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If you're like me, you know about back pain. All about it! I don't get it often, but when I do ... boy do I know it's there!

The most common cause of back pain in north American adults is sciatic pain. So in this article I want to tell you about sciatica, look at a possible cures for you, and make a personal recommendation.

OK ... sciatica treatment. Let's start with a quick description of the problem.

You have nerves running all through your body, which feed huge amounts of information to the brain and are absolutely critical to your functioning. Your biggest nerve is the sciatic nerve. It is attached to your lower spine, runs across your buttocks, then down your legs as far as your ankles.

When that nerve gets irritated or pinched or rubbed up the wrong way you feel pain. Although pain generally is notoriously hard to pinpoint, the pain from an upset sciatic nerve is usually felt in the lower back, or at the back of your leg above or below the knee.

At times it will be excruciating. (Do I sense you nodding in recognition?) often it is dull and troublesome. It can be very, very persistent.

So, what can you do?

Normally, the first reaction is rest. And a couple of days of rest can be helpful. Surprisingly, however, resting for any longer only tends to make the pain worse. And none of us have that much free time anyway. So, rest is not the long-term answer.

There's got to be another way. And there is; do more exercise!

Either do strength-building exercises, that will make your abdomen and back muscles stronger, and give better support to your lower back.

Or do stretching exercises. These will gently push and pull on tight, inflexible muscles that may be the source of the pain, and in a few days the pain will have gone. Keeping up stretching exercises will give you quicker recovery and work to help you get no future flare ups.

Or, equally effective, do light aerobic exercise. Things like walking and swimming. These sort of exercises will move fluids and elements around your body, building a better healing environment for you, and will also release your natural pain killers, the endorphins.

So, for some people, exercise and movement is going to help sometimes.

If that fails, over the long term, however, I recommend you look around for a well qualified doctor who is a sciatica specialist.

Be demanding on yourself as you look. Choose the best specialist you can find. Don't shop around for the cheapest deal. Ask questions until you find a good practitioner. Someone with years of experience treating sciatica, who is a surgeon and, if possible, teaches medicine at a school, would be ideal. Sciatica treatment is hard to get right, and unless you work hard to find a well-qualified specialist your treatments are likely to be short-lived.

Len McGrane writes on health in general and, most recently, on sciatica treatment. For more, helpful treatment information please click now to schwartzneurosurgeon.com.

Not to long ago my water heater went out. Just like that you think all is well then whamo a small leak appears. I was faced with a decision, fix it myself or call the plumber. Well after getting several estimates ranging from $1500 to $2500, I decided to do it myself.

It's really not that to hard to repair plumbing. In this article I will give you some pointers to help aid you in this endeavor. And hopefully spare you from the high cost of paying for a plumber. Nothing against plumbers but this project is doable.

Steps it will take:

1) As soon as you realize that the old water heater has to go start draining it. It can take several hours to drain. Remember to turn off the main water valve and open up all of the faucets to eliminate any pressure. if it's a gas unit make sure that you turn off the main gas line in the house and if it is electric turn off the breaker. Think safety first.

2) Try and purchase the same unit. This will prevent you from adding pipe and new valves.

3) Size up the job and disconnect the tank from the water pipes, gas line or the electrical connection. If it's gas you will need to disconnect the flue as well. Save all parts in order to match them up when you purchase your supplies.

4) You will need to have on hand plumbers tape, small gas torch, solder, flux, plumbing sandpaper, pipe cutter, gas tape (to seal gas line) and maybe some pipe glue. Ask the sales person at the hardware store for a more defined list.

Once you have disconnected the tank remove it from your work space. Do a thorough measurement of the remaining pipe for reference when you go to the hardware store. I will be honest with you, you might need to make a few trips back to the store. Once you get the new tank, slide it into place to line up the plumbing.

If you bought the same unit it should line right up, if you were unable, you will need to remove or add length to the existing piping. This may require you to splice together copper with plastic, don't let this scare you the hardware store will have all of the necessary parts.

If you need to add copper pipe make sure that you clean the old and new pipe by using sandpaper, inside and out. If it's not clean the solder will not flow into the joint. Another tip is to not over wrap the mail threaded pipe with tape, this can cause a leak. Twice around should be enough. Also, don't over tighten it.

This may sound complicated but trust me, if I can do it, anyone can. Just take it slow, ask questions from the hardware specialist and go online for more instructions. One last item, if you have a gas unit your county or city may require an inspection. The inspector will verify that the gas connection is right and that the angle of the flue is right. Don't take a chance with gas, make the call to have someone come out and inspect your work.

Your should be able to complete this job for $500 or so and the tools and supplies will be available for when your dishwasher goes out. Good luck.

Dennis Watson - Just helping others succeed.

Zeoh.com Free Classifieds Web Site =>http://www.zeoh.com/

You Can Do That - Blog =>http://www.you-can-do-that.blogspot.com

It is thought that over two million homes throughout the UK are at risk from flooding. This is due to many factors such as heavy rainfall or high tides due to bad weather, although flooding can also occur through other mishaps such as broken pipes.

While certain areas are affected more than others, for example those near the coast, it is important that you check that you have adequate protection against the ramifications of a flood. A recent survey showed that more than half of British people were inadequately covered against flooding. In 2006, 52% of people who were affected by floods found that they werent covered.

This having been said, those who live in high risk areas will of course have to pay a higher premium than those who live in a low risk area. You are considered to be in a high risk area if there is a greater than 1 in 75 chance and a low area if the risk is 1 in 200. This data is used by insurance companies and is taken from a flood map which was originally devised by the Environmental Agency. While those in the low and medium risk areas should be able to get flood insurance for a price, those who are considered to be in the top risk bracket could find it next to impossible to get flood insurance.

Homeowners who are at risk are of course expected to take every possible step towards minimizing flooding themselves. Special products can be bought to help minimize the risk and you could be asked to purchase these before a company will accept your application.

As with any type of insurance, it is essential for you to shop around as premiums can vary from company to company particularly if you are in a higher risk area. Shopping online and visiting a specialist brokerage will enable you to get as many quotes as possible for insurance which includes flood damage and you should always make sure what you are and are not covered for.

While you may not be at high risk of flood, some companies that use postcodes to asses the risk could deem that you are high risk and unfairly you might have to pay over the odds. However by shopping around you can access a company that uses a different method for assessing the risk and so get a lower price premium.

Launched in March 2003, BestDealInsurance are a completely independent specialist broker. They offer the full range of household insurance from buildings and / or contents insurance to buy to let cover, ensuring that their clients have the protection they need, without leaving a hole in their pocket.