Lower back pain a common issue

By DR. COLIN MACLEOD ND

Back pain is an incredibly common problem. Research indicates that approximately 90 per cent of people will have at least one episode of significant back pain in their life and most of these people will struggle again with recurrent back pain.
Our spine is made up of a series of bones connected with ligaments and muscles. The spine has a complex series of joints which allow us to bend, twist and move in many degrees and directions.
The muscles of the back act to provide mobility, strength and a significant amount of stability. For this reason keeping the muscles of the back strong is important for maintaining stability and protecting the back from injury in general.
In most cases low back pain is caused in large part due to deconditioned low back and abdominal muscles as well as prolonged periods of sitting (often with poor posture).
This combination of poor conditioning of low back muscles and long stretches of sitting with poor posture increases a person’s risk of developing spinal misalignment, ligament laxity, herniated or “slipped” disc, osteoporosis of the spine and degenerative joint disease.
As you can see, limiting time spent sitting throughout the day and keeping our core muscles strong is essential for protecting against many issues causing back pain.

Other biomechanical factors can also contribute to low back pain including previous injuries of the lower body or uneven gait.
Low back pain will be felt differently depending the cause of the pain.
In many cases the pain is felt directly in the low back but the pain can shoot down the leg or both legs in the case of sciatica, a herniated disc or spinal stenosis or other conditions which cause neural compression.
Back pain can be diagnosed easily in most cases with a physical exam and orthopedic testing. X-rays may be ordered to determine if osteoporosis or a bone fracture are the cause of the pain a person is experiencing. An MRI or CT scan may also be ordered to determine if a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or cancerous growth are the cause of a person’s back pain.
The treatment for back pain depends on the cause of the pain. In most cases where prolonged sitting and poor muscle condition are the main culprits for the back pain conservative treatment including breaks from sitting, improved ergonomics and a strengthening plan for the affected muscles will be most effective for achieving recovery. In the case of advanced cases of disc herniation surgery may be required if more conservative treatment fails.
Acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment and osteopathy are all potential treatments which can help with low back pain as well.
Prolotherapy which entails an injection of a sugar solution into the affected area also has encouraging research for the treatment of back pain.
In practice I have seen good results with prolotherapy in the treatment of low back pain which did not respond to more conservative treatment.
Some herbal and nutritional supplements can be helpful in the treatment of osteoarthritis-induced low back pain including devil’s claw, glucosamine and chondroitin, among others. You should talk with your naturopathic doctor before starting any herbal medicines to ensure that they are the right medicine for you and to avoid any adverse effects or drug interactions.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/southshorebreaker/1427402-lower-back-pain-a-common-issue

Acupuncture can be a remedy for relieving sciatica pain

By Trish Yerges

Sciatica is leg pain that originates at the nerve roots on either side of the lumbar vertebrae in the lower back. These nerve roots then course through the sciatic nerves, which run the entire length of each leg from the buttock to the toes.
Nerve roots in the lower back may be compressed. In some cases, a disk may crack, bulge and pinch the sciatic nerve. The resulting leg pain is commonly referred to as radiculopathy, and the pain can make walking, sitting or laying down an excruciating experience for some patients.
That is when acupuncture can be a viable treatment for pain relief and healing.
“The role of acupuncture is to provide relief,” said Glenda O’Connor, licensed acupuncturist at Mountain Valley Therapy in La Grande. “Basically what I do is relax muscles that may be tight and creating pressure on the nerve, whether it’s coming right off the lumbar or whether it’s coming from the muscles, which are really big muscles.”
An acupuncturist will take the patient’s history and perform a tactile examination of muscles and acupuncture points on the body. The muscle may feel smooth to the touch, and then there is suddenly a notable change in texture, what O’Connor calls “a blockage.”
“I feel for acupuncture points and if they have pain in them,” O’Connor said. “These points can feel warm, cold, soft or really hard. They just feel a little different from surrounding muscles. This is where I would place a needle.”
When treating sciatica, the needles are never inserted into the nerves themselves, but into the muscle at the acupuncture site.
“Needling a nerve would be like doing dental work without numbing,” O’Connor said. “We couldn’t needle a nerve if we wanted to, but I do think people have a misconception about that."
Needles are placed carefully into the muscle and connective tissues to cause a micro-trauma, which, in turn, stimulates the body’s own self-healing mechanisms. The body is always undergoing repair on a cellular level anyway, but the advantage of acupuncture is that it directs the healing response to precise areas of the body to clear the blockage and allow for healing.
“In order to have healing, you have to create space,” O’Connor said. “Essentially, I’m creating space by moving things down so this can flow. It’s just movement. Some people say chi or energy. I think of it as movement.”
Reducing pain is O’Connor’s first priority. To do that, she identifies areas of blockage in the muscles along meridians.
“Acupuncture establishes increased blood flow, which brings more oxygen, brings nutrition and brings all the things the body has at its amazing disposal to heal,” she said. “I want to move the blockage. If you have pain, you have blockage. If you don’t have pain, you don’t have blockage. It’s pretty much that straight-forward.”
O’Connor places needles at precise points within a meridian or channel to direct pain to exit the body, to create a pathway where energy can flow and exit, along with the pain
Sciatic nerve pain is frequently located in the gallbladder meridian or in the urinary bladder meridian. Acupuncture needling may start at the lumbar area and proceed down the leg to an exit site like the toes.
Within that pathway, a major acupuncture point for sciatica is in the cheek of the buttock that is the trigger point for the piriformis muscle located deep in the buttock, behind the gluteus maximus. This muscle is often involved with sciatic nerve pain.
“For some people, the sciatic nerves passes through the fibres of that muscle, so when that muscle gets tight, it squeezes the sciatic nerve,” O’Connor said.
Each acupuncture treatment builds on itself. You get relief longer and you’re increasing your healing between treatments. A fair attempt at getting benefit from acupuncture is four sessions, said O’Connor.
“After a patient has had an adequate number of treatments and he is doing pretty well, if he re-irritates that area, he can usually recover on his own,” she said. “Often patients don’t have to come back to me if they do enough treatments in the beginning, so you have recovery because everything is flowing real good—the channel has been cleared. So it’s absolutely critical that patients come for enough treatments. Quitting prematurely is the number one mistake that patients make.”
To avoid re-injury of the sciatic nerve, discover what thing or activity caused it in the first place.
“It might be something like a sagging bed that needs replacing or sitting too long at a computer,” she said. “Identify the cause and make the necessary corrections and lifestyle changes.”

http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/health/4908300-151/acupuncture-can-be-a-remedy-for-relieving-sciatica

Modified Yoga Relieves Leg Pain

By Katheryn Hoban

So many people have severe leg pain which interrupts their lives. Nobody wants to move when they are in pain. I think that's part of the problem. A catch 22. Once a person has severe pain; they become more sedentary. It's because of the pain, that they don't want to move too much. It's completely understandable. Seniors who have fallen and broken a hip or leg, are then told by physician not to move too much. After they heal, many people are still in the mind-set of not moving. Sciatica, knee and hip pain, burning sensations, numb legs, and cramping are other severe leg pains. The challenge is, that the leg pains sort of get all mixed up.
Modified yoga is actually a really good remedy for leg pain. Many of my clients have hip replacements, knee replacement, sciatica, and at least one has a broken pelvis that has been mending for a year now, severe leg cramps, and blood clots. Modified yoga assist the client at his or her pace of healing. People can stop when the pain is intense, or change the pose if its too much for them. No one has exactly the same time to heal. Some heal in a relatively short time; 4 weeks or so, and others with a more severe injury could take a whole year or more.

