Pain Relief

by LLacertae

What Is A Bulging Disc, And What Does That Mean?

or you read it on your MRI report, you may wonder what that means. Is that what is causing my pain? Will it go away? Do I need surgery? How can I fix it?

These are all good questions that need to be answered before you decide what treatment is right for you. Understanding your bulging disc begins with understanding your anatomy, where the disc is, and what the disc does.

Commonly called, the disc or the disk, the intervertebral disc connects each vertebra to the next vertebra and helps to form your spine. It allows a small amount of motion and acts as a shock absorber between each pair of vertebrae. When it becomes deformed, or pushed out of shape, it is often called a bulging disk.

Your disc has two main parts, the annulus, and the nucleus pulposis. The annulus is a tough strong ligament that wraps around the outside edge of the disc. It connects one vertebral body to the next. The nucleus pulposis is a soft jelly like material that fills the inside of the disc. Together they form a jellyroll cushion between the vertebrae.

When you bend or twist, it is the disc that allows your spine to flex and move. As you move the soft inner part of the disc, is pushed around inside of the disc. When you flex forward, the nucleus pulposis is pushed towards the back; then when you stand up straight in a neutral position it moves back to the center.

Humans have evolved over thousands of years as hunter gatherers, we are designed to stand and walk, and the intervertebral disc works wonderfully for that. Problems can occur when we spend too much time bending and lifting, or hunched over a desk. Long hours bending forward pushes the nucleus pulposis towards the back of the disc. Eventually the tough ligaments of the annulus will begin to stretch and push out beyond the edge of the vertebra forming a bulging disk.

Early on when you stand up the nucleus will return to the middle of the disc and the bulge will go away, but over time, repeated bending will continue to stretch the annulus and the bulge will become more permanent.

A bulging disk is often associated with back pain. This occurs because of the stretching of the ligaments of the annulus, and because the vertebrae are not properly aligned. When the vertebrae are not held in proper alignment by the annulus, the small joints of your spine can develop painful arthritis. Back pain from a bulging disk is often some combination of these two factors.

Other symptoms that may be associated with a bulging disk include leg pain or sciatica. This can occur when the weak spot or stretching of the annulus develops in an area where it can press on nerves. This most commonly occurs in the lumbar spine where it may press on nerves that go into the buttocks or legs.

If a bulging disk is left untreated, and you continue activities that caused it, it may progress. The back pain may get worse and if it is pressing on a nerve you may have weakness or numbness in your legs. As the ligaments of the annulus stretch and grow weaker they may eventually tear, allowing the nucleus to push outside of the disc. If this disc herniation causes pressure on nerves you may have sudden severe lower extremity symptoms such as numbness or weakness.

Treatment for a bulging disk will depend on what symptoms it is causing. If it is just an incidental finding on your MRI it may not require any treatment at all, but we should all be smart about our backs and what we do. Avoiding, or limiting how much you bend and lift, will keep your bulging disc from progressing into a problem.

If your bulging disc is causing symptoms such as back pain or leg pain there are exercises that can sometimes reduce a bulging disk. Correcting a bulging disk will realign the vertebra and take the pressure off of any nerves that may be involved. How much relief you get will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how long you have had them.

If your bulging disc has progressed to a herniated disc more aggressive treatments may be required. Depending on your symptoms, and how bad they are, your doctor may talk to you about physical therapy, steroid injections, or surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve.

but they may or may not be important depending on your symptoms. If your symptoms are tolerable you can discuss conservative treatments with your doctor. Things like physical therapy and over the counter pain medications can be very effective therapy for many people.

We should all practice good back mechanics and pay careful attention to our posture. Avoid bending and lifting whenever possible, and when you must bend, bend at your hips and keep your back straight. Preventing a bulging disk is much better than treating one.

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The medical studies are alarming: during their lives, most people are affected by lower back pain. This medical condition is responsible for more incapacity and sick leave than any other is. Check out the fact:

Eight out of ten have suffered or will suffer from this debilitating aliment
Half of all people who experience lower back pain will have repeat attack within twelve months.

Lower back pain Acute or Chronic?

Acute lower back pain occurs suddenly. Very often, you will know exactly what causes it: an accident that jars your back, for instance, such as fall from a chair or a ladder. Or, you may simply stumble and pitch backwards to the ground.

Whatever the cause, you will probably strain and tear the ligaments, tendons and muscles in your lower back. All of these tissues are essential to your well-being, and any trauma affecting them produces severe pain.

