Back Pain and Sciatica: Exercises for Sciatica Relief

Sciatica is a set of symptoms associated with Back Pain that is caused by irregular compression of radicular nerve or nerve roots of sciatic nerve. Exercises are often best means to achieve Sciatica Relief. They vary according to the cause of pain…

Enlarge Image What is Sciatica?
This is a term that is the cause of much confusion and is often grossly misunderstood. Sciatica is not just a disease or ailment or even a diagnosis by itself that would point to any particular cause of pain, rather it is a set of symptoms. Generally it is used for any pain that is caused by the irregular compression or nuisance in one or more of the nerves in the lower part of the spinal chord that make up the sciatic nerve. These can be caused by various different conditions.

The medical term for sciatic is radiculopathy, which occurs when a spinal disc in the lower back has been extended beyond what is its normal position, irritating the radicular nerve or the nerve root which is connected to the sciatic nerve that in turn has its off-shoots snaking its way down into the lower body through the back of the leg and thus pain is experienced along its path.

Exercises for Sciatica
While we may prefer bed rest to exercise when in pain, active sciatica exercise is the best mechanism for healing sciatica pain. Doctors advise rest to patients for just a day or two after a bout of sciatica but inactivity will only aid in worsening the pain because due to the lack of movement the muscles and spinal structures become further de-conditioned and thus their support of the back weakens leading to back injury and major strain on the muscles and spine which adds to the lower body and back pain.

Exercising also keeps the fluids between the discs healthy and well lubricated as also helping with the dispersion of nutrition and strengthening the muscles of the abdomen and back.
Sciatica exercises for sciatica relief are of many different kinds depending on the cause of the pain and mostly involve stretching to target specific muscles. Engaging in regular exercise helps to keep these muscles mobile and strengthens them that helps to speed up the recuperation process as well as prevent future such painful incidences.

A physiotherapist, certified athletic trainer (ATC), chiropractor, physiatrist or a specialist who treats back and lower body problems can be consulted for sciatica pain relief and exercise should only be done under the supervision of a trained professional. It is very important to get an accurate diagnosis of the cause of the pain because the exercise program to be recommended rests on that. Though rare, sciatica can also be caused by an infection or tumor that requires serious and immediate medical attention.
1. Sciatica from a herniated disc
2. Sciatica from spinal stenosis
3. Sciatica from degenerative disc disease
4. Sciatica from isthmic spondylolisthesis
5. Sciatic pain from piriformis syndrome
6. Sciatic pain from sacroiliac joint dysfunction
7. Hamstring stretching exercises for sciatica

The sciatica exercises for each of these conditions is different and must be done correctly, on a regular basis at least twice a day to obtain optimum results.

Herniated disc Sciatica
It normally causes acute leg pain as the disc protrudes in the incorrect direction or a nerve root is compressed causing pain to radiate along the sciatic nerve. The exercises prescribed for such a problem are ones that need the patient to get into a backwards bending position called extension exercises or press-ups which cause the pain to ease by moving the muscles in the lower extremities upwards and into the lower back.

Spinal Stenosis Sciatica
This is caused by nerve root irritation or impinging which results in the constriction of the nerve’s passageway. This pain shots down the leg while walking or muscle flexing. All exercises that require the patient to bend forward and flex the lower spine help to clear and expand these passages by stabilizing the lower spine thus allowing for the condition heal.

Degenerative disc disease Sciatica
When a degenerative disc intrudes on a sciatic nerve in the lower back it is the cause of sciatica. Exercises for lumbar stabilization are prescribed for this kind of sciatica and includes the McKenzie Method. The lumbar spine and pelvic regions are trained using these exercise movements.

Isthmic spondylolisthesis Sciatica
When the N5 nerve root is impinged upon it is the cause of this kind of sciatica. There are two kinds of exercises that help in this condition; flexing and stabilizing that help the lumbar spine to remain stable in a flexed position.

Piriformis syndrome
Experiencing pain along the sciatic nerve is a common symptom of piriformis syndrome. But this syndrome is not really sciatica but a muscle called the piriformis muscle which lies in close proximity to the sciatic nerve itself is irritates it to cause pain. These cause excruciating pain, tingling and numbness running from the lower back, to the rear and sometimes down the leg and into the foot. Stretching exercises for the piriformis muscle, hamstring muscles and hip extensor muscles helps decrease the painful symptoms.

