Back pain can have many causes, and many times, back pain will resolve itself in two to four weeks with rest, ice and heat. In fact, 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives, making back pain one of the most common reasons people visit back pain clinics or miss work.  Back pain that lasts longer than a few weeks is not normal.Causes of Back PainMuscle Strains-Did you know that muscle-related pain is one of the most common reasons for overall back pain? It is true. Muscle related pain can be caused by improper lifting techniques, overuse, poor posture or a sudden awkward movement or fall.Spinal or Disc Problems-Bulging or Herniated Discs: Spinal discs are soft cushions between vertebra. Sometimes, the soft jelly-like substance inside the disc can bulge out of place or rupture, putting pressure on the surrounding nerves causing back pain. Disc related back pain can be caused by an injury. Interestingly, some people who have bulging or herniated discs will never experience any back pain.Sciatica-Sciatica refers to pain that stems from the sciatic nerve, a large nerve extending from the lower back down the back of each leg. Sciatica is not a disorder, but a symptom of another underlying problem, such as spinal stenosis, a pinched/irritated nerve in the lower back or a herniated disc.Other Painful Conditions-If you have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, compression fractures, arthritis or osteoporosis you may also experience pain in the back. These back pain conditions can be treated with conservative, minimally invasiveRisk Factors for Back Pain-There are a few factors that can increase your risk of developing back pain, such as: smoking, obesity, age, physical labor, sedentary work and depression.Diagnostic Testing-To help determine the cause of your back pain, there are several diagnostic tests that can be performed by a back pain doctor or back pain specialist. These may include Xrays, MRI, CT Scan and an Electromyography (EMG). An X-ray shows the alignment of the bones in your spine and whether you have any broken or arthritic bones that may be causing back pain. MRI and CT Scan tests show images of bone, muscle, tissue, nerves, blood vessels, tendons and ligaments. These tests can show disc herniation, muscle tears, ligament problems and can help your clinic doctor or back pain specialist understand your back pain. Electromyography (EMG) is a test used to study nerve and muscle function.Back Pain Treatment Options-At Nura, our clinic doctors and back pain specialists value the importance of an interdisciplinary approach. There are a number of treatment options that help reduce back pain, which include:Physical TherapyEpidural Steroid InjectionDiscographyFacet Joint InjectionTrigger Point InjectionRadiofrequency AblationSacroiliac Joint InjectionIntracept Proceduremild Procedure (Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression)Minuteman Procedure (Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion)Preparing for Your Doctor Appointment-Before your back pain appointment with your clinic doctor or back pain clinic specialist, take note of some important facts.Is your back pain the result of an injury?What movements increase or decrease your back pain?What are the symptoms you have been feeling?How long have you had this back pain?What does your back pain feel like? Dull, aching, stabbing or shooting?What type of work do you do?What treatments or medications have you already tried to resolve your back pain?Call Nura Pain Clinics for further information at 763-537-6000 or visit www.nuraclinics.com

It is estimated that there are over 3.5 million potentially preventable adult hospitalizations every year in the US. These are defined as hospital stays of at least three nights and do not include short trips to the ER. As verified by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, most of these stays are related to seniors not properly managing their medical conditions! To prevent these hospitalizations, a Senior Care Agency that provides in-home care must perform an assessment of a seniors living situation to understand what areas can be improved. This evaluation should focus on 5 key areas: Safety Risks, Medical Condition Monitoring, Independence, Quality of Life, and Caregiver Support.The homecare agency should evaluate 13 key areas that a Senior must have their needs met to successfully Age in Place.  These areas include mobility, activities of daily living, and the number one reason for hospitalizations: proper medical condition management. After the in-home assessment is complete, the homecare agency can analyze the findings and make recommendations for corrective action. This will greatly enhance the five key areas of focus that were originally identified. To illustrate, on average, most Seniors participate in only six eight activities that they enjoy each week. Tools such as a Quality-of-Life weekly Activity Planner can be utilized to track and increase participation in quality of life activities, leading to decreased depression, improved strength, and increased motivation. Safety hazards can be identified and mitigated. Furthermore, any additional gaps in the five key areas can be addressed and corrected. Some in-home care agencies can now do this electronically even generating reports that can be utilized cross functionally across the healthcare spectrum (Doctors, Social Workers, Care Managers, etc.). Proprietary tools such as LIFE Profile from Senior Helpers is one such example.  In short, a thorough and complete initial assessment performed by a senior care agency can have a significant positive impact for seniors, leading to better outcomes. Editors Note:  This article was written by Jeff Kosor, owner of Senior Helpers of Southwest Pittsburgh.  He can be reached at 412-851-3223 or by email at jkosor@seniorhelpers.com. 

You might think that only the super wealthy need to worry about asset protection planning. But the truth is that if you dont have millions, you may be at even greater risk. Like all types of planning, you must have your asset protection strategies in place well before something happens.  Here are four essential strategies to consider for safeguarding your familys most valuable assets.1. Invest In InsuranceInsurance is always the first line of defense when it comes to asset protection. Anyone can file a lawsuit against you at any time and basically for any reason. And whether you are ultimately found at fault or not, defending yourself in court can be extremely costly.A Personal Family Lawyer will evaluate your current insurance policies and advise you about the types and amounts of insurance you should have for maximum protection of your assets.2. Take Advantage Of Statutory ExemptionsAnother way to protect your familys assets is by taking full advantage of federal and state laws that make certain types of assets exempt from creditor claims and judgments.Similarly, federal and state laws also classify many retirement plans, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, as exempt assets. Additionally, some states offer significant, or complete, exemptions for life insurance policies and annuities.3. Use The Right Business EntityOwning a business can be a major wealth-generating asset for your family, but it can also be a serious liability. Without the proper protection, your personal assets are at serious risk if your company ever runs into trouble.4. Put The Proper Estate Planning In PlaceIf you become incapacitated or die without proper estate planning in place, your assets and family will face a number of potentially tragic outcomes. Without proper planning, your assets will get stuck in the court system, which could result in those assets passing to family members you would never want inheriting them, or if the assets eventually do pass to the loved ones you would want inheriting them, those assets could be seriously depleted or even lost. Planning in advance is one of the greatest gifts you can give those you love most.A Personal Family Lawyer can help safeguard your familys most valuable assets.Editors Note:  This article was written by Attorney Ashley Sharek of Sharek Law Office, LLC.  Ashley can be reached at 412-347-1731 or visit her website at www.shareklaw.com.