Through our experiences in our San Antonio  clinic, we have found that chronic back discomfort is incredibly common. Due to the failure of the typical treatment methods, a large number of people are living in constant pain needlessly.

While the most commonly-used  treatments have a high failure rate, new advancements in treatment are getting excellent results even for patients who have been suffering for many years without relief.

For a list of alternative, effective natural treatments Click here: Natural Pain Relief Alternatives

One of the most dramatic  breakthroughs we’ve seen in our San Antonio, Texas office is spinal decompression. Spinal decompression is a technologically advanced form of spinal traction that reduces spinal disc bulging, enhances disc hydration and nutrition, and mobilizes spinal joints and connective tissue. For properly-selected patients, the results are often nothing short of amazing.

Unfortunately, spinal decompression remains underutilized as a treatment for a couple of reasons. First, the early marketing for spinal decompression was often hype-filled and factually inaccurate. Although decompression is statistically the most effective treatment currently available for most serious types of back pain, the early marketing for it promoted it as a panacea for all  sufferers. Spinal decompression does enjoy an excellent success rate, but it is not effective in every patient and it is simply not appropriate for every sufferer.

Another reason that spinal decompression continues to be underutilized for treating  painful back problems is due to the usual challenges that all new health care procedures face in the United States.

The problem is that insurance companies refuse coverage for medical procedures that don’t have an established procedure code. The American Medical Association produces the codes, but won’t add a new code until a decent number of doctors are using the new procedure. Doctors won’t invest in the equipment and/or training to use the new procedure if it’s not covered by insurance (because they will have a hard time getting paid for it). This brings us back to the insurance companies not covering the new procedure because there’s no code for it. Because of this system, it usually takes several years for any new treatment to be widely used, no matter how beneficial it may be.

Due to the lack of insurance coverage for spinal decompression, many of the  patients we consult with at our san antonio spinal decompression clinic will opt to go with insurance-covered treatment methods. Unfortunately many of these continue to live in pain for years and spend thousands of dollars in insurance co-pays and deductibles on the standard back pain treatments without any lasting relief.

Many of these  sufferers finally opt for surgery looking for a cure for their symptoms. Statistically, about half of the patients who do seek a surgical treatment  discover that the surgery either does not help or makes things worse.

While spinal decompression is far from 100% successful, it does get good to excellent results for the vast majority of back pain patients. Ironically, although some patients we’ve consulted with have opted to go the surgery route because they think it will be less expensive due to it being covered by insurance, most back surgeries wind up being more expensive to the patient than spinal decompression.

What many patients fail to realize is that the co-payments for a high-priced medical procedure like back surgery will usually run several thousand dollars. Even with no insurance coverage at all, spinal decompression typically costs the patient less out of pocket than an average  surgery, and a lot less than a complicated back surgery.

In most cases, spinal decompression is statistically the most effective treatment available and in the long-run is also usually the most cost-effective treatment available.

Dr. Michael Golab, D.C. and Dr. Ronald Fielden, D.C. are the treating doctors at South Texas Non Surgical Spinal Center. Visit their website for more about spinal decompression and their San Antonio back pain treatment program.

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Causes of sciatica are varied, and unfortunately in many cases the cause of  sciatic pain cannot be identified. It is believed that the general wear and tear of the body can result in sciatica pain, which can usually be relieved with some form of sciatica treatment. Sciatic nerve pain is caused by injury to or compression of the sciatic nerve.

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatic nerve pain starts when the main nerve into your leg, the sciatic nerve, is irritated, pinched, or compressed in some way. This can happen for one or more of several reasons; the following are the main causes of sciatica:

