What is Sciatica? Let’s Break Down Why Your Body is Experiencing Pain

From vivaglammagazine.com

Sciatica is the term used to describe the pain in the sciatic nerve, branching from the lower back to the hips and down the leg. Typically, it only affects one side of the body. Still, this condition can be life-changing, especially in severe cases. The good news is that most sciatica cases are resolved with non-surgical treatments. But, what is sciatica? Aside from that, why does your body experience this pain?

Why Your Body Experiences This Pain?

Typically, sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched, resulting in pain, inflammation, and sometimes numbness in the leg. The common causes of a pinched sciatic nerve is a herniated disk, an overgrowth of bone in the spine, or a narrowing of the spine.

What Does Sciatica Pain Feel Like?

So, what does sciatica pain feel like? Most people describe the pain as a sharp stabbing pain. Other individuals, on the other hand, experience an electric shock or a burning sensation.

For some people, sciatic pain may come and go. For others, they experience constant pain. Aside from that, they also felt that the pain is more severe in the leg than in the lower back. Lastly, they also reported that sudden movement, like sneezing or coughing, can also result in greater pain.

Aside from pain, some people have also reported that they experienced numbness or muscle weakness in the leg. For some, they have felt numbness in one leg and pain in the other leg.

Preventive Measures

Sciatica is a life-changing condition. The good news is that there are several ways to prevent it, which includes the following:

1. Exercise

Because sciatica affects your lower back, the best way to prevent it is to strengthen your core muscles. Some exercises that can develop your core muscles are planks, crunches, and glute bridges.

2. Proper Posture

Keep in mind that maintaining a proper posture is essential to prevent sciatica. The reason is that when you stand or walk correctly, you are aligning your bones in an effective manner, which creates an excellent pathway for the course of the sciatic nerve.

Always remember, that having a strong core will ensure that you maintain proper posture. As such, you must include core strengthening exercises in your workout plan.

3. Use Proper Body Mechanics

By using the proper or correct body mechanics, you will not only work effectively. Remember, correct alignment can also minimize the strain or stress on your muscles and joints.

Some of the proper body mechanics you can follow are:

• Standing with your feet apart to create a sturdy foundation
• Keeping your neck, back, and hips aligned when moving
• When lifting an object, you should use your leg and arm muscles instead of your back muscles.

https://vivaglammagazine.com/what-is-sciatica-lets-break-down-why-your-body-is-experiencing-pain/

How can I make sure I have found the perfect driving position?

From driving.co.uk

Four out of five people suffer from back pain — don't be one of them

IN TERMS of health issues, back trouble is almost up there with the common cold — four out of five people suffer from a bad back at some point during their life. But there’s worse news for drivers: according to the British Chiropractic Association (BCA), 40% of people say that sitting down aggravates back or neck pain. It’s enough to have motorists shuffling uncomfortably in their seats.

What can drivers do to ensure they’re in the best driving position? And how can they know buying a new model of car won’t result in a contorted spine, cricked neck or cramps in the legs?

Driving turned to the experts, seeking advice from the BCA, seat maker Recaro and Swedish car maker Volvo, which is famed for its comfortable seats. Here’s their advice for anyone who finds it difficult to get comfortable at the wheel of their car.

(N.b. Interviews conducted in 2015)

How high should your seat be when driving?

You wouldn’t set off up Everest without first lacing up your hiking boots, says Robin Page, the senior vice president of design for Volvo. So it’s important to fine tune your driving position to suit your bodyshape.

“Seat comfort is best achieved with the correct distribution of weight and support for the body, and the ability to make adjustments if you feel the need to change position,” he says.

All our experts recommend that drivers have their seat pulled far enough forward so that they can fully extend the clutch pedal while maintaining a slight bend in the knee.

The backrest of the seat should be tilted back ever so slightly, and when turning the steering wheel your shoulders should remain in contact with the seat – rather than hunched forward.

Rishi Loatey, a practising chiropractor and member of the BCA, adds that the centre of the headrest must sit higher than a driver’s ears. “If it’s lower than the ears, it acts as a fulcrum in an accident, which actually worsens the effects of whiplash.”

Will we see adjustable pedals appear on more new cars in the future? Robin Page suggests it’s very likely, especially “the more we move into the world of autonomous driving.” Page foresees the pedals moving out of sight once a car is driving itself, returning only when necessary.

Recaro, a car seat manufacturer that has been making car seats since 1965, started out with products for motor racing but today the company is finding there is increasing demand for its range of orthopaedic seats. It has created the following video for adjusting your seat, which helps visualise the tips above.

Step-by-step guide to finding the correct driving position by Recaro

Push your bottom as near as possible to the backrest. The distance from the seat to the pedals is adjusted so that your knee is slightly bent when the pedals are fully depressed.

