'Sciatica was gone': hospital performs robot-assisted spinal surgery in Canadian first

From globalnews.ca

Dave Myen didn’t think much about being the first patient in Canada to receive a robot-assisted direct lateral spine surgery two months ago. He was just looking for anything to relieve the pain.

Now he says he feels thankful the robot enabled minimally invasive surgery and reduced recovery time.

“When I woke up from surgery, the sciatica was gone. It’s just amazing.”

He still has about four months to go until the fusion of his impacted vertebrae is considered complete, but he says everything is progressing well.

Myen suffered from chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right leg and extreme pain in his lower back, impacting his daily life “to the point that the shooting pain in my right leg caused me to stumble and fall.” 

After numerous visits with his family doctor, chiropractors and massage therapists, he ended up at London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ont., as the first patient in the country to undergo the procedure with the Mazor X Spinal Robot.

While robotics have been used in spinal surgeries in Canada before, LHSC said this was the first time it was used in a direct lateral surgery, which basically combines two surgeries in one.

“Normally when we do back surgeries we put the patient on the operating table when they are facing downwards,” Dr. Victor Yang, neurosurgeon at LHSC, explained.

“In Dave’s scenario, he also needed surgery done from the side of the spine as well…In the old days, we will do this surgery in two stages. And sometimes they (were) even spread over different days. And even if we can do it on the same day, we’ll still have to flip the patient between two positions. And that means that the patient will be under anaesthetic for a longer time.”

                                               Dave Myen, left, and Dr. Victor Yang, right. supplied by LHSC

The robot allowed Yang and the rest of the team to perform two surgeries in one, in a minimally-invasive way. The robot allows the team to “virtually” see where the patient’s bone is and then guide them in the right direction. Because it was minimally invasive, it also sped up recovery time, meaning Myen was discharged from the hospital in just a few days.

Robotic surgery is not as simple as purchasing a robot and booking surgeries. In this case, the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University funded the original cost of the robot for research purposes before it was fully approved by Health Canada. Yang said they spent over a year studying the robot, learning how to use it and training the team. The Mazor X received Health Canada approval in July 2021 and the technology was transferred to LHSC for clinical use.

“Having a robotic surgery program takes a whole village, it is not a one-person job,” he said. “We have Dr. (Marcelo) Oppermann, who is my clinical fellow, and also all of our operating room nurses, and they were trained over multiple sessions…the neuro-radiologist, as well as a neuro-anaesthetist and the vascular surgeons, they (also) form part of our team to make this new technology available for our patients.”

The clinical neurosciences team has since successfully performed five more minimally invasive surgical spinal procedures with the robot.

                                                  Dr. Yang stands behind the Mazor X robot. supplied by LHSC

Yang believes its use will become more and more commonplace in spinal surgeries, where robotics is not yet as well-established as it is in other surgeries, as it provides “more consistency and, in general, better outcomes and care.”

Myen, meanwhile, is excited about the possibilities the surgery has granted him.

“I am excited to get back to my everyday life and some of the things I enjoy and also have a summer that is not full of pain, but rather freedom to do the things I want.”

https://globalnews.ca/news/10450034/london-health-sciences-centre-robot-spine-surgery-sciatica/

Your office chair could be ruining your gym results — here's why

From www.t3.com

Are you working from a poorly designed office chair?

Since Covid-19, hybrid and remote working has had more than its fair share of benefits, especially when it comes to improving our work/life balance. However, it's also left many people with poor work setups, or even no setup at all. These substandard work environments could be affecting our bodies more than we know, especially for those with fitness goals. 

With this in mind, Matt Ousby, ergonomic chair expert at Slouch, has teamed up with fitness and physiotherapist experts to reveal how a poorly designed office chair could be affecting your progress in the gym. 

Keep reading to find out the short and long term effects of using the wrong kind of office chair, and how it could be affecting your fitness goals as a whole. 

                                                                                (Image credit: Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock)

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF USING THE WRONG OFFICE CHAIR?

