Dear Reader,
Yesterday a patient had trouble getting into the examination room. When he saw the look of concern on my face, he said, “It’s my sciatica… Sometimes I have trouble getting around…”
That was a good reminder for me. Many people with chronic back pain just grin and bear it; swallowing fistfuls of pain pills they get from their doctor.
But I want to let you know that if you’re suffering from lower back pain – especially sciatica – there’s something you can do about it. It doesn’t involve drugs or surgery and you can try it right away.
First, there’s something else you should know… sciatica – which is usually a pain that starts in your lower back on shoots down one leg – is often a sign of a bigger problem. I’m talking about a herniated or “slipped” disk.
Other symptoms include:
• Weakness in one or both legs
• Numbness and tingling in your leg (pins and needles)
• A burning pain centered in the lower back
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Back pain with gradually increasing leg pain
Your discs are the cushions between the vertebrae of your spinal column. The outer part is made up of tough cartilage and the center has a soft, gelatin substance (think of a jelly doughnut).
When a disc ruptures – or herniates – part of the jelly pushes through the outer wall and leaks into the spinal column. This puts pressure on your nerves. Herniated disks are very painful. For some it can be crippling. But there are easy steps you can take to minimize your pain.
Here’s a simple exercise you can try today: Get one of those inflatable medicine balls – the kind you find at your local gym. Start by lying on the ball (on your stomach, looking at the floor). Your feet should be wide for balance. Slowly roll forward until the ball is placed in front of your hips. Allow your body to bend forward, rounding to the shape of the ball.
Relax your body completely and place your hands on the floor for support and balance. You should feel light to moderate stretching in your lower back, and possibly your hamstrings.
This stretch loosens the muscles that run up and down your spine. This creates more space between each vertebra.
You’ll be amazed by the pain relief you get from increasing the space between each vertebrae… even the slightest improvement can be enough to allow a herniated disc to pop back into place or relieve pressure from a nerve.
If you need extra help with your back pain, The Healthy Back Institute has a great self-assessment tool that enables you to find out exactly where your pain is coming from and how to deal with it. What’s more, they give you simple exercises that provide relief within days.
Many of my patients have been using their system with great results. To find out more, CLICK HERE.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD