6 Warning Signs You May Have Nerve Damage

From care2.com/greenliving

Nerves play a crucial role in your body. When they’re functioning optimally, they help you sense pain, move your muscles and keep internal organs working properly.
Sadly, peripheral nerves get damaged more often than we realize. And when the damage occurs, the effects can be devastating. You may suffer agonizing pain, loss of feeling and inability to move muscles.
Since nerve damage develops slowly, you may not identify the condition until it’s too late. Therefore, look out for these warning signs of nerve damage and see a doctor immediately if you have any of them.

1. You have never-ending pain that runs down one leg

Pain that runs from your lower back, through your buttock and down the back of your leg could mean you have sciatica. The pain is usually triggered by compression or pinching of the sciatic nerve.
Keep in mind that you may experience pain on one leg due to muscle strains or cellulitis. Therefore, look out for other sciatica symptoms such as numbness and a tingling sensation in the feet and toes.

And beware of these common sciatica myths.

2. You don’t sweat or you sweat too much

Do you fail to sweat even after a long intense workout? It could mean that the nerves that signal your sweat glands aren’t functioning properly.
Nerve damage can also have the opposite effect – excessive sweating.

3. You have trouble moving body parts

You may struggle to move a body part if your motor nerves have been damaged. This problem could also be an early sign of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
See a doctor if you have lost control of your hands, legs or any other body part. Don’t wait until the body part totally loses functionality. Even slow movement should be cause for alarm.

4. You have constant numbness and tingling

We’ve all experienced the strange feeling of numbness and sometimes pain due to a bad standing or sitting position. This usually occurs when abnormal pressure compresses blood vessels that supply your nerves.
Luckily, this experience is usually temporary and the unpleasant feeling disappears when you change position. With peripheral nerve damage, however, you may experience numbness and discomfort day in day out.

5. You have bladder problems

Nerve damage can lead to an overactive bladder, urine retention or leakage.
For instance, damaged nerves may send signals to the bladder at the wrong time, causing bladder muscles to squeeze without warning. In other cases, the bladder muscles don’t receive the signal to release urine.

6. You’ve become more accident prone

Damage in your sensory nerves can increase your risk of being injured. Sensory nerves help you avoid dangerous situations such as placing your palm on a hot surface.
You’re more likely to suffer cuts and burns when sensory nerves don’t function optimally.
See a doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms. Nerve damage tends to worsen the longer you ignore it.

https://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-warning-signs-you-may-have-nerve-damage.html

Back pain: Having this warning sign could mean a major health issue

From express.co.uk

BACK pain can massively affect a person's life in a negative way. We use our back in pretty much everything we do and when pain strikes it can often leave a person being completely immobile. Having this symptom from your back pain could indicate a serious health issue and you should speak with your doctor. Do you have this symptom?

Back pain is a common pain that is either sharp or gradual and felt in the back. The back is divided into neck pain, middle back pain, lower back pain or coccydynia (tailbone). The majority of back pain is nonspecific and has no identifiable causes. It is estimated that nine out of ten adults experience pain at some point and five out of ten working adults have it every year with many unable to work due to the severity. Luckily, most back pains do ease up after time however having there is one back pain symptom that could be serious, and you need to speak with your GP if you experience this.

When you experience a tingling feeling or a pins and needles sensation in your back it could be a major red flag warning.
These sensations could be a result from conditions that affect underlying nerves or is a result of a problem with the spine.
Known as parethesia, the causes can include infections, spinal injuries, fibromyalgia and vascular malformations.
The numbness and tingling is usually an indication of nerve irritation or damage and is clinically more significant than your typical pain.
When these sensations don’t go away, you may be experiencing one of several conditions such as spinal stenosis causing nerve pressure.
Left untreated, the prolonged nerve irritation and damage can lead to permanent disabilities.

Night time back pain is also a sign of a serious health issue and is a special type of lower back pain.

              Back pain: Having a tingling sensation could be a serious underlying health issue

                                                         Image: Getty Images)

These worrying symptoms may require surgery and if left untreated could cause permanent damage or even paralysis.
The NHS offers advice to relieve back pain:

• Stay as active as possible and try to continue your daily activities.
• Try exercises and stretches for back pain such as walking, swimming, yoga and pilates.
• Take anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen.
• Use a hot or cold compression pack for short-term relief.