• Isthmic Spondylolisthesis – A stress fracture in the fifth lumbar vertebra, known as L5 can cause disc movement and hence sciatic symptoms.
• Piriformis Syndrome – The Piriformis muscle is located in your lower back and can sometimes spasm, resulting in sciatica symptoms.
• Degenerative Disc Disease – Discs in your spine age just as you do, and are subject to wear and tear. This is just another way of saying that your discs are aging and one of them has given way, hence pinching, irritating or putting pressure on your sciatic nerve.
• Lumbar spinal stenosis – Different roots of your sciatic nerve pass through passageways in your spine. The passageways could become smaller, which will result in pinching, irritation or increased pressure on the nerve.
• Lumbar herniated disc – The discs in your spine are like shock absorbers, which allows the back to bend and swivel. Ageing may weaken or damage these discs and a disc may bulge out or even split, pinching or putting pressure on your sciatic nerve. This is one of the most common causes of sciatica pain.
• Trauma – Accidents that causes sudden compression of the sciatic nerve can produce great pain, for example, breaking a bone that results in pressure on the nerve.
• Tumors – This may result in irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve and produce sciatica.
• Pregnancy – When you carry a baby there is extra strain on your spine, which can cause sciatic pain.

Advice and guidance on sciatica treatment products that are opening sufferers eyes to new sciatic nerve treatment methods can be found by visiting the new website “Guidance On Sciatica Treatment Products”.

Can you get the answers that will remove the pain that sciatica sufferers have to deal with? I personally believe you will, but the only way to really find out is to visit http://www.guidanceon.com/sciatica/.

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The symptoms have often been difficult to treat, but a new option to this debilitating problem now promises to provide effective relief in most cases with little or no risk.

Get Rid Of Sciatica Naturally Now! Click To Learn How

Natural treatments are also starting to provide some effective suppport alongside conventional treatment and sometimes instead of it as more and more people are turning towards natural relief for sciatic problems, herniated disc or bulging disc and leg or lumbar discomfort and sciatica buttock pain

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatic nerve irritation

The term is often used to describe uncomfortable sensations going down the leg, however the true definition is irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is a combination of several nerves as they leave the lower back. The majority of cases of sciatica are caused by herniated or bulging discs in the lumbar spine. These discs are soft cartilaginous structures that provide cushion between each vertebrae.

Bulging disc/hernia

Discs have both inner and outer portions. The inner area is softer in consistency compared to the outer portion because they have a higher water content. Once the outer fibers become weaker or are damaged the softer material begins to move its way outward because of the pressure on the disc itself. As it moves out it begins to create a bulge or whats called a hernia, causing the disc to protrude outwards and narrowing the hole where the nerve exits.

This can cause pressure and inflammation that can eventually irritate the nerve which in turn causes severe discomfort, numbness or weakness down the legs and in the back

Conventional treatment

Traditional treatment programs typically consist of targetted medication, injections and in severe cases surgery. These approaches may work in the short term to reduce inflammation and decrease the pain somewhat, however they also carry with them significant risk.

The risk to reward benefit is often not worth it long term as most of these treatments are only temporary. If the problem becomes more severe and the nerve is actually compressed then these treatments may offer no relief at all.

Steroid injection

One of the most common treatments applied is steroid injection. This helps to reduce the inflammation. This can definitely bring temporary relief however it has a side effect. Discomfort may come back even worse. It can also trigger an increase in blood sugar.

Surgical intervention

If sciatic pain becomes unbearable then surgical intervention may be recommended. In a small number of cases this treatment may provide relief, at least temporarily. The problem is that surgical outcomes on the spine are low with about a 50% success rate and it brings with it significant risk factors. A common condition called failed back surgery syndrome is associated with spinal surgery and can the result of excessive scar tissue formation, spinal instability after surgery and increased stress on other spinal structures. The risk is also there for the need for a repeat surgery down the road.

Newer methods

Spinal decompression

Spinal decompression is a new procedure that is very effective in relieving symptoms. This treatment doesn’t have any risks or side effects Spinal decompression gently and logarithmicly pulls the spine, safely bypassing the guarding reflex muscle contraction associated with traditional traction. This procedure allows a therapeutic pressure to develop inside the disc space that helps to heal the disc and reduce inflammation or the bulge. This procedure has 80% success rate.

Spinal decompression corrects the problem for a long time. It helps alleviate the discomfort for a long period of time. As the research continues, more and more benefits of spinal decompression continue to arise.

More natural treatments are also available including acupuncture, Eft therapy, special dietary programs to control or reduce inflammation, the use of deep relaxation techniques, such as meditation, the active practice of laughter, massage, chiropractic, magnet therapy and many more.