People are actually surprised when their bodies take quite a long time to heal. Somehow, it's prized when people heal quickly, like they are some super human. I just say, "It will take the time that it does." Another problem is that doctors don't fully understand the stretching and benefits of modified yoga, so they tell a patient don't move! If people continue to stretch, their hips, thighs and calves, and do everything slowly, they'll get the blood circulating, which aids healing. They would start to improve over time. As soon as someone feels a twinge of pain, they retreat, instead of giving themselves moments to let it pass, and just take a small rest. They go immerse themselves in being sedentary again.
Also when a client comes to my class, I want to understand what kind of life they are living at home. I want to know what they are eating, and what they are not eating. Besides giving them a modified yoga lesson, I may suggest that they eat cauliflower and Brussel Sprouts. Due to their beneficial properties. If they are experiencing leg cramps, I might suggest that they drink a glass of Tomato juice daily, which is filled with potassium to help their leg cramps.
I ask how they sleep. Do they stack their legs one on top of the other, do they jam one of their heels against the calf muscle? A simple change of sleeping habit and their leg pain clears up. I also find out what kind of shoes they wear, and to describe the leg pain. If they describe foot, heel, and lower leg pain, I would suggest that they buy new shoes, due to lack of shoe support.
If they are dealing with sciatica, we do stretches that are quite specific to stretch the back, hip and thigh. If they are dealing with a knee injury, we do leg strengthening and stretches to assist the knee in recovery. I notice right away if a person locks their knee when they walk, and I would immediately instruct them to be more aware of the knee lock. If they can change the leg position to a slightly bent knee, the knee pain would subside.
Throughout the modified yoga class, the knee has to be bent, to protect the knee, and release the stress on the back. The tailbone and pelvic bone, needs to be rolled towards the navel, which relieves back pressure, and just that little adjustment, may be enough to release sciatica strain. Modified yoga does work on most pain, but people just have to have a little patience.

A yoga class is not a pain pill that just covers the symptoms. We really discover what is going on with a person's lower back, legs, hips, and feet. All of this doesn't happen immediately, because the client is learning about his or her own body. Each change of positioning, and subtly of the stretches, starts to make them feel a whole lot better. Then each client has to continue at his or her home. To keep the legs slightly bent, to do strengthen exercises, to protect the knees. To be careful about where they place their feet so that they don't fall and re-injure the legs, knees ankles or feet.
It's more like a lifestyle. Modified yoga is not just a class, it's the body mechanics that go along with it. How can a person move their body in a gently way that frees their body, and permanently release body strain.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Modified-Yoga-Relieves-Leg-Pain&id=9584154

What You Don't Know About Sciatica

By Sara Butler

Sciatica is the way many people describe the pain they feel in their legs or buttocks, but what many people may think of sciatica may not be. There are many persistent myths and misinformation about sciatica, which is why, if you suspect you are experiencing it, you need to see your chiropractor for an accurate diagnosis. Here’s what you need to know about sciatica and how your chiropractor may be able to help.
What is Sciatica?
Your sciatic nerve is a large nerve that branches from your lower back, across your buttocks, and down each leg. Sciatica itself isn’t a disorder, but instead a set of symptoms used to diagnose the true disorder causing them. That means if you really want to resolve any leg or back pain you’re experiencing due to sciatica then you need to figure out what is causing those symptoms if you hope to find relief.
The More You Know
So, what can cause irritation of the sciatic nerve? There are several things that can cause you to experience sciatic pain, including:

• Piriformis syndrome – Your piriformis muscle attaches your hip to your spine, and if it is tight then it can irritate the sciatic nerve and cause symptoms. Sometimes piriformis syndrome doesn’t actually involve your sciatic nerve at all, but the pain from it can do a good job of mimicking the symptoms!
• Shortened hip flexors – If you spend a lot of time sitting, then it can shorter the flexor muscles in your hips. If your hip flexors are shortened then it can have a domino effect and actually “turn off” other muscles such as your glutes. Quite often, shortened hip flexors cause weak glutes, which can cause pain.
• Nerve irritation – If your sciatic nerve is irritated from something as simple as sitting on your wallet for an extended amount of time, then you can experience pain, weakness or tingling anywhere between your lower back and big toe.

Sciatic pain isn’t something that develops overnight, even if it feels as if the symptoms come on suddenly. You may have a condition that has been brewing under the surface for months or even years before you begin to experience symptoms.
The best course of action if you’re experiencing classic symptoms of sciatica is to see your chiropractor so they can investigate and find the root cause of the pain and discomfort you are experiencing. They can then begin treating the problem and hopefully help you to find relief!

http://www.thejoint.com/minnesota/woodbury/woodbury-32004/201605-what-you-dont-know-about-sciatica

Do You Have Sciatica? Here Are Some Natural Remedies That Can Help Alleviate Your Symptoms

By Justin Vict

Sciatica is a condition where you experience constant radiating leg pain that sometimes is accompanied with lower back pain. The good news is that it's very treatable. Here are some options you should consider.

If you've been experiencing chronic radiating leg pain and maybe lesser lower back pain, you may have sciatica. You should get tested for sciatica by your doctor, who will probably perform a straight leg raising test. Your doctor will most likely diagnose you with sciatica if you're experiencing chronic radiating leg pain that extends to your feet or toes and if you test positive from the straight leg raising test.
Sciatica may be caused by a herniated disc that's compressing a nerve root or other underlying condition which can be safely corrected with surgery or other medical interventions. If there's no underlying condition, sciatica can usually be alleviated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within two weeks, but treatment can last for a year in some patients. What's interesting is that placebos work almost as effectively as analgesics, muscle relaxants, and NSAIDs – which makes experts theorize that sciatica may be psychological rather than neurological.
Experts recommend bed rest and exercising regularly to help alleviate sciatica symptoms. The Mayo Clinic also recommends the following:

• Placing a cold pack over the painful area for 20 minutes repeated throughout the day.
• Try using hot packs over the painful area 2 to 3 days after using cold packs. You can also try heat lamps and heating pads.
• Stretching for 30 seconds can help relieve nerve root compression. But avoid jerking, twisting, or bouncing while stretching.

How Can You Help Prevent Developing Sciatica?

Sciatica usually affects those between 45 to 64 years old. If you're tall, smoke, or are always stressed out, you have an increased risk of developing sciatica. Frequent exposure to whole body vibrations, like occupational driving, can also increase your risk. Living a sedentary lifestyle, like working at the computer or sitting around all day, can also increase your risk for developing sciatica because these activities put constant pressure on your spine, which can lead to nerve root compression.
Quit smoking, limit exposing yourself to frequent whole body vibrations, and exercise regularly to help prevent developing sciatica. If your work requires you to sit all day, take a stand-up break every hour. Yoga is also a miraculous activity that can help protect you from developing sciatica. There are many yoga poses and inversions that specialize in decompressing your spine, which helps prevent nerve root compression. Practicing yoga regularly has also been shown to relieve stress, balance your endocrine system, improve arthritis, and more! It's also been found to help make you live longer and keep your youthful looks by lengthening your telomeres (meditation has the same effect).
If you're experiencing chronic leg or back pain, it's best to see your doctor. If you get diagnosed with sciatica, the good news is it's very treatable and your symptoms should be gone within two weeks with medical intervention. You can help prevent developing sciatica by practicing age-reversing yoga everyday and quitting smoking.

http://www.emaxhealth.com/13541/do-you-have-sciatica-here-are-some-natural-remedies-can-help-alleviate-your-symptoms

What Do You Need to Know About Back Pain and Its Remedies?