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
The inflammation of the SI joint or sacroiliac joint causes this. Therefore this is not true sciatica but the similar symptoms occur and exercise like stretching and movement exercises should be performed to help alleviate the pain.

Long term Sciatica Relief
These exercises must be performed as a part of daily living and not just treated as a means to get rid of back pain. They ensure good spinal health and help to ease the pressures that stress has on us. It is also a must to maintain good posture while performing daily activities and use ergonomically correct furniture to make sure the lower back is well supported and avoid standing or being cramped in the same position for long periods of time.

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Arthritis Pain May Involve an Allergic Reaction to Food

Enlarge Image In at least some rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, the pain they feel may be an allergic reaction to a common group of food plants known as nightshades. Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and eggplants are members of the same group of plants that has been implicated in arthritis pain.

Luckily, this problem is an easy one to identify; the sufferer simply needs to try an elimination diet for a few days. Here’s what to do: eliminate all these foods from your diet for a week; then, one by one, add the foods back to your diet. If you’re sensitive to any of these items, you’ll most likely end up having a reaction to the food that mimics your arthritis pain, perhaps in addition to other physical symptoms.

So what if you’re a meat and potatoes man, or your favorite comfort food is a big plate of pasta and marinara sauce? Do you have to give up all of your favorite foods forever? Maybe not. Try a second phase of the elimination diet, avoid all nightshades and then test one food at a time, for several days, before going on to the next. (Make sure you avoid all nightshades for at least four days between each test, and only include one of these foods at a time.) You may find that you can tolerate some members of the nightshade group better than others; and that you can tolerate potatoes, for instance, for two or three days in a row before you have a reaction.

Once you’ve defined the level of tolerance that you have for your favorite foods, develop a rotation diet based on your new knowledge. You may want to eat only one member of the nightshade group on a certain day; you may want to keep track of when you eat these foods and only eat them every three or four days. Of course, if you react to a particular food like peppers after a single instance of exposure, it’s wise to eliminate those from your diet completely.

You may find that your arthritis pain disappears completely, or that the pain lessens once you’ve eliminated or reduced your use of the offending foods. But before you throw away prescribed pain or anti-inflammatory medication or begin to change your behavior (boosting your exercise routine or other activities, for instance), have a serious talk with your doctor. Discuss your allergies, discuss his or her plans for ongoing treatment of your health issue, and come to an understanding of how to proceed. Arthritis is a serious chronic, and sometimes progressive, illness, and you need professional help to manage it, even if you’ve succeeded in controlling the symptoms with diet.

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Pain and the Sports Enthusiast-How to Get Back in the Game

Love the sport, but hate the pain? For pain and the sports enthusiast, you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Health, in a two year period adults age 25 and over sustained nearly 2.3 million sports and recreational injuries. Here are some ways you can get back in the game following a sports injury.

Love the sport, but hate the pain?

For pain and the sports enthusiast, you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Health, in a two year period adults age 25 and over sustained nearly 2.3 million sports and recreational injuries – including 370,000 in recreational sports; 331,000 by exercising; 276,000 by playing basketball; 231,000 by bike riding and another 205,000 by playing baseball/softball. Add the sports of tennis, squash/handball, golf, gymnastics, boating, climbing/extreme sports, football, soccer, boxing, running, weight training, skiing, even polo, and you’ll understand the concern.

What are these injuries?

Knee injuries are by far the most common sports injury. Severe knee injuries can be to the meniscus cartilage that absorbs the shock between the thigh (femur) and lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) or to the cartilage that allows bones to smoothly glide. Injuries to the four ligaments that support the knee include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

Herniated discs cause pain, numbness, weakness or tingling in the low back (lumbar region), neck (cervical region), or mid spine (thoracic region). Pain is caused when the inner core of a disk bulges or ruptures and extrudes back into the spinal canal, putting pressure on the underlying nerve root.

Shin splints, often seen in runners, cause pain along the large bone in the front of the leg (tibia), and may radiate pain to either side of the leg and down to the foot and ankle.

Achilles Tendon Injuries are painful and debilitating tears or rupture of the tendon that connects the calf muscle to the back of the heel, and can be caused by a chronic weakening of the tendon (tendonitis).

Shoulder injuries include the rotator cuff, muscles that govern the rotation of the shoulder, commonly occurring in racket sports.

Elbow injuries, sometimes referred to as tennis or golf elbow, can be caused by hyperextension of a joint, entrapment of nerves, inflammation of a tendon, or ligament sprains.