You can find out about some of these natural cures by clicking below

Natural Cures For Sciatica

By: Dr. Randall Pruitt

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Dr. Randall Pruitt is a board certified chiropractic neurologist. He was a pioneer in the use of Spinal Decompression In Phoenix Arizona. He utilizes the DRX9000 in his practice to achieve results for the treatment of Sciatica In Phoenix

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Sciatica buttock pain and discomfort in the lower back, hip and leg from sciatic nerve damage are conditions that arise from various causes which create pressure on the nerve requiring sciatica relief treatment

This condition is a medical issue that starts in an individual’s hip or buttock and can move down through the leg. It may impact the region around the knee, in conjunction with causing discomfort in the lower legs. The pain or numbness can range from mild to severe.

Click here For a List of Natural Treatments

The human body is made up of a number of systems that help keep it healthy, which in turn lets folks live their lives to the fullest. Reproduction, respiration, the digestive system, and the circulatory system are just some of the functions that are critical to a healthy life. Another important aspect of the body’s ability to function is the nervous system. This is a complex system of nerves that run through the body and send messages through the spine to the brain. It is one of the body’s most important systems.

Pinched nerve

Occasionally, however, these nerves can be compressed, or “pinched”, in between the spinal disks, which can make for some severe back trouble, and also other areas of the body. This pinching process can cause the distressing condition called sciatica. If you think you are suffering from this, it is important to know what it is, and what causes it.

It is a condition impacting at least one of the sciatic nerves which are the longest nerves in the body, moving from the lower spine and extending down each leg.

For a List of Natural Treatments  Click here

Old age and disc herniation

One of the most prevalent reasons for this type of nerve problem is old age. This is due to the fact that a certain amount of deterioration takes place when the body grows older. A crucial component of the human body which is disturbed by this innate progression is the spine. Subsequently, as the spine is damaged, the collapse of the vertebrae causes damage to the sciatic nerves that are situated there.

A herniated disk can also result in sciatic nerve pain. If there’s physical trauma, improper exercise, or even if you lift heavy objects incorrectly, this condition can be the result. If herniation is present, the discs located between the vertebrae will protrude. As a consequence, this can put pressure or stresses on a sciatic nerve.

It is a painful condition that affects the lower body from the hips through the legs. It’s the result of pressure being placed on this nerve, located at the base of the spine. Learn more about the causes of sciatica nerve problems and how to treat the condition at Sciatic Nerve Pain Treatment.

Sitting discomfort – The Physio Forum – Online physiotherapy discussion

… that the unguided injection had spilled over into sciatic nerve thus masking aching from bulge – however caudal epidural had no effect and subsequent nerve conduction studies indicated that the bulge is not the cause of buttock trouble.

Pinched Nerve Lower Back – Lumbar Nerve Compression

Nerve compression at L3, L4, and L5 results in symptoms, caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. Shooting pain may be felt at the lower back, radiating down to the buttocks, thigh and legs.

Extreme or Slight Sciatica is Extremely Uncomfortable

It can be anything from rare and irritating to extreme and crippling. Usually, it affects only one side, moving down the buttock and along the leg and is frequently associated with a constant ache

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Sciatica and back pain can be indeed bothersome and disturbing in the long run when left untreated. In a multitude of cases, it can be so painful that you can hardly move around and perform your daily activities. To prevent it from affecting your lifestyle and happiness, you need to treat your back problem as soon as possible.

See a recommended list of natural treatments here

Seeing as most of the back problems are caused by muscle spasm in the back, with the help of some back muscle pain treatment,  painful symptoms will be reduced and you will have more freedom of movement once flexibility has been restored to your back muscles.

An easy procedure to provide relief from your back problem would be to place some cold ice packs on your inflamed back. The reason why cold ice packs are fruitful at reducing painful inflammation is in view of the fact that they are fruitful at reducing swelling and muscle spasms on your back and numbing all the sensation.

A person suffering from upper back trouble may also complain of having shoulder pain. Identifying the root cause of your backaches is major at finding an effective technique to treat it. To do this, all you need to do is to consult your doctor.

