Back Pain In the Lower Left Side? These Are The Common Causes

There are many types of back pain with many different causes.  Chances are if you've been to a doctor, hospital or chiropractor they have had difficulty in diagnosing the problem.  Perhaps you've had X-rays taken and other tests as well as taken drugs to ease the pain but you were not cured.
Possible causes of back pain involving the lower left side indicate intestinal problems of some sort possibly including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), muscle imbalance, kidney stones, excessive or improper exercise, lifting objects that are too heavy, pregnancy, obesity or an improperly aligned spine such as a herniated disc.
With IBS, you may experience bouts of diarrhea and vomiting due to certain foods you may have eaten that you may be allergic to such as gluten in wheat or rye.  Chances are your doctor will tell you to remove gluten from your diet, which should bring some relief.  There are no cures for IBS which also includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis but it can be managed.  In some cases Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have come about due to some prescription medication you have taken such as Fosamax.  Fosamax is used to treat osteoporosis in women and men as well as Paget's disease.
Kidney stones are a common cause of lower left back pain.  Chances are you will experience difficulty urinating and possibly have blood in your urine.  Your doctor will have no problem diagnosing his problem.  Depending exactly where your stones are and how big they are, your doctor will determine how to get rid of them.  Sometimes it is just a matter of letting them pass through your system.  Laser technologies have been used to blast these stones into smaller pieces, which will pass through your system as well.
A muscle imbalance can also cause lower left back pain.  There are many causes including a pulled muscle.  This can generate pain in other parts of the body as well including spinal pain and intestinal pain.  You may experience pain on the opposite side of your back because your right side is working harder to take over lost function from your left.  Sometimes muscle relaxers and pain killers are prescribed to allow you to do certain exercises that aid in recovery of the damaged muscle.  If the damage is serious, you may require surgery.  Alternating hot and cold compresses are recommended to keep inflammation down and allow for good blood circulation for a faster recovery.  Lower left back pain will remain until your muscles return to normal.
Pregnancy is another cause of lower left back pain.  As the fetus develops it gets bigger and bigger causing the uterus to expand shifting your center of gravity not to mention weakening of the stomach muscles.  This puts tremendous strain on your lower back.  Remember, you are also carrying around extra weight from the fetus plus any weight you are gaining.  This increase in body mass may begin pinching nerves which will cause pain as well.  I'm afraid the only cure here is delivery and that you will have to wait for.  Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs may bring some relief in the mean time.
Many back problems can be avoided if you maintain proper weight and exercise regularly.  Be careful how you pick up heavy objects and make sure you do your exercises properly.  Back problems can start out small but if ignored can become a serious issue.
Make sure to:-

- See your doctor if your pain lasts for more than a few days. It's important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible so that you can begin on any therapy that will help you.

How To Cure Neck Pain

When a person hears the old saying, "They are a pain in the neck", this means the person is worse than a thorn in their side. It is so painful, hurtful, and even devastating what the effects that could come from it. A pain in the neck is all those things and so much more. All a person wants to do is get rid of the pain, the soreness, and get on with their life and get back to enjoying life. If a person is looking for the answer to how to cure neck pain, this article might help change your life.
To start with, everyone has been told their whole life see a doctor or a chiropractor for an injury that happened or a pulled or strained muscle. But, the problem is still there and just never gets solved. A person wakes up with a headache or even gets a headache from moving their neck the wrong way. It could be a pinched nerve, the neck being out of alignment, which is why popping is heard all the time, or just literally sleeping the wrong way will cause neck pain. A person can even start relying on medication for the pain.
The reason is for all this neck pain is because one side of the body is stronger and one is weaker. This causes an imbalance in the muscles because that one side wants to dominant. But, no doctor or chiropractor says this to us. Getting treatment is only temporary relief and then the pain and tightness comes back again and again.
How to cure the neck pain for the person all kinds of tests are run to figure out the problem, but they do not look solely for the root of the problem. Doctors are not medically trained or told to look at the muscle imbalances either. One doctor was fed up with everything and created the Lose The Neck Pain System.
The creator of the System, Dr Paris, has postgraduate training in dysfunction, spinal biomechanics, and correction methods. He owns his own spine center and is a member of the Fellow of Chiropractic Biophysics.
To show a person how to cure the neck pain, Dr. Paris provides an explanation of exercises, self-treatments, and stretches to cure and fix the problem will be discussed. Learning two dozen techniques that a person can use the rest of their lives, and most importantly if a person has been diagnosed with a specific problem, techniques and treatments will be used only for this.

