Relieving Sciatica With Exercises And Self-Treatment

Sciatica can often be treated with exercises and other self-treatment methods as, or even more effectively as with medication, spinal injections, and other doctor-administered treatments.  This is especially true with regards to getting long-term results, since medications and other treatments tend to simply cover up symptoms, rather than help to heal the underlying causes of sciatica, such as disc herniations and abnormal 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. 

Nearly identical in symptoms to true sciatica is a condition known a piriformis syndrome or “pseudo-sciatica”.  This is caused by contraction of a muscle in the lower buttock region, the piriformis, which runs from the sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine that makes up the back part of the pelvis) to the hip.  In some cases, the piriformis contraction may produce compression of the sciatic nerve, but the muscle itself can cause “referred pain” (similar to the arm pain that often accompanies a heart attack) that mimics sciatica. 

True sciatica and piriformis syndrome can both be relieved with exercises and other self-treatment measures in the vast majority of cases.  One simple set of techniques is the McKenizie exercises, originally developed by physical therapist Robin McKenizie.  McKenzie method uses a simple evaluation system to determine the best “exercise” – really just a position, to best help a given individual.  While sometimes called “McKenzie Extension” exercises, because most disc-related pain responds best to spinal extension, not all McKenizie exercises involve extension.  The initial testing process determines the specific position/exercise that is best for a given individual. 

Piriformis syndrome can be treated with stretching and massaging of the piriformis muscle.  To stretch the piriformis, bend the knee and slowly but firmly pull the knee to the chest, then pull it towards the opposite shoulder (for example, if you are stretching the right piriformis, pull the right knee toward the left shoulder).  When stretching, be sure to apply steady pressure, as opposed to frequently pulling and releasing, or “bouncing” the stretch.  To massage the piriformis, make a fist and press firmly into the muscles in the lower buttock area.  When you find a tight, tender spot, hold pressure on it and gradually apply more pressure as it releases.

While there are other sciatica self treatment methods besides exercises,one of the most effective home remedies for disc related sciatica is the use of ice packs to reduce inflammation.  While anti-inflammatory medication does help in many cases, ice can be far more effective and does not cause the side-effects that are common with the drugs.  It is best to separate an ice pack from the skin with a thin layer of cloth, or a thin towel, in order to prevent frost bite of the skin.  For best effect in treating disc-related sciatica, the cold packs should be placed on the lower back so that the pack extends at least one inch below the waistline.  To get maximum effects, apply the ice pack for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time, then remove the pack and allow the skin to return to normal temperature before applying ice again.  When in doubt, allow about 2 hours between applications of ice packs. 

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. 

 

Joint Pain Can Be Reduced Find Out How You Can Reduce Your Joint Pain And Be More Mobile

You reach your 50s and it should be the best time of your life, the children are grown up, you have less ties, you’re not old yet but you’re not that young either. Having trouble getting out of the chair, feeling stiff? suddenly you realise that for the next 30 years you might not be so mobile after all.

You might have arthritis, which affects people of all races, social levels, geographic areas and gender. Arthritis symptoms are pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, Osteoarthritis is the most common type which affects the knees.

You will probably have heard about arthritis and associated it with older people with lots of aches and pains. There are many things about arthritis, however, that make it a unique, and yes, painful disease. Arthritis is not only confined to the old, it can affect people of all ages including children.

It’s down to wear and tear and as the protective cartilage is worn away bare bone is then exposed within the joint, causing pain and swelling. It is refered to as wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative joint disease.

It is important to seek a Professional diagnosis, Rheumatologists and physicians who diagnose and treat arthritis and related conditions, use a variety of diagnostic techniques. The doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and medical history to learn about any family history of arthritis.

Arthritis Care

You should take regular exercise as this helps to strengthen muscles and maintain joint mobility, not easy if you find it hard to get around. An easier form of exercise is swimming, as it takes the strain off the muscles and joints, strengthening them at the same time.

Physical therapy programs are another option, these should be tailored to your age level and the degree of mobility that you have. Take a hot shower before exercise and apply ice packs to muscles and joints to minimize any discomfort related to exercise.