By knowing the root causes of your back problems, choosing the appropriate and constructive treatment for your upper back and shoulder pain should be a breeze. You can choose from a variety of natural treatments to provide relief. In spite of everything, it is highly recommended that you seek the advice of a doctor before making a decision about which type of treatment you should use.

Back problems usually happen when the fibre of the muscles are pulled beyond the acceptable levels which is also known as muscle strain in the back.

It may also lead to a bulging disc or herniated disc and sciatic nerve pain

Activities such as lifting heavy object which your back muscles are not strong enough to handle all sitting down all day and hardly moving around can cause a lot of undue stress on your back muscles.

The reason why you are experiencing back discomfort is because your body wants you to take a break to prevent the back muscles from further damage.

Let your body take a break by taking up  meditation

Having a good body posture at all times and doing the back exercises frequently are activities that are critical and of assistance to powerfully treat your back. You can strengthen your back muscles and restore flexibility to your back by performing the back exercises regularly. It should not be a problem to you any more once you have developed a stronger back.

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There are several reasons why a person experiences back pain

Some of the causes of back pain are doing things that your back can not handle such as lifting heavy objects, insufficient daily exercises, weak back muscles, pregnancy, sports injuries and body posture.

You can find a list of highly effective natural remedies for sciatica and lower back pain by clicking here

Back pain whilst pregnant

In cases of maternity, pregnant women often suffer from back pain and pregnancy which are caused by muscle spasms in the back.

Lower back pain and muscle spasms are often experienced when a pregnant woman is having weight problems, the movement of the baby which is causing imbalance to the spine along with the stretching of the pelvis. During pregnancy, maintaining a good posture is very important if you want to ease the amount of back pain you experience and best way to do that is the balance the weight of the baby and keep your spine as straight as possible. There are also a great deal of exercises that are designed for pregnant women to provide them relief from their back pains.

Movement and back pain

Back muscle spasm pain is a common and painful symptom that is often experienced by people who lead sedentary lifestyle. Exercising regularly can prevent your back muscles from getting stiff and consequently causing your back pain. Believe it or not, sitting in one place for hours without moving can produce a lot of stress on your back muscles.

Exercise

Since you hardly move around, your chances of suffering from crippling back pain is even higher on account of your weak back. To restore flexibility and strength to your back muscles, they are indeed many back exercises that are designed in such a way that you can do them easily at home. Performing these exercises as a form of taking a break from your work every hour, you are effectively providing relief for your back and in return you will have more energy and comfort to carry on with your work.

Age related

Aging people are found to be main victims of pain in middle of back. Nearly all elderly people are unable to do anything that can potentially lead to undue stress on the back muscles because their bones and muscles are not as strong as before.

Lower back pain from a bulging disc is a health condition that mainly occurs in the lumbar or lower back region, along the spine

The condition commonly occurs with age, due to natural degeneration of the intervertebral discs

Accident injuries and physical trauma can also bereasons why a person can suffer from middle back muscle pain.

Just the same, treating middle back pain is doable if you have the discipline to perform the  back exercises everyday to strengthen your back muscles. Swimming and stretching out are unusually worthwhile at strengthening the back muscles as well as aiding in the process of recovery.

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With age, comes experience, wisdom, and a long list of health complications. It’s true that a healthy way of life promotes longevity but as nature takes its toll on our bodies, we become more susceptible to illnesses. As our bones weaken and the probability of accidents increase, back problems such as spinal stenosis turn into a reality for many.

Affecting primarily the lumbar and cervical areas of the spine, spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal (which is composed of nerves and the spinal cord itself), begins to compress. The narrowing per se does not cause extreme pain, it’s the pressed nerve endings that causes discomfort. For those who suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis, they tend to experience pain and/or numbness in their back and legs. With cervical spinal stenosis cases, the symptoms are generally more severe. This pain can occur in their arms, legs and even cause imbalance.

Spinal stenosis is a medical condition that attacks people who have weak bone structure that is why this illness is common to older patients. As we age, the bones begin to lose its calcium component and the cushion that protects the area. As a result, it becomes more challenging to walk long distances as your agility is impaired. While some are born with it, women who are over 50 tend to be primary targets. If you are suffering from painful spinal stenosis, it is recommended that you look at all of your options. Surgery is considered as a last resort especially with older patients. Nonetheless, there are many beneficial treatments which are non-invasive in nature that could reduce some of the pain.

