Tuesday, May 21, 2013
How to Treat a Pinched Sciatic Nerve
How to Treat a Pinched Sciatic Nerve
What does it mean to have a pinched nerve? What does it feel like? There are many ways that people describe this pain, a shooting, burning pain, an electrical shock. No matter what words you choose, the bottom line is this
This pain stinks
When the pinched nerve is the sciatic nerve, the pain becomes an even bigger problem. One of your most sensitive nerves is literally being pinched. Sciatica pain can also be described as a shooting, burning pain
It is like both of these conditions have joined forces against you.
So what are you supposed to do? The pain is enough that you barely make it through the day, if you can get through the day at all. Where does it end
Taking some form of ibuprofen to relieve the pain is great. Ice is equally as great. Both will give you relief and that is a good thing.
But that relief is still only a temporary fix. And you will find yourself in pain again. It starts to seem like a never ending cycle. Take the pills, use the ice. Pills wear off, take more pills, get more ice.
That is no way to live
And you should not live this way
I am not big on spending money, I feel that there is almost always a natural alternative to dealing with pain. But sometimes it is well worth spending money to find some type of real relief
Many people are learning how to treat a pinched sciatic nerve with seated massage therapy. While this is most likely not covered by your insurance, the benefits of doing this once a week are well worth the price
This is hard to deal with, you wonder if the pain will ever go away. It doesn't have to be like this
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3721065
Spinal Decompression, Pinched Nerves, and Treating Lower and Upper Back Pain
Spinal Decompression, Pinched Nerves, and Treating Lower and Upper Back Pain
When people think of back pain, they often dread having to deal with incurable discomfort for the rest of their lives, having trouble getting up from a chair and forcing their bodies into strange positions in order to get into and out of their car. A life of back pain may be a life spent lying down and sleeping most of the day, trying to escape from having to perform any of the numerous movements that can cause a twinge in the back or a pinching of the nerve that can lead to not being able to walk at all for hours or days
And surgery to fix back pain issues is usually ineffective or, even worse, counterproductive. Modern science can fix a lot of issues on the front of the body, from taking out an appendix to removing entire sections of the intestines and stitching them back together. But when it comes to the back and the spinal column, many doctors and hospitals are ill-equipped to handle chronic spine pain issues. Thankfully, new methods and technology have been developed outside of the traditional medical care industry to address such problems
One relatively new method that is being used effectively in the treatment of back pain and pinched nerves in the spinal column is called spinal decompression therapy. The treatment is designed to relieve pressure on the joints of the spine and the nerves, while releasing any pinching of the nerves throughout the spinal column. The method that this type of therapy uses is traction, and it can be used to address such issues as degenerative, bulging, and herniated discs. Even sciatica or leg pain can be treated with spinal decompression
The main draw of the procedure for many back pain sufferers is that spinal decompression does not involve invasive surgery, injections, or large amounts of drugs. Instead, it uses decompression and relaxation cycles over a period of about a half hour to promote healing of the nerves and joints of the spine. Typically, there are fifteen cycles that alternate, which is how the procedure gets to about thirty total minutes of treatment time. Several sessions are done over time to further the healing processes of the body
The point of the procedure is to reduce the pressure on the discs while allowing the body to deliver nutrients and water to the area. A suctioning or vacuum-like effect is observed during spinal decompression, and it is theorized that this is what allows nutrients to enter into the area being worked on, and which also promotes healing of the disc and nerve. This can be especially important for people suffering low back pain, as the spinal discs usually receive poor circulation to begin with
Thus far, there is relatively little research discussing the effectiveness of spinal decompression for treating back pain. Although some studies have been done indicating that the treatment can reduce chronic back pain, more research will need to be done to discover just how effective it is. However, testimonials and the great demand of the therapy indicate that the general public, at least, is quickly becoming convinced of the effectiveness of spinal decompression in treating lower back pain and pinched nerves in the spine
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5078161
Monday, May 20, 2013
A Pinched Nerve May Be the Culprit Behind Your Back Pain
A Pinched Nerve May Be the Culprit Behind Your Back Pain
Some people endure terrible back pain for many years without really knowing the reason why. People try exercises, medicines, and even change their posture, but yet they still have no luck. People buy car seat support for their automobiles, spend thousands of dollars on ergonomic chairs or even get expensive massages, but yet they still have back pain. Many people just don't realize that they might have nerve problems in their back commonly caused from a trapped or pinched nerve. Usually a doctor or chiropractor can identify this problem quickly, usually in only one examination
People who experience pinched nerve pain, sometimes do not even have a pinched nerve at all, but may be suffering from more serious nerve injuries. The pinched nerve feeling they're having could very well be caused by the nerve being inhibited in some way from its normal function. It may be constricted, compressed or even stretched causing further damage to the surrounding nerves and tissues. Sometimes this can be caused because of the surrounding tissues and bones putting pressure on the nerves. Sometimes it's the other way around. However, when this is the case the problem will only intensify if further left untreated, and should be dealt with as soon as possible
