Back Pain That Moves Around - How to Treat Traveling Arthritis

Often when you're experiencing pain in the lower center part of the back, in one hour or so it could well move up to the middle of the spine, and then on to the shoulder blades.

This is referred to as "traveling arthritis", and if you've been diagnosed with arthritis of the back and are accustomed to this pattern of pain, then it may also become predictable - in which case you can pre-empt the back pain and educate yourself on ways to treat it.

Traveling arthritis in the back may also begin in the upper legs, then into your backside, and up into the lower, middle and upper back; and not to be confused with "migrating arthritis", where you may experience chronic toothache and then find the same throbbing sensation has moved to your toe.

So, if you haven't as yet had a full diagnosis then you should obviously seek professional help.

It could be any number of ailments from tendonitis to a kidney or viral infection, in which case you are fortunate as the pain will subside at some point.

However, treating back pain whether it's for the short or long-term, is at the beginning often dealt with through the same anti-inflammatory supplements - NSAID's.

These are useful in the first few weeks but should be scaled back if you're in for the long haul as arthritis is incurable right now, and simply throwing pill after pill down your throat in the hope that you are someway treating the disease is foolish.

The back pain will continue to flare up and spread and your quality of life will slowly dissolve.

Treating Traveling Arthritis in the Back

1. FDA Registered Homeopathic Supplements

These contain 3 important active compounds, Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate and MSM.

Glucosamine is produced naturally in the body but FDA pharmaceutical supplements use animal sources.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate are argued to do two things, relieve the pain and potentially restore joint cartilage by preventing the Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes from breaking down this gooey lubricant, which protects the joints and adds fluidity and mobility to our limbs movements.

With regards to relieving pain and reducing inflammation of the swelling in the back, there seems no dispute among the medical fraternity in the West that these two ingredients deliver on this front.

Re-building the cartilage however - the jury is still out. Only short-term studies on their effectiveness at relieving pain have been carried out on these supplements.

There is only one long-term study which is currently being carried out by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as to whether these supplements help rebuild cartilage.

Findings are due 2013.

MSM is the third ingredient that is well known now to successfully treat osteoarthritis, chronic joint pain, inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis

2. Hot Oil Bath and Oil Massage

For back pain in general, hot oil paths and massage should provide some respite from this discomfort.

Add a combination of 10 eucalyptus drops and 10 drops of peppermint, and soak for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

When it comes to an oil massage, be sure to tell the masseuse of your condition. Some very gentle massaging will help alleviate the stress and tension in the spine.

3. Exercise

Always consult you chiropractor before undergoing any form of quite strenuous exercise when it comes to an injured spine.

For relieving back pain with exercise both yoga, swimming and some light weight training work wonders at restoring posture and relieving joint inflammation.