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TREATMENT OF BACK INJURIES
Treatments & Exercises for Existing Back Injuries
Helpful Products for Back Injuries
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SAFETY TIPS
Miscellaneous
GPS Personal Locators for Children - Allows you to track and find your child if lost.
Kidd Safety for kids by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
CT Scans for Children-Reduce Radiation
Preventing Injuries from Falls Especially for the Elderly
Crime: Rate your risk of being raped, robbed, stabbed, shot, beaten, murdered or burglarized
Recall Warnings - Browse or search 50,0000+ consumer recalls from US government agencies - FREE Recall Warnings newsletter of newly recalled products!
Emotional grief support for victims: accesshelp.org
Transportation
& Travel
Cellular
Phone Safety Tips While Driving
Child Safety
Seats in Automobiles & School Bus Safety
Airline
Child Safety Information
Basic
Airline Cabin Safety Information
Travel
Safety Tips - Exhaustive links
for traveling: airlines, cruises, hotels, international travel.
Travel
Warnings -
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs.
The
World Factbook - by the CIA.
Find out almost anything about a country.
Need Transportation for
Medical Treatment? Around
the House
BBQs
& Propane Cylinders - Usage &
Storage Safety Tips by BlueRhino.com.
Pool
Alarms & Pool Safety by the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission.
Pool Alarms
- Good Housekeeping Magazine
found the
poolguard®
best.
Baby
Walkers: Unsafe at Any Age Cribs,
Beds and Sleepwear for Infants and Kids
Danger of Loose
Fitting Sleepwear for Kids
Food
& Products
Baby
Oil & Sun Screen - Deadly to Babies if Inhaled
Gel Candy - Deadly to
Infants: Recall
- More
Info
Food
Safety - Government Food Safety Information.
Food
Safety - Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Tanning Beds - Using a tanning bed as little as once/month
raises cancer risk by 55%
Search
the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Report
Unsafe Products to the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission.
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Association of Poison Control Centers
Report
a Problem With a Product Regulated by FDA
MedWatch
- The FDA medical products reporting program.
Report
Serious Adverse Events to FDA MedWatch
Please read our disclaimer before reading these tips
Treatment of Minor Soft Tissue Injuries
(muscle aches, sprains & strains) immediately after an
accident
Swelling can cause additional injuries. We recommend that you see a
doctor immediately after you have been injured in an accident and ask
your doctor if he/she can prescribe an anti-inflammatory. If
an ambulance is called to the scene of your accident, take it to the hospital
because it is important to be checked by a doctor as soon as possible, even
if you are not in that much pain. Swelling in the first 48 hours can increase
injuries and early treatment by a doctor to prevent swelling from occurring can leave you injury
free after an accident. If you wait a few days to see a doctor, until
you are in pain, it may be too late, after damaging swelling has caused
further injury leaving you in pain for the rest of your life. Only a doctor
can properly diagnose the extent of your injuries and the proper course of
treatment. If I am injured, I apply cold (using ice in a towel or an
ice pack) to an injured muscle immediately and during the first 48 hours
after the accident; after 48 hours I apply heat. Do not apply heat
within the first 48 hours, because heat can exacerbate an already hot and
inflamed tissue. Immediately after an injury, to reduce swelling (even
if I am not aware of any swelling so as to prevent any swelling from occurring),
I also take an NSAID
(Read important warning in red in this paragraph-***) (an acronym for Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). I will take one of
these two NSAIDs as follows (there are others that your doctor may recommend for you):
(3) - 200mg Advil® (Ibuprofen)
immediately after the accident/injury and then 3 times per day (once before
going to sleep) 6 hours apart for 3 days; or one or two
Aleve® 8 to 12 hours apart
(once before going to sleep). Some doctors say that Aleve taken together with
aspirin will work even better. Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
are medications
which, as well as having pain-relieving (analgesic) effects, have the effect
of reducing inflammation, but can have deadly side effects. What I do for
myself when injured may not be appropriate for you. You must first ask your
doctor about taking any NSAID such as
Aleve® (over the counter strength
Naproxen Sodium) or Naprosyn (prescription strength Naproxen Sodium) which
I have found to work much better than Ibuprofen. You may also want to ask
your doctor about Celebrix, a COX-2 Inhibitor which may have a lower potential for
stomach or gastro intestinal (GI)
side effects than traditional NSAIDs. For
more information about COX-2 Inhibitors see: The
Mayday Pain Project;
About; Safety
of Arthritis Drugs in Question; Questions
& Answers: Painful Dilemma; Risk
of Cardiovascular Events Associated With Selective COX-2 Inhibitors.
