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Sciatica exercises and other self-treatment techniques are often just as effective, and maybe more effective in some cases, than professional methods of treatment.   This is particularly true when it comes to getting lasting relief, because most doctor-administered treatments only mask symptoms and do not address the underlying causes of sciatica, namely spinal disc protrusion and/or muscle contraction. 

The symptoms of sciatica are pain, tingling, burning, and other sensations that extend from the buttock area down the back of the thigh, and sometimes all the way down the calf to the foot.  True sciatica is related to compression and irritation of the sciatic nerve, most often by a bulging or ruptured spinal disc in the lower back. 

Another condition that closely mimics the symptoms of true sciatica is piriformis syndrome, caused by the piriformis muscle in the lower buttock area.  Piriformis syndrome is also sometimes called “pseudo-sciatica”, meaning “false sciatica”.  Depending on the situation contraction of the piriformis muscle may actually compress the sciatic nerve, or the muscle produces what’s known as referred pain.  Referred pain is what happens when someone gets arm pain from a heart problem, or shoulder pain from a gallbladder attack. 

Both true sciatica and piriformis syndrome can usually be treated effectively with simple exercises and home-treatment methods.  One of the simplest sets of exercises for alleviating true sciatica is the McKenzie Method, named for New Zealand physical therapist Robin McKenzie.  Although the McKenzie Method is usually associated with spinal extension, in fact the technique uses a systematic approach to determine what spinal positioning is most effective at reducing nerve compression by a herniated disc for a given individual.  The majority of cases d respond best to some variation of spinal extension, but not all McKenzie exercises involve extension – it depends on what the evaluation techniques suggest will be most effective. 

For piriformis syndrome, home treatment can best be accomplished by means of stretching and massage of the piriformis muscle.  One simple stretch can be done by bending the leg and pulling the knee toward the chest, then carefully stretching the knee towards the opposite side shoulder.  Stretching should be done slowly and with steady pressure, rather than “bouncing” the stretch which may actually increase muscle contraction.  Massage of the piriformis can be done by finding the area of tightness in the lower buttock area and pressing one’s knuckles into the contracted area with firm pressure, gradually increasing pressure as the tenderness decreases and the muscle relaxes.

 In addition to exercises, one of the best sciatica self treatment methods is the application of ice packs.  Cold packs are often more effective in reducing inflammation than prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, and work without the side effects commonly encountered with the medications.  To use ice, be sure to separate the cold pack from the skin with a thin towel or cloth to prevent skin irritation.  Because sciatica typically arises from nerve irritation in the lower spine, apply the ice pack on the low back, being sure to cover the area at least an inch below the beltline.  Use cold for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time.  You can re-apply ice as often as every one to two hours, just as long as the skin has returned to normal temperature before re-applying the cold pack. 

For additional sciatica information, please visit my SciaticaSelfCare.com website.  When you visit, you’ll receive a free ebook on home treatment tips, and a free video course to help you etter understand your condition and treatment options.

Dr. George Best is a holistic healthcare provider in San Antonio, Texas, and webmaster of SciaticaSelfCare.com. 

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Prevent Back Pain

Low back pain affects hundreds of thousands of people each year and nearly 80% of the population suffers from it at some point in their lifetime.While we may not be able to totally prevent back pain from occurring, there are things we can do to prevent some of the back pain and then aid recovery after it has occurred.

One of the reasons that many people experience the pain and discomfort of a low back injury is because of the change in lifestyle that has happened in the past decades.It’s well known that the standard Western diet has changed in the last fifty years, resulting in a higher incidence of obesity.Plus, lack of exercise and sitting at a desk all day increases the risk of lower back pain.

Preventing low back pain means taking positive action to improve your overall health as well as your back health.  It may seem obvious but the first thing to do to prevent injury or pain is to protect the back in your activities.  This means learning the correct ways of lifting, sitting and standing.  Sitting and standing in a slouched position increases the stress placed on the lower back and increases the probability of an injury.

