Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand.

Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand. Scenes from the Chronicles of Narnia (Prince Caspian) movie were filmed here.

Land of Thousand waterfalls

Land of Thousand waterfalls,Ko olau waterfalls in Oahu Island-Hawaii.

Copperfield Bay - Musha Cay

Copperfield Bay - Musha Cay, Bahamas

Crystal clear waters in Bora Bora

Crystal clear waters in Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Development without damage to Nature

Development without damage to Nature! Tunnels in Thailand

El Nido Palawan Island

El Nido Palawan Island, Phillippines

Tosua

Tosua actually means a “Gigantic Swimming Hole”. It is believed that lava field blow holes making thees tide pools and walking paths along the shore and near the ocean’s edge. it is about 30 meters down from the ground level, one must climb down a long ladder to the natural pool. The pool is situated close to Lotofaga, which is a village on the south coast of Upolu island in Samoa.

Lake Bled Island castle in Slovenia.

Uvac River canyon - Serbia.

Paradise Island in the Maldives

Paradise Island in the Maldives

The Bridge Of Immortals

The world’s highest bridge, The Bridge Of Immortals, is situated in the Yellow Mountains, also known as Huangshan, China. From the bridge you will have a breathtaking view, and see how the clouds are touching mountainsides beneath you.

On the way up to the top of these mountains there are a lot of steps on steep cliffs you need to climb. They even have an optional side hike called the “South Heavenly Gate” which has 3 planks that you can balance on while holding on to a big chain that will keep you close to the cliff walls so you don’t fall. If you fear height, you probably shouldn’t take all the rough trips up the cliffs of the Yellow Mountains, but that has to be the only excuse, because it’s truly worth it.

The treatment of low back pain depends on its cause

The treatment of low back pain depends on its cause.

For low back pain involving muscle and nerves, treatment can include pain medications such as acetaminophen*, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs; e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), or opioids (e.g., codeine, oxycodone) when pain is severe. Muscle relaxants may also be used, but their benefit in low back pain is not clear. Heat and cold (for the first few days after an injury) treatments and certain exercises as directed by a health care professional may also be used to help relieve pain. In some cases, chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy can help with low back pain.

Bed rest is usually not recommended, but if it is needed, it should not be longer than 1 or 2 days. Avoid heavy lifting after an injury, but continue light activities. As well as losing weight, most people are advised to improve their posture or lift weights to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the lower back. Strength training is a normal part of recovering from any muscle or ligament injury. Before starting an exercise program, discuss the activity first with your doctor and learn how to do the exercises properly.

Occasionally, slipped discs require surgery to decompress them. This may include deliberately fusing two vertebrae together. The operation shouldn't restrict back movement in any noticeable way.

Some back pain recurs over and over. Even the most thorough investigations may not find signs of injury or disease in some people. Speak to your doctor about exercises, physiotherapy, massage, or other therapies such as osteopathy, chiropractic, or manual physiotherapy.

You can help prevent low back pain by strengthening the muscles that support the back. Good posture while sitting or standing can also help prevent back pain. Proper lifting can also help prevent back injury: always keep the knees bent, do not twist the back, and use the legs to lift.

What are the benefits and risks of chiropractic care of BACK PAIN ?

Spinal manipulation and chiropractic care is considered a safe effective treatment for acute lower back pain - the type of sudden injury that results from moving furniture or from a sudden jarring in sport. Acute back pain, which is more common than chronic pain, lasts no more than six weeks and typically gets better on its own.

Research has also shown chiropractic to be helpful in treating neck pain and headaches. Osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia also respond to the moderate pressure used by both chiropractors and practitioners of deep tissue massage.

Studies have not confirmed the effectiveness of prolotherapy or sclerotherapy for pain relief, used by some chiropractors, osteopaths and medical doctors to treat chronic back pain - the type of pain that may come on suddenly or gradually and lasts for more than three months. The therapy involves injections to strengthen loosely connected tendons and ligaments.

People who have osteoporosis, spinal cord compression or inflammatory arthritis, or who take blood-thinning medications, should not undergo spinal manipulation.

All treatment is based on an accurate diagnosis of your back pain. The chiropractor should be well informed regarding your medical history including ongoing medical conditions, current medications, traumatic/surgical history and lifestyle factors. Although rare, there have been cases in which treatment worsened a slipped disc, or neck manipulation resulted in a stroke or spinal cord injury. To be safe always inform your doctor whenever you use chiropractic or other pain relief alternatives.