1. Rest your shoulders as closely as possible to the backrest. Set the backrest tilt so that the steering wheel is easy to reach with slightly bent elbows. The shoulder contact must be maintained when the steering wheel is turned.
2. Set the seat height as high as possible. This ensures an unobstructed view to all sides and all displays on the instrument panel.
3. Set the seat cushion tilt so that it is easy to fully depress the pedals. The thighs should rest gently on the seat cushion without exerting pressure on it. Check the backrest tilt before starting the engine.
4. Adjust the extendable seat cushion so that the thighs rest on it to just above the knee. A rule of thumb is that there should be two to three fingers’ clearance between the seat edge and the hollow of the knee.
5. The lumbar support has been adjusted when the lumbar part of the back is supported in its natural shape.
6. The seat’s side bolsters should fit so snugly to the body that the upper body is supported comfortably at the side without being restricted.
7. Adjust the upper edge of the headrest to the same height as the top of the head. The distance to the head should be approximately 2cm.

Not all seats have every method of adjustment mentioned above, but try to follow the general advice for comfort within the realms of possibility presented by your own car seat.

https://www.driving.co.uk/car-clinic/advice/how-can-i-make-sure-i-have-found-the-perfect-driving-position/

That pain in the back of your thigh as you run could mean an inflamed sciatic nerve

From miamiherald.com

By Harlan Selesnick, M.D.

Q. I am a 60-year-old high level recreational runner that developed pain while running in my right hamstring. The pain has been present for two weeks.

It started out just in the back of my upper thigh but now radiates from my gluteal region to my calf. Surprisingly, my hamstring is not tender to the touch. I rested it for a week but when I returned to run, my pain came back worse.

I really miss running and wonder what I should do to get better quickly.

A. There can be several reasons for discomfort in your hamstring region. The hamstrings are three muscles in the back of the thigh that help you flex your knee and extend your hip.

However, without a history of an acute injury and without hamstring tenderness, I think your pain may related to your lower back. A combination of a lumbar disc injury and arthritic narrowing of the spinal canal can result in nerve root compression and sciatic nerve symptoms.

Pain, burning or numbness can be felt from your buttock down the back of the thigh and even into the calf or foot. Other possible causes of posterior thigh pain while running include compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle or a stress fracture.

I suggest you see an orthopaedic surgeon to establish an accurate diagnosis so you can return to running soon. Initial treatment for someone with mild symptoms like yourself usually starts with an anti-inflammatory medication and rehab. If this is ineffective, then an MRI scan of the lower back and thigh may be necessary.

https://www.miamiherald.com/living/health-fitness/article251401923.html

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Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/living/health-fitness/article251401923.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/living/health-fitness/article251401923.html#storylink=cpy

Is sitting too much causing my back pain or sciatica?

From advertiser.ie/galway

A major manufacturer of workstations reports that 86 per cent of work computer users have to sit all day, and when they do rise from sitting, more than half (56 per cent ) use food as the excuse to get up and move. In addition to sitting at work, for meals, and commuting to/from work, 36 per cent sit another one to two hours watching TV, 10 per cent sit one to two hours for gaming, 25 per cent sit one to two hours for reading/lounging, and 29 per cent use their home computer for one to two hours. In summary, the average Irish person sits for 9.5 hours a day and sleep for eight hours. That's a total of 17.5 hours a day off their feet.

The manufacturer's survey also notes 93 per cent of work computer users don’t know what “sitting disease” is, but 74 per cent believe that sitting too much can lead to an early death. “Sitting disease” represents the ill-effects of an overly sedentary lifestyle and includes conditions like metabolic syndrome (obesity and diabetes ), which is rapidly becoming more prevalent, especially in the young – even in adolescence. Recently, the American Medical Association (AMA ) adopted a policy encouraging employers, employees, and others to sit less, citing the many risks associated with sitting including (but not limited to ) diabetes, cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Standing is so much better as it burns more calories than sitting, tones muscles, improves posture, increases blood flow, reduces blood sugar, and improves metabolism. Standing is frequently overlooked as an exercise and it is both simple and easy to do.

So, what about the low back and sitting? You guessed it – sitting is hard on the back. The pressure inside our discs, those “shock absorbers” that lie between the bones (vertebrae ) in our spine (22 discs in total ) is higher when we sit compared with simply standing or lying down. It's estimated that when we lie down, the pressure on our discs is the lowest at 25mm. When lying on one side, it increases to 75mm, standing increases disc pressure to 100mm, and bending over from standing pushes disc pressure to 220mm. When we sit with good posture, our disc pressure may reach 140mm but that can increase to 190mm with poor posture. To help relieve the pressure on our discs, experts recommend: 1 ) Getting up periodically and standing; 2 ) Sitting back in your chair and avoiding slouched positions; 3 ) Placing a lumbar roll (about the size of your forearm ) behind the low back and chair/car seat; and 4 ) Changing your position frequently when sitting.