A particularly severe accident will cause even more serious damage. This could be a fracture in the lumbar spine, or a break in the coccyx at the base of the spinal column. The pain from such injuries can be excruciating, as some of you may already know.

The cause of chronic pain, pain that continues for a long time or constantly recurs, can be more difficult to assess. It may cause by deterioration of the discs between the spines vertebrae. In other words, the discs may dry out, thereby allowing pressure to be placed on the nerves that run through the spine. The result is severe lower back pain, usually known as osteoarthritis.

Others suffer when the joints of the lower back become inflamed as rheumatoid arthritis enters their body. This condition is not only chronic, it steadily progresses through the system.
Another common cause of chronic lower back pain is osteoporosis, in which the bones of the spine become brittle and fragile because of hormonal changes or vitamin deficiencies.

Other causes of lower back pain

Spondylosis this occurs when the disc between the vertebrae of the spine distintegrate, allowing the vertebrae to rub against each other.

Sciatica degeneration of the spinal discs can also cause compression of the nerve roots in the lower back, resulting in intense pain.

Lumber spinal stenosis pressure on the spinal cord, a consequence of damage to the fiber that houses the cord, can lead to lumbar spinal stenosis. The most noticeable physical sign of this condition is the way that suffers must stand or sit with a hunched posture to ease the appealing pain.

Depression for 80% of those who have lower back pain, doctors cannot determine the cause. This adds to the depression that suffers often feel because they have no understanding or control of their disorder.

The CHI institute as recognized the desperate need for a consistent form of relief for lower back pain. Institute researchers studied the available remedies and learned from the practices of many different cultures and people, including the renowned qigong healers of Beijing, China. From these experiences, the institute began developing positive therapeutic solution to the problems of Lower Back Pain in both its forms, acute and chronic.

The first of these solutions, an infrasound massage device, was a tremendous success. But the CHI institute didnt stop there. Since pain therapy is a constantly developing field, the institute decided it was vital to continue the product evolution to find maximum pain relief.

As result of this continuing research, Sound Vitality, a division of the CHI institute, introduced the Infratonic 4.3 in 1997. This device was based on digital Chaos Therapy and proved to be a great help for anyone afflicted with the torture of lower back pain.

Is your life ruined by chronic or acute lower back pain? Visit http://www.vitalfoodstore.com

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Posture Slouching is when you drop your shoulder forward and your head downward. The tendency is for your back to work extra just to maintain your balance. As a result, it puts pressure on your vertebrae, which will likely cause your back to ache. Stop slouching and start to stand and seat straight. This will not only make your look good, it will also make you feel good.

Massage Therapy Massage helps relieve back pain, shin splints, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel type symptoms, neck stiffness, sciatica, bursitis, headaches, tennis elbow, and low back stiffness by treating trigger points. Trigger points are accretions of waste products in the region of a nerve receptor which manifest themselves in the forms of dull ache, hot or cold, harp pain, pins and needles, and tingling among others.

Exercise Your bones should carry your weight. But if your weight exceeds the carrying capacity, then you should be feeling pain right now. There are certain exercises that strengthen the bones. Meanwhile, loosing weight is another way to relieve the stress on your bone. People who are either obese or overweight and experiencing pain might not realize that the main contributor to the pain they feel is their weight.

Balneotherapy – “balneo” (from balneum) is a Latin word meaning bath. Balneotherapy is a kind of hydrotherapy that involves bathing in warm water or mineral water. Researches found that balneotherapy possesses significant beneficial effects for people experiencing body pain. Balneotherapy meanwhile should not be applied to people with heart condition unless supervised with primary care provider.

Sleeping position the best way to sleep is on your side with your knees bend with a pillow between your legs. For pregnant women who experience back pain, sleeping on the side would be the best remedy for it. Place a pillow under your abdomen to support its weight.

Vitamin D pain can be a manifestation of Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D can be found in fortified milk and cereals, soya milk, margarine, fish, and sunlight.

Hot and cold back pain can be alleviated by applying cold pack at their back. Other people find heat to be a source of relief. A combination of either hot or cold and massage would also work for other people. Trying out any of these would not do you harm so feel free to explore the possibilities of finding relief to either of them.

Rest at the office, an all day’s work would mean seating for long hours. This is okay if you are maintaining a good posture all throughout the day. However, the temptation to slouch is great that you completely forget you are slouching. After that, you complain about the pain at your back. Surprisingly, a few minutes of rest is all you need help remove the pain.

