tall, not based on your bed) - Just wanted to put that to squash any possible confusion with my last line.

If you find yourself not getting a great night's sleep with you're once perfect pillow, it may just be time for a new one.

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Exercises for the Neck
• What to do for a pinched nerve in the neck
• I cannot move my neck after i slept in an awkward position
• Being Sleep Deprived is not good for your health
• How to treat muscle tightness in your neck and upper back area

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The News always talk about low back pain, what about neck pain?

I was flipping the TV channels last night and caught a clip from NBC Nightly News. They were talking about back pain, and of course the usual surgery drugs thing. The newscaster said to the resident doctor: "What about prevention?" She replied with the usual "strengthen the core". This may occasionally help the lower back but what about the neck?

A lot of the time they lump the neck into back things. Because your back often refers to the spine, which includes the neck. Well, just like the low back, we have to regularly look to practice prevention of pain or something similar.

There's no "core exercises" for the neck but it's very similar. You need to keep the neck health and strong too. I begin the day with dynamic stretches that include the neck and do sustained stretches later as well. I also do head retraction exercises regularly (As you may have figured, I do a lot of computer work).

So, think about your neck too, it's also part of the back!

Additional Reading Resources:

• A Wireless Solution for Neck Pain:The Witouch Wireless Tens Machine for Muscle spasm
• I Hurt My Back Moving...
• Shop for the Best Neck Pillow for a Solution for Neck Pain and Muscle Spasm
• Have Better Posture
• How Can a Neck Stretcher help me with my neck pain

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

How Can I Massage My Own Neck?

Here's the reason, when the muscles bind up you will lose not only motion of those muscles but of the neck spine to. Breaking up those muscle adhesions helps to allow better motion and for inflammation to dissipate. You see, when we lose motion, inflammation builds up and we get pressure on nerves. It's this nerve pressure that creates neck pain, arm pain, and headaches.

Massaging Your Own Neck Muscles is Easy to Do

Here's one of the simplest ways to do it: Reach across your body with the right hand to massage the left neck. Grab your trapezius, this is the big muscle on top of your shoulder. There is always muscle knots or trigger points there. Grab an squeeze for 10 seconds. Next move slightly to a different spot. You can do it as many times as you want; you can also do the other side too.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Exercises for the Neck that Loosen your neck muscles
• Are Trigger Points Causing your neck and Upper Back Pain?
• The SCM Muscle in the Neck- a cause for neck pain
• Wireless tens for pain relief in the lower back
• The Neck Pain Relief Kit - Solutions for Neck Pain

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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Neck Pain - Speedy Relief...

A lot of people call to purchase a pillow or relief product but also want help getting some relief now without popping a pill. My advice is a list of a few things. Not every one works for every body; not to mention, everyone's situation, or particular pain may be slightly different.

Solutions for Speedy Neck Pain Relief

Here we go: #1 - Muscle massage. This will depend slightly on where your pain is, but trigger point massage gives the quickest relief. Get on those knots (or trigger points) hold for 7-10 seconds and move to the next spot. You can repeat as much as you want.

#2 - Neck stretches. Hold a stretch for 10-20 seconds, only go as far as you can and repeat a few times. 1 extra tip: do trigger point massage while in a stretched position too.

#3 - An ice pack. Ice the particular sore are for 20 minutes on and then 20 minutes off.

Try these quick relief tips. When your traction pillow comes in, or other relief and posture product, you'll will be more able to adjust.

Additional Resources:

• What Can I Do For My Constant Neck Pain?
• How Do I Get Rid of the Hump on my Back?
• Which Neck Pillows are Really Best When you are Suffering with Neck Pain?
• How to Treat Muscle Spasm in Your Neck and Upper Back
• Why Does a Neck Roll Work So Well?

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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"This Headache Is Terrible..."

Do you Have a Headache That Just Won't Go Away?

You've got a bad headache and it just won't go away! Did you know that over 90% of headaches come from the neck? Yes, that's right! So that poor neck posture might be catching up with you. So it makes complete sense to correct your posture; especially in your neck.

One of the most common postural MISalignments is forward head, and with that often comes a loss of the cervical curve. So what can we doe to fix it? We can do chiropractic adjustments, we can do neck exercises, we can do neck traction, and we can use a neck pillow. A great thing with using a neck pillow (pillow has a roll in it for the neck curve), is that this one's done while you sleep!

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

Image Source: FoxNews

Additional Reading Resources:

• How to Help my Neck Pain and Headache From Work?
• Remedy For A Stiff Neck
• Do You Get Migraine Headaches?
• Pillows for Side Sleepers
• What to Do For a Neck Misalignment?

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Wearing a Lumbosacral Support Correctly is the Key

One of the lower back belts that we recommend for preventing and relieving lower back pain is called the Corfit Lumbosacral Belt. One of the keys to this being effective is to make sure that the belt is on correctly. Here are 5 steps to making sure you have a good fit for this belt:

• First loosen the two elastic side pull straps
• Position the belt so that the lower back is covered. Position the belt across the back with the bottom edge over the coccyx or the tail bone
• Close the belt so that you are comfortable. Don't close the belt too tightly or you won't be able to breathe. Make sure there is generous overlap.'
• Grab the side pulls and stretch them out and down. This will provide maximum inward and upward lift
• Fasten the side pull straps to the front panel of the belt

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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One Simple Way to Appear Taller and Slimmer

Simply, Don't Slouch.

You can appear taller and slimmer quite easily actually. Don't slouch when you are walking, when you are sitting, or even when you are using your computer or watching TV. Bad posture can lead to hunchback posture. It can look unslightly, and it can cause health problems such as:

• back pain
• neck pain
• slipped discs
• degeneration in the spine
• circulation problems

When you have good posture, you will feel it too. You will exude more confidence, and most importantly you will breathe better. Change up your computer station and how you sleep to help with your posture if you have to. If you need to leave a note for yourself on your mirror, do it. When your mother and father tell you to sit up or stand tall, listen.

Additional Reading Resources:

1. Pinched Nerve in the Neck- how to treat it.
2. Choose the Best Neck Pillow for The Best Sleep and Posture Possible
3. Your Mind Plays a Bigger Role in Your Health Than You Think
4. Getting the information on herniated disc that you need
5. What to do if you have suffered with neck pain for 10 Years?

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

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"I Turned Quickly And I Think I Hurt My Neck?"

A Quick Turn in the Wrong Direction...BAM...Neck Pain Strikes

I hear this kind of thing a lot. Most likely something was going on in the neck, and it was ready to act up. That sharp or fast turn was the final straw. For example you may have slept awkward, got up and didn't notice, later on moved quick and - bam - it hits you!

Here's the bottom line: You have a neck strain, we have to get rid of it...

Some quick tips: 
1. Put a hot pack on the neck 
2. Do some easy neck stretches 
3. Lay on a neck roll to gently help correct spine alignment

Additional Reading Resources

• A Pillow for Neck Sprain and Neck Strain
• I have a Short Neck. Which Pillow do You Recommend?
• Don't Forget About Neck Exercises
• Not Sleeping Well at Night? learn what might be the culprit
• The Hunchback Posture

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!