Shaun Thompson, a personal trainer and coach, explains that one of the most common short term issues he sees resulting from a poor work setup is ‘shrimp neck’. Sometimes known as tech neck, this issue is caused by constantly looking down at laptops and phones, which can have a detrimental effect on our shoulders and necks. Other issues include tight hamstrings and weak glutes due to long periods of sitting. 

Shaun also explains that long term can include impingement and sciatica, resulting in horrific pain and consistent migraines. He also cautions that “using and overworking the wrong muscles can cause serious issues such as slipped discs or torn muscles.”

 HOW IS YOUR CHAIR AFFECTING YOUR PROGRESS IN THE GYM? 

Shaun explains that pain from poor work setups can affect our ability to move around, even if it’s just a short walk at lunchtime. It can bring on issues such as sciatica, which can be extremely painful and can put your gym goals on hold for a considerable amount of time. 

In turn, poor mobility can affect our bodies in the gym as well. Shaun explains how our "mobility is the foundation you work from which then allows you to build strength and lead a high quality of life." 

https://www.t3.com/news/your-office-chair-could-be-ruining-your-gym-results-heres-why 

Top Mattresses for Sciatica in 2024

From globeecho.com

Chronic back pain issues are common, with sciatica being a prevalent condition caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. The pain or numbness associated with sciatica often stems from irregularities in the spine. While a bad mattress may not be a direct cause of sciatica, it can exacerbate the condition and hinder potential treatment. Consulting a doctor to determine if a mattress change could help manage the condition is advisable. This guide aims to assist individuals in selecting the best mattresses for sciatica, with a focus on alleviating pain and improving sleep quality.

The Saatva Rx mattress stands out as the best overall choice for sciatica, incorporating a Therapeutic Support Core and Lumbar Zone to enhance support for the lower back and hips. With a medium firmness profile suitable for all sleeping positions and body types, the mattress promotes spinal alignment and pressure relief. Its seven-layer construction includes durable recycled steel coils, body-contouring foam, and micro-coils, ensuring support and durability where needed most. The mattress’s zoned support design caters to individuals with chronic pain, while the hypoallergenic organic cotton cover adds a layer of comfort.

The Purple Restore mattress features a unique GelFlex grid made of hyper-elastic polymer material, providing a responsive and pressure-relieving sensation. Available in two firmness options, the mattress caters to different sleep preferences, with the soft model ideal for side sleepers. With exceptional temperature regulation and support, the Purple Restore offers a distinct feel that may not be universally comfortable. Its 100-night trial period allows users to fully assess its suitability for sciatica relief.

For those seeking a luxurious yet supportive option, the Nolah Evolution Comfort Plus mattress offers a pillow-top design with zoned support coils, ideal for heavier body types. The mattress combines plushness and support to maintain spinal alignment and alleviate lower back pressure. While designed for heavier individuals, the Nolah Evolution Comfort Plus also suits average-sized users with a medium-firm feel. An alternative is the Nectar mattress, featuring a thick layer of memory foam for body-conforming pressure relief. With a medium-firm profile suitable for various sleep positions, the Nectar mattress offers an affordable memory foam option for those with a limited budget.

The Plank Firm Natural mattress boasts a flippable design with two firmness options to cater to back and stomach sleepers. Made of latex foam for a buoyant, responsive feel, the mattress provides comfort and support for those seeking a firmer surface. However, it may not be suitable for side sleepers due to its firm construction. The Leesa Legend mattress offers a medium-soft firmness profile ideal for side sleepers, featuring a zoned support design for enhanced spinal alignment. With a soft hybrid feel and excellent motion isolation, the Leesa Legend prioritizes pressure relief and comfort for individuals with sciatica.

When shopping for a mattress to alleviate sciatica pain, factors such as firmness level, zoned support, and trial period should be considered. Finding a balance between support and pressure relief based on sleeping preferences and body type is crucial. A medium-firm mattress is generally recommended for individuals with sciatica, ensuring spinal alignment and comfort. Although a new mattress may not cure sciatica, it can contribute to pain alleviation and improved sleep quality. Returning a mattress within the trial period is a simple process, allowing users to find the most suitable option for their condition. 

https://globeecho.com/top-mattresses-for-sciatica-in-2024/

Doctor explains why sciatica is bad at night and how to improve it

From bristolpost.co.uk

A variety of things can cause sciatica and it is a painful condition

Does sciatica give you severe pain in your lower back and legs? Besides hindering your days, it can disturb your nights and prevent you from getting a good night’s rest.