While we commonly think of fractures as sudden damage, stress fractures are caused by continual stress over time, such as with repetitive impact sports such as running, jumping or gymnastics.

What are the symptoms of a sports injury?

Symptoms of a sports injury include tenderness and swelling, inability to move through a range of motion, pain or pain that amplifies with weight bearing, muscle spasms, loss of strength, tender or painful places or joints, instability or inability to move the joint with accompanying swelling, bruising or inflammation.

Here are some ways you can get back in the game following a sports injury.

Get a complete diagnosis. Undiagnosed ailments and untreated inflammation can lead to chronic pain.

Visit a pain specialist. Board Certified Pain Management Anesthesiologists diagnose the causes of pain and through specific injection procedures provide minimally invasive non-narcotic treatment.

Epiduroscopy is the insertion of a fiber optic filament through a needle connected to a television monitor to visualize the inside of the spinal canal, spinal cord and spinal nerves. This procedure provides accurate diagnosis, accomplishing precise injections, cutting of epidural adhesions and scar tissue and the removal of toxins liberated by injured discs.

Injured or painful facet joints can be injected with steroids and patients can be treated with Radiofrequency rhyzotomies. These Radiofrequency procedures numb the facet joints and eliminate the patient’s pain for approximately one year.

Injured and herniated discs can be treated with an IDET (Intradiscal Electrothermal Treatment) procedure and a Percutaneous discectomy. A special wire electrode is inserted through a needle into a disc and directed to the affected area of the disc herniation. Once in place, the electrode is heated with Radiofrequency or designed to create an electromagnetic or plasma field. This causes cauterization and vaporization of the disc, proliferation and tightening of the protein matrix of the disc, shrinking of small herniations and disc denervation or numbing. The final effect of this process is the relief of pain and the creation of more support collagen within the disc.

Get back in the game following a sports injury. Board Certified Pain Management physicians diagnose the sources of pain and provide pain relief through minimally invasive techniques.

Want more information about pain management and what to expect in your first pain management visit? http://www.helpain.com

At Palm Beach Spine & Pain Institute, Board-Certified physicians are dedicated to stopping pain. They specialize in performing innovative, minimally invasive techniques and procedures that eliminate pain at its source. The goal is to allow patients to return to a normal activity level minus the pain.

Palm Beach Spine & Pain Institute is located at 2290 10th Avenue North, Suite 600, Lake Worth, FL 33461, centrally located near Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale, FL Founders are Board Certified Specialists in Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine and Management, Lawrence Gorfine, M.D. and Douglas MacLear, D.O.

Leslie McKerns, McKerns Development writes for professionals, including about issues in the medical profession. http://www.freewebs.com/mckernsdevelopment/

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Common Medications for Dental Pain (Part 1)

The pathophysiology of dental pain is a complex system. The use of combination analgesics that act at multiple pain sites can improve dental pain relief.

The pathophysiology of dental pain is a complex central and peripheral nervous system process, and the use of combination analgesics that act at multiple pain sites can improve dental pain relief. In general, for the treatment of mild to moderate dental pain, the most appropriate options are:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol), 650mg every 4-6 hour as needed for dental pain;
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs (Advil, Motrin, Aleve), 400mg every 4-6 hours as needed for dental pain; and
• COX-2-selective inhibitors, celecoxib (Celebrex) and rofecoxib (Vioxx), 25-50mg per day as needed for dental pain.

Acetaminophen: Acetic acid and p-aminophenol, or APAP-commonly known as acetaminophen-is classified as a nonnarcotic pain reliever. Dentists generally use it for mild to moderate dental pain. It acts as both anti-pain and anti-fever. It has rapid painkiller action. Acetaminophen, unlike nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, has little anti-inflammatory action. It generally is safe for acute dental pain. At very high single doses it causes liver damages.

Acetaminophen’s dose of 500-650 milligrams is good dental pain-reliever. However, such relief is brief, peaking one hour after administration. Significantly more dental pain relief can be provided by acetaminophen’s dose of 1,000 mg. At this dosage, the maximal efficacy of acetaminophen is achieved and last up to four hours after administration. There is no more oral pain relief in dose higher than 1000 mg. Because of this “ceiling-dose” effect, acetaminophen is good shot-term reliever for mild dental pain.

