From butlercountytimesgazette.com
By Dr. Michael Roizen
*** Q: I think I have sciatica. What causes it and how can I make it go away? — Arnold R., Ocala, Florida
A: Generally, sciatica is triggered by an irritated or compressed nerve that’s being rubbed by a disc, bone, joint or ligament. It affects your lower back around vertebrae L4 and L5 or S1 and extends down into your leg along the sciatic nerve (there’s one on each side of your body). That can happen because of a herniated disc, spinal stenosis (narrowing of spinal canal), spondylolisthesis (one spinal bone slips forward in relation to the bone below it) or trauma (a fall, sports injury, car accident).
It’s smart to get evaluated by a doctor since you don’t want to cause further damage to your nerves or spine. However, you can do a lot on your own to relieve the pain, which is made worse by stress and by inflammation from food and inactivity. Around 90% of folks get better without surgery — usually in a few weeks.
The first week or two, ice packs can be used,15 minutes on, 20 minutes off; repeat two to three times a day. After the first week or two, using heat can relax tense muscles. But your best pain reliever is usually movement — aerobics, flexibility exercises like yoga, and strength training to give your back more support and strengthen your core. Always talk to your doctor about how to gauge what’s beneficial and what’s not and if physical therapy is needed.
Other helpful steps to take: Don’t sit down so much, and lose weight if needed. Avoid added sugars and red meat to decrease inflammation. Over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription meds also can help. As for surgery, data show that six to 12 months after surgery, those folks are doing about as well as folks who just let sciatica get better on its own and 5% to 10% of people who have surgery aren’t helped by it or experience even worse pain.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. His next book is ‘The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow.’
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