By Gagandeep Singh

It appears that almost everybody encounters lower back pain at least once in their life. It can be added to a wide range of issues from muscle strain, tumour, herniated disc, osteoporosis, aging, lifting too much weight, a previous injury, and even stress.
Back pain influences almost 80% of Americans and the most widely recognized type is Lower Pain. Since you depend on your back for verging on each move you make, it tends to hurt the most. The pain can even be debilitating. It is a standout amongst the most widely recognized issues inciting a visit to your doctor and for missing work. Indeed, it is the second most elevated reason for disability in people less than 45 years old.
It is critical to discover what is causing this problem by your primary care physician, however, here are some natural remedies for back pain to consider before your next doctor's appointment. In spite of the fact that individuals grumble of back pain in, it is not a diagnosis but instead a sign of a hidden issue.

There are two type of pain, chronic and acute. Acute pain is a pain with another onset. It occurs suddenly, generally because of an injury. It is normally recovered in one month however not over 6 weeks span. Chronic pain is pain that can have a snappy or moderate onset, however it lasts for longer period. In spite of the fact that it lasts for more than 3 months, a few people experience a lifetime of chronic pain. Chronic pain is not very common type of pain.

What causes back pain?
There are a few causes including different physical and enthusiastic variables that can result in back issues. If it left untreated, can prompt a weakening level of physical uneasiness.
Among various explanations behind back pain, the absolute most basic reasons are:
1. Strenuous physical activities, for example, weight lifting
2. Wrong stance while sitting or standing
3. Sitting for delayed hours similarly situated
4. Stomach issue
5. Pregnancy - Every pregnant lady experiences the pain enduring at a few or the other purpose of time amid the pregnancy time frame. This is particularly so amid the most recent couple of months of pregnancy.
6. Utilization of high heels - This causes strain in the back muscles, prompting extreme pain
7. Open spine surgery can likewise result in FBSS (fizzled back spine surgery), which can prompt incessant hurt in the back, arms or legs. Different causes incorporate spondylosis, herniated circle, sciatica, and spinal stenosis.

What is the right treatment?
In order to find the right remedy for your back pain, you need to get it checked by a specialist. Only after getting it diagnosed, you can opt for natural remedies for back pain. Also, upon visiting a doctor, you should give a clear concise description of your problem. Your doctor should know how the pain began, what you were doing when it began, how serious it is, does it go back and forth or is it steady, and what exacerbates the pain better or worse. There are various natural remedies you can choose such as regular yoga, acupuncture, oil massage, spa and more.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Do-You-Need-to-Know-About-Back-Pain-and-Its-Remedies?&id=9545176

Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief – How To Get Long Term Relief

From groundreport.com

Sciatic nerve pain relief can be easy, there are many simple ways to ease pain quickly. However these types of methods only offer short-term temporary relief.

To get long term relief from sciatica you must target both the symptoms and the cause.

Sciatica is not an actual condition, but a symptom of lower back pain. The elements that cause lower back pain are muscle imbalance, joint imbalance and trigger points. In severe cases inflammation can also be present.

In sciatica the only difference is that certain muscles are more likely to be involved and certain joints in the lower back.

Either way, the only long term remedy is to eliminate all of these elements. But how can you get quick sciatic nerve pain relief?

Techniques for Relief from Sciatica

The following are some simple techniques you can use now to help ease pain. Some will work for you and some will not.

Each person is unique, the underlying causes in your specific case is likely different to anybody else you know suffering with sciatica. This is why for lasting relief you must use a program that is comprehensive, simple to follow and uses a combination of techniques to get long-term sciatic nerve pain relief.

Below are the best and proven methods to help ease your pain:

Walk – walking can never be understated. Movement, as long as it isn’t painful to walk, helps with both the muscular and joint elements. By walking for a good half hour, most people will find significant relief in their pain.

Even long term, walking is still the best activity for keeping your spine in good working order.

Ice/Heat – Ice and heat can help with more than inflammation. Ice works as a pain reliever, heat helps improve the blood flow and will relax the area.

Alternating with both gives you good relief. When pain first arrives, place ice on the area for ten minutes, followed by ten minutes of heat. Repeat this three times, but in the first 48 hours make sure you finish with ice.

After 48 hours finish with the heat. This if used early enough can help ease pain quickly and stop the progression of pain.

Acupressure – there are many types of acupressure, but the firm pressure on certain points can help ease pain and stimulate the healing process. Acupressure can literally turn off the pain signals to make life feel a lot better very quickly.

Combining acupressure with other techniques has been shown as the quickest way to get sciatic nerve pain relief.

Stretches – stretches can be used to ease pain quickly, and are also a vital part of removing muscle imbalances. However if performed wrong, or if you stretch the wrong muscles, they can cause more pain and prevent long term healing.

This is why the vital step in any relief from sciatica is finding the exact imbalances that are present in your situation. You can find out your imbalance simply, click the following link to learn a simple way to detect spinal imbalance imbalances.

Some simple stretches that can help ease tension in the lower back and the sciatic nerve, is to pull your knees to your chest. This stretches the lower back and opens the pelvis, a common source of pain.

The Pirifromis muscle is commonly tight in sciatica and stretching this can help ease pain quickly.

PLEASE NOTE: only ever stretch until you feel tension, NOT pain. If you stretch and cause pain the muscle will react by tightening again immediately after you stop stretching. The goal is muscle relaxation!

These simple techniques can help ease pain, try them to see if they make a difference, but as I said …

Your specific situation is different to others. You need to find what works for you and your condition, but long-term relief is easy for all once you know the simple steps to follow.

How to Get Long Term Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief

Long term, lasting relief only ever happens if you follow a plan.

Most people fail to get lasting relief as they rely on techniques that only target symptoms. Then try to change their postures at work, sit better, do a few stretches, and use anti-inflammatory medicine when pain strikes …

And live in a never-ending cycle of pain.

Long-term relief is actually an easy process and a simple one to follow. Best of all it only takes a few minutes of time each day until pain eases, then a few minutes each week or two to maintain a healthy spine.

Before you jump into any exercise that is said to help, you should ALWAYS first find out what is causing your pain.

You may have been told it was due to how you lifted, or carried an object or even how you sat at work. These may be the last events that triggered your pain, but as research has proven they are not the cause.

The underlying cause of pain is due to many small injuries over time. These injuries allow your body to twist and distort – in other words become out of balance.

The imbalances are centered around your muscles and joints, and with times as these imbalances remain you can localized muscle spasm called Trigger Points.

Combined these are the main causes of your pain. Performing a few simple stretches, learning yoga, eating well, exercising or sitting better at work will not remove these imbalances.

http://www.groundreport.com/sciatic-nerve-pain-relief-get-long-term-relief/

Sciatica: The burning truth about leg pain

From djournal.com

The definition of sciatica is an irritation of the sciatic nerve causing discomfort which usually manifests as leg pain.

The sciatic nerve starts in the pelvis and is formed from nerve fibres that come from your spinal cord located in your low back. The sciatic nerve travels down the leg to approximately the level of the knee. The nerve then splits into two separate nerves, the tibial and common fibular nerves. These nerves provide sensation to different parts of your lower leg, as well as control many of the muscles in the leg and foot.

When the sciatic nerve is irritated, it can lead to pain in the pelvis or leg. Sciatica is frequently thought of when there is pain in the low back or hips that radiates down the leg, but actually, sciatic nerve irritation is unusual. It is more common to have a different problem which causes the same or similar symptoms.

Many other causes of low back and leg pain can mimic sciatica including muscle spasms/strain, bursitis, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), arthritis, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), peripheral vascular disease, as well as hip or knee problems, among others.