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What it is

Sciatica is the name people give to a pain in the buttock, leg or foot brought on as a direct result of some form of irritation to the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs all the way from the lower back splitting at the base of the spine and terminating in the foot.

The discs which cushion the vertebrae in the lower back become progressively thinner and harder as we get older. This stresses the lower back and often causes a variety of lower back pain disorders, including sciatica.

Sciatica is usually caused by a prolapsed or ‘slipped’ disc bulging and pressing on to a nerve. It doesn’t usually cause permanent nerve damage since the spinal cord is not present in the lower part of the spine and a prolapsed or herniated disc in this area does not pose a risk of paralysis.

The cause

The most common cause of sciatica is a prolapsed (slipped) disc, pinched nerves or some form of arthritis. It usually starts with back pain which sometimes improves only to be followed by hamstring or calf pain. It may also include numbness in the toes depending on which branch of the sciatic nerve is irritated.

Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle is a small muscle behind the gluteus maximus. Piriformis syndrome is most common among women, runners and walkers.

Spinal stenosis is the name given to the narrowing of the nerve channel (vertebral canal) of the spine. This narrowing causes compression of either the spinal cord within the vertebral canal, or the nerve roots that exit the spinal cord. People with spinal stenosis experience sciatic pain symptoms in the legs and feet. It usually results from degenerative arthritis causing a narrowing of the spaces in the vertebral canal. Manual workers are more prone to developing symptoms of spinal stenosis but it seldom affects people under 30 years of age – unless it is due to traumatic injury to the vertebrae.

The spine is made up of a series of connected bones called “vertebrae.” Spondylolisthesis or isthmic spondylolisthesis occurs when a cracked vertebra slips over the vertebra below it. Poor posture and curvature of the back or weak abdominal muscles can contribute to this slippage, which can press on the nerve. The presence of this spondylolysis usually does not represent a dangerous condition in the adult and most treatments concentrate on pain relief and increasing the patient’s ability to function.

The Cure

Some cases of sciatica which result from inflammation get better with time and heal themselves perhaps within six weeks to three months.

Recent studies have shown that bed rest is not necessarily the best way to treat sciatica. It is better to remain active, starting off with some gentle stretching and exercise. Swimming is particularly useful, as it is not a weight bearing exercise. The good news is that herniated spinal discs usually do heal on their own, given time.

There are many different treatments for sciatica and it is important to discuss these with your health practitioner. Accurate diagnosis to determine the exact cause of sciatic pain is also equally important. The most conclusive diagnosis is usually gained by a having an MRI scan. However having said that skilled medical practitioners, and I include Osteopaths and Chiropractors, are often able to determine the suspected cause by carrying out a physical examination

Stretching and exercising are a must if you really want to progress along the road to rehabilitation and if you are in extreme pain this is probably the last thing you will contemplate doing.

Since getting mobile and becoming flexible is extremely important you might require some pain management to help you get going. For mild cases of sciatica your doctor may start off by recommending non prescription medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, known as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. A downside of these drugs is that they may cause stomach upsets or bleeding.

If your pain is not relieved by analgesics or NSAIDs, your doctor might prescribe narcotic analgesics (such as codeine) for a short time. Side effects of these include nausea, constipation, dizziness and drowsiness, and continued use may result in dependency.

Sciatic pain is usually nerve related and responds well to treatment with low doses of tricyclic anti-depressant drugs like amitriptyline, dothiepin, nortriptyline, lofepramine, desipramine, clomipramine or imipramine combined with acupuncture or the use of TENs machines. The low dosage of the tricyclic drug acts by closing a pain gate blocking the message to the brain.

Other medications like Corticosteroids taken orally or by injection are sometimes prescribed for more severe back and leg pain because of their very powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Corticosteroids also have side effects and the pros and cons of taking them should be fully discussed with your doctor.

In extreme cases spinal injections of corticosteroid into the epidural space (the area around the spinal nerves) or facet joint (between vertebrae) may be given. This is usually carried out by a specialist with follow up injections at a later date.

Other treatments to manage sciatica include traction; manipulation by a skilled osteopath, physio therapist or chiropractor; Chemonucleolysis (injection of a special enzyme into the disk).

There is a fairly new procedure called IDET which stands for Iintro Discal Electrothermy). When a disc is herniated the water content of the inflamed disc causes it to bulge and press against the nerve. IDET dries up the disc very quickly, in less than 20 minutes, a process which might take weeks or months if left to dry up naturally

As a last resort you may consider surgery to remove fragments of the prolapsed disc are then removed.