You should get at least eight hours sleep at night, to help your arthritis, and your rheumatologist might advise you to use a splint, sling or cane, and or special footwear to rest the affected joints during the day.

Try a natural formula designed to shield your joints from the trials and results of working hard and playing hard and painful arthritic joints.

 

SLM Back Pain & Sciatica Program

Product Review – SLM Back Pain & Sciatica Program

If you are an individual that has suffered lower back muscle pain then this combination program may be what you are looking for. Steve Lockhart is a muscle therapist and back pain specialist, including lower back muscle pain specialist with over 20 years experience. He has had enormous success treating every known back condition, using a a relatively unknown but effective therapy method called SLM Bodywork.

SLM Bodywork is not for all intensive purposes considered a a fix for lower back muscle back pain, but more of an ancient system that has proven itself over time. Steve has been one of the lucky few people in the world to be taught the ancient art of bodywork by John Guttenbiel who in SLM circles is considered a true master.Growing up on an Island in Tonga, John Guttenbiel was trained by a Japanese man on the Island.

Most underlying problems for back pain are usually related to muscle imbalance. The SLM program helps individuals to understand the issues of these underlying problems and helps to teach them how to correct them.

The combined SLM program teachings include some of the following:

  • Self diagnosis’s  of your own back condition and exactly which approaches will provide the best chance of fixing it. 
  • What therapies won’t help your pain and why – (This alone can save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary costs.) 
  • Some of the exercises you should be doing and which ones you should avoid for the best results. 
  • When and how you should do particular exercises to maximise their benefit. Useful information such as how you can spend one hour in front of TV in the evening to ensure a good nights sleep. 
  • An understanding about your body and back pain that you are unlikely to get from a Doctor or conventional therapist. 
  • Certain aspects of your lifestyle that may be worth addressing to minimize any pain you do get. 

To help your lower back muscle pain and find out more about this amazing program Click Here! I highly recommend having a look at Steve Lochart’s site and finding out more for yourself, don’t miss this great opportunity to rid yourself of lower back muscle pain! You can get more information on all types of back pain visit Your Back Health.

Flat Feet and Foot Pain is Common and Painful, but Can be Treated

About 20 percent of adults have flat feet. Flat feet don’t cause disabilities or other problems as long as the foot is supple and the heel cord, or Achilles tendon, isn’t tight. This is called flexible flat foot. A supple foot looks flat when the child stands on the whole foot — referred to as the “loaded” position — but an arch develops when the person gets off the foot (in the “unloaded” position) and when he or she stands on the toes. If the heel cord can be bent up at the ankle more than 15 degrees from the perpendicular to the leg, it is not considered tight. Rigid Flat Foot — This is when the foot is flat in all positions, regardless of whether it is loaded, unloaded or the child stands on his or her toes. Flat Foot With a Tight Heel Cord — This is when the foot is unable to be bent back at the angle more than 15 degrees due to the calf muscles, which form the Achilles tendon, being contracted. Symptoms include pain, calluses, or redness. Go to pain orthotics for more information.

OTHER FOOT PAIN

What are the general causes of foot pain?

Nearly all causes of foot pain can be categorized under one or more of the following conditions.

1. Shoes: The causes of most foot pain are poorly fitting shoes. High-heeled shoes concentrate pressure on the toes and are major culprits for aggravating, if not causing, problems with the toes.

2. Temporary Changes in Foot Size and Shape: Temperature, and therefore weather, affects the feet: they contract with cold and expand with heat. Feet can change shape and increase in size by as much as 5% depending on whether a person is walking, sitting, or standing.

3. Poor Posture: Improper walking due to poor posture can cause foot pain.

4. Medical Conditions: Any medical condition that causes imbalance or poor circulation can contribute to foot pain.

5. Inherited Conditions: Inherited abnormalities in the back, legs, or feet can cause pain. For example, commonly one leg is shorter than the other, causing an imbalance. Refer to pain orthotics for more information.

6. High-Impact Exercising: High-impact exercising, such as jogging or strenuous aerobics, can injure the feet. Common injuries include corns, calluses, blisters, muscle cramps, acute knee and ankle injuries, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsalgia.