Dr Tony Nalda, who leads the Scoliosis Reduction Center, explains why sciatica pain is worse at night and what you can do about it.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a medical condition that occurs when something else in your body rubs or presses on your sciatic nerve. Possible causes include back injuries, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and slipped discs - a common reason.

What are the symptoms?

Dr Nalda said: "The most common symptom of sciatica is shooting pains in your hips and legs. You may also experience weakness or numbness, or find it hard to move your legs. Some people have tingling or stabbing pains in their legs and thighs, or increased discomfort when they sit down."

                                                           Sciatica can disrupt sleep (Image: Getty Images)

Why is it worse at night?

People have fewer distractions overnight, which makes the discomfort seem more pronounced as it’s all the mind has to focus on. Dr Nalda said: "Also, lying down for extended periods increases pressure on the sciatic nerve.’ Finally, the lack of movement at night can cause the muscles around the sciatic nerve to stiffen."

What are the options?

Dr Nalda has these tips to help reduce your sciatica pain:

• Sleep on your back or side, not your front. Front sleeping doesn’t properly support the spine, and it increases nerve irritation.

• Use supportive body pillows and a medium to firm mattress.

• Do stretching exercises before you go to bed and after you get up to increase flexibility and blood circulation.

• Alternate between cold packs to reduce swelling and heat sources (like warm baths) to soothe muscle tension and ease discomfort.

• Ask your pharmacist or doctor about stronger painkillers if normal over-the-counter medication isn’t working.

• Do gentle exercises throughout the day to keep your body moving, and don’t sit or lie down for long periods if you can help it.

• If you’re experiencing pain on one side, laying on that side can make your hip feel more uncomfortable, so try lying on the other side.

Dr Nalda said: "A medical specialist may recommend physiotherapy, painkilling injections, or even surgery. If you act wisely, you can lessen the pain and improve your quality of life."

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/health/doctor-explains-sciatica-bad-night-9191111

Yoga for Back Pain Can Deliver Relief Even When Meds Fail — Here’s How

From firstforwomen.com

It worked for Marianne Richmond — she was able to avoid surgery!

As we get older, many of us experience the commons arghs and ows that come with back pain. It can interrupt our sleep, our work and just our overall mood. If you feel you’ve tried everything from chiropractors to medications to heating pads and nothing is working to ease the ache, you may want to consider the all-natural, centuries-old method: yoga. It worked for Marianne Richardson, and she was able to avoid surgery. Keep reading for her inspiring story and to learn how yoga for back pain could help you.

The science on why yoga eases back pain

“Yoga is as effective as physical therapy for back pain,” asserts Jordan Metzl, MD, author of The Athlete’s Book of Home Remedies. Indeed, a 2024 study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research found women with chronic back pain who practiced yoga regularly cut pain scores by 51% in four weeks.

Common causes of back pain

Injury, poor posture and weight gain are often to blame, but for many, back pain is due to sciatica. This condition affects up to 40% of us and occurs when the sciatic nerve that runs down the back and into the legs becomes compressed or irritated. 

Complicating ­matters

Some women have pseudo sciatica, or pain that mimics sciatica but has other underlying causes. “Pseudo sciatica occurs frequently, especially in active individuals or those with specific muscle imbalances,” says Randa Jaafar, MD, an anaesthesiologist and pain specialist in New York. This type of pain is often ­misdiagnosed and mistreated, she says. 

How yoga delivers relief

No matter the cause of your pain, “yoga poses can loosen the spine and hips and address the reason you may be getting pain,” explains Dr. Metzl. He recommends searching YouTube for free beginner series. “Many of my patients start here,” he says. One of his favourites? Yoga with Adriene.