Do You Need Tennis Elbow Braces?

Take a moment to think throughout your day about how many repetitive motions you make with your lower arm. Typically we make a lot of repetitive motions with our forearms and elbows in almost every activity we do. When you consider how active we are with our arms you can begin to understand the immense amount of pain you might experience if you had any type of injury in that area. Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a debilitating injury that is a result from constant repetition of the same movements stemming from the lower arm and specifically targets the elbow. Essentially the tendons and ligaments around your elbow incur small tears and is termed as a repetitive stress injury.
Unfortunately is not something that usually requires surgery and most doctors will simply recommend that the body heals itself usually with the added help of tennis elbow braces. If however the pain persists for months and the tennis elbow braces do not help then an invasive surgery may be recommended by your doctor.
To help through the healing process you should eliminate the most painful moves with your lower arm to avoid prolonging the injury. Often times, tennis elbow braces can help to break the cycle of constant trauma to the elbow by reducing the amount of pressure on the tendons thus promoting healing. Additionally consider finding a tennis elbow support that also includes the ability to add hot or cold packs to it to help reduce pain and swelling.
Lateral epicondylitis can be a difficult injury to fully heal because it involves tendons and ligaments we constantly use in almost every motion. Therefore it is vital that you seek proper medical advice and also use the appropriate tennis elbow braces to help the healing process.

High Paying Jobs That Are Currently in Demand

Looking for high paying jobs that are currently in demand? Well, the list of the higher paying jobs, are in fields that may surprise you. Many people are searching for replacement jobs that they need to find that are comparable to jobs they have lost and this seems to be a futile search. There are so many jobs that want to pay minimum wage or are temporary in nature and all that will accomplish is match your unemployment, if that. So, what is out there that you can do to make good income and it isn't temporary?
What we have found is, to look for areas that pay well first, and then match what you are familiar with, or are willing to pursue to gain back your lost income level. There are jobs out there, but you may have to weigh out whether you are willing to relocate to where the better paying jobs will take you.
Often times, we are too set in our ways and our home location to really go after the income that will satisfy our lifestyles. It is one thing to want to live in a certain area, but if it is an income level that we are accustom to, then we may have to relocate to match the work with our desire to live at a certain income level.
Surprisingly, there are jobs that are near you and you can do from home. Other high paying jobs may allow you to remain in your home area and travel a bit to get to work. The first step is to find out what these higher paying jobs consist of.
High paying jobs that are currently in demand are; transcriptionists, PC technicians, IT support, software and insurance sales, and truck driving of different levels. As you can see from this small sampling, the better paying jobs are revolving around self employment to a certain degree, but with a higher level of assurance that the work is available and pays well.
So many factory jobs are now being replaced with temporary help and this won't support a person with insurance and work stability. The other drawback to temporary work, is it simple disrupts being able to draw unemployment and when all is said and done, you are better off staying unemployed and continue to draw from your unemployment.
If you are still looking for the higher paying jobs that have a longer job stability outlook, you need to see what pays well and where it will take you in terms of the work and where the work is more in demand. This will help you to make better decisions for the long term in replacing or starting a career that has a future.
The days of employee or employer loyalty are long since over and this is a sad realty, but you must not cling to that which will no longer support you and your family's welfare. There is no hope of finding the type of jobs that our parents and grandparents held for some thirty and forty years in the same location. Those jobs have been dismantled by, those greedy handful of corporate people, that thought they could continue to profit, by diminishing the lower level workforce and removing their benefits.
There are too many people seeking jobs that no longer exist and are not looking in the right fields of employment that will replace their special skills. Learn what is paying well today and adapt your job hunting skills to the type of work that will carry you into future job security.