NSAIDs: NSAIDs have been the traditional treatment for moderate dental pain and inflammation. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, ketorolac, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen, diclofenac, aspirin and aspirin derivatives diminish local dental pain. Long-term use of NSAIDs, however, can gastrointestinal distress, bleeding, kidney damages, and cardiovascular problems. Also, NSAIDs have been shown to interact with several high blood pressure drugs, which may compromise blood pressure control. The most common short-term side effects of NSAID usage are upset stomach, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

NSAIDs generally require a higher dose to achieve maximum anti-inflammatory and anti-pain effect. Dosage of 800 mg three times per day may be needed for dental pain. The FDA-recommended daily dose is 2,400 mg. Studies has indicated that no more dental pain reliever is achieved with higher-than-the-recommended dosage. Comparing to acetaminophen, NSAID’s are better pain killer, but they act slower and last about the same time (about 4 hours).

COX-2 NSAIDs: COX-2 NSAIDs were developed to limit NSAID’s adverse effects. The two COX-2-selective inhibitors, celecoxib (Celebrex) and rofecoxib (Vioxx) are characterized by the following:

• less risk of GI ulceration than nonselective NSAIDs;
• similar types of other GI side effects, such as abdominal pain, dyspepsia, diarrhea and nausea;
• lack of effect on platelet function, unlike nonselective NSAIDs;
• renal toxicity similar to that of other NSAIDS;
• generally long duration of action, with once-daily administration for rofecoxib and once- or twice-daily administration for celecoxib.

However, while COX-2 therapy may reduce the risk of GI ulcerations, recent evidence indicates that COX-2 therapy may not reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications (heart attacks). This is the reason why Vioxx is currently taken off the US market.

You may also be interested in:

• My tooth is killing me
• Dental care for babies and infants

For information, visit Houston dentist or contact Dr. Minh Nguyen, DDS, PA. Softdental, the Houston’s Professional Association of Cosmetic Dentists has provided award-winning dental services in Houston since 1993.

By Minh Nguyen Published: 12/18/2006

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Atlanta Spine And Back Pain Treatment At Emory

Many people are afflicted with spine problems. Physicians at the Emory Spine care center understand the challenges patients spinal problems bring to a person’s life. Some people may have trouble just managing simple daily activities because of spinal problems. Spinal problems do not only occur after an specific injury to a patient’s spine; some suffer spinal problems due to everyday wear and tear on the body.
As a national leader, the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center has reinvented orthopaedic and spine health care by bringing all aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation together in one location. Services range from treating simple conditions such as herniated discs and low back or neck pain, to more complex problems such as spinal tumors, scoliosis, and spine fractures.
Low back pain is the most common type of back pain and affects millions of people a year. The Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Center says the good news is the vast majorities of patients with low back pain never require formal treatment and do get better. While there are many causes of back pain, many are due to low back strain of the muscles in the back which help to support the spine. Often rest, ice and later heat can be helpful. Modification of activities and proper body mechanics along with weight reduction are the mainstays of treatment. If these life style changes do not work, anti inflammatory drugs can be helpful for both pain and inflammation.
A more serious cause of back pain may be a result of cervical disc disease. As human beings our cranium and cervical spine produce motion capability that allows humans to have the ability to view the world from many angles. While adaptive, a problem is that a large structure, the head, is placed on our cervical spine, a very small structure. Car accidents and normal aging causes degeneration of the cervical discs in that there is a normal loss of height and water volume.
As the cervical disc becomes less supportive the cervical spinal canal may impinge on the cord itself or nerve roots. An individual may lose extremity motor function, become extremely weak, lose fine motor ability, and have difficulty walking without stumbling. If you think you suffer from this a visit to the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center might be useful.
Another more severe cause of back pain is Scoliosis. This condition can affect both young and old people and is caused by a deviation or curvature of the spine. Generally the cause in most cases is unknown. Curvature may be mild to severe and treatment is varied depending on severity and response to conservative means. If the patient is young, wearing a brace might be helpful in controlling progression. Not all cases are candidates for bracing as this depends on the type and severity of curve. Bracing is used once a patient has severe spine curvature or shows rapid progression in skeletally immature individuals and can make a big difference. While back pain can be caused by many factors, the Emory Spine Center can help you find the reason behind yours.

By: Daniel Coop

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

The writer discusses spinal problems and Low Back Pain Treatment Emory delving into causes of scoliosis and herniated discs Atlanta. Treatment of back pain is offered at the Emory Orthopaedic and Spine center where doctors treat an array of problems from herniated discs to spinal tumors or spinal fractures.