Another side benefit of learning to sit and stand correctly is the reduced risk of having upper back pain.Poor posture is one of the main causes of upper back pain. Slouching forward places more strain on your back.Sitting straighter and walking in a more upright position will help relieve that pain.  This protects the back from top to bottom.

Learning how to lift things properly is important either at work or at home or wherever you must pick something up that is heavyi.  Each of those activities can lead to an injury.You might think your injury came from bending down, but the actual cause might be from years of bad posture and sleeping positions over the years

Exercise is also an important aspect to prevention of low back pain.  Proper exercises will help to improve the core muscles, strengthen the back and improve flexibility.  All of these benefits will help to decrease the risk of developing low back pain.  Strong and flexible muscles will protect the spinal column, decrease the risk of a herniated disc and improve your overall appearance.

Try to change your sleeping positions.  If you think about it you are in some of the same positions every night for between 5 and 8 hours.  That’s more time than you spend doing almost anything else.Avoid sleeping on your stomach as it puts stress on your lower back.Sleep on your side instead or on your back with your feet in a raised position.  Some individuals also find that sleeping with a small towel rolled up under their lower back is comfortable.

Women should wear low heeled shoes as they are easier on their back muscles.  While the occasional evening out in spike heels won’t cause consistent damage, women who wear high heels often find that it puts stress on the lower back and hips.

As was alluded in the first part, obesity also plays a role in the development of low back pain.  As people gain weight this places more and more strain on the back muscles to keep the body in alignment.  People who suffer from chronic back pain may find that just by losing 20 or 30 pounds they are able to reduce their pain and manage it without medications.

Another risk factor is osteoporosis.This particularly important in women but also can affect men as well.Smoking actually increases the chance of developing osteoporosis and sensitivity to pain.  Smoking will also decrease blood flow and the supply of oxygen to the spinal discs, a major factor in low back pain.

While most people will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives there are specific treatment protocols and methods of prevention that can help to speed the recovery process and reduce the risk of the problem happening again.

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Chances are that at some point in your life, you’ll experience back pain. And probably the first thing you’ll do is reach for some pain killers. But medication, although frequently useful, can also have some drawbacks. Medication is certainly needed if you’re in a lot of pain. Muscle relaxants can be effective at calming muscle spasms in your back.

But the drawback to using these kinds of medication is that they don’t actually heal the condition. It just masks your discomfort sufficiently to help you get through the day. If you don’t truly fix the problem, your back pain could continue to cause you problems for some time to come.

The good news is that there’s another way to manage your back pain. It can be much more effective than pills. The key is that you must be dedicated to using it on an ongoing basis. Also, you have to give it some time before you start seeing results. So what exactly is this magic cure? It’s a simple thing known as stretching exercises.

There are lots of good reasons to use stretching exercises to manage your back pain. First of all, it’s an all natural way to deal with the problem. You won’t have the need for continuous medication or various treatments to ease your pain. Because it’s all natural, you won’t experience any harmful side effects. This can certainly happen with some medications. Just make sure you’re doing the stretches properly or you’ll end up with further injuries.

Another advantage of using stretching exercises to treat your back pain is it can help prevent future problems. It’s unlikely that any medication can make that claim. Your core muscles are strengthened through regular stretching. So you’re ensuring that your body can handle the demands you place on it every day.

Your muscle flexibility will be greatly improved. So they will be prepared to perform well whenever you need them. Limber muscles are particularly important when you trip or lose your balance, because they’ll help to stabilize you.

It’s not just your back that benefits from stretching. The benefits extend throughout your body. By incorporating a stretching routine into your day, you improve your fitness. This gives your cardiovascular system a health boost. It also strengthens your immune system, so you won’t catch every bug that goes around.

It’s to your benefit to regularly perform stretching exercises. They not only help your back, they can keep your entire body healthy and fit.

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LOWER BACK MUSCLE PAIN – AN INTRODUCTION

Many musculoskeletal problems are often easily diagnosed and successfully treated, unfortunately lower back pain is not one of them. Causes of lower back pain can be elusive, leading to incorrect diagnosis and then wrong treatment.