Occupational Therapist Salary - A Higher Education Can Pay Off

These are troubling statistics but they are facts of life that we must face. About 18% of the US population, or some 52 million Americans, have at least one form of disability. About 32 and a half million, or 12% of the U.S. population, have severe disabilities. This is where an occupational therapist will make a difference. With the help of a therapist, there is still hope for this group of the population to be able to work and live in spite of their disabilities, by rehabilitative programs that help restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence for disabled persons. The occupational therapist salary that the therapists receive is one of the factors that attract people into pursuing this career; but ultimately, the chance to help people with disabilities live as normal lives as possible is one of the most motivational aspects of this career pathway.
There are good job prospects for licensed occupational therapists working in all settings, but most particularly for those who are working in rehabilitation, acute hospitals, and orthopedic settings. This is because of the growing elderly population who receives the majority of their treatments in these settings. Licensed therapists earn between $35.35 to $40.72 in median hourly salary. The registered occupational therapy professional's hourly rate ranges from $24.75 to $43.98 while a registered/licensed occupational therapist (OTR/L) receives between $27.17 and $36.81 an hour.
A more well-known employer of occupational therapy workers such as Rehabcare Group, Inc. offers between $26.45 and $37.11 an hour, whilst HCR Manor Care, Inc pays a $29.70 to $36.10 hourly occupational therapist salary rate. Kindred Healthcare, meanwhile, pay their therapists $27.35 to $38.23 an hour.
If you have a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, you can expect to be paid between $25.77 and $37.70 in hourly salary. A Bachelor in Science, Occupational Therapy degree can earn you $30.41 to $37.36 an hour. You can increase your salary if you will take the time to earn a higher degree.
Occupational therapists are regulated in all States. Normally, the minimum educational requirement to enter the field of is a master's degree or higher. You need to attend and finish an academic program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) in order for you to be eligible to take the national certification exam given by the National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapy. If you pass this exam, you will be given the designation of "Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR)". From this, you can take further training and education to ensure a higher OT salary. You can also gain experience and make yourself qualified for promotions. There are many ways to receive higher occupational therapist salary, but getting your certification is your best first step.

Physical Therapy Salary

The average salary a physical therapy professional practicing in the United States can expect to receive, according to a recent survey by Salary.com, is $69,946. This generous basic compensation along with attractive benefits contributes to the increasing popularity of this profession among people today, aside from the fact that the current lifestyle and population trends warrant an increase in physical therapy services.
The average salary for an entry-level physical therapist position was found to be $54,632, according to PayScale.com. This is quite a respectable amount given the level of education needed before you can practice. Other factors can affect this annual amount though, like where you practice, the facility you are employed by, your level of experience, as well as the credentials you bring to the establishment. So overall, there is quite a bit of room to grow in.
The increased demand for physical therapy services may have given rise to the better compensation packages on offer, which can keep getting better. In addition to better compensation, steps were also taken to fill these positions by opening them up to foreign-trained physical therapists. This means there are truly numerous opportunities out there that are not being locally met yet and are open to those who are interested.
Along with the enticing basic salary, employers put together an attractive benefits package, which can include dental, medical, optical, disability and life insurance; paid vacations; 401(k); stock purchase plan for employees; etc. Physical therapists trained abroad can receive coverage or assistance in airfare costs, board and lodgings, work visas, immigration and moving costs, etc.
Given these enticements, it is still important for you to discern where you will finally choose to practice as different states compensate differently. For instance, while New York and Houston offers the highest average salary by city, California offers the highest salary per state (PayScale research). Also consider the costs of living per area - these three locations are known to have high costs of living so most of your high pay here will still go towards living expenses in the end.
In addition, various types of employers compensate differently. For example, self-employed therapists' average salary come out to be $46 per hour while therapists employed by universities only get $30 per hour. Other facilities, like government and non-profit organizations, private clinics, and hospitals compensate between $30-$40 per hour.
Consider, too, the level of qualification and amount of work experience you bring to your prospective employer. Therapists who have trained longer and get their certificates of specialties will definitely get paid more than those with just a basic level of physical therapy training and education. Also, therapists who have logged in more work experience over the years and have seen and treated more types of patients will definitely be compensated better for the expertise that they bring to their employer's facility.
For instance, a therapist who specialized in Wound Care with 1-4 years of experience is paid around $36.61 per hour while an entry level therapist with less than a year's experience is paid $26.81 per hour. Therefore, you should consider this factor for determining wages carefully during the early stages of your career so you can prepare accordingly and decide on a specialty, if that is what you want to do.
Now, armed with the basic information regarding physical therapy salary, it is up to you to plot out your career chart and take these factors into consideration so you can achieve your career goals.