One of the most common causes of low back pain that travels down the leg is radiculopathy. Radiculopathy is similar to sciatica except, in radiculopathy, the irritation of the nerve happens closer to the spine as the nerve exits the spinal canal in the low back. With sciatic nerve pain (also called sciatica), the irritation happens farther away from the back at the location of the sciatic nerve.

Notify your primary care provider if you experience pain radiating down your leg. Your provider may decide to schedule an office visit where you will be asked for more information about your symptoms. A physical examination will be performed to help determine the source of your pain. Based on the findings, your provider may do additional testing such as blood work or imaging in the form of X-ray, MRI or CT if indicated to better assist in determining the cause of your symptoms.

After determining the cause of the pain, your provider will talk to you about treatments. Often treatments may include medications, exercises or stretches (including possibly physical therapy), or activity modification. In certain instances, you may need to be referred to have more invasive testing or treatments. These may include an EMG (nerve test), ultrasound, injections, or possibly even surgery in severe cases if needed.

Prevention is the best treatment. One of the main causes of back and leg pain is lifting improperly. Using proper techniques such as bending at your knees when lifting heavy objects can help prevent these symptoms from occurring. Avoid lifting objects that are too heavy. If you do need to lift a heavy object, it is best to ask for assistance.

Improvement in symptoms will vary depending on the specific cause of the pain. The majority of people will have their symptoms improve over time. Very rarely is surgery needed.

https://djournal.com/lifestyle/health-lines-sciatica-burning-truth-leg-pain/

How to Identify and Treat Your Sciatica Pain

By Lyle Francois

It is common for people to feel sciatic nerve pain, but that does not mean you have to live with the pain. Here is how you can treat your symptoms.
It's common for people to experience pain caused by irritation of their sciatic nerve. It is known as sciatica. This is the longest and widest nerve in a person's body. It starts in the lower back and ends just below a person's knee. The sciatica nerve controls different muscles in a person's lower legs as well as a person’s sense of touch in that same area of the body, including the foot.

Causes of Sciatica

These are some of the conditions that can cause a person sciatica pain:

- Lumbar spinal stenosis, or the narrowing of a person’s spinal canal in their lower back

- Being overweight

- Wearing high heel shoes for an extended period of time on a regular basis

- Pregnancy

- Degenerative disc disease, or the breakdown of discs in a person’s spine

- Spondylolisthesis, or when one vertebra overlaps with another

- Muscles spasms that occur in a person's buttocks or back

- Spinal injuries

- Spinal infections

- Tumours in the spine that press against the root of a person's sciatic nerve

Symptoms of Sciatica

Some of the more common symptoms of sciatica are a constant pain in the buttocks or leg when sitting, lower back pain, hip pain as well as a burning or tingling sensation that moves down a person's leg. A person may struggle to move a leg or foot because of numbness or weakness or feel a shooting pain that makes it a challenge for one to stand up. If a person experiences mild symptoms of sciatica that don't last longer than eight weeks, medical attention may not be necessary. These situations often resolve themselves. In other cases, people may experience pain infrequently. This does have the potential to become worse over time. It's also possible for people to develop serious sciatica pain that is debilitating.

Diagnosing Sciatica

When a person seeks medical attention for back pain, a physician will want to start with a physical exam. They will check a person's reflexes as well as muscle strength. A patient may be asked to walk on their heels, lift one leg at a time, stand from a squatting position and more. Sciatica pain will often worsen during such activities. The next step may be imaging tests to see exactly where the issue is. This could include an X-ray of the spine to reveal what may be pressing on the sciatic nerve. You could also get a MRI, which could be used to see the detailed images of bone and soft tissue. A CT scan could also be used, and that uses a dye that circulates around the spinal nerve and locates any problems. An Electromyography (EMG) test is another test that could be implemented to calculate the electrical impulses created by a person's nerves that are responding to their muscles. This is a good way to identify nerve compression.

Treating Acute Sciatica

Acute sciatica symptoms normally last less than eight weeks. Over-the-counter medications such as painkillers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories as well as acetaminophen can help with acute sciatica symptoms. It's important people check with a pain management specialist like Champey Pain Group to see if over-the-counter medications will help. In many situations, alternating between hot and cold compresses help decrease pain. Regular exercise also helps with acute sciatica. This could involve light stretching, walking or other types of exercise. Always talk with your doctor before starting a workout routine to make sure it is the right one for you.

Treating Chronic Sciatica

This condition involves a person having sciatic pain for longer than eight weeks. Treatment could involve a variety of opiate-based prescription painkillers. Physical therapy is one way to strengthen muscles and increase flexibility. Chiropractic treatment is also a great way to help with the realignment of the spine and the sciatic nerve. Working with pain management specialists has also been successful when treating this condition.

The final option is surgery if the sciatic pain has not stopped with other treatments. A lumbar laminectomy widens the spinal cord to decrease pressure on the sciatic nerve while others would get a discectomy, which will remove a damaged spinal disc partially or totally.

No matter how severe your pain is, it is always a good idea to check with your pain management specialist like Champey Pain Group to make sure your condition does not get uncontrollable. This is a disease that can be treated early, so make sure you get the help you need as soon as you notice signs of sciatic nerve pain.

https://newswire.net/newsroom/blog-post/00094004-how-to-identify-and-treat-sciatica.html

Solutions for sciatic nerve pain

From info-europa.com

Sciatica is a painful condition which may impact your life in a big way. There are different care and solutions available for this problem. The effectiveness of different solutions vary a lot and one solution may or may not work for someone. Let’s find out what are the solutions available for sciatica.
Chiropractic care can help you to get relief when you are suffering from sciatica. According to a study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, people who visited a chiropractor felt better with the treatment which lasted for few weeks. Spinal manipulation can help people suffering from sciatica to get relief from the pain. It may also restore normal mobility around the injured area. Such care may reduce inflammation which will enhance the body’s healing mechanism by creating a suitable environment. Yoga is a very well-known method for quality living. It advocates performing different exercises and postures for healthy living. Yoga can help you in reducing pain and even disability. Scientific studies have been done to see if yoga can actually help people who are suffering from different types of pain and disability. People suffering from back pain showed tremendous improvement when they practised yoga for few weeks. Yoga will help you to strengthen your muscles and improve flexibility at the same time. Different postures and exercises will help you to move better and function in a normal way even when you have sciatica. It will also arrest aggravation of sciatica to other areas than the present ones. You can try yoga when you are trying to get rid of sciatica so that it not only reduces your pain but also improves your mobility and flexibility so that it can function better in your life. However, you should always find the right teacher to learn Yoga from when you are suffering from sciatica. Acupuncture can also help you if you are suffering from sciatica. It will need several sessions to see any improvement but relief may be possible after a few sessions.
Normal acupuncture or warming acupuncture any of these techniques can help people suffering from sciatica. In this method, needles are inserted in certain specific areas of the body to reduce the pain and inflammation. Many people believe that acupuncture can really help in different medical conditions.
Massages really help us by improving our blood circulation and reducing pain in different parts of the body. It can also be applied to people who are suffering from sciatica. However, trigger point therapy may be the best option…

http://info-europa.com/uncategorized/solutions-for-sciatic-nerve-pain/48777

5 overlooked sciatica remedies that could help you

By Karen Gordon

Anyone who has ever experienced sciatica knows what an agonising pain it can be and how it can impact on daily life.

Sciatica is defined as pain or discomfort associated with the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down and buttocks down into the back of the legs to the feet. It's the longest nerve in the body! Pain occurs when there's pressure on, or damage to, the sciatic nerve.

The most common cause of sciatica is a disc prolapse – also known as disc herniation or slipped disc, but lumbar degenerative disc disease, bone spurs, lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, piriformis syndrome, or spinal tumours can all result in sciatica.