PAIN AND WHAT IT TELLS YOU

“Pain is a signal something is wrong.”

It the lower back muscle pain is short lasting and mild it may be nothing to worry about, on the other side if it severe and lasts for a few days up to a week or more, you body is most likely trying to tell you something is wrong. Not listening to your body’s signals can aggravate problems, extending the duration of lower back muscle pain, often for unnecessary durations.

General guides as to when to refer to a doctor are:

If the pain is severe

If there is swelling

If you hear a cracking or snapping at the time of the injury

If you cannot perform your normal day to day duties

If there is nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, paralysis, weakness or disturbed function following an accident or injury.

If the pain continues beyond 7-10 days.1

WHAT IS LOW BACK PAIN?

Lower back painaffects the muscles in the lower part of the back. It can be described as:

· Acute if it is less than 6 weeks

· Sub-acute if it 6-12 weeks

· Chronic if it is more than 12 weeks

Many people have suffered from low back pain, costing millions in lost work as well as medical and insurance resources. Lower back muscle pain is one of the most common back complaints and effects four out of five people at some point in their lives. Although most lower back pain will sort itself out within a few days to a few weeks.

LOW BACK PAIN – AMERICAN STATISTICS

·      80% of society will suffer back pain of some type

Lower back pain

·      88% will be asymptomatic in 6 weeks

·      98% in 24 weeks

·      99% in 52 weeks

·      97% of causes are unknown

·      2% attributed to disc problems

·      29% will require conservative treatment only

·      1% will require surgery

·      The rest will recover spontaneously2

RISK FACTORS – LOWER BACK PAIN

Postural deformities and leg length, in general, don’t seem to predispose to lower back pain. Studies of static work postures indicate an increased risk of lower back muscle pain sitting with a bent over working posture seems to carry significant risk, for example sitting in a car for more than half a work day can lead to three times the risk of disc herniation.3

·      Physically heavy, static work postures

·      Frequent bending and twisting, lifting and forceful movements

·      Repetitive work and vibrations

·      Tallness leads to increased risk

·      Sciatica is more frequent in obese people

·      Weak trunk muscles and decreased endurance

·      Coughing – leading to decreased blood supply to essential areas

·      Social factors i.e alcoholism, history of divorce, level of education, history of depression.4

SYMPTOMS OF LOWER BACK PAIN

Low back pain means a pain or ache somewhere between the bottom of the ribs at the back and the top of the legs. That may begin suddenly or follow obvious strain or injury or it can come ‘out of the blue’.

It is possible that pain may also travel for example down the buttocks to the foot. It can be worse bending and is often much worse when sitting. Agonizing pain can be experienced when rolling over in bed or sitting up. Coughing or sneezing may aggravate the pain. Back muscles can also go into painful spasms.

Lower back muscle pain may be combined with pain in the leg traveling down the knee. This is otherwise called sciatica, because the main nerve in the leg, the sciatica nerve, is being irritated by pressure on it..

If in doubt consult your doctor, chiropractor, physiotherapist an osteopath or myotherapist.

GUIDELINES

The first thing to rule out is other obvious conditions which may cause back pain. You really need to be on the watch out for ‘red flags’ or warning signs, which are factors that may require more rapid treatment. They may point to something more serious than a mechanical problem. If any number of these apply to you please see your doctor.

·      You are younger than 2o when you first get back pain

·      You are older than 55 when you first get back pain

·      The pain follows a violent injury

·      The pain is constant and getting worse

·      You have had or have cancer

·      You are on steroids

·      You are drug abuser

·      You have HIV

·      You are generally unwell

·      You have significant and unexplained weight loss

·      You have significant trouble bending forward over a period of time

·      You have developed nervous system problems – numbness, loss of power etc

·      You have developed an obvious structural deformities

·      If the pain continues over 4 weeks

CONCLUSION

If you are concerned about lower back muscle pain please consult your health care practitioner or doctor. To find out more information please visit  YourBackHealth.com

1 Listen to Your Pain. B, Benjamin. Penguin Books. P6

2 Ibid

3 Ibid P543

4 Ibid P544

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