Top 8 Most Wanted Careers in 2011

Whether you are just going into the job market or you would like to jump-start your existing line of work, you have to explore the 8 most wanted careers for 2011. The choice taps into a range of interests, expertise, experience obligations as well as employment levels. Wages, which mostly rely on experience as well as geographical position, vary from as low as $20s to more than $100,000 per annum.
Here is a list of the top 8 rapidly budding professions in the United States, as defined in the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. These professions are likely to be the preferred jobs during 2016. One of them might be your profession key to achievement.
1. Accountant
The BLS anticipates over 30 % raise in job opportunities for accountants. The emerging prospects for the employment are an outcome of the rising intricacy of financial operations in addition to the comparatively lesser turnover in the job. Salary relies on the kind of firm plus the area of expertise. Those in in-house auditing and tax accounting are normally paid more as compared to their counterparts in public, general and cost accounting. In addition, petroleum producers give higher initial wages as compared to public accounting firms or the government. Key development regions take account of;

• Management consulting
• International business
• Internal auditing
• Investigative
• Environmental and cost accounting
• Estate planning

2. Relationship Manager
The development of the banking business has initiated the materialization of the relationship manager. These experts now recommend customers on savings, cash handling, indemnity selection, security acquisitions as well as credit issues. As a result of deregulation of the financial services business during the 1980s, the products presented by banks, insurance companies as well as brokerage firms are related. Today's banks present an extensive range of services that were customarily confined to other financial institutions.
3. Special Education Teacher
Special education teachers are the educators who plan and revise lessons to meet the requirements of disabled students. Job opportunities for special education teachers are likely to rise considerably, as specified by the BLS.
4. Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical therapist assistants assist physical therapists both in real and managerial Physical therapist job. It is as well a fine method of obtaining something if you had a accredited Physical therapist.
5. Dental Hygienists
Dental hygienists concerns with keeping your teeth as well as gums healthy by means of regular cleaning and protection. They as well come with innovative techniques in encouraging oral health.
6. Health and Aerobics Trainers
Health and aerobics trainers go on to be a requirement in different health centers, particularly at the present because people are so passionate about keeping their body in shape.
7. Veterinary Technicians
Veterinary technicians are considered necessary to offer quality health care for the animals to carry out medical examinations for the diagnosis and cure.
8. Database Administrators
They are in charge for the supervision of database management systems, to maintain and pull out significant information in a comprehensible method. This job is likely to increase by almost 50% during 2016.

Physical Therapist Salary - Income Advice For New Therapists

Injuries are very much part of every professional athlete's life. At certain points in their careers, they may suffer injuries in varying degrees of severity. When this happens, the services of physical therapists are very much needed in order to ensure proper rehabilitation by developing a plan using treatment techniques to restore function, reduce pain, to promote the ability to move and to some extent, to prevent disability. Physical therapy workers are some of the better paid healthcare professionals because of this important role they play in injury treatment. The physical therapist salary is very competitive compared to many healthcare salaries.
Athletes are not the only group of people which need physical therapy services, as virtually anyone who has an unfortunate accident or disease that causes movement dysfunction, limiting the individual's abilities to move and perform functional activities would be a candidate. This type of therapist also develops fitness and wellness-oriented plans for patients to prevent their loss of mobility before this gets out of hand.
Most people that are interested in entering this career may want to know how much money they'll receive per year or per hour. Half of all these types of therapists employed in the United States receive $74,480 a year or $35.81 an hour; translating to $76,220 in mean annual salary, or a $36.64 mean hourly wage. The lowest 10% of therapists earning the least salary receive $52,170 in annual wage, while those upper 10% earning the highest physical therapist salary earn $105,900 a year.
Physical therapists in ALF or assisted living facilities earn the highest salary these days, as of September 2010, with an estimated salary of $99,000. Occupational physical therapists working in correctional facilities on the other hand, earn almost $60,000 in annual physical therapy salary. Homecare physical therapy workers receive $75,000 annually, the same with physical therapists in inpatient and outpatient work setting.
To give you a clearer perspective on the trend of the physical therapy salary, the salary index for this occupation in October 2008 was 1.0 and in July 2010, the salary index is about 1.15 with a high of 1.35 at the beginning of this year.
In relation with this increase in therapist salary, the Bureau of Labor Statistic reported that there will be a growth in the need for physical therapy in the next ten years growing by 30%. There are reported changes in the restrictions on physical therapy service reimbursements by third-party payers that will increase the number of patients with access to services, increasing the demands for physical therapists. This is in addition to the growing number of elderly people who will be needing physically oriented therapy services in the years to come.
Having a job in a physical therapy is a rewarding career in terms of the physical therapist salary one receives and the satisfaction of being able to help an individual survive an accident or a debilitating disease and recover fully again.

