Don't Stiffen Up!

From newswise.com

Amid chilly, icy conditions for many of us during these winter months, it’s good to be aware of how cold weather can impact spine-related injuries and what you can do to manage the pain. Neurosurgeons Grant Arzumanov, DO, and Kevin Zhao, DO; and pain medicine specialist Jagjeet Singh, MD, in the Pain Management Program at Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center, share some insights. 

Aside from weather-related back and spinal injuries from things like slips and falls, winter sports and snow shovelling, some of the cases we see during the winter months include flare-ups with herniated discs and sciatica conditions. While there’s no direct correlation between a drop in barometric pressure and back pain, cold temperatures can indirectly lead to spinal pain. A drop in the thermometer can cause stiffness in muscles and tendons that support the spine – which can lead to a higher risk of injury and subsequently, acute and chronic pain in the back. 

Tips to keep in mind - Whether going out for groceries, shovelling snow, working outside or having fun, dress appropriately including wearing any protective gear (helmets, glasses, knee pads); breathable, non-restrictive fabrics in layers; and shoes or boots with good tread to help prevent falls and injuries. Warming up your muscles with gentle stretching before venturing out also will help to improve blood flow and reduce risk of muscle stiffness. 

When to seek help - If you have an existing back injury like a herniated disc or sciatica, you may already be familiar with a certain level of pain. If the level of pain you're used to goes beyond what you can tolerate and interferes with regular activities like sleeping, sitting and walking for extended distances, you should see your doctor or a pain management specialist to explore treatment options. If you’re experiencing new back pain due to a fall or extreme activity (like twisting your body from snow shovelling)  you’ll want to get an immediate assessment from your doctor or urgent care centre. They’ll examine you to see if the source of the pain is something considered temporary that can be handled with medications for a brief time, or if it is something more serious and potentially long-term that might require further assessment and specialist care.

What type of help - Because back and spinal injuries can be handled by varied specialists including orthopaedists, orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and those dealing specifically with pain medicine, it’s tough to know where to start. If your primary care physician or urgent care doctor feels you may need a different level of care, you may want to consider a facility that has a formal pain management program or centre for a comprehensive assessment...If faced with this step, seeking out such a comprehensive program affords an individualized approach to treatment with ease of access to a care team and support services through one program. 

Colder temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions that impact seasonal activities can lead to falls, injuries and pain that impact the spinal cord, thus protecting your spine is essential. Remember, your spine provides critical structural support to the body and provides protection of the spinal cord, which communicates messages from our brains to the rest of our body to control our movements and functions. Any injury along this critical pathway can not only lead to chronic pain, but also impaired movement - including paralysis. So, if you’re faced with back-related pain this season and it’s more than you can tolerate, seek professional guidance. You don’t have to manage it alone.

https://www.newswise.com/articles/don-t-stiffen-up/?ad2f=1&aid=823666 

Sciatica in winter What should you do?

From thedailystar.net 

Sciatica is a condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from the back of your leg to your buttock and to your back, becomes irritated. The irritation may be caused by a herniated disk in your spine, an injury to the nerves, or inflammation.

Sciatica typically causes pain and numbness in the leg and/or buttocks and can also cause shooting pain along one or more legs and discomfort while sitting or standing. According to doctors at Harvard Medical School, colder temperatures are also a major cause of sciatica. It can happen during the winter months due to cold temperatures irritating nerves in the body.

Reasons for sciatica pain

There are a number of potential causes for sciatica and pain in the back of the leg. A herniated disk can cause damage to the nerve roots, which may affect sensation and cause sciatica. Other causes include spinal stenosis, ankylosing spondylitis, degenerative disk disease, or a problem with one's piriformis muscle. For some people, sciatica is caused by a slipped disk, which in turn is caused by the shortening of ligaments and tendons around the spine. This causes a change in posture and can be found by doing an X-ray or MRI.

Why is sciatica worse in winter?

Colder temperatures cause muscles to tighten and when this happens, it can irritate the sciatic nerve which is close to the surface of the skin. The nerves are being irritated because they are being compressed into a smaller space due to muscle tightening.

A large study conducted by the Research Institute of Work and Health in Sweden and published in the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health surveyed approximately 135,000 male construction workers. The researchers discovered that those who worked in lower temperatures reported a higher rate of neck and back pain than those working in higher temperatures. The survey in Finland yielded the same result.

Exercise therapy for sciatica

Therapy involves the use of stretching and strengthening exercises to alleviate pain along the sciatic nerve. Because exercise can help with decreasing inflammation, it is one of the most effective treatments for patients experiencing chronic pain. Common exercises include muscle relaxation, warm baths, and pelvic floor muscle exercises. These are just some of the common exercises that may be prescribed to relieve chronic pain that has been attributed to sciatica.

Important tips

1.    Wear warm, comfortable clothing, and dress in multiple layers. A few thin layers of clothing will keep you warmer than a single thick layer.

2.    Tuck your shirt into your pants so your back doesn't get a cold draft when you pick up something and put on a sweater over it.

3.    At night, an electric blanket on your mattress can prevent your muscle tissues from becoming excessively tight.

4.    You should keep your house as warm as you can.

5.    It is important that you remain in shape during the winter season so that it isn't difficult for your condition, such as sciatica. Think about creating an exercise routine through winter in order to stop gaining weight.

The writer is Chief Consultant, ASPC Manipulation Therapy Centre

https://www.thedailystar.net/health/healthcare/news/sciatica-winter-what-should-you-do-2941286