Spinal decompression therapy, for example, is one treatment that is pain-free. It requires the patient to lay on a table hooked up to a harness and receive pressure to their spine. This pressure actually creates a vacuum effect, tugging the discs apart, allowing them to gain flexibility and stretch out. By decompressing this area, vital nutrients and blood supply re-enter, which allows the spine to heal. The result allows greater mobility and the likelihood of pain and muscle spasms are minimized. Though people with herniated discs often experience a full recovery, those with spinal stenosis may only feel less pain, given that their bones are already degenerating. Nevertheless, this makes a lot of difference. Most patients have to receive 4-5 sessions per week for a minimum of twenty sessions.

In addition to spinal decompression therapy, those with spinal stenosis can also benefit from exercise. Your flexibility determines the treatment available to you — many would advise Pilates, Yoga or a physical therapy-centered treatment. Exercises that focus on your back pain are important in the healing process. If you are still experiencing pain and discomfort, you may ask your doctor and seek advice on medications. Cortisone shots give temporary relief in muscle spasms. Regardless of what you choose, there are many methods to tackle spinal stenosis. If we could reduce just some of the pain in our lives, living into our 100 s would certainly be a walk in the park.

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Spinal decompression is an advanced form of spinal traction used in the treatment of disc-related back pain and related conditions such as sciatica. The primary difference between true spinal decompression and traction (and inversion) machines is that spinal decompression machines are set up to "trick" the spinal muscles into staying relaxed during treatment, allowing for greater changes in disc pressure than with regular traction, which has to fight the resistance of the muscles. Spinal decompression treatment provides excellent results for many people, but some fail to get any improvement at all, and others may even feel worse. I will attempt to explain the most common reasons for these treatment failures, and give suggestions for how to know when spinal decompression is and is not likely to help you.

Spinal decompression in my San Antonio office has been quite successful for most patients, but it is not appropriate or effective for every patient. It has been my observation that some providers of spinal decompression services will recommend it as a "cure-all" for all patients in an attempt to keep their machines full and maximize their return on investment on the equipment. Even the best doctors don’t have a 100% success rate, because no treatment works for everyone. The problem is when doctors accept patients who are not really good candidates for treatment, the results are lacking, and some poorly-selected patients may even temporarily get worse when they receive this form of treatment.

From my experiences in my San Antonio practice, the patients who get the best results with spinal decompression are those with one or more bulging/herniated discs and patients with mild to moderate disc degeneration. Patients who have previously undergone disc surgery are somewhat more complicated, but most still get good results when they meet the selection criteria (no metal implantation in the spine, no spinal instability, and no impaired healing at the site of surgery). The vast majority of people who meet these criteria get very good results and are usually able to return to their normal activities without any significant pain.

While there are case reports that indicate complete disc ruptures can be treated with spinal decompression, in my experience, people with actual ruptures tend to not do very well with this form of treatment. It should be noted that even doctors sometimes incorrectly call a disc bulge or herniation a rupture. True disc ruptures (also called extrusions and sequestered discs), in which the inner gel of the disc is actually leaking out, are relatively rare, so it is good to find out for sure what your actual condition is.

In addition to the importance of applying spinal decompression only in the appropriate cases, it is extremely important for the doctor or technician operating the machine to set the patient up properly for the treatment. Several factors are involved, and every spinal decompression system has its own unique set-up procedure. Ongoing training of any personnel who operate this type of equipment is essential. It is very easy to get sloppy with setting up patients on the equipment, and this leads to ineffective treatment. Overall, because of the design of the better spinal decompression systems, even very poor patient set-ups rarely lead to patient injury, but mistakes in the use of the machine can definitely prevent the patient from getting the desired results and might cause a temporary flare-up in symptoms. To help avoid this problem, I recommend asking any potential spinal decompression provider you may be considering seeking treatment with about his or her training for the operators of the equipment. A one-time training done when the equipment was first received is simply not sufficient. I strongly recommend working with providers who perform re-training on the equipment on at least a quarterly basis.