How An Occupational Therapist Salary Differs By Location

An occupational therapist salary is quite lucrative in comparison to the salaries of other health care workers. An occupational therapist is mainly concerned with therapy that helps patients regain their motor skills after a physical or mental trauma, or due to old age. The therapist has to plan and execute programs as per the requirements of each patient and it also involves teaching skills for using adaptive equipments.
Although a well paid profession, the salaries are not standard throughout the country and will depend on factors like location and the type of institution you are working for. For example the state of California has the highest average salary at $82,610, followed by Nevada at $81,310. Furthermore, certain cities within the state have higher salary structure then other areas. If we again take the example of California, places like Redwood City and San Mateo pay a salary of around $94,580 whereas areas like Oxnard and Ventura in the same state pay around $89,080.
The second factor impacting the increase of an occupational therapist salary is the type of establishment in which the professional works. These professionals are mainly needed in hospitals, nursing homes, health care centers, schools and other institutions. Therapists in health care establishments and hospitals get relatively better pay than those who work in elementary or secondary schools. If we also see the spread of therapists working in different institutions; hospitals and health care centers account for more than half the total amount of OTs in employment today.
Taking the overall median salary of an OT working in hospitals and health care centers in the country, would be work out to about $70,680 per year; whereas the mean for therapists working in schools would amount to $61,590 in a year. This again is an overall perspective, as therapists employed in specialty schools are able to draw $75,260 annually on an average.
If you are planning to become an OT, these figures should be considered only as a broad guideline. Don't decide to move to another state just because it seems the salaries are better there. You also need to consider the demand in each area for occupational therapists and how fast you can land a job there. Although California is the highest paying state at this moment, the numbers of occupational therapist positions are highest in the state of Massachusetts. Also need to consider the age group of patients you prefer to work with. If you're good with children and younger people, then schools would be the best placement for you.
Considering the overall prospects for an occupational therapist, the picture looks promising. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that the demand for these professionals is likely to go up. Presently there are about 98,740 salaried therapists across the country and the requirement is going to be beyond 122,000 therapists by 2016.
Although there is a lesser chance of occupational therapist salary rising in the near future, due to the present economic situation, the demand for these professionals is steadily growing and there is good chance of finding employment in this field.