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) for BACK PAIN

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) - a popular therapy for patients with chronic (long-term) back pain. The TENS machine delivers small electric pulses into the body through electrodes that are place on the skin. Experts believe TENS encourages the body to produce endorphins, and may possibly block pain signals returning to the brain. Studies on TENS have provided mixed results; some revealed no benefits, while others indicated that it could be helpful for some patients. 

A TENS machine should be used under the direction of a doctor or health care professional. 

Cortisone injections for Back pain

Cortisone injections - if the above-mentioned therapies are not effective enough, or if the pain reaches down to the patient's legs, cortisone may be injected into the epidural space (space around the spinal cord). Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory drug; it helps reduce inflammation around the nerve roots. According to The Mayo Clinic, USA, the pain-relief effect will wear off after less than six weeks. 

Injections may also be used to numb areas thought to be causing the pain. Botox (botulism toxin), according to some early studies, are thought to reduce pain by paralyzing sprained muscles in spasm. These injections are effective for about three to four months. 

NONPHARMACOLOGIC TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR BACK PAIN

Patients commonly use nonpharmacologic treatment options, with or without consulting a physician. Forty-five percent of patients with low back pain see a chiropractor, 24 percent use massage, 11 percent get acupuncture, and 7 percent try meditation.

Acupuncture provides short-term relief of chronic low back pain, improves functioning, and works as an adjunct to other therapeutic options. It has not been shown to be more effective than other treatments. Fifty-one to 64 percent of patients are willing to try acupuncture if recommended by their physician.

Exercise therapy, focusing on strengthening and stabilizing the core muscle groups of the abdomen and back, appears to produce small improvements in pain and functioning in patients with chronic low back pain. However, few studies (i.e., six of the 43 studies included in a Cochrane review) have been able to demonstrate clinically important and statistically significant differences between intervention and control groups.

Behavior therapy is as effective as exercise therapy for short-term relief of chronic low back pain. Consistent evidence supports cognitive behavior therapy and progressive relaxation for short-term improvement, whereas biofeedback techniques have produced mixed results. Combining behavior therapy with other modalities does not have an additive effect.

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs that include a physician and at least one additional intervention (psychological, social, or vocational) alleviate subjective disability, reduce pain, return persons to work five weeks earlier, and after returning to work, reduce the amount of sick time in the first year by seven days. Benefits persist for up to five years.

Acupuncture massage and pressure point massage are mildly helpful for reducing chronic low back pain, and the benefits last for up to one year. Massage appears to be most effective when combined with exercise, stretching, and education.

Spinal manipulation provides modest short- and long-term relief of back pain, improves psychological well-being, and increases functioning.The benefits derived are not dependent on the type of training of the manipulator because osteopathic and chiropractic outcomes appear to be similar.

One therapeutically directed style of yoga (Viniyoga) may provide some relief of chronic back pain. Six weeks of yoga decreased medication use and provided more pain relief than exercise and self-care. Other forms of yoga have mixed results in small studies, and at this time there is not enough evidence to recommend them.

Back schools, low-level laser therapy, lumbar supports, prolotherapy, short wave diathermy, traction, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and ultrasound have negative or conflicting evidence of effectiveness

The Wrong Shoes and BACK PAIN

When you strut in stilettos, your foot strikes the ground in a toe-forward motion rather than the normal heel-toe gait, stressing your knees, hips, and back, Sinett explains. "Wearing heels also alters the angle of your body so your weight isn't evenly distributed over the spine," he says. This instability can set you up for pain and injury radiating from your knees all the way to your back.

Another shoe no-no: the backless kind (even flats and flip-flops), which allow your heel to slide around. Again, the lack of stability distributes your body weight unevenly, putting more pressure on your spine. Your shoe should firmly hold your foot in place to keep you stable and protect your back, says Sinett, who also advises sticking to heels that are less than three inches high.

Prskalo Waterfall in Serbia

Prskalo Waterfall in Serbia.

Looks like an Architectural work.

Malta

The water is so clear it looks like the boat is hovering! - Malta

Lake Kosai-Kazakhstan

San Alfonso del mar Beach-Chile

San Alfonso del mar Beach-Chile.
This beach is located between the largest artifcial pool and the
largest Ocean on the planet earth.

Phillip Island Wildlife Park

Kangaroos, Australia

During closing time at the Phillip Island Wildlife Park in July 2012, the roos were together resting and grazing as the winter sun was setting.

Photograph by Adhi Anggadjaja