James Farmer, physiotherapist and personal trainer says:

"Sciatica is really an 'umbrella term' used for non-specific radiating pain anywhere down the back of the leg. Unfortunately it could be a number of different factors creating the pain and therefore there are a lot of factors to consider. Firstly, because there could be a number of causes, it's important to stress that anyone experiencing sciatica should seek the help of a medical professional to get a full assessment."

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We ask our experts what remedies you may have overlooked if your sciatic nerve is acting up…

1. Hot and cold packs

Using a combination of hot and cold packs can go a long way to help relieve the pain. A cold pack can reduce inflammation, which is associated with sciatic nerve pain, whilst heat helps to increase the blood flow to this area. Alternating both cold and heat can give positive results in reducing pain and inflammation. Roger Henderson, our resident GP, says:

''Initially, you might get relief from a cold pack placed on the painful area for up to 20 minutes several times a day. Use an ice pack or a package of frozen peas wrapped in a clean towel and do not apply for more than a few minutes. After two to three days, apply heat to the areas that hurt. Use hot packs, a heat lamp or a heating pad on the lowest setting. If you continue to have pain, try alternating warm and cold packs.''

2. Try stretching

Stretching exercises for your lower back can help relieve nerve root compression, advises Roger. He says to avoid jerking, bouncing or twisting during the stretch, and try to hold the stretch for at least 30 seconds.

''You can do knee to chest stretch to help reduce the irritation of the sciatic nerve and improve flexibility of your lower back.''

Lie on your back on a mat with your feet straight and hip-width apart.

Keep your upper body relaxed and bend your right knee upwards with an inhale.

Clasp your hands behind the thigh and gently pull it towards your chest as far as is comfortable.

Keep the other leg flat on the surface.

Hold this position for 20 seconds with controlled deep breaths and then lower your leg gently.

Switch legs and repeat. Repeat 3 to 5 times.

Finally do this exercise with both the legs 3 to 5 times. You can also do exercises like spinal rolling, knees rocking, floor twists, and back extensions.

Physiotherapist and personal trainer James Farmer agrees that a simple piriformis stretch will often help ease any tension on the sciatic nerve and ease the sciatic pain. He says that if he knows the sciatica is not a result of a serious back injury, such as a disk prolapse, he will use a technique called neural flossing.

''Nerves don't stretch, and they're not a big fan of tension either. Nerves need to be able to slide and move freely without becoming 'snagged'. This snagging of the sciatic nerve creates tension in the nerve, and this can often lead to sciatic pain. Neural flossing is a method by which you can mobilise the nerve and ease any tension placed on it. With neural flossing it's important the nerve isn't put under further tension. Instead, it is 'flossed'.''

3. Get a Massage
A massage will not only relax the muscles in your back, it can help loosen muscles, tissues that are effected by the sciatic nerve, whilst also improving blood flow. Michele Pernetta, one of the UK's leading yoga teachers and founder of Fierce Grace says oiling the body is incredible for nerve pain. She says:

''Use sesame oil or buy the Pukka "Mahanarayam oil" from a health food store, heat it and massage it in all over the body especially affected area and the soles of the feet. Or get an Ayurvedic massage from a trained practitioner.''

 4. The heat in hot yoga

A study in the journal Pain reported that people with chronic back pain who practiced Iyengar yoga for 16 weeks saw pain reduced by 64% and disability by 77%. The effect on sciatic pain is less clear, but Michele says that the heat in hot yoga can be good for it.

''Oil the body before and/or after, but do the modifications to not overstretch the hamstrings. Stop stretching your legs as this can aggravate sciatica. Stretch your lower back with your knees bent.'' 

5. Take it easy

Don't forget to take it easy, says Roger. But don't simply lie in bed because this has been shown to actually worsen the condition.

''Do activities you are able to tolerate, and do not expect to feel better overnight.''

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/wellbeing/a27114/overlooked-sciatica-remedies-that-could-help-you/

Suffer from Sciatica? Look to This for Relief

By Genevieve Cunningham

If you have never suffered from sciatica, you should definitely count yourself among the lucky. Sciatica is a very painful condition, and for many people, it’s a condition with very little relief in sight. It seemingly comes out of nowhere and can range on the pain scale from mild to absolutely debilitating. Luckily, many people are finally finding a way to help manage the pain of sciatica with regular chiropractic care. If you or someone you know suffers from this painful condition, take a look at how getting chiropractic care at The Joint Chiropractic in Pasadena may help.

First, What Exactly is Sciatica?

This condition stems from the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the rear and into the leg. Sciatica is simply the term we use to explain pain that occurs because of this nerve. The pain usually happens when the nerve gets pinched or compressed, causing a great amount of pressure to be placed directly on the nerve.

Does Everyone Get Sciatica?

In short, no. Not everyone suffers from this ailment, but the important thing to remember is that anyone can suffer from it. It most often happens to adults between the ages of 30 and 50, but it’s also fairly prominent in pregnant women.

Will I know if I have Sciatica?

You will absolutely know if you have sciatica because the symptoms are quite painful and distinct. Those who suffer from it may experience sharp or aching pains in the lower back, rear, or down into the leg. It can also cause a tingling or numb feeling in any of these body parts as well.

What Will the Chiropractor Do for Me?

Chiropractic care is actually one of the best options for treating sciatica. This is a gentle form of care that can release the compression of the sciatic nerve. The chiropractor will use a form of spinal manipulation to gently but deliberately place the spine back into its proper alignment, which can alleviate pressure, compression, tension, and pain.

Where Can I Get Chiropractic Care?

If you would like to try chiropractic care for your sciatica or for any other reason, visit with chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic. At The Joint, you’ll meet with friendly and professional chiropractors who truly care about your health and well-being. You can also use their walk-in visits and affordable pricing plan to your advantage for an effective and low-stress experience. You don’t have to live with sciatica permanently. Get some relief and a boost in your overall health by getting to The Joint as soon as today.

http://www.thejoint.com/california/pasadena/pasadena-east-31028/196380-suffer-from-sciatica-look-to-this-for-relief

Will I Ever Run Pain Free Again? How to Overcome Sciatica

By John Davis

Sciatica can be a pain in the butt…and the back…thigh…calf…even foot.
That may be a pun, but it has a lot of truth in it. Running with sciatica can make running almost unbearable, and a sciatica flare up can make us wonder will I ever run again?
Today, we are going to look into how the sciatic nerve causes pain while running, how you can treat the numbness of sciatica and running, while finding a solution to make sure it is safe to run in the future. Finally, we will answer the question that every runner will be wondering; can I run with sciatica?
Is it sciatica you are struggling with?
Let’s find out:
How is it possible for one injury to cause pain in so many places?
Unlike the most common running injuries, sciatica is a nerve problem.  

Where does the sciatic nerve run?

The sciatic nerve, from which the term “sciatica” originates, is an enormous structure that runs from your lower back through your glutes, down your hamstrings and calves, and into your foot.
It controls muscular activation for practically the entire posterior chain, i.e. the muscles on the back-side of your lower body.  
These muscles are the prime movers for runners, so any disturbance to the sciatic nerve is bad news, and why running with sciatica pain is so dehabilitating.
Because of the nerve’s tremendous length, the symptoms of sciatica are myriad.
Running with sciatica nerve pain can become almost impossible, as it presents itself as a shooting, aching, or radiating pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve.
Most often, however, pain is felt in the lower back, tailbone area, and glutes, and pain may sometimes radiate down the hamstring.  
In more rare cases, the pain can radiate into the calf and even the underside of the foot. Sciatic calf pain can get worse after prolonged sitting or with internal rotation of the leg, but this is not always the case.