As I mentioned earlier it is important to stay active and continue with an exercise and stretching program. Especially do exercises to develop your back and stomach muscles. This will help stabilize your spine and support your body.

It is also important to maintain a reasonable body weight, ensure you have a good posture, sleep on a mattress that is neither too soft nor too hard, be careful when bending or lifting heavy weights.

This information in this article should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease. You should always consult with your health care professional especially relating to the suitability of supplements or drugs and on all health matters that may require diagnosis or medical attention. If you suffer from progressive weakness in the leg or bladder or bowel incontinence this constitutes a medical emergency and you should seek immediate medical attention – you may have cauda equina syndrome a serious condition due to compression of the nerve roots in the lower end of the spinal canal.

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Is your sciatica pain common to herniated disc? If so, how do you get pain relief now?

There certainly are a lot of different things that can go wrong with our backs. One of the worst problems that we can have, however, is if we have a herniated disc, especially if it is irritating the sciatic nerve. A herniated disc occurs whenever the padding that exists between the individual vertebrae begins to break down and eventually ruptures or protrudes. This can cause enough pain on its own but there are times whenever the bulging material will press against the sciatic nerve, either pinching it or irritating it in some way or another. This can cause a lot of suffering for the individual that has these kinds of problems.

You might be interested to know that there is some controversy over exactly what is going wrong in this particular case. Some doctors will refer to it as a ruptured disc while others may refer to it as a torn disc or perhaps even disc disease. Regardless of what they are calling it, however, you are probably interested in what can be done in order to alleviate some of the symptoms that you are experiencing. Although this will have a lot to do with the different diagnosis that you get, there are some things that can be done in order to take some of the pressure off of the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve that exists in the body. Starting in the lower back, it runs through the area of the buttox and then down into the legs. Since it is such a large nerve and covers a lot of ground inside of your body, there are a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong with it. Typically, the pain will occur because of problems that are experienced in the lower back. If this nerve is pinched or irritated in some way, perhaps through a herniated disc, the pain may be localized or it may even travel down into your legs. In order for you to get rid of the pain that you are experiencing, you need to remove the pressure from the sciatic nerve.

One thing that you may be told to do is to use hot and cold treatments on this area of your back. This is a very common thing whenever it comes to herniated discs and they can actually help to ease some of the pain by reducing swelling. In the case of sciatica pain and a herniated disc, however, more may be needed in order for you to totally overcome the problem.

There are several types of physical therapy that you may have to go through in order to overcome the pain. Typically, this is accomplished through stretching and at times strengthening exercises that are done in the presence of a qualified physical therapist. There are also some specific exercises that you may be able to do at home in order to help speed along your recovery process.

Sciatica pain is something you wont want to live with for an extended length of time. Effective treatment is available now that will ease your sciatica pain sooner than you might think.

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Lower back pain is one of the leading reasons people in the United States visit their doctors. It will inhibit the lives of millions of Americans this year. In fact, an average four out of five adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. So the question, What is causing my lower back pain? is not uncommon.

Lower back pain can be excruciating. It can be caused by a large variety of injuries or conditions, such as:

* lower back muscles may be strained

* discs between the vertebrae may be injured

* large nerve roots extending to arms and legs may be irritated

* smaller nerves that supply the lower back spine may be irritated

* joints, ligaments, or even bones may be injured

When lower back pain occurs with other symptoms such as fever and chills, a serious medical condition may be present. You should see a doctor immediately.

Three categories of lower back pain

Your lower back pain will fall into one of three categories, which your doctor bases on your description of the pain.

1. Axial lower back pain mechanical or simple back pain

2. Radicular lower back pain sciatica

3. Lower back pain with referred pain

1. Axial Lower Back Pain

Axial lower back pain is the most common of the three. It is felt only in the lower back area with no pain radiating to other parts of the body. It is sometimes called mechanical back pain or simple back pain.

* Description: Axial lower back pain can vary greatly. It may be sharp or dull, constant or intermittent. On a scale of 1 to 10, you may rate its intensity #1 or a full #10. It may increase with certain activity when playing tennis, for example. It may worsen in certain positions such as sitting at a desk. It may or may not be relieved by rest.

* Diagnosis: Axial lower back pain might be diagnosed by you rather than your physician. You know it started when you were helping a friend move a heavy couch. On the other hand, it may be your doctor who determines that you have strained or otherwise damaged back muscles, have a degenerated disc, etc.