“Often its not possible to identify the cause of back pain and doctors call this non-specific back pain.
"Occasionally back pain can be due to a medical condition such as a slipped disc or sciatica which is an irritation of the nerve that runs from the pelvis to the feet.
"Feelings such as numbness or a tingling sensation are treated differently to non-specific back pain,” added the NHS.

Avoid heavy lifting as this will increase your risk of back pain. Exercising, weight management, better posture and quitting smoking are all ways to reduce your risks of back pain.
You should speak with your doctor if you have a loss of bowel and bladder function, loss of coordination or difficulty using the arms or legs or a sudden and severe pain and numbness down one or both legs.
Most back pains go away after six weeks and your GP will want to investigate more serious underlying causes if your pain is still severe after this time.
After an evaluation of your symptoms and a physical exam, your GP may order blood work and imaging tests to help determine a diagnosis.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1139946/back-pain-symptoms-middle-back-lower-back-nhs

Butt pain during pregnancy: Everything you need to know

From medicalnewstoday.com

During pregnancy, a woman can expect to feel some new aches and pains, due to changes that the body is undergoing. Butt pain is common and normal during pregnancy, and it can result from several factors.

As the foetus and uterus grow, they put pressure on the hips, back, and buttocks. Buttocks pain can also stem from pregnancy complications and unrelated medical issues.
No matter the cause, talk to a doctor about any new pain that arises during pregnancy. A doctor can often help develop a treatment plan to relieve any bothersome symptoms.
Below, learn more about the causes of buttocks pain during pregnancy, as well as possible treatments and home remedies.

Causes

Buttocks pain during pregnancy can either be referred pain — which originates elsewhere in the body and radiates to the buttocks — or it can result from problems in the area.
The following are some possible causes of buttocks pain during pregnancy:

Haemorrhoids

It is common for women to develop haemorrhoids during pregnancy.

Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower rectum or anus.
As the uterus expands during the second and third trimesters, it puts more pressure and strain on the anus, which can cause haemorrhoids to form.
Constipation and standing for long periods can increase the likelihood of developing haemorrhoids during pregnancy.
Haemorrhoids can cause:

• anal aches and pain
• itching around the anus
• bleeding during bowel movements
• a tender lump to form in the anus

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve runs from the buttocks down the leg. During pregnancy, the expanding uterus and growing foetus can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing a condition called sciatica.
People with sciatica often experience pain in the buttocks. In addition, a person may feel a burning sensation in the leg, butt, and back, as well as a sharp pain in the leg.

Pelvic girdle pain

Pelvic girdle pain affects about 1 in 5 pregnant women. A combination of extra baby weight and movement during pregnancy is often the cause.
Pelvic girdle pain can cause pain in the buttocks, in addition to:

• difficulty walking
• a clicking or grinding in the pelvic region
• pain during sex
• pain when walking
• pain when the weight is all on one leg
• difficulty lying on one side of the body for long periods

Pelvic girdle pain can start anytime between the first and third trimesters. It may develop only in the final days of pregnancy.

Contractions

Contractions are the body's way of moving the foetus out of the body. Genuine contractions occur during the last part of the third trimester, just before birth. Some women feel contraction pain in the buttocks.

Other symptoms associated with contractions include:

• bloody or brown discharge from the vagina
• lower back and abdomen pain
• the water breaking

Prior to labour, many women experience false contractions, known as Braxton-Hicks contractions. These can be painful but — unlike real contractions — they do not occur at regular intervals that are increasingly frequent.

Diagnosis

A doctor will ask about symptoms and whether anything makes them better or worse.
In some cases, a visual examination is enough to determine whether a person has haemorrhoids.
Other tests, such as a blood or urine analysis or imaging tests, can also help a doctor determine the underlying cause of the pain.

When to see a doctor

Anytime a pregnant woman experiences unexplained pain, she should speak to a doctor or another healthcare professional.
During pregnancy, a woman should call a doctor or go to the hospital if she experiences:

• the water breaking
• pain that causes nausea
• a loss of control over the bowels or bladder
• pain that does not get better
• copious blood loss from a haemorrhoid

Treatments and home remedies

There are several potential treatment options for buttocks pain during pregnancy. Some common treatments include:

• over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications that are safe to use during pregnancy, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is available for purchase online
• haemorrhoid creams and ointments
• prescription pain relievers for more severe pain

It is essential to speak with a doctor about which medications are safe to use. Some, including aspirin and ibuprofen, can be harmful. Some women wish to avoid using certain other drugs during pregnancy.
For mild pain or if a woman wishes to avoid medical intervention, home remedies may help.