Does Running Aggravate Sciatica (and How Do I Know If It Is Sciatica)?

One standard diagnostic test is the single-leg raise.  
While lying flat on the ground, have an assistant raise your leg up (or use a rope) on the affected side, keeping your knee straight.  

The test is considered positive if the maneuver provokes lower back or sciatic nerve pain.  
This straight leg raise will often reproduce sciatic nerve pain if the cause is a herniated disc
Another manual test that can often reproduce sciatic nerve pain involves lying on your back while bending the knee on the affected side.  
Plant affected side’s foot on the opposite side of the body (i.e. on the outside of the opposite knee), and attempt to internally and externally rotate the affected leg against resistance.  In most cases, this will reproduce pain as well.

Abduction or adduction of the bent and internally rotated leg against external resistance can often reproduce sciatic pain originating from the piriformis.

Is sciatica always the cause of lower back pain?

Historically, the cause of sciatica was assumed to be a herniated disc in the lower back.  
When a disc bulges out of the spine, it can press on the sciatic nerve and cause shooting pain along the nerve.  
Indeed, according to a medical paper by Aaron G. Filler and other doctors at UCLA, the single leg raise is almost always positive when sciatica is caused by a herniated lumbar spine disc.2
However, a large number of people with sciatica don’t have a herniated disc, or if they do, it isn’t the cause of their pain—doctors note that somewhere around 40% of healthy, pain-free people have herniated discs as well.
In many ways, sciatica is really more of a symptom than an injury itself.

What are the running with sciatica symptoms?

Herniation of a lumbar spine disc can cause sciatic nerve pain, but so can a number of other conditions which have been detailed in the medical literature.
First among these is piriformis syndrome, a somewhat-nebulous term that’s often used to refer to cases of sciatic nerve pain that do not appear to involve the lumbar spine.  
Filler et al. write that MRI scans are very accurate at diagnosing or ruling out involvement of the piriformis muscle as the cause of sciatic nerve pain.
If you’ve determined your sciatica is related to your piriformis, you should see our companion article on piriformis syndrome.
Rarer causes of sciatica include stress fractures of the sacrum, avulsion fractures to the ischial tuberosity (the attachment point on the pelvis for the hamstring muscles), and fibrous tissue in the upper part of the hamstring muscle.
If your pain may be a hamstring issue, we have a great discussion about what others have tried on our hamstring tendonitis article.
How Common is Running with Sciatica?
Among distance runners, sciatica is not particularly common.  
According to one study of over 2,000 injured runners, injuries to the spine, gluteus medius area, and hamstrings constituted only about eight percent of all running injuries—and of course sciatica of any type accounts for only some fraction of this.
Another study of injured runners pegs lower back problems (including sciatica, but also run-of-the-mill back pain) at 4.4% of all running injuries among marathoners.
As a result of the relative rarity and difficulty of identifying a specific cause, risk factors for sciatica are hard to pinpoint.  
Data from studies on the general population show that frequent heavy lifting is a risk factor for sciatica—lifting heavy weights at the gym with improper technique might be one culprit for distance runners.  
For unknown reasons, simply being tall appears to put you at risk of sciatica related to a herniated disc, though strangely, it does not seem to increase your risk of other lower back problems.  
Among women, having given birth is a possible risk factor as well.  

Effective Sciatica Treatment and Relief

Because it is somewhat rare among runners, there are not many high-quality studies on treatment protocols for sciatic nerve irritation.  
A proper diagnosis of the cause of the nerve irritation should always be the first course of action.  
Medical examination by a doctor, sometimes combined with an MRI of the lower back and pelvis area, should be able to identify the root cause of the nerve pain.

Sciatica treatment exercises

In many cases, physical therapy can be helpful.  
Because there are no set protocols on managing sciatica, however it arises, seeing an experienced therapist who is accustomed to working with distance runners is your best bet.  
For piriformis-related sciatica, rehab exercises will likely focus on glute strength, including the abductors and external rotators of the hip.  
This usually involves the familiar family of hip strength work for runners: side leg lifts, clamshells, glute bridges, and theraband work.  
For sciatica arising from a lower back problem, rehab more often entails stretching and strengthening exercises for the abs and back muscles.  
Given that inflammation is often a factor in sciatic nerve irritation, this is one case in which a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen or naproxen can be useful.
A 2011 review article by Ryan Petering and Charles Webb at Oregon Health and Sciences University reviewed the medical literature on treatments for lower back pain in athletes, concluding that NSAIDs were one of the few treatments with fairly solid evidence supporting their use.
However, if the cause of sciatica is proven to be a bone stress injury, taking an anti-inflammatories is not a good idea.

Do injections for sciatica pain work?

Injections of anti-inflammatory medications into the painful area are another fairly common treatment; these are sometimes also co-opted as a method of diagnosis.  
For example, if an MRI shows that an aggravated piriformis muscle may be impinging on your sciatic nerve, your doctor can inject a numbing agent or a corticosteroid to reduce pain and attack the inflammation that’s causing pressure on the sciatic nerve.2
If a short-acting numbing agent reduces your pain, it’s clear that the location targeted by the injection is the culprit.

When to consider surgery for sciatica

As a last resort, surgery is an option for recalcitrant cases.  
While the viability of surgery is a very individual matter, one study did find that, although patients with sciatica who underwent an early surgery recovered more rapidly than those who elected conservative treatment, there was no difference in outcomes after one year, and 95% of both groups considered themselves recovered.  
As such, you should allot plenty of time for conservative treatments before considering surgery.

Sciatica Pain: Will I Ever Run Again?

Though the pain associated with sciatica can hugely impede your ability to run, the good news is that the vast majority of people do recover.  
The recovery process can be lengthy, but with a good rehab program that addresses the root cause of your sciatic nerve pain, you should be able to gradually return to running.  
Unlike other running injuries, like tendonitis or a stress fracture, it’s hard to give definitive guidelines on how much time off you’ll need or how quickly you’ll heal up.  
Here’s the deal:
The recovery program for sciatica caused by a herniated disc is different from that of sciatica caused by piriformis syndrome, for example.  
The diverse causes of sciatica mean that your recovery profile is going to be highly individual.  
You might be back on your feet in a week or two, or it could take several months.  
In any case, your best shot at recovery is accurately determining what’s causing your sciatic nerve pain, finding out if your state allows direct physical therapy access, and tailoring a rehab program to address it.

https://runnersconnect.net/running-injury-prevention/sciatica/

How Chiropractic May Help Ease Your Sciatica

By Sandy Schroeder

If you, or someone in your family, has sciatica leg pain, you know how excruciating sciatica can be.
Sciatica is leg pain that starts in a pinched nerve in the lower back. The pain begins in nerve roots on either side of the lower spine, but the high voltage jolts that run down the sciatic nerve, from the buttock to the foot, are usually the misery-makers for most sciatica sufferers.
Some compare the pain’s intensity to severe toothache nerve pain.  Dr. William A. Abdu, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, talks about sciatica in Prevention.com, saying sciatica leg pain is often worse than back pain. Symptoms may let up within six weeks. But for some the pain goes on.
How Chiropractic Can Help
In a 2010 study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 120 people saw a chiropractor three times a week for four weeks. Then they did weekly visits, and gradually reduced treatment. For those who achieved relief, benefits lasted up to a year.
How Results Emerged
"Spinal manipulation may create a response in the nervous system that relieves pain and restores normal mobility to the injured area, reducing inflammation, and creating an environment to promote the body's natural healing mechanisms,” says study researcher Gordon McMorland, doctor of chiropractic, National Spine Care, Calgary, Alberta.

http://www.thejoint.com/colorado/colorado-springs/colorado-springs-38002/193728-how-chiropractic-may-help-ease-your-sciatica

7 Remedies For Sciatica Pain You Need To Try Before Taking Painkillers

By Alexa Erickson

Body aches and pains can be both a nuisance as well as totally debilitating — especially when it comes to sciatica.