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Spinal Decompression: A Sigh Of Relief From Back Pain

Spinal Decompression Is An Antidote To Back Pain

Today, there’s new hope for sufferers of chronic neck and back pain due to sciatica, herniated or bulging discs, and degenerative disc disease. A recently developed procedure, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, offers patients a chance of resuming a normal life, without medications or surgery . Since back injury with resulting back pain tops Workmen’s Comp injury list and emerges as the main culprit for disability under 45, news of a new treatment is most welcome.

Sometimes the cause of pain is obvious: a back injury from a car accident, a fall, or some form of trauma. Back or neck pain strikes more casualties since it could be the result of long time iterative stress arising from occupation, improper spinal posture, aging and fast deterioration of spinal condition. The cervical spine of the neck and the lumbar spine of the lower back are most commonly injured.

What Causes Back Pain?

To understand how Spinal Decompression relieves pain, you first must understand what causes the pain. The spinal column is composed of 25 vertebrae and between each are intervertebral discs which act as shock absorbing shields, and allowing the spine to bend, twist and turn. Healthy discs are tough cartilage pads that are thick, flexible and contain an inner jelly-like substance. Discs compress when pressure is put upon them and are similar to a sponge; when you squeeze it, the water is forced out of the sponge. When the pressure is removed, the sponge ’sucks the water’ back into it.

The process begins when the jelly-like material within the disc, is compressed, bulges out, causing pressure on a spinal nerve, interfering with the normal blood supply. If it ruptures or tears it becomes a herniated disc often known as a ’slipped disc’, ruptured disc or ‘blown out disc’. As it is deprived of nutrients and oxygen over time, the unhealthy disc flattens, becoming stiff and hard just like a dry sponge, leading to degenerative disc disease.

Disc pressure on the spinal nerve can lead to back or leg pain, most often characterized by numbness and tingling called Sciatica. This excruciating pain which can also affect the thigh to the lower leg and foot can surface unexpectedly. Often referred to as a ‘pinched nerve’, the pain can be acute, prolonged and debilitating, often with muscle weakness. In the case of cervical spine injuries, the same symptoms persist except that numbness and tingling are experienced in the arms. The bottom line is that these disorders can lead to severe, nagging chronic low back or neck pain.

The Theory Surrounding Spinal Decompression

Standard treatments include physical/chiropractic therapy, epidural injections, (an injection into the epidural space of the spinal cord), treatment with NSAIDs,(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). If unsuccessful, surgery is often recommended. Based on statistical information, back surgery is the second most popular ailment which warrants surgical procedure. Results are not always spectacular and some patients have even more post-surgical difficulties.

Spinal Decompression Therapy utilizes a machine that applies FDA approved medical technology to gently stretch the spine, gradually reducing the pressure on the affected discs by slowly drawing the vertebrae apart. This decompression of the disc creates a negative pressure causing a vacuum effect, reducing the size of the herniation. Similar to the way a dry sponge sucks up water, the jelly-like substance is drawn back into the disc, decreasing pressure on the nerve root and relieving pain and numbness. Nutrients are drawn into the disc, helping it heal and return to its normal size. The vertebral height is increased to allow more space for the disc as compression is relieved.

The treatment procedure requires the patient to wear a strap properly wrapped around the pelvis and chest. He lies on a special table, operated by a computerized program specifically developed to treat his spinal disorder. Each treatment lasts 20 to 45 minutes and most patients report no discomfort; while many find their symptoms decreasing after only a few sessions. The average length of treatment is 5 days a week for 4 to 6 weeks.

Therapy may also include ultrasound treatments, electric stimulation, hot or cold packs to the affected area plus a specific exercise program. Patients are encouraged to take in at least gallon of fluid daily and use nutritional supplements to help re-nourish and hydrate the damaged discs. In terms of insurance coverage, this is on a case to case basis.

Non-surgical Spinal Decompression is not applicable to certain conditions like severe osteoporosis, myelitis, anlylosing spondylitis, fracture, surgical procedures where there are metal implants such as screws or rods, cancer and spinal tumors. For others, this treatment offers new hope of relief from chronic, disabling pain.

By: Blaise Breton

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

It is estimated that back pain afflicts over 31 million Americans and is the number one cause of activity limitation in young adults. Learn how you can avoid back surgery with non-surgical spinal decompression. Visit www.usspinecare.com.

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