Home remedies for butt pain during pregnancy include:

• using witch hazel for haemorrhoids, such as these available for purchase online
• sitting in warm (not hot) water for haemorrhoids
• eating fibre to help avoid constipation
• avoiding standing or sitting for long periods of time
• sleeping with a pillow under the belly and between the legs
• light stretching

If pelvic girdle pain causing pain in the buttocks, it may help to use a foam roller or do stretches to help loosen tight hips. A range of foam rollers is available for purchase online.
If sciatica is causing the pain, the stretches in this article have been specifically designed to relieve sciatica pain during pregnancy.

Prevention

While it is not always possible to prevent pain in the buttocks during pregnancy, a woman may be able to reduce the risk by:

• avoiding constipation with a diet high in fibre
• staying hydrated to avoid preterm contractions
• if possible, staying active during pregnancy
• stretching the muscles in the back, buttocks, and legs

Outlook

For the most part, buttocks pain during pregnancy is not a major cause for concern. Home remedies can often help relieve common causes of the pain, such as haemorrhoids or the extra weight of pregnancy.
However, if there is no obvious cause, see a doctor. It is especially important to consult a doctor about pain that is severe, new, or persistent.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325395.php

Getting to Know Sciatic Nerve Pain and Some Natural Remedies for It

From thekashmirmonitor.net

It is said that there are up to 100 billion nerves in the human body. The sciatic nerve is the one with the biggest diameter of them all. This major nerve extends from the lower end of your spinal cord, going down to the buttock and the back of the thigh. The sciatic nerve branches into two just before it reaches the knee joint.

The sciatic nerve may be pinched or irritated, resulting in what’s known as sciatica. This medical condition usually stems from pressure on the nerve roots in the lower back. But because those nerve roots course through the sciatic nerve, the pain is also felt down the buttock and thigh. There are times when it is felt in the foot and toes as well, depending on which part of the sciatic nerve is affected.

Causes of Sciatica

Any condition which causes the pinching or irritation of the nerve roots found in the lower portion of the spinal cord can bring about sciatica. One of the primary causes of this condition is lumbar herniated disc. Sciatica caused by this problem occurs when the soft cushioning between the bones of the spine (vertebrae) slides out of place and irritates the adjacent nerve roots. Lumbar herniated disc is also referred to as slipped disc, ruptured disc or bulging disc.
Other causes of sciatica include degenerative disc disease (breaking down of the vertebral disc brought about by aging), isthmic spondylolisthesis (a small stress fracture which causes the vertebral body to slip forward), lumbar spinal stenosis (tightening of the spinal canal found in the lower back) and piriformis syndrome (irritation of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle found in each of your buttocks). Sometimes, pregnancy may also cause sciatica.

Common Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica usually affects one side of the lower body only. The pain generally extends from the lower back down to the buttock and leg where the affected sciatic nerve is located. The severity of the pain depends from person to person and from condition to condition. Some people may be afflicted with severe and debilitating sciatica pain, while others may be bugged by pain that’s infrequent yet irritating.
Individuals suffering from sciatica report of burning or tingling sensation going down the affected leg. There is also weakness and numbness of the area, oftentimes making it difficult to mobilize the leg or foot. According to sufferers, the pain felt is worse when sitting down.

Medical Treatments for Sciatica
Painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants are the most commonly prescribed or administered treatment for sciatica by specialists. Antidepressants are also prescribed by some doctors as these drugs are effective in reducing the brain’s perception of pain.
Individuals whose sciatica pain does not respond to the above treatments for a month may be injected with steroid into the lower back, right next to the sciatic nerve.
The injection is guided by an x-ray. Surgery may also be recommended especially for sufferers who are bugged by unremitting symptoms of sciatica for 4 to 6 weeks.

Sciatica Natural Remedies
The following are some of the most effective all-natural ways to deal with sciatica:
Ice or heat application. It’s true that ice or heat applied on the skin’s surface may not be able to reach the affected sciatic nerve buried deep under the buttock and thigh muscles. However, the sensation it provides may help in bringing down the pain level.

Warming acupuncture which involves heating of the needles is particularly good for sciatica pain. It’s even possible to see improvement during the initial session, although it usually takes about 12 sessions for significant relief to be attained.

Chiropractic care. According to a study, as much as 60% of sciatica sufferers who didn’t obtain any favourable result from other forms of therapies and tried spinal manipulation were able to enjoy the same degree of pain relief as those who underwent surgery.