Try these 2 yoga poses to reduce back pain 

Here, two beginner-friendly yoga poses to help you feel great:

1. Glute bridge

To do the glute bridge, lie on your back, knees bent, feet on the floor, hip-width apart, heels 6 inches from your glutes. Squeeze your glutes as you lift your hips up toward the ceiling, avoiding arching your back. Hold, then slowly lower to the floor. Do 10 to 20 reps.

2. Fire hydrant

Start in table-top position, hands and knees on the floor, back straight. Place your hands directly below your shoulders, knees below your hips. With knee bent, lift one leg to the side and away from your body at a 45-degree angle. Hold, then slowly lower your leg. Do 10 on each side.

Yoga for back pain success story: Marianne Richmond

Marianne Richmond doing fire hydrant yoga pose.

It’s not getting any better, Marianne Richmond thought as she tried standing at her desk, frustrated by how much her back pain and sciatica were affecting her daily life.

Marianne had first noticed the pain in April of 2019 after a long flight. She brushed it off, blaming her discomfort on prolonged sitting, but then it worsened, affecting her right hip and radiating down her lower back and leg.

An orthopaedist told Marianne she had sciatica (compression of a nerve that runs down the back and into the legs) and instability in the lower spine, which began a yearlong ­journey of physical therapy, pain medication, chiropractic care and, finally, a ­steroid injection. 

She also tried a lumbar support pillow, using a standing desk and exercising at home, but nothing helped. As the pain worsened, Marianne’s work and mood ­suffered, the costs added up and she was still desperate for relief.

The last straw was her visit to a neuro­surgeon. Barely acknowledging her, he suggested that Marianne needed surgery. Even though she knew that didn’t feel right, his authoritative tone created self-doubt. Reluctantly, she chose a procedure date, despite no guarantee that it would heal her.

Marianne finds a surprising solution

MoMo Productions/Getty

Feeling ill at ease, Marianne decided to seek out an outdoor yoga class, hoping it would improve her mental state. While there, she fell into conversation about her upcoming surgery, and the woman she was speaking to implored Marianne to visit a highly recommended integrative health practitioner, Justin Dearing, DC, DACNB, FIAMA, FAARM. With a drop of hope still left in her heart, Marianne made an appointment.

As soon as she explained her situation, Marianne was overwhelmed to hear Dr. Dearing’s findings. He believed the problem wasn’t her spine — in fact, he was rather sure it was her gluteus minimus muscle in the buttocks, likely in spasm, that was sending pain down her leg. As she learned, it’s common for gluteus minimus trigger points that affect the calf and outside ankle to be misinterpreted as sciatic pain.

Marianne felt a big “yes!” of acknowledgement in her heart. She had always told everyone the pain was more in her behind than her back, and finally, this doctor had affirmed it.

Dr. Dearing taught her exercises she could do at home, targeting the release of the gluteus minimus muscle and strengthening the glutes and core. The exercises included clam shells, fire hydrants and side planks, which were available to view on YouTube and easy enough to try. 

“These exercises changed my life!”

Re-inspired when she experienced some initial relief in her pain, Marianne cancelled her upcoming surgery and decided to take it one step further, seeking out recommendations from her local yoga studio for ways to strengthen her core. When she shared the exercises that she was doing at home, the owner of the studio exclaimed, “We do those in Pilates class!” All at once, Marianne knew she had to try that too. 

It would’ve been easy to create her own home workout using the moves she learned, but Marianne found going to class inspiring and fun. When she began, she could barely hold a forearm plank. But within two months, she was much stronger. Best of all, she felt so much better. In fact, Marianne could see and feel progress as her core, glutes and back got stronger. Her suffering had greatly diminished and by the six-month marker — she was finally pain-free!

“Today, I can do activities I love again, like yoga, running, kayaking and biking, without any pain!” Marianne beams. “I’ve regained my ability to listen to my intuition to guide me toward the right course of action. Not only is my pain gone for good, but my experience with these exercises changed my life!”

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

https://www.firstforwomen.com/posts/health/yoga-for-back-pain