A study based on an analysis of previous clinical trials at the
Cleveland Clinic, which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical
Association, has linked Vioxx and Celebrex to an increase in the risk of blood,
clots, heart attacks and strokes. Vioxx has now been voluntarily removed
from the market by its manufacturer, Merck, due to its danger. Before taking a COX-2 Inhibitor,
ask your doctor about this study. Even when you see your doctor, you must be familiar with the following
WARNING:
1)
Do NOT give anti inflamatories and pain relievers such as aspirin,
ibuprofen (Advil®), naproxen sodium
(Aleve®) or any medication containing salicylates to anyone
19 years of age or younger, unless directed by a physician, due to its
association with Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.
2) Be sure to SEE YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY and get your
doctor's approval before taking any medication, even over the counter
NSAIDs
such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium! (After an
injury, you may NOT be aware of any internal bleeding! NSAIDs inhibit the
blood from clotting and could cause DEATH when taken after an injury if there
is any internal bleeding.). 3)
Do NOT take
NSAIDs
such as aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil®)
or naproxen sodium (such as Aleve®) if you have
an ulcer because doing so can cause the ulcer to bleed and can cause DEATH
by internal bleeding which you may NOT be aware
of since the bleeding will be internal. 4)
Do NOT take NSAIDs
such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium if you have:
a)
had any ALCOHOL (NEVER drink alcohol when taking these medications);
b)
have ASTHMA; c)
have an ALLERGY to aspirin or any NSAID;
d) during PREGNANCY;
e) during BREAST FEEDING;
f) if you are on BLOOD THINNING AGENTS (anticoagulants)
or if you are suffering from a DEFECT OF THE BLOOD CLOTTING SYSTEM (coagulation);
g) have a KIDNEY impairment;
h) have a HEART impairment; or
i) have a LIVER
impairment. 5)
Recent studies have shown that people taking one of a class of drugs known as
SSRI's (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) such as Prozac, Paxil and
Zoloft and who also take NSAIDs
such as Advil, Aleve Motrin, Vioxx, and Celebrex are at a 12
times greater risk of developing life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding than
persons who take neither, thus it may be appropriate to avoid taking the two
classes of drugs in combination. 5)
NSAIDs
and especially over the counter Aleve® also called
naproxen sodium can cause
ULCERS
which can be very dangerous, even life threatening and should not be taken
without a doctor's supervision and should not be taken for long periods of
time.
Treatments &
Exercises
for Existing
Back Injuries or to Avoid Back Injuries HELPFUL
PRODUCTS: The
best insoles for shoes, weight belts, chairs and other helpful products.
STRETCHING:
1) While standing, keep your head straight up, place your hands on your lower
back and lean backward for 10 seconds at a time several times a day;
2) Stretch the muscles in the back of your thigh called the hamstrings (this
is very important). Sit on the floor (preferably carpeted) and bend your
chest down to your right thigh keeping your chest, neck and head straight,
almost parallel to your right leg (keeping your right leg straight out with
the back of your leg flat on the floor) for several seconds (the left leg
should be bent at the knee with with the bottom of your left foot facing
your right knee). This will be difficult at first, so start by bending
your right leg at the knee, to make it easier to bring your head to your
right knee and to prevent straining your muscle. Do not exert enough
pressure to cause pain. Then do this for your left leg. As your
thighs become more flexible (in as little as a day or two), you will be able
to straighten out your leg to the floor so eventually the outstretched leg
will be completely parallel to the floor. Stretching these muscles
will make your legs feel much better and will provide substantial relief
for the lumbar spine (lower back);
3) You can also stretch your thigh muscles while standing. While holding
on to something or leaning against the wall so you don't fall over, while
standing on your left leg which should be kept straight, put your right leg
up on top of a chair or couch, hold your right calf and straighten the right
leg while bending towards your right leg. Do this for several seconds
and repeat with the other leg.