Sciatica sufferers may benefit from undergoing a gentle form of yoga as it helps in strengthening the lower back muscles as well as improving one’s flexibility. A study had revealed that those with chronic back pain saw as much as 64% reduction in pain after undergoing yoga for 16 weeks.
Especially if the problem is caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle, getting a massage may prove to be beneficial. However, trigger-point therapy is the kind of massage that can provide favourable results, and not the kind offered at day spas or massage parlours.

https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/getting-to-know-sciatic-nerve-pain-and-some-natural-remedies-for-it/

3 sleeping positions that help relieve lower back pain

From pulse.com.gh/lifestyle

The low back, or lumbar area, serves a number of important functions for the human body. Try these sleeping positions if you are suffering from low back pain.

Most low back pain can be a result of conditions affecting the bony lumbar spine, intervertebral discs (discs between the vertebrae), ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.

Certain diseases, such as cancer of the spinal cord, a ruptured or herniated disc, sciatica, arthritis, kidney infections, or infections of the spine can low back pain.

Home remedies have proven to be an effective method for the treatment of lower back pain. Try these sleeping positions and send us a review if you are suffering from lower back pain.

Sleep on your stomach with a pillow under your abdomen

If you find yourself resting on your stomach, place a pillow under your pelvis and lower abdomen to relieve some of the pressure off your back. Depending on how this position feels, you may or may not choose to use a pillow under your head.

• Sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees

Sleeping on your back is the best position if you are having severe back pain. It ensures your weight is evenly distributed and spread across to other parts of the body. After executing all your night-time beauty routine, lay flat on your back and place a pillow underneath your knees and keep your spine neutral. The pillow is important — it works to keep that curve in your lower back. You may also place a small, rolled up towel under the small of your back for added support.

Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees

Sleeping on your side is more comfortable when you place a pillow between your knees. The pillow will keep your hips, pelvis, and spine in better alignment. Also try to sleep on both sides before the next day.

Simply allow your right or left shoulder to make contact with the mattress, along with the rest of that side of your body. Place a pillow between your knees. If there’s a gap between your waist and the mattress, consider using a small pillow there for added support.

https://www.pulse.com.gh/lifestyle/beauty-health/3-sleeping-positions-that-help-relieve-lower-back-pain/gd4hpm2

Back pain: When is it serious? Here are the signs and symptoms you need to watch out for

From express.co.uk

BACK pain is usually remedied by making simple adjustments to your lifestyle but it can be a sign of a serious condition. These are the signs you should never ignore.

Back pain is experienced by most people at least once in their lives. According to the NHS, it is estimated up to eight in ten people in the UK are affected by back pain at some point. The lower back is normally the most affected region. Most back pain falls under the category of “non-specific” (there’s no obvious cause) or “mechanical” (the pain originates from the joints, bones, or soft tissues in and around the spine).

The pain can be sudden or gradual, and is normally the result of poor posture or lifting something awkwardly. Other causes include feeling stressed or run down.
Existing medical conditions such as a slipped disk or sciatica could also be the culprit.
Sciatica is caused by an irritation of the nerve that runs along the back to the feet.
It is commonly thought that bed rest is an effective remedy but remaining active is likely to speed up your recovery.

Sufferers could also take anti-inflammatory painkillers and apply hot or cold compression packs to ease the pain.
Most people find the pain subsides within a couple weeks. In rare instances, however, back pain can be a sign of something more serious.
“Conditions include a broken bone in the spine, infection, cauda equine syndrome (where the nerves in the lower back become severely compressed) or cancer,” according to the NHS.
It is also advisable to speak to a doctor if you feel unwell, develop a high temperature or have had cancer or osteoporosis in the past.
The doctor might want to check that the back pain doesn’t have a more serious cause, says Bupa.

                     Back pain: Consult a doctor if back pain persists (Image: Getty Images )

“You should seek medical attention right away if you have numbness or tingling around your bottom or genitals, have sudden difficulty passing urine, lose control of your bowels, are unsteady when you walk, your legs feel weak or your foot is dropping or dragging," it adds.
These symptoms could be signs of cauda equina syndrome.
Cauda equina syndrome occurs when the nerves below the end of the spinal cord, known as the cauda equina, are damaged.
The NHS also recommends urgent medical attention if the pain is accompanied with unexplained weight loss, swelling or a deformity in your back, or if it started after a serious accident.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1133933/back-pain-serious-signs-symptoms-lower-sciatica