Because certain low back conditions favour one position over another, these rules may need modification. For example, most sciatica patients prefer low back extension, while bending over or slouching hurts. In those with lumbar sprain/strains, bending forwards usually feels good and extension hurts. Modifying your position to the one that is most comfortable is perhaps the best advice.

https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/121661/is-sitting-too-much-causing-my-back-pain-or-sciatica

How Chiropractors Learn To Provide Back And Neck Pain Relief

By James Schofield

Most people know that chiropractors provide back and neck pain relief. Many others have found that other painful conditions such as sciatica, shoulder pain and hip pain also respond to safe, gentle chiropractic care. How a chiropractor learns to provide pain relief, however, is somewhat of a mystery to many. This article will discuss what is involved in a chiropractor's education and training and being able to provide pain relief for many conditions.

In my 35 years of practice, I've often had patients ask me how I learned the skills required of my profession. I reply that it is a long, rigorous process. Much like other healthcare providers, such as dentists, MD's, podiatrists and optometrists, post graduate chiropractic schooling takes place after undergraduate education. In fact, chiropractic college involves a five-year program of intensive study after years at a traditional college or university.

Classes in anatomy (including the dissection of cadavers), physiology, chemistry, pathology and other basic health sciences are part of the curriculum. Clinical studies in pathology, diagnosis, imaging and blood and urine analysis are required. However, most patients and other lay people and even some healthcare providers of other professions are especially curious as to how chiropractors learn the skill of manipulation of the spinal vertebrae for pain relief.

Classes in actual chiropractic training start as soon as incoming students begin school. The first discipline that must be learned is palpation. Palpation is the skill of using one's hands to feel various parts of the body to determine for normality or abnormality. Chiropractors learn to palpate spinal vertebrae to check for misalignments and improper motion of the spinal joints.

Students of chiropractic also learn to palpate swelling or edema, muscle spasms and abnormalities of fascia, ligaments and tendons. Palpation is an ongoing process throughout chiropractic schooling and takes many years to develop expertise. Chiropractors are the preeminent healthcare specialists in palpation of mechanical alignment problems of the spine.

Next in chiropractic education, is learning "techniques" of correcting spinal pain conditions. Students learn many methods of manual manipulation (also called chiropractic adjustments) and mobilization. Much training involves the use of "hands on" chiropractic techniques. There are hundreds of variations of chiropractic adjustments where students must learn to correct malpositions and abnormal movement of spinal bones of the neck, mid and lower back and pelvis. Chiropractors also learn to help problems of the shoulders, hips, ribs and extremities.

Techniques can also involve use of specialized chiropractic tables and adjusting instruments. Many chiropractors also use forms of deep pressure for muscular trigger points and myofascial strains, sprains and disruptions.

At the beginning of chiropractic technique training a student does not perform an actual "adjustment." He or she only "sets up" the technique. This is done thousands of times. Only after a student has acquired competency in this phase do they proceed to the chiropractic clinics to provide actual chiropractic adjustments to patients. This is done under the observation and instruction of trained doctors of chiropractic, who are called clinicians.

Clinicians guide a chiropractic intern through this phase of education. At the end of their internships, a degree of doctor of chiropractic (DC) is awarded to the graduate and they are ready to become a licensed in all of the 50 United States and many of the other countries of the world.

Most patients who receive a chiropractic adjustment find it is a safe, pleasant experience because it relieves muscle spasm and tightness of superficial muscles by correcting a deeper spinal misalignment. Of course, chiropractors continue to learn and perfect their skills over their many years of being in practice.

When patients, laypeople and other health professionals learn the amount of training that goes into the skill, art and philosophy of chiropractic they understand why the chiropractic profession is foremost in detecting and correcting problems of the spine and providing back and neck pain relief.

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-Chiropractors-Learn-To-Provide-Back-And-Neck-Pain-Relief&id=10455979

Strike these yoga poses if you are suffering from sciatica

From thehealthsite.com

Yoga can be therapeutic for patients suffering from sciatica, a leg pain caused when your sciatic nerve is pinched. Try poses like Bhujangasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, etc. under the guidance of a yoga trainer to fight out this pain

You immediately figure out it’s sciatica when that numbing pain meanders from your lower back to your legs. It’s a type of intense leg pain that comes with a tingling sensation, apart from other difficult symptoms. If you have been suffering from sciatica for long, then you are not alone. Around 40 per cent of the global population suffers from this condition during their lifetime, suggests a study published in British Journal of Anaesthesia. It is also one of the leading causes of disability.