Physical Therapy Colleges

Physical therapy education is offered in many colleges across the United States especially now, with its increasing popularity continuing to rise. There are different types of programs offered catered to meet the differing needs of students all over the world. For example, there are colleges that are mindful of the needs of working students and so these institutions decide to offer online or distance education. Other colleges decide to implement a six-year doctorate program for students straight out of high school.
So what college you go to really depends on your needs and the circumstances surrounding you. The factors you need to look at which may affect your needs include location, tuition fees, school reputation and affiliates (if any), size of the PT department, college ranking, professors, and the overall quality of education offered in that institution. The more meticulous you are with this decision early on in your career, the better off you can start your career when it's time to do so.
Currently, the American Association Of Physical Therapist requires a minimum of a master's degree in physical therapy before you can start a career as a therapist, in agreement with the rules of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. In the coming years, these rules may change to require a doctorate degree in physical therapy instead, as an entry-level requirement for practice. Despite this, the popularity of physical therapy as a career continues to soar among students and even those looking for a career change.
One thing of note is that physical therapists are only allowed to see patients who are referred by other medical practitioners.However, with a doctorate degree, therapists can be independent practitioners, that is, they can diagnose and treat patients who are afflicted with disability, mobility, and motor function problems and do not need referrals from other doctors first to treat patients.
School rankings are a good way to help you choose where you want to go for your PT education. In 2008 the University of Southern Carolina (USC) topped the usnews.com list. The following schools were listed among the top 10 schools for Physical Therapy Program: Washington University in St. Louis, Northwestern University in Chicago, MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, University of Pittsburg, University of Delaware, US-Army-Baylor University, University Of Iowa, Arcadia University Pennsylvania and University of Miami.
USC offers a three-year Doctorate for Physical Therapy Program, which requires completion of 115 units in six semesters and two summer courses. The curriculum also requires participation in clinical exposure and experience throughout the three-year program. Finally, the dPT designation is awarded to students who finish with a GPA of 2.75 and who complete all coursework, requirements, and clinical clerkship in the three-year allotted time.
At the time of writing, the estimated tuition fee for this doctorate program in USC is around $120,000. However, this amount is subject to future increases. There are other options available as other mid-sized schools' tuition per year is pegged at around $20,000. This fee does exclude books, allowances and other course supplies though, but an education from a reputable institution does pay off in the long run.
So start your career in physical therapy off on the right foot by choosing among the best colleges around. It may take a bit of sacrifice, but the rewards are more than worth the early sacrifices.

What Does A Physical Therapist Do?

What does a physical therapist do? The primary goal of a PT is to restore the physical mobility of their patients. A physical therapist is part of a team of healthcare professionals. They are the ones who diagnose and treat clients who have medical problems, injuries and most especially with regards to mobility that can limit a person's ability to move freely without pain. Physical therapy can often help people who suffer from both acute and chronic pain, disability or injury.
What Does A Physical Therapist Do? Works With A Physician To Provide Therapy Programs For Patients.
A physician refers patients to a PT as needed and must remain active in both the type and duration of therapy prescribed. All physical therapists receives specialized training and work with the supervision and direction of a physician. They must both collaborate on the client's condition and special needs.
To become a PT, you must have a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapy program. All states regulate the practice of physical therapy, which requires a passing scores on national and state examinations. Most physical therapists must have at least two years on intensive training and education before becoming licensed. Education and licensing requirements vary from state to state, but continued education and training on new medical developments and advancements is also necessary.
There are currently eight specialized areas of clinical specializations for physical therapists. These areas are pediatric, geriatric, cardiovascular and pulmonary, clinical electrophysiology, neurology, orthopedic, integumentary and sports. Having a specific area of specialization in physical therapy includes new job opportunities, increase in prestige in clinical and community settings, and promotion for anyone who successfully completes the specialization process.
A PT normally works in hospitals, nursing homes, out-patient clinics, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. Their work depends on the nature and severity of a patients physical status. Clients may visit a PT on a temporary schedule or a permanent one. PTs often consult and collaborate with other health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, educators, dentist, social workers, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, and audiologist.
Being a PT can be physically demanding and strenuous because they have to kneel, stoop, crouch, lift and stand for long periods of time. Most of the time they use their strength and energy for lifting heavy objects and equipments for their patients. They help their patients to stand, walk, turn and sit.
The PT does so many things when it comes in providing care for patients of all ages who have functional problems resulting from bone sprain and strain, fractures, arthritis, back and neck injuries, burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and injuries related to work and sports. The duties of a physical therapist includes evaluating a patient's condition by studying their past and present medical records, physician recommendations and test results and then developing a physical therapy program for the patient.
A PT develops and execute exercises that help improves the range of motion, muscle strength, endurance, coordination and motor skills. A physical therapist is the one who prescribes and assists in specific exercises for their patients. They are the ones who evaluate and diagnose any dysfunctional movement and use intervention to treat their clients. Interventions includes therapeutic exercises, manual therapy techniques, functional training and electrotherapeutic modalities.