* Treatment: The cause of your axial lower back pain does not matter when it comes to treatment. You will want to rest for a day or two. Follow this by gentle back pain exercises and stretching. If you have more pain after exercise, use a heating pad on low or medium setting. Take an appropriate over-the-counter pain medication. Follow your doctors advice.

* Prognosis: Symptoms of axial lower back pain disappear with time, and about 90% of patients recover within four to six weeks. If you do not feel better within six to eight weeks, additional testing and/or injections may be needed to diagnose and treat the source of the pain.

* Caution: If your pain is chronic, or so severe that it awakens you during the night, see your doctor.

2. Radicular Lower Back Pain

Radicular lower back pain is commonly referred to as sciatica. It is felt in the lower back area, thighs, and legs.

* Description: Radicular lower back pain often begins in the lower back, and then follows a specific nerve path into the thighs and legs. Your leg pain may be much worse than your back pain. It is often deep and steady. It may readily be reproduced with certain activities and positions, such as sitting or walking.

* Diagnosis: Radicular lower back pain is caused by compression of the lower spinal nerve. The most common cause is a herniated disc with compression of the nerve. Other causes might be diabetes or injury to the nerve root. If you had previous back surgery, scar tissue may be affecting the nerve root. Elderly adults may have a narrowing of the hole through which the spinal nerve exits.

* Treatment: Conservative treatment is the best place to begin. Rest for a few days in a bed or chair. Follow this by gradual introduction of gentle exercises specifically for back pain relief. Follow your exercise with additional rest, applying a heating pad on low to medium setting. Soak daily in Epsom salts baths. Take an appropriate over-the-counter pain medication. Your doctor may want to use selective spinal injections.

* Prognosis: Symptoms of radicular low back pain may decrease with the conservative treatment outlined above. Give your back and legs six to eight weeks to improve. If surgery is needed after that, it typically provides relief of the leg pain for 85% to 90% of patients. The back pain itself is more difficult to relieve.

* Caution: If an MRI or CT-myelogram does not definitely confirm nerve compression, back surgery is unlikely to be successful.

3. Lower Back Pain with Referred Pain

Lower back pain with referred pain is not as common as axial or radicular back pain. This pain, which does not radiate down the thighs and legs, may be caused by the same conditions that cause axial lower back pain.

* Description: You will usually feel referred pain in the low back area, radiating into your groin, buttocks, and upper thigh. The pain may move around, but it will rarely go below your knee. It often is an achy, dull pain. It tends to come and go. Sometimes it is very sharp, but other times it is only a dull sensation. It can be caused by the identical injury or problem that causes simple axial back pain. Often, it is no more serious.

* Diagnosis: It is very important to have a physician determine whether your pain is lower back pain with referred pain or radicular lower back pain, since the treatment varies considerably.

* Treatment: Once you know for sure that yours is lower back pain with referred pain, you can follow the treatment for axial lower back pain.

* Prognosis: Symptoms of lower back pain with referred pain disappear with time, usually within four to six weeks. If you do not feel better within six to eight weeks, ask your physician if additional testing and/or injections are needed.

* Caution: If your lower back pain is chronic, or so severe it awakens you during the night, you should see your doctor.

You will want to visit http://www.backpainreliefblog.com for more detailed information about lower back pain. Packed with articles about many kinds of back pain, Back Pain Relief Blog offers practical, down-to-earth advice on how to care for your back. Find back pain exercises to avoid back pain and to heal your aching back. Learn what natural remedies are available for back pain relief.

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What is a herniated disc?

Youve probably heard people say they have a “slipped” or “ruptured” disc in the back. Sometimes they complain that their back went out. What theyre most likely describing is a herniated disc. This condition is a common source of back and leg pain.

Discs are soft cushions found between the vertebrae that make up the spinal column (your backbone). In the middle of the spinal column is the spinal canal, a hollow space that contains the spinal cord. The nerves that supply the arms, leg, and torso come from the spinal cord. The nerves from the neck supply the arms and hands, and the nerves from the low back supply the butt and legs. The discs between the vertebrae allow the back to move freely and act like shock absorbers.

The disc is made up of two main sections. The outer part (the annulus) is made up of tough cartilage that is comprised of series of rings. The center of the disc is a jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. A disc herniates or ruptures when part of the jelly center pushes through the outer wall of the disc into the spinal canal, and puts pressure on the nerves. A disc bulge is when the jelly substance pushes the outer wall but doesnt completely go through the wall.

What do you feel?