This shooting pain in your lower limbs is triggered when your sciatic nerve is pinched. This nerve originates in your buttocks and marches down to your feet. What mostly leads to sciatica is a herniated disk. In this condition, a disc puts pressure on the sciatic nerve owing to a tear or crack. The other causes include irregularities like overgrowth or degeneration of the vertebrae, muscular hypertension in your hip, tumour-induced pressure on your sciatic nerve.

Apart from pain, numbness and a tingling sensation, sciatica can also give you weak muscles, feeling of an electric shock and burning at times. These symptoms may last for more than six weeks. According to doctors, factors like age, obesity, long sitting hours, faulty posture, and diabetes can potentially increase your risk of sciatica.

There are various treatment options available for sciatica, yoga being the best no-drug remedy. Bonus: No side effects. According to a study conducted at the Florida State University, yoga is effective in treating sciatica. Compared to conventional therapies, yoga is a safer alternative for sciatica patients, says another study conducted by the Yoga Biomedical Trust, London. Yoga asanas align, lengthen, and strengthen your lower back. Also, it can give your piriformis muscle (located between the lower spine and thighbone) a light stretch. This muscle is sometimes responsible for pinching your sciatic nerve. Here are some of the yoga poses that can help you fight sciatica. Practise these under the guidance of a trained yoga expert.

Bhujangasana

Bhujangasana can relieve your pain by softening the effect of spinal impingement

Also known as the Cobra Pose, Bhujangasana can potentially help treat sciatica by strengthening your back muscles and improving your spinal flexibility, says a study published in the International Journal of Yoga. It can also relieve your pain by softens the effect of spinal impingement. Apart from this, the Cobra Pose is known to improve your digestion, ease asthma, and provide relief from anxiety. Slipped disk patients can be benefitted by this asana too. Moreover, it plays a significant role in maintaining your kidney health.

How to do it:

1. Lie flat on your stomach keeping hands at the shoulder level, close to the chest, palms facing the ground.
2. Now, place your body weight on your palms, slowly raising your head and trunk.
3. Press hips, thigh and feet on the floor.
4. Breathe normally and hold the position for 10 seconds.
5. To release slowly come down and rest forehead on the ground.

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana can strengthen the chest muscle and increase your lung capacity. Shutterstock

Practising this yoga asana can stretch your body and relieve back pain linked to sciatica, says the same study mentioned above. It can also lengthen your spine, strengthen the chest muscle and increase your lung capacity. It is known as an energising pose that can potentially calm your mind and relieve headache, stress, fatigue, and insomnia. This yoga asana is also known as the Downward Facing Dog Pose and is good for menstruation-related problems. Moreover, you can also do this yoga posture to get rid of constipation and symptoms of sinusitis.

How to do it:

1. With the help of your hands and knees, go down and align your hips above the knees.
2. Make sure, your hands are parallel, and palms spread.
3. Now exhale and bend your arms at the elbows while doing that.
4. Also, lower your buttocks keeping them parallel to the floor.
5. Try to keep your head in line with your spine.

Shalabhasana

Shalabhasana improves your blood circulation in the hip region. Shutterstock

Also known as the Grasshopper Pose, Shalabhasana treats sciatica by strengthening the lower back muscles and improving blood circulation in the hip region. Also, this yoga asana can increase your sexual stamina, improve posture, release stress and tension, while improving your digestion through the stimulation of abdominal organs. You can perform this yoga asana to get rid of extra fat accumulated in the abdomen, hips, waist, and thighs.

How to do it:

1. To begin with this posture, lie down on your stomach keeping your arms by the sides of your body.
2. Make sure, your legs are close to each other.
3. Now, inhale and raise your legs and upper torso.
4. Do not let your knees bend and keep your legs straight.
5. Maintain this position for around 10-15 seconds.
6. Keep taking breathing during this position.
7. Make sure that you take deep, consecutive breaths.
8. Exhale slowly and bring your legs down.

Supta Padangusthasana

Supta Padangusthasana stretches the affected muscles and eases the excruciating pain. Shutterstock

Performing Supta Padangusthasana can stretch your hips, thighs, hamstrings, and groin area and provide you relief from sciatica. It also stretches the affected muscles and eases the excruciating pain. Also known as Reclining Hand-To-Big-Toe Pose, it stimulates your prostate gland and digestive organs which boosts your sexual function and digestion. This asana can help patients with blood pressure issues as well.

How to do it:

1. To start, lie down straight on your back keeping your toes together.
2. Now, inhale and raise your right leg vertically.
3. Also, raise both your hands upward.
4. Now, push your right leg more towards your hands until you feel your muscle and bone are tight enough.
5. Hold this position for 30 seconds and then slowly keep your leg down.
6. Repeat the same procedure with your left leg.

https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/strike-these-yoga-poses-if-you-are-suffering-from-sciatica-660356/