Give the Gift of Pain Relief this Christmas: Stocking Stuffers from Arc4life.com

Does your Aunt Gertrude always ask you to scratch her back during Christmas Dinner? Does your mother wake up with a stiff neck? Is your Uncle Ranjit a world traveller? Well this year i decided to put together some ideas for christmas gifts from arc4life.com. Believe it or not, we are very busy shipping gifts this holiday season. Our top products that we ship as a gift is our arc4life cervical traction neck pillow (#10 on our list). Usually because someone has purchased our pillow, loved it and thought of someone else that could benefit from it. But thats not all- we have other great gifts too. Here are our top 10 products from arc4life.com

1. Biofreeze Natural Pain Relief Gel- This natural pain relief gel contains ingredient called Ilex (a South American holly scrub that was used by the Paraguay Indians) to help decrease pain. This 4 oz tube is great for simple aches and pains in the neck and the lower back. Perfect stocking stuffer. Here is an article for how to use biofreeze correctly
   
2. The Arc4life ChiroBear- This 12" chiropractic teddy bear with a spine is perfect for the graduating chiropractic student, a chiropractor or someone who wants a cool teddy bear with a spine.
   
3. A lumbar support Belt - The corfit 7000 lumbar support is great for someone is doing heavy lifting in the yard and wants to protect their lower back. Comes in 5 sizes ranging from small - 3x large. Here is an article about how to wear a chiropractic lumbar support belt properly.
   
4. A low back support for the car- if you know someone who sits in their vehicle for long periods at a time, then the slim rest back rest is a great gift. This Car Seat Cushion supports the lower back without being bulky. It provides support to the lumbo-sacral region making your lower back more comfortable and naturally contoured during long periods of sitting
   
5. A hot and Cold therapy pack- this is a great gift idea for really anyone. Hot and cold packs can be kept in the home ready for use at any time. For an acute injury such as a knee or ankle sprain - use a cold pack right from the freeze. For chronic pain in the neck - where maybe a hot pack will come in handy, stick the therapy pack in the microwave for 2 minutes. The great aspect of arc4life's hot and cold packs is that they come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some are built just for your neck, others for your neck and shoulder area, and others for your lower back area.
   
6. A tens unit - you may have used an electrotherapy unit at the Chiropractor's or physical therapist's office wishing that you could have that machine at home. Well, with a home tens unit you can get pain relief at any time. Easy to carry, light, and simple to use.
   
7. The Bed Wedge- I included the bed wedge because this thing has many uses. First it can be used under the knees to prevent lower back pain and sleep in a more comfortable position. Second, you can use it to elevate your head and neck- it acts as an extension of your mattress. Third, you can use is as reading pillow in bed, or really any other surface. Comes in 3 sizes - a very versatile positioning product. This may not fit your stocking by the way.
   
8. The Back Knobber- You know that aunt that keeps asking you to scratch her back- this product is perfect for her. Use it to apply firm deep pressure to tender trigger points in your back. This is a great massage tool that will help decrease pain, achiness, and soreness from those hard to reach areas.
   
9. The u Shaped Travel Memory Foam Neck Pillow - Great for the family member who likes to travel.
   
10. The arc4life cervical traction neck pillow- I am going to list this item because it is still our best seller during the christmas time. It will definitely NOT fit into a stocking, but it goes well under the tree. LOL. Patients will buy this neck pillow because their Dr recommended it to them, they loved it, and now they are ordering it for a loved one. Read the testimonials for the arc4life pillow- they will speak for themselves !
    

HAPPY HOLIDAYS !

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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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I Have a Disc Bulge in my Neck, Which Pillow is the Best for Me?

Which Neck Pillow is Best for A Bulging Disc?

The pillow that we recommend the most is the cervical traction neck pillow. There are a couple of reasons for this.

The first reason is the neck roll built into the bottom of the “V.” This neck roll helps to restore or maintain the cervical curve. When we put the curvature back in the neck or improve it, this will help to hold the spinal discs into place. These discs are more stable and are held more securely between the vertebrae.

The second reason is the gentle traction that the pillow gives. This gentle pull helps to suction the discs back into alignment.

Lastly, we have found this pillow really helps to keep the neck and head in a stable position. The shape of the traction pillow helps to hold one in positions versus allowing one to move around too much. Sometimes when this happens one can awake with neck pain from being in a position that irritates the discs.



Happy Thanksgiving From Arc 4 Life to Your Family

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Additional Reading Resources

• Choose the Right Neck Pillow for your Needs
  
• Remedy for a Stiff Neck
  
• The Dreaded "Hunchback" - How To Correct That Area Of Your Upper Back That Pops Out And Looks Funny!
  
• Neck Alignment: How Does it Affect our Neck Muscles
  
• The BowTie Pillow for Neck and Shoulder 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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“The Damp, Rainy Weather Seems To Make My Neck Pain Worse.”

This is a very common complaint, and it is very true. The dampness often cuts right into the neck irritating our spine. The change in pressure outside often creates increased gravitational pressure on our bodies. Even though it’s a tiny amount, to an already disrupted or arthritic spine that pressure change makes a difference. It’s like someone pushing down on you from the top of your head, you can imagine the increased pressure put on the spine, especially the neck.