One other consideration is the fact that some patients are not good candidates for spinal decompression treatment because of their inability or unwillingness to follow the recommended treatment protocol. In my experience, the primary reasons why a patient can’t or won’t follow the treatment recommendations are usually related to money and/or time.

A complete spinal decompression program of care that inclues decompression as well as additional treatments may seem expensive to some people. Since spinal decompression is an alternative to disc surgery though, a cost comparison with surgery will show spinal decompression to be much less expensive with statistically much better resuts, making it a good value in most cases. Even so, some people try to lower the cost by attempting to reduce the amount of treatment they get. In my experiences from my San Antonio office, this approach is often a very big mistake. The people who discontinue care prematurely will often feel better and return to activities before their disc condition is stable. This can lead to re-injury and even worse problems. In my opinion, it is far better to invest in the recommended treatment in order to get maximum benefits.

Of course, some people fail to follow treatment recommendations primarily because they have busy lives and are unwilling to spend the time on getting better. This type of patient tends to miss a lot of appointments and may go long periods of time between treatment sessions. Unfortunately, the success of spinal decompression usually depends on getting the recommended amount of treatment at the recommended frequency of treatments. The effectiveness and results are not as good when people don’t make time for their appointments. What some busy people fail to realize is that if they don’t set aside time to properly deal with their health problem, sooner or later that health problem will deteriorate to the point where it forces them to make time to get treatment, and this often occurs when they are at their busiest and treatment is least convenient. It is my recommendation to invest the necessary time in getting better, rather than do the treatment intermittently and not get the best results.

To summarize, spinal decompression can be an extremely effective treatment for people suffering with pain from bulging and degenerated discs, but it is important that doctors select patients for this treatment carefully and make sure that the technicians operating the equipment get refresher training regularly to be sure patients are being set up on the machine properly. Patients need to take the responsibility to follow the treatment recommendations to allow for maximum correction and healing.

Dr. George Best has been providing spinal decompression in San Antonio, Texas since 2006 with the DRX9000 system. For additional infomation, visit his website at www.spinesanantonio.com.

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What exactly is a herniated disc?

A herniated disc results from the degeneration of the spinal disc due to aging or an injury to the spine. When a disc herniation takes place, the cushion that lies between the spinal vertebra is pushed outside of its usual position. It can cause pain, weakness and numbness in the lower back and leg. Read on to know more about the symptoms and treatment of herniated disc.

The human spine or backbone is made from 33 bones, known as vertebrae. There are 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae and 5 lumber vertebrae. There is the sacrum (5 vertebrae fused together) beneath the fifth lumber vertebra, followed by the coccyx or tail bone (3 vertebrae fused together).

These vertebrae are cushioned by small, soft pads of cartilage. Spinal discs comprise a jelly-like inner layer, called nucleus and a tough outer layer, called annulus fibrosus. These discs act as a shock-absorber and protect the spine from any kind of injury or stress. Spinal discs also allow bending movements of the spine.

If the spinal disc degenerates due to aging or any injury, the soft inner layer may rupture and get herniated through the annulus fibrosus. This can cause irritation of the spinal nerve, leading to pain, weakness and numbness in the lower back, arm and leg.

This condition is known as a herniated disc. It is also referred to as compressed disc, bulging disc, prolapsed disc, slipped disc, ruptured disc or herniated intervertebral disc. Herniated disc most commonly occurs in between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae in the lower back (lumbar spine); however, it can also occur in the cervical spine.

Causes

When this disc problem is associated with wear and tear due to aging is known as degenerative disc disease. As the water content and elasticity of the nucleus of the disc are reduced with aging, people between the age of 30 and 50 are at higher risk of herniated disc. Lifting heavy objects can also lead to spinal disc herniation.

Sometimes, traumatic events such as a fall or any injury to the spine can cause it. Smoking reduces the oxygen levels in the body, causing deficiency of vital nutrients in the body tissues, thus increases the risk of a disc herniating. Some other risk factors include excess body weight, being tall (men taller than 5 feet 11 inches and women taller than 5 feet 7 inches) and occupations that cause excess stress to the spine.

