Neuro-Structural Integration Technique (NST) for BACK PAIN

If you've never heard of neuro-structural integration technique (NST), then you may be missing out on a simple but effective treatment for your back pain. NST is a gentle and non-invasive technique that stimulates your body's reflexes. Simple movements are done across your muscles, nerves, and connective tissue. These help your neuromuscular system to reset all related tension levels and promote natural healing. It is different from massage and other manipulations that try to “force” a change – it simply resets your body to heal itself. It gives profound and lasting results that you may feel as soon as the second or third session.

NST is safe for everyone. Highly trained athletes, newborns, pregnant women, elderly, and sick individuals who suffer from back pain can find relief using this technology. Get a more in-depth explanation of NST through this article by Michael Nixon Levy, who developed this amazing technique.

What is Spinal Decompression Therapy (SDT)? Does it Work?

ancient spine decompressionSpinal decompression therapy (SDT) is an alternative to surgery for those who suffer from chronic spine issues.  If you are struggling with chronic spinal pain, it is important to consider ALL your treatment options before turning to surgery.  Living in pain can greatly cause your life to turn upside down and disable you from doing all the things you used to love and be able to do.  Spinal decompression therapy (SDT) treatment, it will improve your mobility and the overall function of your spine.  This is done by using a “spinal decompression table” that mechanically moves the back in a very strategic fashion.  The back typically experiences an increase in function of movement in just one or two sessions. Many people are finding that with spinal decompression therapy (SDT) their pain is alleviated in a non-surgical approach that often requires a very low amount of pain medications once they have completed with their treatment plan.

Natural Pain Relief: Popular Herbal Options

Here are some common herbal remedies used for natural pain relief:

• Capsaicin. Derived from hot chile peppers, topical capsaicin may be useful for some people in relieving pain. "Capsaicin works by depleting substance P, a compound that conveys the pain sensation from the peripheral to the central nervous system. It takes a couple of days for this to occur," says David Kiefer, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.

• Ginger. Though more studies are needed, says Dr. Kiefer, ginger extract may help with joint and muscle pain because it contains phytochemicals, which help stop inflammation. Few side effects have been linked to ginger when taken in small doses.

• Feverfew. Feverfew has been used for centuries to treat headaches, stomachaches, and toothaches. Nowadays it's also used for migraines and rheumatoid arthritis. More studies are required to confirm whether feverfew is actually effective, but the herb may be worth trying since it hasn't been associated with serious side effects. Mild side effects include canker sores and irritation of the tongue and lips. Pregnant women should avoid this remedy.

• Turmeric. This spice has been used to relieve arthritis pain and heartburn, and to reduce inflammation. It's unclear how turmeric works against pain or inflammation, but its activity may be due to a chemical called curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric is usually safe to use, but high doses or long-term use may cause indigestion. Also, people with gallbladder disease should avoid using turmeric.

• Devil's Claw. There is some scientific evidence that this South African herb may be effective in managing arthritis and lower back pain, but more research is needed. Side effects are very rare if taken at a therapeutic dose for the short term, but it’s not advised for pregnant women and those with gallstones or stomach or intestinal ulcers.

The Dangers of Drugs for Back Pain Treatment

Back Pain Medications
Conventional health care practitioners are quick to prescribe medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, and even opioids for chronic pain. But even if these medications can provide immediate back pain relief, their effect is only temporary – the pain will come back sooner or later and in some cases will cause hyperalgesia, or increased sensitivity to pain!

What’s more, medications touted to provide back pain relief are saddled with severe side effects. For example, NSAIDs, one of the most commonly prescribed drugs on the market, not only put you at a two- to four-fold higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems, but may also cause:

Severe gastrointestinal problems, like digestive tract bleeding
Increased blood pressure
Kidney problems
Be mindful that these life-threatening side effects of painkillers are not restricted to prescription NSAIDs like Celebrex, but may also come from over-the-counter drugs like aspirin, Advil, and Motrin.

Opioid painkillers like OxyContin, which are also commonly prescribed for back pain relief, also have a highly addictive nature. In fact, opioids are among the most commonly abused prescription drugs today, and are a leading contributor to the increasing rates of fatal prescription drug overdoses. This is why back pain is now one of the primary reasons why so many American adults get addicted to painkillers.