Back pain, in general, can be very hard to diagnose accurately, due to the fact that people experience back pain in different ways. Some people experience short and often unpredicted tweaks to their back, while some endure constant nagging pain. Others might have regular spasms which can lock your back, while others might experience a stinging feeling or even numbness. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms the best thing to do is to go see a chiropractor, so you can get properly diagnosed
There can be a long list of causes and reasons for back pain, including bad posture, having poorly made furniture, to serious nerve injuries. However, as long as the list is of symptoms of back pain, there is an equally long list of treatments and cures. You don't have to suffer from back pain, forever; the sooner you take action the sooner your back pain will be a distant memory. The most important thing you can do is to get your back looked at by a professional chiropractor, so he can diagnose the problem and begin treating it immediately
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3049765
How to Fight Back Pain and Pinched Nerve Pain & Make it Completely Go Away
How to Fight Back Pain and Pinched Nerve Pain & Make it Completely Go Away
I bet you're one of us... people that no matter how hard you try sit with terrible posture, sit all day long, slouch on the couch, wake up with stiffness, and so many other issues that plague us. It's a simple fact that the majority of people (I personally think everybody) suffers from major posture problems that cause nerves to be pinched and pain to be felt
However, there are things you can do that will help you fight back and more or less cure this problem from every happening again
One thing that you should never do is begin popping the pain relief pills and taking other drugs that just mask the issue at hand. It's OK to take these if you're actually going to do something to cure the problem, but you need to make sure you do something. Many people will just take drugs to help with the pain and never do anything extra to actually get rid of the problem
Another popular method of fighting the issue of pain is to go to a chiropractor, get some acupuncture, or a physical therapist... even a personal trainer. All of these are great options and you should seriously consider them. Some actually work great together
For example, going to a chiropractor is usually a good idea just to have a professional look at the problem and diagnose some of the issues. On of the major things that can cure a lot of your issues with exercise and working out. So finding a trusted personal trainer can help build a stronger body and muscle system that will usually fix many problems you might be facing
However, there is also a third way to help your body fix these problems you're facing and that is to do it yourself and do it naturally. When you take this approach it is always a good thing to start with something that is very low risk and low impact. For example, many people find that simply riding a bike can help heal sciatic pain that comes from the lower back
Other things that people do to really help are yoga and pilates. Both of these are extremely closely related to a fitness program, but they work. In fact a good flexibility program, taken slowly, can really help relieve tons of stress in the lower back and it's been proven to help heal pinched nerves over time
There are also some great ergonomic books on the market that you can purchase. These books have very simple exercises that only take 10 minutes a day, but if you do them for a month or more, you can completely cure many alignment and pinched nerve problems
As you can see there are many ways to attack the issue of pinched nerves. The important thing is to cure the problem and not just mask it over by taking pain drugs. You don't want the problem to get worse and then later down the road have to deal with something like surgery or worse
Jim is a personal trainer and helps people all the time who suffer from many pains. He realizes that seeing a doctor or chiropractor will probably be your first best step, but doing so will help when you want to permanently fix the problem
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3361594
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Pinched Nerves - How to Determine If You Have One
Pinched Nerves - How to Determine If You Have One
Sciatica, everyone has probably heard of it but do you know what it really is? Most might say that it's a pain you get in your leg but do you know where it comes from? What confuses a lot of people and even doctors is that sciatica is not a diagnosis, I repeat that sciatica is NOT a diagnosis, in fact there are 10 reasons at least as to why you can get sciatica, so if you go to your doctor and they give you that diagnosis and hand you a pill, get them to think again. Sciatica by definition is pain experienced in the distribution of the sciatic nerve, the sciatic nerve consists of 5 nerves exiting your lower lumber (back) area and exiting your sacrum (pelvic area), these nerves join as one and is called the sciatic nerve. This runs down the back of your leg to your ankle and sometimes affects the sole of your foot. The sciatic nerve feels sensations and allows you to move the muscles in your leg. Sciatica is a symptom rather then the cause
Here is a list of the 10 causes of sciatica pain:
Sacroiliitis - an inflammatory process within the sacroiliac joint (pelvis) can be due to infection, sprain of the joint (misalignment), or an arthritic condition
Iliolumber Syndrome - inflammation or sprain of the iliolumber ligament, a big ligament that runs across the top of your pelvis used for bending and twisting
Quadratus Lumborum Syndrome - heard of the QL muscle, this is a muscle in your lower back; it can get tight and painful and refer pain down your leg
Trochanteric Bursitis - the bursa at the upper side of your leg is inflamed
Ischialgluteal Bursitis - inflammation of the bursa in your buttock, when you sit it is aggravated
Posterior Facet Syndrome - facet joints are a part of your vertebra, they can be misaligned or degenerated
Meralgia Paraesthetica - a nerve entrapped that passes through your hip flexor muscle within your pelvic area, can be due to pregnancy, tumours and infection
Disc Herniation - also known as a prolapsed disc or bulging disc these days, when you injure a disc in your lower back due to strain or misalignment
Lateral Canal Stenosis Syndrome - degeneration or arthritis where the nerve passes through the spine causing symptoms
Myofascial Syndromes - when muscles are tight around the lower back and pelvic area they can cause referring pain.