The change in pressure also causes a disequilibrium which may cause swelling in some joints. That rise of inflammation puts more pressure on nerves that cause pain. It is also thought that the change in pressure and or equilibrium may get some nerve endings "stirred-up", hence, creating irritation and pain.

One each side of the spine you have foramen (or holes where the nerves come out). The discs between each vertebrae act as a spacer to keep these holes wide open. Extra pressure on the spine and increased inflammation can close these holes slightly creating pressure and therefore pain.

So what can be done? The best thing to slow degeneration in the neck (cervical degeneration) is to improve alignment. Perfect alignment of the neck means the nerves flow without pressure. When everything is in alignment, your spine handles the forces of gravity the best also. A good start to improve alignment is a cervical support pillow.


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A great pillow for neck support AND travel

Everyday we have satisfied customers to really enjoy our pillows and pain relief products. When someone does find the right pillow specifically, the next question is "I need a pillow for travel, what do you have?" Unfortunately, your choices are limited when it comes to travel pillows. Yes you can get the U Shaped kind, but i am talking about one that you can sleep with. Not the too soft or too hard pillows you will find your hotel.

I do remember a while back, the Ritz Carlton called and requested 12 of our cervical traction neck pillows. One of their guests must have special requested this pillow before they arrived. I chuckled to myself as I filled this particular order.

Other customers who have second homes have us simply ship their favorite pillow to their house- with special instructions to make sure it arrives safely. We have been shipping pillows since 2003, so we do have many repeat customers. Once people get used to sleeping on a special pillow, they want to make sure they continue to sleep soundly.

But when it comes to getting a pillow that you can travel with, I would recommend the arc4life linear gravity pillow, the small size. The dimensions of this pillow are 23"x17". It has two neck rolls on it (one firm, one soft), that will ensure proper alignment of the neck. Yes, it does fit into a small suit case. If you have one of those vacuum sealers, it will work for this pillow too.



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Additional Reading Resources

• A Supportive Neck Pillow for A 20 Hour Flight
  
• Frequently Asked Questions about the arc4life linear gravity pillow
  
• The Difference between a Travel Pillow and a Neck Pillow
  
• Choosing the best neck pillow
  
• Pinched nerve in the 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. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

Two Common Postural Misalignments Created by Forward Head Posture

One misalignment in one area of the spine can quickly lead to more postural misalignments throughout the spine. Your body will try to compensate for one misalignment with another. Find out how to stop this pattern from developing by keeping posture maintained during your daily life.

What happens when your head juts out forward? Well, your body always tries to keep your eyes even with the horizon. This typically can cause one of two things to happen.

#1- Your head protrudes forward then into slight extension. The neck shifts forward, but the head tilts upward. The body does this to keep those eyes even with the horizon.

#2- Your back extends. As you can imagine, tilting the lower back backwards also raises up the eyes. We typically call this a “sway-back.”

Your body can have a number of postural misalignment patterns because that whole spine works together. So, if one particular section goes out of position, the body will try to correct things by doing what it has to. The good news is that if we correct one area of the spine, it can help the rest. Start by correcting your neck posture by using the arc4life neck pillow.


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“Great, I’m on Vacation and my Neck Pain is Acting Up!”

You don’t want this to happen to you. I can tell you from experience however that this happens all too often. You may not be on vacation, but traveling away from home for work. The bottom line is you are away from home with a different pillow, bed, and surroundings than what you’re used to.



Two things I recommend when you travel are a travel pillow and the Trac-Collar. Actually, three things because there are two kinds of neck travel pillows. One is a U-shaped pillow. These are great in a car or on a plane to keep your neck in good position. The other is a travel pillow that’s simply the smaller version of a standard sized pillow. This helps because it keeps the neck in alignment when you sleep. The Trac-Collar helps relieve immediate pain by stretching the spine out, opening up the nerve holes, and relaxing the spine. It’s super light and even has a small travel case. Literally buckle it around the neck and pump it up.



These are just a few things that I highly recommend for traveling neck pain sufferers. There are many other things also, like Biofreeze, Formula 303, hot packs, other spinal supports, you name it. These are the 3 most common that have been a big success to avoid neck pain while traveling.





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“My Arms keep Falling Asleep when I’m in Bed”

Pillows age over time, just like anything. This can mean that the pillow that once helped you get a great night’s sleep may be the reason you are now waking up at night. Find out what to look for in a pillow and when to know that it’s time to find a new support pillow to get a better night’s sleep.

  I have found this often happens when the pillow this individual uses has either lost its support or did not have any support to begin with. 

            One of my patients had mentioned this happening when he was using a feather pillow.  He would wake up because his arms would go tingly, then he’d squish more pillow under his neck, fall back to sleep, only to have it happen again during the night.  Talk about ruining your night of sleep. 

            I recommended our Cervical Traction Pillow, which holds the neck support and is very comfortable at the same time.  He hasn’t had this issue since!

This is exactly what you need in a neck pillow: something that’s comfortable yet will hold your neck alignment in place. Every time, any pillow will lose some support. 

Additional Reading Resources:

• Which Neck Pillow is best for my needs?
• I have been told that I have stenosis and there is nothing I can do
• Positioning Wedges | Bolsters | Products to Make you More Comfortable
• Do I need to Change my Pillow?
• How does a Pillow Placed Between my Legs Help my Back?

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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. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!