The bottom line is that painkillers always come with risks. Unfortunately, if you consult your conventional physician about your chronic back pain, he will often prescribe a long-term treatment plan that may include anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and possibly other types of pain medication or even anti-seizure drugs – a poisonous chemical cocktail that will put your health at severe risk!

What are the surgical options for patients with spinal stenosis?

Possible surgical treatment options for lumbar spinal stenosis include a laminectomy, a laminectomy and fusion, or an X STOP interspinous process device. Your spinal surgeon will determine which procedure is most appropriate for you. Generally, the more severe the stenosis the more likely you will require a spinal fusion.
Cervical stenosis is generally treated by a fusion procedure. This can be performed either through the front of the neck (anterior approach) or the back of the neck (posterior approach). Ninety percent of patients with cervical stenosis can be treated via the anterior approach. This procedure is called an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Margin lending

Margin lending is when you invest in shares using a loan secured against the shares you purchase. Many Australian financial organisations and stockbroking houses offer margin lending facilities.

Margin lending, in the form of a margin loan, can be used for any type of investment product recognised as suitable security for a margin loan by the bank or financial organisation providing the cash. Typically, a margin lending product enables you to borrow money to invest in a parcel of shares, or in fixed interest securities or even to invest in units in managed funds.

A margin loan works in the following way:

1.     You buy assets with borrowed money and those assets are used as security for the loan.

2.     In most cases, your borrowing limit will be no more than 70% of the market value of the shareholding that was purchased with the borrowed money. The remaining 30% of the market value of the shares is to insulate the bank or broker lending the money from any dramatic drop in the share price.

3.     If the company you’re planning to invest in is considered a high-risk company, or in a high risk sector, then your lender may only lend you 50 per cent of the value of the shares in that company.

4.     If the value of the shares that are subject to a margin loan fall below the amount that you borrowed, then you will be asked to pay cash immediately to your lender to cover the gap in value. This payment request is called a margin call.

5.     A margin call can be quite devastating if you don’t have the cash and you’re forced to sell some, or all, of the shares in a falling market. The lender may accept other shares as further security for the margin loan.

6.     When a share price drops dramatically, as many shares did during the 2008 and 2009 Global Financial Crisis, you will notice a cascading effect with share prices, as share prices fall further due to the forced sale of shareholdings to meet margin calls.

Note: You can also invest in shares using borrowed money by borrowing against your home or accessing the equity in an investment property. By taking out a mortgage against your home or investment property, the shares that you choose to purchase will not be subject to margin calls although your home will be at risk if you’re unable to repay your loan. By accessing equity in a property, you can usually negotiate a lower rate of interest on your loan compared to the much higher rates charged on margin loans.

Complete a corporate debt-swap: tips for borrowing money

The debt-swap above works well when you can sell investments with little or no tax to pay. If you have significant accrued gains, another idea could work without causing a tax hit on the sale of those investments.

Here’s an example: James has $100,000 of non-deductible debt (his home mortgage in this case). He also has a portfolio of investments worth $200,000 with an accrued capital gain of $100,000 (if he were to sell this portfolio it would trigger a tax hit of $23,000 at a marginal tax rate of 46 per cent). James transfers his $200,000 portfolio to his holding company on a tax-deferred basis (using section 85 of the Income Tax Act) and in exchange takes back shares in the holding company worth $100,000 plus a promissory note for $100,000 (there’s a reason for it being $100,000; speak to a tax pro).

James then borrows $100,000 from his bank and uses the cash to subscribe for more shares in his holding company. This use of the borrowed money allows him to deduct the interest on those funds. The company then takes the $100,000 of cash it receives on that subscription of shares and uses the funds to pay off the $100,000 note owing to James. There’s no tax to pay on this repayment of the note. James then takes the $100,000 of cash and pays off his non-deductible debt. In the end, James still has $100,000 of debt, but he’s able to deduct his interest. Now, as a practical matter James may not go to these lengths solely to create an interest deduction, but there may be other good reasons to put investments into a holding company. Speak to a tax pro for more.