You can have one of those conditions occurring or you can have 3-4 at once occurring but until you get a proper diagnosis of your condition and the primary cause discovered you will not get better. Sciatica occurs when the function of the nerve is affected, weakness, numbness or pins and needles can be present in the legs with or without lower back pain. Certain treatments are affective with sciatica, such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage. What is also important is giving your body the nutrients it needs for tight muscles, inflammation and arthritic conditions, those include
- Calcium and magnesium, a good mineral supplement with calcium and magnesium restores the balance back in your muscles and relaxes them, also prevents cramping.
- Fatty acids, a good fat supplement such as flax seed oil or a fish oil supplement is good for your joints and bones helping arthritis and joint problems
- Glucoseamine has been shown to help with arthritic conditions I also use it in my clinic to get stability within the ligaments and joints.
Lifestyle changes are necessary to help the condition and to prevent recurrence, such as stretching and exercises. First, get the problem professionally diagnosed, take supplements to support the condition and make changes in your lifestyle
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6459691
Sciatica, everyone has probably heard of it but do you know what it really is? Most might say that it's a pain you get in your leg but do you know where it comes from? What confuses a lot of people and even doctors is that sciatica is not a diagnosis, I repeat that sciatica is NOT a diagnosis, in fact there are 10 reasons at least as to why you can get sciatica, so if you go to your doctor and they give you that diagnosis and hand you a pill, get them to think again. Sciatica by definition is pain experienced in the distribution of the sciatic nerve, the sciatic nerve consists of 5 nerves exiting your lower lumber (back) area and exiting your sacrum (pelvic area), these nerves join as one and is called the sciatic nerve. This runs down the back of your leg to your ankle and sometimes affects the sole of your foot. The sciatic nerve feels sensations and allows you to move the muscles in your leg. Sciatica is a symptom rather then the cause
Here is a list of the 10 causes of sciatica pain:
Sacroiliitis - an inflammatory process within the sacroiliac joint (pelvis) can be due to infection, sprain of the joint (misalignment), or an arthritic condition
Iliolumber Syndrome - inflammation or sprain of the iliolumber ligament, a big ligament that runs across the top of your pelvis used for bending and twisting
Quadratus Lumborum Syndrome - heard of the QL muscle, this is a muscle in your lower back; it can get tight and painful and refer pain down your leg
Trochanteric Bursitis - the bursa at the upper side of your leg is inflamed
Ischialgluteal Bursitis - inflammation of the bursa in your buttock, when you sit it is aggravated
Posterior Facet Syndrome - facet joints are a part of your vertebra, they can be misaligned or degenerated
Meralgia Paraesthetica - a nerve entrapped that passes through your hip flexor muscle within your pelvic area, can be due to pregnancy, tumours and infection
Disc Herniation - also known as a prolapsed disc or bulging disc these days, when you injure a disc in your lower back due to strain or misalignment
Lateral Canal Stenosis Syndrome - degeneration or arthritis where the nerve passes through the spine causing symptoms
Myofascial Syndromes - when muscles are tight around the lower back and pelvic area they can cause referring pain.
You can have one of those conditions occurring or you can have 3-4 at once occurring but until you get a proper diagnosis of your condition and the primary cause discovered you will not get better. Sciatica occurs when the function of the nerve is affected, weakness, numbness or pins and needles can be present in the legs with or without lower back pain. Certain treatments are affective with sciatica, such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage. What is also important is giving your body the nutrients it needs for tight muscles, inflammation and arthritic conditions, those include
- Calcium and magnesium, a good mineral supplement with calcium and magnesium restores the balance back in your muscles and relaxes them, also prevents cramping.