7. Industrial Cumulative Stress: Because of the effects of work-related repetitive stress on the hand, there has been considerable interest in the effect of work-stress on foot pain. According to one 2000 analysis, there is very little evidence for any significant impact of work on various foot disorders, including hallux valgus, neuroma, tarsal tunnel syndrome, toe deformity, heel pain, adult acquired flatfoot, or foot and ankle osteoarthritis. In general, the foot is designed for repetitive stress and few jobs pose the same stress on the feet as many do on the hands. Nevertheless, certain professions, such as police work, are associated with significant foot pain. More research is needed.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAUSING FOOT PAIN

1. Arthritic Conditions: Arthritic conditions, particularly osteoarthritis and gout, can cause foot pain. Although rheumatoid arthritis almost always develops in the hand, the ball of the foot can also be affected.
2. Diabetes: Diabetes is an important cause of serious foot disorders.
3. Diseases that affect muscle and motor control: Diseases that affect muscle and motor control, such as Parkinson’s disease, can cause foot problems.
4. High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure can cause fluid build-up and swollen feet. The effects of high blood pressure on the nervous and circulatory systems can cause pain, loss of sensation, and tingling in the feet, and can increase the susceptibility for infection and foot ulcers.
5. Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis, in which bone loss occurs, can cause foot pain.
6. Pregnancy: Pregnancy can cause fluid build-up and swollen feet. The increased weight and imbalance of pregnancy contributes to foot stress.
7. Other Diseases: Diseases that affect the nervous and circulatory systems, such as anorexia, can cause pain, loss of sensation, and tingling in the feet, as well as increase the susceptibility for infection and foot ulcers. A number of conditions, including heart failure, kidney disease, and hypothyroidism, can cause fluid build-up and swollen feet.
8. Medications: Some medications, such as calcitonin and drugs used for high blood pressure, can cause foot swelling. Visit Prefabricated orthotics for ball of foot pain for further information.

Lower Right Back Pain – And how it helps you

From all stretches of the world people are fed up with their back pain problems. It does not matter which country you live in. If you go to see their medical doctors, you’d here from their own physicians the endless complaints patients have with the chronic back pain.
lower right back pain
It does not have to be this way. If you have lower left back pain or any type of back pain, you should not accept it. You must be empowered enough to make a change.

This being said, do you know what other condition gets aggravated by back pain?
lower right back pain
If you guessed depression you were right. You can continue reading this piece. If you guessed something else, you can go play with your sons XBox video game or something else.

Okay, around the United States, employers are banned from asking potential employees if they have any health care challenges. For some time now, the laws in the U.S. forbade this practice because thousands of employers would avoid John Doe. John does not exist, but he is real. He was laid off from his automotive factory job. And while he figured that he wouldn’t be going back to work anytime soon, he decided to get himself injured. Of course it was his back.
back pain medication
Since he was able to do this before his lay off date came and was activated, he submitted a claim to collect monies for workers disability and such.

This little story illustrates the challenges millions of people have. It is almost impossible to determine if someone is faking an injury. To do, I know you wouldn’t be so sinister, evil and downright low down. But thousands of people do submit and carry on these bogus claims.

Living a pain free life with back problems is not as easy as we once thought. The first step on the road to recovery should be to see your physician. Once you see your doctor she will probably run you through a thorough history of your medical condition, and give you several tests.

The tests could include but are not limited to a complete blood test, a urine test, and an x-ray. These tests will give her a broad picture of your overall health. It will also potentially rule out any internal condition that may be causing your lower left back pain.

In determining the type of back pain you suffer from you’ll be able to go on to various treatment classes. The types of back pain are often described by their direction of discomfort. For instance lower left back pain, lower back pain (lumbar region) and lower right back pain are all possibilities. Then you also have back pain in the shoulder blade area.

Your doctor will do her best work if you work together with her as a team. Because in reality you are a team. She needs you to take an active role in getting well. If she suggests something and it does not work for you, tell her. Many people believe that they cannot approach their doctor with these issues, such as treatments that don’t work or cause you more adverse events than having the back pain would alone. In the end it is your body and you will be left with the outcome of any positive or negative experiences. You should implement a good strong relationship with your provider to get the best care possible.

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