Sciatica is leg pain caused by a
pinched nerve in the lower back. The
sciatic nerve is a peripheral nerve made up of the spinal nerves that originate
at L4, L5 and sometimes S1. The most
common cause of this nerve irritation is a disc problem, such as a bulging,
herniated or a degenerative disc. It can
also come from having spinal arthritis that is inflaming the nerve, or possibly
a misalignment in the lower spine or sacroiliac joint.
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And let's not forget the cause of
injury. I recently made a misstep on a rather slick hardwood floor while
wearing socks. I had two legs going in
opposite directions... like the splits! At
age 66, my body is not wired for that kind of contortion. There was an immediate pain in the hip. Swelling and a large bruise on the upper
thigh following. After a couple of trips
to the doctor, he concluded I had stretched by quad muscle severely and
aggravated the nerve. The sciatic nerve
can be relentless unless we keep moving. Although the pangs begin in nerve
roots located on either side of the lower spine, they then course through the
sciatic nerve, which runs the length of each leg from the buttock down to the
foot. The leg agony is often worse than
the back pain,” says William A. Abdu, MD, medical director of the Spine Center
of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
Usually felt in one leg, the sensation can be tolerable, says Birgit
Ruppert, a physical therapist at the Spine Center. Some people liken it to the nerve pain you
experience if you have a toothache.
Pain relievers can definitely
help. I have used ibuprofen (a
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) to ease the distress. Doctors sometimes prescribe muscle relaxants
if painful muscle spasms accompany a disk herniation. “These won't help with the pain caused by
pressure on the sciatic nerve, “says A. Nick Shamie, MD, a spokesperson for the
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
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Home remedies would start with
proper exercises. Moving is usually
the last thing people dogged by sciatica want to do, but it's important to be
physically active. “Lying in bed makes
it more likely that the pain will last longer, “says Ruppert. Exercise increases blood flow to the disk and
the nerve, helping to get rid of the chemicals causing the inflammation.” Take 15 to 20 minute walks. If that hurts too much, give swimming or
water aerobics a try; there's not as much pressure on the back when you're in
the water, says Ruppert.
Another non-invasive form of
treatment would be Massage Therapy.
Trigger point therapy is best, says Jeff Smoot, vice president of the
American Massage Therapy Association.
The sciatic nerve sits underneath a muscle called the Piriformis, which
is located beneath the glutes. “When the
Piriformis muscle gets tight, it pinches the sciatic nerve, causing tingling
and numbness down into the leg, “says Smoot.
He applies pressure to irritated and inflamed areas, or trigger points,
in the Piriformis muscle, as well as in muscles in the lower back and glutes to
provide relief. Typically, Smoot
schedules treatments 7-10 days apart. If
patients don't see progress by the fourth visit, “they need to try another form
of therapy, “he says.
Check out this testimonial on the benefit of our walk-in tubs.
My wife and I recently purchased our
Walk in Tub from Tub King, Inc. The
price was exceptionally good and the quality is better than most I've
seen. A few days ago, I decided to try
it for the first time. The tub comes
with an upright construction, about 40 inches tall from the floor. It has a door that allows you to enter and
exit, without the extreme step-up on a traditional bathtub. There is also a seat inside the tub, about 17
inches tall, like most comfortable chairs.
It is sculptured so that you can lean back in comfort. I then filled the tub with warm, relaxing
water. After the water level had covered
the water jets, I pressed the convenient button on the side of the tub and
engaged the bubbler, immediately, thousands of warm relaxing bubbles and
surging water began to fill the tub. I
could feel the results instantly. I turn
around and adjusted the water ports so that the jets were aimed directly at my
problem area. I was in heaven. I remained in the tub for 25 minutes, and
really didn’t want to leave. A few
minutes later, my wife recognized a change in my step and my demeanor. “How was it, “she asked?
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“I think I will sleep well tonight, “I said. And how right I was. I didn't wake up a single time. Plus, the next day I felt rested for the
first time in a long time. I suppose it
was a combination of the warm water and the massaging action of the jets. But more importantly, it was a therapy I
could control and enjoy, any time I wanted.
The Walk in Tub was a great investment, and it has made dealing with
pain a lot easier.
This article discusses how you can reduce
back pain with various simple and natural methods. It also talks about the many
benefits the walk-in tub provides for alleviating lower back pain. This article
includes information about the available options to consider for getting the
maximum therapeutic benefit from your walk-in tub.
If you’ve found this article helpful in
any way, please post a comment and pass the article along to friend’s family
and co-workers.
Check out this short review and testimonial video on our tubs.
Tub King has many great
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Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number
or email listed at the end of this article and I will personally get back to
you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you.
Alan Knight is the
owner of Tub
King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He has many
years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. In
addition to providing superior products, Tub King has been honored with “Best
of Jacksonville Chamber Awards” for four years running. If you would like to
contact Alan Knight, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or send an
email to alan@tubking.com.
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