Comprising pain that affects the back, hip, and outer side of the leg, caused by compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back, sciatica is often the result of the degeneration of an intervertebral disk.

Whether you’re an avid athlete, work on your feet all day, or simply recognize the necessity of moving regularly for your health, it can be a total mental and physical setback when a mild ache and numbness or a sharp, burning pain affects the body. It may even cause you to stay in bed, constantly reaching for the ibuprofen or some other over-the-counter medication to alleviate the symptoms.

But if you’re sick of succumbing to popping pills and the side effects that come with that, and simply want to treat the inflammation and relieve the pain, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of natural ways you can do so. Here are seven to take advantage of:

1. Acupuncture

An alternative treatment that involves inserting hair-fine needles into specific points on the body, acupuncture is thought to boost the flow of energy, which contributes to proper nerve function. Pooled analysis of nine studies with 780 patients in the acupuncture group and 771 in the medication group revealed that acupuncture was significantly more effective than conventional medication when it came to treating pain associated with sciatica.

2. Chiropractic Adjustments

By adjusting the spine to increase mobility, boost function, lessen inflammation and pain, and promote natural healing, chiropractic therapies have been found to effectively treat sciatica. The European Spine Journal published the findings from a clinical trial examining the results chiropractic adjustments had on those suffering from sciatica pain. The study discovered a 72 percent success rate in treating sciatica and related symptoms compared to the 20 percent success from physical therapy and 50 percent from corticosteroid injections.

3. Ice Packs

Whether you want to use ice packs or a frozen back of vegetables wrapped in a towel, putting the packs right on the area for 20 minutes every two hours can offer instant relief to sciatica-related pain and discomfort.

4. Alternate Temperatures

Because the sciatic nerve is located deep in the body, using a hot pack right after an ice pack, or even taking a hot bath, can boost the circulation and lymph flow. The switch from cold to hot will reduce the deeper inflammation to aid in the healing process.

5. Herbs And Oils

Long before synthetic medications came to be, nature’s medicine was working wonders on aches and pains. Making teas using fresh or dried herbs and spices can provide pain relief. In fact, turmeric’s main medicinal ingredient, curcumin, has been found by various studies to reduce inflammation. One review of pre-clinical and clinical research indicates that curcumin specifically inhibits the expression of inflammatory enzymes, the release of interleukin- 12, 6, 8 and 12, inflammatory cytokines, and platelet aggression.

Essential oils like lavender are also great for applying topically to soothe pain from the outside, since it has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.

6. Mild Stretching

While it may feel like the last thing you want to do when you’re in pain, movement is still essential to managing sciatica. Mild yoga stretches can stimulate the blood flow, strengthen your back muscles, and improve your mobility.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine analysed 101 adults with low back pain by putting them in one of three groups: one attended yoga classes and lessons; the second did aerobics, weight training, and stretching; the third group read a self-help book about back pain. After a 12-week period, the study discovered that those who took yoga could better perform daily activities requiring the back than those in the other two groups, and after 26 weeks, those who took yoga had less pain and better back function.

You can also try using a foam roller while stretching. It’s an effective way to help break apart stuck muscle fibres and mimics the work of a massage therapist.

7. Getting Enough Sleep

It seems like sleep pops up on nearly every list of ways to boost your health, and for good reason. Getting enough sleep means allowing your body and your nerves enough time to relax, heal, and balance.

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2016/08/31/7-remedies-for-sciatica-pain-you-need-to-try-before-taking-painkillers/

Woman's Doctor: Dealing with sciatica

By Megan Pringle

Medical experts say that half the population will experience sciatica. But in some cases, it can be so painful that a person cannot function.
Dina Aaron understands this better than most people. For her, just walking down the steps can be a major feat.
"It had gone on for so long, I thought, 'I'm never going to get better,'” Aaron said. “It's just the way my life is going to be, so it's really scary for a while.”
At first, Aaron’s sciatica prevented her from doing simple things she enjoyed, like walking the dogs, and it kept getting worse.
"I got to the point where I was unable to walk some days and unable to dress myself from the waist down some days,” Aaron said.
Aaron, who works as a pediatric nurse, said she was in so much pain, work was unbearable.
Mercy Medical Center Dr. Justin Park said sciatica is caused by a compressed spinal nerve root. He said it is easy to diagnose and very common.
“The vast majority of sciatica is non-operative,” Park said. “So (patients need) a brief period of rest, medications and physical therapy. And if things like that don't work, sometimes, I will send them for an epidural injection."
Aaron tried all of those treatments, but nothing worked. Park then performed outpatient surgery and Aaron said she can't believe she is not in pain anymore.
"Every day I get better and better,” said Aaron, who added that she is planning to return to work soon.

http://www.wbaltv.com/health/womans-doctor-dealing-with-sciatica/41419938

How to deal with sciatica

By Dr Anitha Anchan

Compression or irritation  of the sciatic nerve (the longest nerve in your body) results in a condition called sciatica. It causes mild to severe pain that originates from your lower back and radiates down your leg to your calf, typically on one side of your body . Simple actions like laughing, sneezing, coughing, standing or sitting for a long time or bending backwards may also cause shooting pain in some.
Living with sciatica
Sciatica could be easily treated in some people. The pain can be addressed and resolved within weeks with conservative treatment. But the condition can test the patience and endurance of many. Sciatica, when ignored, can be frustrating and can greatly impact your quality of life. You may experience flare-ups that worsen with time. Simple daily activities like walking, sitting upright, standing and sleeping can become limiting, or even impossible. The ailment can lead to partial immobility of the leg or partial or complete loss of feeling (sensation) in the affected leg. Read more about what is sciatica and who is at risk for sciatica.

1. Limit your discomfort
A mix of self-help techniques and medical treatment can help you manage persistent or advanced stage of sciatica. Painkillers can help relieve pain in early stage chronic sciatica. Hot or cold compression packs may help too. Epidural steroid injection may provide relief from inflammation. Bed rest for a day or two may provide some temporary pain relief. But bear in mind that it is advisable to be as physically active as possible.
2. Strengthen your lower back
After a brief period of rest, incorporate walking and gentle stretching exercises in your daily routine. Regular exercise will strengthen your back muscles and help support the spine. It also stimulates the production of natural painkilling chemicals called endorphins. Weights and crunches should be avoided when you have sciatica. Hence, try to find an alternative such as swimming or pilates, that will not aggravate your condition and help you stay fit as well. But talk to your doctor or physiotherapist before you start any new exercise regime. Stay committed to your treatment plan. Relief from sciatica isn’t likely to be instant and may take a while before the results show.
3. Include alternate approaches
You may find benefit from alternative approaches. Yoga can be safe and beneficial for your sciatica. Oil massages and yoga asanas can help significantly in relieving sciatica signs and symptoms like pain, tenderness, rigidity, difficulty in walking and pain on bending forward.
4. Explore surgical options
If you don’t find any difference in your condition even after several weeks of treatment, you may require surgery to correct your condition. It can treat the identifiable cause and help relieve the pressure on the nerve. Make sure to discuss the relative risks and benefits of spine surgery. Visit a doctor immediately if you have a long period of numbness in your bottom, lower back and leg, feel weakness in your leg and foot or experience loss of bladder or bowel control.

http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/how-to-deal-with-sciatica/

Understanding sciatica: Could your back pain be something more?

