This last week or so Doylestown Sports Medicine Center has been flooded with people suffering from back pain.
But not just any type of back pain – the most severe of all in my humble opinion, “sciatica”.
There’s only one word to describe the pain that people suffer at the hands of sciatica and that’s “horrendous”!
In case you’re not familiar with what Sciatica is – you’d recognize it by having a severe pain running right down the back of your leg and into your toes.
But not just any type of back pain – the most severe of all in my humble opinion, “sciatica”.
There’s only one word to describe the pain that people suffer at the hands of sciatica and that’s “horrendous”!
In case you’re not familiar with what Sciatica is – you’d recognize it by having a severe pain running right down the back of your leg and into your toes.
Common Cause of Sciatica
Sciatica is often made much worse when you sit.
And there’s the real, true, underlying cause of most people’s trouble: sitting.
How much sitting have you been doing lately?
Winter is the time of the year when you’re more tempted than ever not to go outside and exercise.
When the wind blows and the ice is on the ground, it often IS sensible to stay indoors and just cabin up.
But the problem is increasing the sitting that you do, which adds pressure to your back and sciatic nerve, eventually, a disc at the bottom of your back will give up and the fluid inside it touches the nerve which runs down your leg – AKA sciatica.
And there’s the real, true, underlying cause of most people’s trouble: sitting.
How much sitting have you been doing lately?
Winter is the time of the year when you’re more tempted than ever not to go outside and exercise.
When the wind blows and the ice is on the ground, it often IS sensible to stay indoors and just cabin up.
But the problem is increasing the sitting that you do, which adds pressure to your back and sciatic nerve, eventually, a disc at the bottom of your back will give up and the fluid inside it touches the nerve which runs down your leg – AKA sciatica.
Symptoms of Sciatica
It can cause pins and needles in your foot, numbness, and a cold sensation as well as the pain – and unfortunately, it’s often so painful that nothing in the way of medication – Morphine included, can ease it.
And despite what a few town’s primary care providers seem to think these days, there are things that can be done other than rest and painkillers, just hoping for it to go.
And despite what a few town’s primary care providers seem to think these days, there are things that can be done other than rest and painkillers, just hoping for it to go.
How To Decrease Sciatica Pain
Physical therapy can help. It often makes it worse before it gets better – but it does get better. Specific exercises are needed too. Again, they are painful at first, but if you persist, the pain begins to drop.
Limiting the amount of time you spend sitting can help too. And there’s something to note – a lot of patients sitting in DSMC’s waiting room with back pain and they tell us that “sitting doesn’t make it worse” – but what they’re doing is sitting in a modified or slouched way that means they’re just avoiding the pain – making the whole thing last longer and often leaving the person with an awkward looking posture long after the back trouble has gone.
Limiting the amount of time you spend sitting can help too. And there’s something to note – a lot of patients sitting in DSMC’s waiting room with back pain and they tell us that “sitting doesn’t make it worse” – but what they’re doing is sitting in a modified or slouched way that means they’re just avoiding the pain – making the whole thing last longer and often leaving the person with an awkward looking posture long after the back trouble has gone.
To Sum Things Up
Sciatica is a painful and life limiting condition. But, unless you’re in the small 5% of people who nothing can be done other than surgery, there ARE things you can do. And our clinicians think what is best understand about sciatica is that often when you’re trying to make sciatica better in the long run, an increase in pain in the short run is normal. Not nice. But par for the course!
And in the end, will mean for a much more speedy return to better health than sitting and praying for time, popping more and more painkillers!
And in the end, will mean for a much more speedy return to better health than sitting and praying for time, popping more and more painkillers!
More Natural Ways to Solve Sciatica Pain
For more back pain tips, download a copy of our FREE back pain report and discover “11 Quick and Easy Ways to Ease Nagging Back Pain from Disrupting Your Day!”
Click Here to Download Your FREE Back Pain Report
Or to read more of our back pain related blogs.
Click Here to Read More Back Pain Blogs
Or if you are in pain right now, and want more than free health tips, arrange a FREE back pain consultation where you can speak to a member of our physical therapy team.
Click Here to Arrange Your Free Back Pain Consultation
Read Our Blog – Why it's Vital to Keep Active Winter, and Tips to Make it Easier
Read Our Blog – 6 Types of Exercise to Improve Your Mobility
Read Our Blog – 5 Ways to Decrease Lower Back Pain in Winter
Click Here to Download Your FREE Back Pain Report
Or to read more of our back pain related blogs.
Click Here to Read More Back Pain Blogs
Or if you are in pain right now, and want more than free health tips, arrange a FREE back pain consultation where you can speak to a member of our physical therapy team.
Click Here to Arrange Your Free Back Pain Consultation
Read Our Blog – Why it's Vital to Keep Active Winter, and Tips to Make it Easier
Read Our Blog – 6 Types of Exercise to Improve Your Mobility
Read Our Blog – 5 Ways to Decrease Lower Back Pain in Winter
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