Symptoms

The severity of the symptoms may vary depending upon the position and the size of the herniation. If it is pressing on the nerve roots, then it can cause pain and numbness in the back and legs. If the hernia is in the lower back, then it causes back pain known as sciatica that spreads to the buttocks and legs. Lower back pain and leg pain may worsen after sitting, sneezing or coughing. If it occurs in the upper back, then it can lead to neck pain that may spread to the shoulders and upper arms.

Some other symptoms are numbness, tingling, weakness and muscle spasms. In some rare cases, this condition can lead to cauda equina syndrome, which is caused due to compression of the spinal nerve roots. Emergency surgery is required to relieve the pressure and cure cauda equina syndrome; otherwise it can cause permanent weakness or paralysis. If left untreated, a herniated disc can lead to some complications such as increasing pain and numbness in one or both legs, bowel or bladder dysfunction and progressive loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

If you experience back pain or leg pain that interferes with normal activities for more than a week, then you should consult an orthopedist. Certain tests are suggested by the doctor for diagnosis such as straight-leg-raising test, cross straight-leg-raising test and screening neurological examination. Certain imaging tests like X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan and myelogram are performed to confirm the location of the herniated disc and to detect which nerve is affected.

Treatment

Treatment is decided depending upon the severity of the symptoms. There are surgical as well as nonsurgical options. Nonsurgical methods include pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, hydrotherapy, electrical stimulation, cold therapy, heat therapy, bracing, traction and stretching. You can also benefit from certain exercises like dynamic lumbar stabilizing exercises and aerobic exercises with pain-free activities.

There are also many natural alternative methods and treatments available to relieve or cure this condition. See some suggestions here, natural cures

In some severe cases, surgical options such as minimally invasive and decompression procedures are recommended.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Many a time,  improvement can occur with nonsurgical treatment options which aims at reducing irritation of the nerve, relieving pain and improving physical activities. Primary treatment is administered for  back pain relief . You need to limit or modify the activities like prolonged sitting, lifting heavy objects or bending, which can aggravate the symptoms. Physical therapy and exercises can help increase the strength and flexibility. Pain relievers like acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin can help to reduce pain and relieve inflammation of the nerve roots.

Neuropathic pain medications like pregabalin, gabapentin and duloxetine can be effective for painful nerve conditions. Lower doses of tricyclic antidepressants like nortriptyline can also help to relieve pain.

A natural pain reliever might be the preference, such as using Eazol

If you have persistent back spasms, then your doctor prescribes muscle relaxants like methocarbamol, cyclobenzaprine or carisoprodol. If pain is not improved with these medications, then corticosteroids are administered orally or through epidural injection. Some other treatment options including cold or heat therapy, bracing, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), hydrotherapy and traction are also helpful in relieving pain.

Deep relaxation can be achieved through learning to  meditate , or by regularly listening to relaxing music and a method gaining in popularity nowadays is the use of laughter as a pain reliever

Once pain is relieved, the treatment is given to strengthen and stabilize the spine and restore spinal function. Rehabilitation involves physiotherapy and various exercises such as stretching, aerobics, and dynamic lumbar stabilization exercise. These back strengthening exercises help control pain, correct the posture, strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility.

Surgical Treatment Options: If you don’t experience any improvement with nonsurgical treatment options after a period of time, then surgical options are recommended. Surgical treatment is aimed at relieving pain and preventing irritation of the spinal nerve due to herniated disc. Minimally invasive procedures include chemonucleolysis and endoscopic discectomy. Open decompression involves discectomy, microdiscectomy and spinal fusion.

Some alternative treatment options are also found to be effective such as acupuncture, massage, spinal manipulation and yoga. You can prevent potential problems by doing regular exercise, maintaining good posture and healthy weight, and quitting smoking.

By Reshma Jirage

Herniated disc success story!

New York Chirpractor specializes in Spinal Decompre fef ssion. Non Surgical spinal decompression for treatment of herniated discs. Whole Body vibration using the PowerPlate and Cold Laser therapy.

Back Pain Treatment

Probably the worst back issue that can happen to someone is a herniated disc. There may be other worse conditions, but a herniated disc is all too common today. The mainstream method of treatment is surgery. This is rarely sucessful.

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Sciatica Pain is caused due to the irritation of sciatic nerve specifically in lower back, back of thighs and hip region. Often, treatments are varied depending on the causes of the visible symptoms.

