If there ever was a true legend in the sport of body building it would be the legendary Lou Ferigno. In the 1970’s, Ferigno was a true rags to riches story as he came from humble origins to worldwide fame as a bodybuilder and then to even greater fame in his endearing portrayal of the titular green monster in the classic television program THE INCREDIBLE HULK. While some may be familiar with Lou and his work, they may not be all that familiar with his background which may prove to be quite interesting even to those who do not follow the sport.

Body Building: The Early Years

Lou Ferigno was born in Brooklyn New York in the 1950’s and had the handicap of being deaf. Since attitudes towards the hearing impaired were not exactly progressive during this time period, Lou became somewhat withdrawn and isolated. While in his teens he would discover a new hobby in the form of weightlifting. Lou became enamored with this new hobby to the point of obsession. He would work out everyday and watch his diet religiously. In time, he would set his sights on competing in amateur body building competitions. He entered them and did well enough that he caught the eye of body building mogul Joe Weider who brought Lou into the fold of professional body building competition. Lou did extremely well in this new profession although he alternated his time between competing and working in construction as construction paid far more than professional body building! Lou would then become featured in the classic documentary PUMPING IRON, a documentary that would bring him to the attention of a number of Hollywood producers.

The Incredible Hulk

When former James Bond villain Richard “Jaws” Kiel bombed as the Hulk during the first few days of shooting the pilot for the TV series, Ferigno got the call to play the green goliath. While few believed this series would be a hit, it turned out to be a colossal hit lasting many years on network TV and decades in syndication. Ferigno was now a bona fide worldwide star!

Ferigno no longer competes in body building these days as he is well into his retirement years. He does, however, appear at numerous competitions as a special guest and as a judge. He also signs autographs at comic conventions and meets with all his fans who have followed his career through the years. In terms of pop culture history, Lou Ferigno is a true icon and definitely one of a kind!

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Anyone who is dealing with lower back pain knows how difficult and troublesome it can be, and the first thing on their mind is finding lower back pain relief.

Fortunately, there are quite a few effective options available to you when it comes to lower back pain relief. Back pain medication in particular is often recommended, and there are multiple over the counter and prescription medications that can be helpful in relieving your pain and addressing related symptoms.

There are two types of over the counter medications for lower back pain relief in particular that are very commonly suggested, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These are used to alleviate lower back pain, but are often not enough.

Just remember that prescription drugs really only work for a short period of time, and not only that but they are not even dealing with the root cause of your problem so once you get off of them, more than likely your back pain is going to return completely.

There is also the fact that you may become dependent on the drugs, which is a worry, and the frightening fact that there are some very unfavorable side effects that come from taking most medications. For this reason, even if it is your doctor who prescribes them to you, you want to make sure that you are familiar with the medication and that you are aware of any possible side effects before starting yourself on it.

Can I Get Relief the Natural Way?

If you want to find lower back pain relief but are not comfortable taking the more conventional, prescription medications that your doctor will probably suggest you use, you should know that there are also some terrific natural lower back pain relief treatments that you can opt for.

For instance there are certain exercises that you can do which will help you achieve lower back pain relief. One of the best exercises will work to gently stretch your back muscles, and you do it by lying on your back with your knees bent and start by slowly raising your left knee to your chest.

Now you want to press your lower back against the floor, hold for five seconds, relax and repeat the exercise with your right knee. Do about 10 of these exercises for each leg and then switch legs. Also keep in mind that while some exercises are specific for your back, it is also very important to stay active in general.