Started initially with dull to sharp pains in the abdomen. Though at first, I had gall stones from self diagnostic from symptoms i researched online. So I tried some home remedies like drinking a lot of apple cider to loosen the stones.

After the pain seemed to not subside and no signs of stones passing. I had a doctor appointment scheduled but was three weeks out before visit. Only had home remedies to go on until then.

After my first doctor visit describing symptoms only blood test were ran to see if there was any liver damage. Those results came back negative.

Next step was a CT scan of abdomen, nothing showed up in those scans that ruled out liver again and possible stones.

The third visit i was scheduled for an upper endoscopy where they discovered I had gastritis as well as a duodenal ulcer and upper stomach ulcer.

Was referred to take Prilosec OTC 2 times a day for 30 days. Avoid spice acidic foods, soft drinks etc. And to lose some weight.

The Prilosec helps a bit but not totally healed, as of 1/4/10.

If I miss taking a prilosec, I'm in pain all day with various other pains that seem to "radiate" to other areas.

Nothing else was prescribed, to help with pain due to fact inflammitories are more harmful then helpful, its a suffer through type of illness.

I was having a lot of gas and acid before because i was eating with a lot of spices and hot souce but now is ok i dont have more.

historic treatment description

After 3 surgeries for various things including torn cartilage and loose bodies I started experiencing pain in my knee as I aged. As the pain got worse and I was literally dragging my keg behind me I decide to have it checked out. The doctor explained that the joint was riddled with bone spurs that was the start of arthiritis and would lead to eventual replacement. There was space left between the joint and no bone on bone so we thought I still had time. he suggested some experimental shots taken in a series but I declined. iw as going to opt for what I calle d a roto rooter procedure and clean out the bone spurs to buy some time. I started using glucosamine with chondritin and the culmative effect of the treatment really helped. However the pain did get worse and I opted for total knee replacement before I was too old to recover quickly. The best thing I ever did.

For years, I suffered with an intense tightness, fatigue, and pain in my neck, hamstrings, and plantar (arch of my feet).

I tried physical therapy, in which the therapist correctly diagnosed part of the problem as being plantar's faciitis and treated it with things like vigorous massage and rubbing ice on my bare feet. (Not pleasant at all.)

Having tried almost every treatment, just short of surgery, I started working in a martial arts school. When I mentioned my soreness, the Master had me sit on a chair and brought over a staff, laying it sideways in front of me.

He instructed me to roll the staff in my arches vigorously, which felt amazing. Then he had me press my feet down on the staff in a sequence of three points, holding each for 30 seconds.

The first place was at the top of my arch - just under the ball of the foot.

The second was the middle of the arch.

The third was the bottom of the arch - right before it meets the heel.

I did this three times a day for two weeks and my plantar's faciitis was gone! It sill tries to come back, but I just try the exercise again and it works.

Now, that ties into the hamstring and neck tightness. I have found that with frequent basic neck stretching (up, down, side to side, ear to shoulder, in circles), and a light morning routine of yoga and or stretching, I have been able to control it with no problem.

There IS a solution without surgery!

For many years as a child, I would have colds that would last weeks sometimes even months. Our family doctor always said it was my tonsils or an ear infection gone wrong. In 1999 I got a awful cold and it turned into bronchitis, little did I know that I would end up being diagnosed with asthma 2 weeks later. I was put on prednisone and flovent with albuterol as a back up. For years my asthma was controlled but I would still get horrible colds and bronchitis every year. About 5 years ago I was given ADVAIR and since they my symptoms have been under control. I use albuterol for my rescue inhaler and occasionally use prednisone in very very low doses. They have also just recently found out I have allergic asthma and I am seeing an allergist to combat the symptoms.

Seriously, everyone called it lower back pain and until my MRI showed clear they called it sciatica. Even my PT -- but come on let's face it the pain in really a tad lower than what I would call my back.

It took a long time to get professionals to understand though my lower lumbar was uncomfortable it was really the most severe in my right buttocks. It was actually deep inside - no amount of heat therapy was helpful.

Finally, after I explained the stretch that we found worked best they realized it wasn't lower lumber issues or even sciatica but that it was this muscle I didn't even know I had the piriformis.

No wonder sometimes the trips to the chiropractor worked. They moved my spine just enough to give this muscle some relief.

I found I can save myself a lot of cash and keep myself from sleeping on tennis ball and doing all the other KrAzY stuff I tried if I just sat in a chair and crossed my legs. OK it was almost that easy.

Really, by simply sitting in a hard straight back chair (sitting perfectly up right - NO slouching) and then placing the ankle of side that is experiencing the pain over the knee that is not. Next making sure I am back in the chair as far as I can be lifting the knee of the pained side toward my torso and holding that pose for a long as possible until I get to 30 seconds they repeat until I find the piriformis pain abating.

You can find tons of other exercises to do for this little know muscle I found none as easy or useful.

I hope this one works for you as well.

I have always been overweight, I admit that much. Back in 2000 it had become to much to bare. My back was killing me and I had an immense amount of pain in the bottom of it. I wasn't quite aware at the time that it was my obesity that was leading to the pain. It was on 4/12/2000 that I went to the doctor and had a checkup. It was at this point that I had a reality check and realized that it was indeed my weight that was leading to my back pain.

My doctor told me I needed to lose weight immediately. For the pain he also subscribed Vicodin. I felt immediate relief from taking the Vicodin but I realized it was only masking the underlying condition.

I decided I would drastically change my diet. I stopped eating sweets, switched to diet soda, and began to exercise. I did a walking routine and walked for one hour every afternoon. It was hard but I had to do it. At first it put a lot more stress on not only my back but my knees, too. I would feel the pain really badly the next morning, but over time I began losing weight and seeing the positive results.

Today I do not take Vicodin. I am down to 190 LBS (Previously 250). I feel a whole lot better. I still walk and eat right. My back problems are nearly gone. I am very happy I decided to change this problem and lost weight.

I went to the doctor for an unrelated condition and she asked if there was anything else bothering me. I told her my back but felt sure it was due to my sitting at a computer all day. I had mostly lower back pain but lesser pain in my mid and upper back. She examined me and asked me some questions and let me know it was due to several factors. 1) poor posture 2) weight gain and 3) my breast size. She recommended reduction mammaplasty. I asked if there were alternatives and she said I could try loosing weight, strenghthening my back and sitting properly. I have since lost weight though not enough and have been doing yoga several times a week. The yoga made my back feel better almost immediately. The corrective posture is the one I have the hardest time doing as I don't have an ergonomically correct chair at work. My back pain came on quite gradually and has eased tremendously but has not gone away completely in the lower back. I still do not want surgery. This I can live with.

I am 36 with a previous history of back pain. My back pain was a minor irritation for many years, but was not very serious. However, while moving a bed at home I seriously damaged my back. I noticed immediately the pain was getting worse and worse. The next morning I could not walk due to the pain coming from my lower back. My legs were weak and I was having muscle spasms in my right abdomen. I went to my physician who scheduled a MRI to determine the cause of my pain. The MRI revealed I had three bulging discs in my lower lumbar. Additionally, they discovered I had arthritis in my back as well. I do not like to use pain medication if I can avoid it, so she suggested I try Alieve for the pain. After about 3 weeks of pain, my back gradually eased off. I was basically on bed rest until this time. I am careful now about what I do so that I do not irritate it further. I have also been working on losing some weight to relieve the strain in my back.