Here are some suggested home treatments you can use to help ease the pain alongside consultation with a specialist:

• Use a self hypnosis CD for chronic sciatic pain
• Home remedy relief
• Advice on easing and preventing sciatica
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What is Sciatica?
If you are a sedentary worker experiencing back pain or lower body pain, especially in the legs in the form of numbness, tingling and you have a problem walking or flexing your muscles, consult a doctor immediately. The cause of this could be a condition known as sciatica.

Sciatica is a set of conditions that are caused when the sciatic nerve which is the largest nerve with the diameter as that of a finger in the body is pressurized or an irritation occurs in the radicular nerve that exits the lower spine it causes pain in the lower body especially the lower back, the back of thighs and legs and the hip region. Thus this condition is also known as radiculopathy. Sciatica is not always very serious and generally resolves in 4-6 weeks but in some cases it may require surgery, especially when caused due to infections or tumors and in such situations it is best to have the opinion of a medical practitioner promptly.

Sciatica Symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms of sciatica are pain in the lower extremities of the body especially starting at the base of the spine and routing downwards along the path of the sciatic nerve or nerve root to the pelvic region, buttocks, thighs, back of the legs and foot. This pain may be a slight nuisance pain that can be a tingling pain or even a burning sensation and numbness that can vary in intensity and also be constant or intermittent developing gradually, making it hard to detect always.

Sciatica usually occurs only on one side of the body.

Causes of Sciatica
Sciatica pain is generally seen in people who need to spend long amounts of time sitting or standing and bad posture and lack of muscle movement causes the muscles to constrict or be irritated causing pain. It can even be bought on by hard sneezes, coughing fits and lifting something, these activities may cause pressure on the spine and thus it may irritate the radicular nerve by extending beyond its normal position.

Commonly the major cause can be pinned as disc herniation in the lumbar spine which presses directly on the sciatic nerve and any triggers by such a reaction for example by irritation of the nerve from adjacent bone which in turn produces the symptoms of sciatica. Besides a compressed or a pinched nerve, other causes could also be tumors, muscle, internal bleeding, infections, injury etc. thus sciatica is not really a disease by itself but rather many other dependants make it into a medical condition worthy of attention. Even something as simple as muscle strain may cause the muscle to freeze up or be “pulled” and gradually develop into this problem.

Spinal stenosis is the constriction or narrowing of the spaces in the spine that causes the spine or the nerves to be compressed in a way that it causes pain especially in the lower back.

In advanced spinal osteoarthritis, a bit of cartilage may break away and become mobile in the spinal area and become a reason of irritation and inflammation which when occurring in the lower back region may develop into sciatica by putting undue pressure on the sciatic nerve. This is also called in degenerative disc disease.

If a vertebra slips over the other, which is commonly called as slipped disc or Spondylolisthesis the skewed vertebra could pressurize the sciatic nerve.

There are still other issues which can trigger sciatica pain like Piriformis syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction etc which are not really sciatica but these diseases may also set off sciatica because of their symptoms.

Sciatica Treatment
In cases which are very extreme sciatica can be serious enough for being operated upon. Thus, it becomes very important to diagnose the real cause for sciatica in order to rule out the possibility of another serious heath problem which could require immediate attention and/or surgery.

Sciatica treatment should only be carried out by a trained health professional. Besides anti-inflammatory medication and analgesics, exercise is also prescribed under the care of a physiotherapist. As the type of exercise depends on the cause of sciatic pain they must be done after consultation and practiced on a regular basis, twice a day to provide complete relief from pain. Though bed rest may seem like the better option but inactivity results in the muscles degenerating further and exercising them makes them more mobile by boosting circulation and helps to adequately carry the fluids and nutrients across the system.

Minding the body posture and avoiding soft surfaces that encourage slouching must be a part of treatment. Being in the same position for long or lifting things puts strains on the spinal chord as well as the muscles in the hips and legs thus that must also be avoided.

It is best to consult a doctor immediately in order to diagnose the problem correctly and ensure that appropriate steps are taken or this could develop into a grave problem.

By Jayashree Pakhare

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