EXERCISE:
1) While lying with your back on the floor, put your legs on top of a bed
or couch with your knees bent, and lift your pelvis up 10 times;
2) Walk briskly for about 30 minutes a day, four times a week;
3) Swimming is a great way to strengthen the abdominal muscles and leg muscles.
It also takes the pressure of gravity off of your back;
4) 2 pages of exercises
Instructions & drawings. (will take 1-2 minutes to view, approximately
350KB).
Try wearing good running shoes. I tried out a couple of brands and
found that "asics gel" was the most shock absorbent of the ones I tried.
I also pulled out the insoles and replaced them with the
"Sorbothane Ultra Sole"
to further absorb shock. I have found this and the stretching exercises
above substantially helped my lower back problems.
STRESS: Try reducing stress which can aggravate muscular problems.
One way to help reduce stress is to make sure you get enough sleep
and to make sure you get quality sleep. I take melatonin 1mg by Schiff
which I get at Price Club/Costco. Some people believe that melatonin,
a hormone normally created by the body, is produced in smaller quantities
as a person ages, and that taking it as a supplement helps to improve
sleep quality.
SUPPLEMENTS: Some people believe that taking glucosamine and chondroitin
sulfate may improve joint health and decrease joint pain. I take
"Move
Free" by Schiff which has 500mg Glucosamine Complex: Glucosamine Hydrochloride,
N-Acetylglucosamine, & D-Glucosamine sulfate and 400mg Chondroitin
sulfate, which I get at Costco. Fish oil and Vitamin E may also be of some
help for Rheumatoid Arthritis according to Daily
University Science News. If they are beneficial for Rheumatoid
Arthritis, they may also be beneficial for traumatically induced arthritis.
Airbag
Safety: What You Need to Know by insweb
Doctors
conclude air bags still safe after mastectomy, By Ann Job
Air Bags - National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
Child Safety Seats & School
Bus Safety
Nissan's 12-page booklet, The What to Expect Guide to Car Seat Safety is
available by calling 1-800-955-4500
EVERYTHING you could
possibly want to know about INFANT & CHILD passenger safety!
ChildSafety.org - Child Passenger
Safety Web: Are You Using It Right?
Free Online Child Safety
Videos - by Partners for Child Passenger Safety and the Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia. This site has some great information and has the
following free online videos: Car Safety for Your Infant: Choosing
and safely installing the best type of car seat for your new baby. Car Safety
for Your Toddler: Is your toddler ready for a forward-facing car seat? Learn
when to safely make the change and how to choose and correctly install a
forward-facing seat. Car Safety for Your 4-to 8-year-old: Explains
why kids who have outgrown car seats need to be in belt-positioning booster
seats and which booster seat is best for your child. Car Safety for
Your Older Child: Get information on the correct use of seat belts as well
as teen car and driver safety. LATCH: Learn how to tell if your
vehicle has the LATCH system and how to install a safety seat using this new
method. Airbags: Children under 13 should not ride in the front
seat of a vehicle with airbags. Learn why and how to prevent airbag injuries.
Selecting, Installing & Using Car Seats
2004 Child Safety
Seat Ease of Use Ratings
Child Safety Seat
Inspection Station Locator
School Bus Safety
School Bus Safety
School Bus Transportation for
Children with Special Needs
Traffic Safety Video Library Catalog - AAA's free-loan video library is
available to schools and other non-profit organizations.
Teen
Traffic Safety Project Guide - an outline for teaching traffic safety with
resources to other materials.
If you have to put your child in a shopping cart seat, be sure that the cart
has a seatbelt and that you use it!. Although the seatbelt will NOT
protect your child if the cart tips over, it will prevent your child from
standing up which will make the cart unstable and likely to tip over. Do
not lean on the handle bar while a child is in the seat! Since the
cart is already prone to a rear tip over (because the weight of the child
is at the rear of the cart and high over the center of gravity), leaning
on the bar can easily cause the cart to tip backwards.
GPS Personal Locators
for Children
Wherify
- Wireless location services for children and people with Alzheimer's disease.
AccuTracking - Free cell phone tracking
MyChildTracker - Cell phone tracking
FindYourChild - Cell phone tracking
"Your
Child's Brain... on a Roller Coaster" - Do fast rides cause
brain damage? "Safe?
How Safe?" Interesting
article at about.com with saftey tips and many links with more safety
info.
Amusement
Ride Safety
- Learn how a roller coaster works and about passenger
safety from an amusement ride consultant.
Amusement Safety
Organization (ASO) - an independent amusement
industry resource offering un-biased coverage, information and opinion about
amusement parks from the paying public through an independent entity that is not
run by or affiliated with any amusement/theme park company. Whether it be roller
coasters, amusement parks, or other types of extreme attractions, ASO is the
place to find what the public is thinking.
Choosing
the right size bicycle for your child
Bicycle
Helmet Safety Institute
If you have a bunk bed or thinking of getting one, make sure that there is
no more than a 3 1/2" gap between any of the slats or bars on the bed. 85%
of manufacturers meet this voluntary standard, however, 15% of manufacturers
do not. Wider gaps can allow a child to get its head caught in the space
and suffer serious injuries or death.
Crib Safety and
SIDS Reduction - by the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Crib Safety Checklist
- The Danny Foundation
Laws Concerning Cribs
- The Danny Foundation
The Danny Foundation
- Recalls & Alerts; Law; Crib Safety
Crib Sheets: According to the November 1998 issue of Good Housekeeping,
five infants under two years old may have died because their fitted crib
sheets came loose. Children's safety advocates say that after repeated washings,
many fitted crib sheets are too small for mattresses. The Good Housekeeping
Institute washed and dried 23 sheets made by 14 manufacturers and found that
most did not fit. The table below ranks (from best to worst) the sheets evaluated
by the Good Housekeeping Institute.
The five sheets that measured up best all covered the mattress's sides, wrapped
underneath at the corners by at least two inches, and required at least eight
pounds of pull power to lift up a corner. Watch for the Dateline NBC/Good
Housekeeping exclusive report on television on October 21 at 8 p.m. For more
information, pick up a copy of the November issue of Good Housekeeping.
SHEET RANKING: (Best to Worst)*
1. Coming Home (Lands' End) 100% cotton $16
2. The Company Store 100% cotton $22
3. Eddie Bauer Home 100% cotton flannel $19
4. Eddie Bauer Home 100% cotton $21
5. Dormisett (The Company Store) 100% cotton flannel $19
6. Dundee Mills Inc. (Disney) 50% cotton/poly $6.99
7. KidsLine 100% cotton knit $10.99
8. Home Style for Kids 100% cotton flannel $6.75
9. Dundee Mills Inc. (Disney) 50% cotton/poly $8.99
10. Coming Home (Lands' End) 100% cotton flannel $15
11. Riegel 100% cotton $7.99
12. Riegel 100% cotton flannel $10.99
13. Sumersault, Ltd. 100% cotton $36
14. Fisher-Price Inc. 50% cotton/poly $7.99
15. Riegel (Sesame Street) 100% cotton $7.99
16. Riegel 50% cotton/poly $7.99
17. Sumersault 50% cotton/poly $29.99
18. Kooshies Baby Products 100% cotton flannel $10.99
19. Carters by Riegel 50% cotton/poly $7.99
20. Gerber 100% cotton $11.99
21. Simmons 100% cotton knit $14.99
22. Carters by Riegel 100% cotton flannel $9.99
*A total of 23 sheets was tested. One, however, was not ranked (Vidals Creations;
100% cotton knit; $14.99). Testing could not be completed due to the excessively
loose fit of the sheet.