- Fatty acids, a good fat supplement such as flax seed oil or a fish oil supplement is good for your joints and bones helping arthritis and joint problems
- Glucoseamine has been shown to help with arthritic conditions I also use it in my clinic to get stability within the ligaments and joints.
Lifestyle changes are necessary to help the condition and to prevent recurrence, such as stretching and exercises. First, get the problem professionally diagnosed, take supplements to support the condition and make changes in your lifestyle
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6459691
Techniques For Reducing Pinched Nerve Treatments In The Winter
Techniques For Reducing Pinched Nerve Treatments In The Winter
Once more, the cold cold months of winter are here. Most of us decide to hibernate during this time, since our absolute favorite outdoor activities tend to be more challenging to participate in. Some of us can be driven to stay energetic by means of jogging, biking, snowboarding, winter hiking, etc., and putting on more layers to do the activities we enjoy. I have recognized, during my ten years in practice, that there is a rise in the number of people entering the office this time of year, complaining of serious pain connected with pinched nerves
The spine is made of individual spinal vertebrae and houses the spinal cord. The spinal cord stretches to every organ and system of the body by using a network of nerves leaving the vertebrae or bones of the spine. These vertebrae can easily turn and alter their placement resulting in pinching of the nerves of the body. This may result in soreness, feeling numb, tingling, a decrease of strength, along with a decrease of function. Other methods that nerves might pinch is simply by pressure from a spinal disc, also known as a herniated disc, as well as pressure coming from soft tissues which include muscle, ligament, or tendon. The most typical parts of the spine to get a pinched nerve is in the lower cervical spine, in the neck, especially at the fifth, sixth, or seventh cervical vertebrae
A lot of men and women with cervical pinched nerves can have pain in the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, any area of the arm, the wrist, and normally may have numbness or tingling in the fingers. A person may have any just one of these types of symptoms. I have several patients with a pinching of the nerves in their neck that only have discomfort inside their shoulder, pain in the wrist, occasionally confused with carpal tunnel syndrome, or even just numbness and tingling in their fingers, and they are unsure where the cause of the problem is originating from. They may have no neck pain or neck immobility but the reason for the difficulty is actually coming from the spine, as this is the location where the nerve begins. Easy orthopedic tests, and dermatome, each vertebrae is associated with a certain skin area where pain or numbness and tingling exists, tests can establish which vertebrae should be remedied to eliminate the pressure off the nerve
Another popular area for a pinched nerve in the spine is in the lumbar spine, in the lower back, mainly the third, fourth, and fifth lumbar vertebrae. The most typical pinched nerve in this region of the spine is sometimes referred to as sciatica if it necessitates the sciatic nerve. The fourth lumbar is the origin of the sciatic nerve. With regards to this impingement, a patient might have pain just in the back of the leg, it can be shooting, sharp, as well as burning. They can have pain simply in the buttocks, or pain just in the foot or ankle. Just like in the neck they might not have any discomfort in the low back. Many of these people are convinced there is a leg or foot issue, when the reason for the problem is actually coming from much higher up in the spine
The frigid winter months cause our muscles, tendons, and ligaments to be tighter than in the hotter temperatures. Envision our muscles, tendons, and ligaments similar to rubber. Rubber stretches more when in warmer temperatures, but loses elasticity in the colder weather. This is the same way the soft tissues of our body work. So, in the wintry temperature months our muscles, tendons, and ligaments will not be stretching out as a lot and are basically pulling somewhat harder on the vertebrae of the spine. This might lead to a vertebrae going out of alignment and triggering a pinching of a nerve
Preventing Pinched Nerves
The most beneficial injury and pinched nerve prevention, when you are engaging in a task in winter months, would be to do a very delicate warm up. For about 10 minutes before you participate in the activity mimic the movements that you do in your activity. For example mild running, twisting, throwing, lifting, and this really should be at about 10 to 15 percent of your maximum output. This will increase blood flow to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, allowing them to be more flexible and shock absorber ready
Proper stretching after the warm-up, and then again after the exercise is key for attaining optimum injury prevention and hopefully protecting against pinched nerves. The issue is that stretching out is frequently carried out improperly. The majority of people extend too much and too rapidly. Stretches must be mild, and produce a relaxing sensation of gentle stretch or tension. There should be no pain, discomfort, or bouncing movements. The stretch should be kept for around thirty seconds, but no less than twenty. Stretching too strongly, or for less than twenty seconds might trigger a stretch response which could actually cause the muscle to tighten-up even more
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5678449
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