By Lindsay Carlton

Each year, back pain effects half of all working Americans. But could this common ailment be mistaken for something different?
We got this email from a viewer—
Dear Dr. Manny,
My husband has been complaining of low back pain for years and just recently went to physical therapy, where they told him it could be sciatica. What is sciatica exactly, and how is it treated?
Thanks,
Betsy
Sciatica is a condition wherein irritation or compression affects your sciatic nerve, a large nerve that begins at your spinal cord and branches down through your hips, buttocks, and each leg.
Dr. Febin Melepura, a pain specialist at Stanford Pain & Sports Medicine in New York City, says, to distinguish if you’re suffering from low back pain or sciatica, focus on where the pain is coming from.
“About 1 percent of patients with low back pain have sciatica, but low back pain is a pain that is localized to the region below the lower rib cage and above the gluteal fold, whereas sciatica is a pain that radiates down one or both legs,” Melepura told FoxNews.com.
Often, the pain that occurs from sciatica is due to a herniated disk or a bone spur in the spine that presses on the nerve. Many patients say it can feel like a mild throbbing pain or a sharp, burning sensation. Numbness or muscle weaknesses in the leg or foot are also typical symptoms.
Common risk factors for sciatica include obesity, diabetes and aging, as well as sitting for long periods of time.
Dr. Andrew Sama, a spine surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, says the first line of treatment for sciatica is rest, along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants.
“If that doesn’t do the trick and improve the symptoms, we often begin physical therapy, and some practitioners advocate [for chiropractic services] or acupuncture,” Sama told FoxNews.com. “If those interventions don't provide relief, we can often prescribe epidural steroid injections, which are typically effective.”
In rare cases, when non-invasive treatments don’t resolve persistent symptoms, doctors can recommend a small surgical intervention to take the pressure off the nerve, Sama said.
Most experts recommend seeing your doctor if rest and over-the-counter medication don’t make pain subside within seven to 10 days.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/07/31/understanding-sciatica-could-your-back-pain-be-something-more.html

Natural Remedies For Sciatica

From boldsky.com

When a sharp pain shoots down from your butt to your foot at the back of your leg, there are chances that you are suffering from sciatica. It affects the nerves that run down from your pelvis to your legs. Luckily, the pain sometimes goes away on its own, but the catch is that there is no guarantee that it will not show up again. To get rid of this pain you can always go for a painkiller. But this will give you relief only for sometime. In order to get long term relief and see to it that the pain does not come back, you have to resort to certain natural remedies. These natural remedies not only help to get rid of the pain, they also see to it that the pain does not return.

The first natural way to get relief from sciatica pain is to rest well. Rest your leg well for two to three days and avoid any kind of activity that will put pressure on your legs. Go for hot and cold compresses on the affected area. This will provide instant relief. After you have completely rested, go for short walks and try light exercises.

Visit a physical therapist. The physical therapist will teach you certain physical exercises that will help you to combat the pain. He or she can ask you to do certain stretching exercises that will provide some relief to the sciatica nerve.

You can also go for acupuncture. It involves the use of needles on certain parts of the body to treat the root of the problem. You can also try acupressure. In acupressure, certain points in our body are pressed. This increases blood circulation in the body and the affected area gets healed.

Sciatica pain can also be treated with chiropathy. This kind of treatment focuses primarily on the spinal column and associated joints, and also on the muscles and tendons by optimizing blood circulation. Treatment is tailored to fit the age, build, pain levels and overall health of the person.

http://www.boldsky.com/health/disorders-cure/2016/natural-remedies-for-sciatica-103861.html

What Sciatica Really Means (and How to Fix It)

By David Reavy

You've probably heard of sciatica in reference to mysterious leg pain. Technically speaking, sciatica is just a term used to describe any type of irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the human body, and is responsible for the activation of several leg muscles as well as sensation to the back of the leg. Based on the size and functions of the sciatic nerve, sciatica can end up looking like a lot of different things. More importantly, its causes can also be varied.

To treat sciatica, you need to correctly diagnose the underlying condition causing the irritation. The causes can range from a herniated disc to arthritis in your spine, but one of the most common culprits, and the one I would like to focus on here, is piriformis syndrome.
First, let’s get a clear picture. The sciatic nerve looks like a thick rope, and it runs through the middle of your deep hip rotators, one of which is your piriformis. In some people, the sciatic nerve actually pierces straight through the middle of the piriformis. When the deep hip rotators become tight, they basically compress this nerve like a bandage, irritating and decreasing the function of the nerve. This is when sciatica symptoms — tingling, numbness, and pain — can kick in.
The deep hip external rotators, like the piriformis, get tight for a variety of reasons, one of which is overuse. This happens when big muscles, namely the glutes, aren’t engaging when you run or lift, and the smaller deep hip rotators have to help out.
To treat piriformis syndrome, you need to take the pressure off the sciatic nerve by activating the glutes. Step one is releasing the hip flexors (which are often tight in men, and prevent the glutes from engaging) and putting the pelvis in the optimal position. Next, you want to stretch them. And finally, activate the pelvic floor and hip adductors, which ensures proper pelvic stability and allows the glutes to engage properly. This three-step process will put you on the road to sciatica relief.
Hip Flexor Release

• Lay facedown and place a double lacrosse ball just below the hip bone.
• Lean a tolerable amount of weight onto lacrosse balls.
• Bend the knee on the side of the release back to a 90-degree angle.
• Swing leg side to side in a tolerable range of motion.
• Repeat for 1 minute on each side.

Piriformis Release
Sit on floor, legs extended, with a lacrosse ball centered under one glute muscle. Lean weight onto ball to target piriformis.

Bend the corresponding leg so knee points up with foot flat on floor.

Fan leg back and forth from one side to the other.

Repeat in 30-second to two-minute intervals, then switch sides.

Hip Flexor Stretch

• Begin in split kneeling position (back knee down, front knee up) with the back knee on a soft pad. Forward knee should be directly above ankle with a 90-degree bend in knee.
• To begin stretch, press hips forward while keeping torso tall and pelvis tucked under. You should feel the stretch in the front of the hip.
• To get a deeper stretch, bring the arm on the same side as your back leg up over your head, then side bend and twist torso away from the leg being stretched.
• Hold 30 seconds; repeat three times on each side.

Piriformis Stretch

Stand in front of a cushioned tabletop or bed and place the outside of one shin on table or bed in front of your body with the knee bent out and shin as close to parallel to the edge as you can. Keep the foot flexed.

Position one: Twist torso toward raised foot and fold forward over raised leg, bringing right shoulder over right shin. Return to standing.

Position two: Keeping torso squared straight, fold forward toward raised leg, extending arms above head and resting them on the tabletop or bed. Return to standing.

Position three: Twist torso toward raised knee (opposite position one) and fold forward. Return to a standing position.

Activate: Glute Step-Backs

• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and lunge one leg backward, keeping knees at 90-degree angles. Perform 15 reps of each side of each of the three variations:
• Straight: Keep shoulders square facing forward.
• Twist: Rotate upper body toward front leg.
• Side Bend: Facing forward, bend to the side opposite the front leg.

Activate: Hip Thrust

• Rest upper back against a bench with feet planted shoulder-width apart in front of you, and holding a dumbbell over hips. 
• Press through feet to raise hips up so torso is parallel to floor.
• Lower hips, then thrust back up, squeezing glutes throughout the movement. Repeat for three sets of 15 reps.

http://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/articles/what-sciatica-really-means-and-how-to-fix-it-w431280