Low back pain will affect four out of five people during their lifetime. The most common symptom of a herniated disc is sciatica. Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back of one leg. This is most often caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve that exits the spinal cord. Other symptoms include:

Weakness in one leg or both legs

Numbness and tingling in one leg (pins & needles)

A burning pain centered in the low back

Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek medical attention immediately)

Back pain with gradually increasing leg pain.

(If you have weakness in both legs. Seek immediate attention.)

How do you know you have a herniated disc?

Your medical history is key to a proper diagnosis. A physical examination can usually determine which nerve roots are affected (and how seriously). A simple x-ray may show evidence of disc or degenerative spine changes. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is usually the best option (most expensive) to determine which disc has herniated.

Why do discs herniate?

Discs are primarily composed of water. As we become older (after the age of 30), the water content decreases, so the discs begin to shrink and lose their shape. When the disc becomes smaller the space between the vertebrae decreases and become narrower. Also, as the disc loses water content the disc itself becomes less flexible.

While aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of discs, the primary cause of a herniation or bluge is uneven compression and torsion thats placed on the discs.

This uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the spine out of its normal position and then your body is forced to function in what I call a physical dysfunction. Every human being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they cause enough damage to create pain.

The best treatment options

When it comes to treating a herniated disc, there are traditional treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be temporary if at all.

But the major problem with these traditional treatments is that they cant fix or heal a herniated disc as they do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have a surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniated in the first place are still there and if not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs and sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.

Without identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the problem, which is the physical dysfunctions caused by imbalances in muscles, you will likely continue to suffer with this condition and the continuous flare ups for years.

Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists dont spend time or focus on identifying the physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition so most people end up jumping from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer for months or years unnecessarily.

If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or are wondering if your back pain may be caused by a herniated disc, either way you must identify and address the physical dysfunctions that are causing your pain.

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Sciatica symptom relief has been hard to come by for many sciatica sufferers, but a new treatment option is now available that brings fast relief with a minimal risk of side effects to the vast majority of sciatica sufferers.

Sciatica (commonly misspelled as syatica) is an irritation of the sciatic nerve which is formed by nerves that arise in the low back. Most cases of sciatica are caused by herniations or bulges of one or more spinal discs. The spinal discs are soft tissue structures that separate the spinal bones (the vertebrae) and act as shock absorbers.

When a spinal disc is damaged through a single injury or multiple small injuries over time, the outer wall of the disc may not be able to contain the pressure from within and the disc bulges outward into the canals where the spinal nerves exit the spine. This results in compression and irritation of the nerves, which often produces sciatica that begins in the buttock muscles and may travel downward across the back of the leg to the bottom of the foot.

The treatment options for sciatica symptom relief vary depending on the case. The first line of sciatica treatment is usually medication to reduce pain and inflammation. Muscle relaxers may also be prescribed to reduce muscle spasm. Medication may be effective enough to provide relief short-term until inflammation subsides and/or the disc stabilizes. In more severe cases, oral medication may not be effective, and some patients may not be able to tolerate the common side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs and/or the diminished mental alertness seen with pain killers and muscle relaxers.

Steroid injections are often the next line of sciatica symptom relief treatment, and they are used to try to reduce inflammation around the discs and spinal nerves. While steroid injections often provide relief short-term, the long-term effects are less favorable. Due to the fact that the main effect of steroid injections is to reduce inflammation, once those effects wear off, inflammation and the resulting pressure on the nerves often builds up again, and symptoms return. Steroid shots come with a number of side-effects including bone thinning, damage to soft tissues, and suppression of immune function, so doctors limit the amount of steroids used in order to avoid adverse health effects from the treatment.

Surgical treatment is often suggested for sciatica sufferers, and in a few cases it may be the only real option. Surgery has a poor track record (about a 50% success rate overall), and in some cases, symptoms may worsen following surgery. Complications of surgery include problems from post-surgical scar tissue formation and increased stress on adjacent spinal discs which may result in additional problems with other discs in the years following surgery.

Fortunately, there is a new option in sciatica symptom relief that has a high success rate and a very low risk of side-effects. Spinal decompression is a new, advanced form of spinal traction that uses special computerized traction motors to gently and slowly apply a decompressive force to the spine, reducing pressure in the spinal discs. Spinal decompression systems can comfortably create negative pressure (suction) within the spinal discs that can pull disc bulges and herniations back in and away from sensitive nerve structures, as well as increase disc hydration and nutrition to help with disc healing. Unlike the old forms of spinal traction which could be painful due to the traction pull triggering muscle spasm, spinal decompression systems monitor and respond to the body to keep muscles relaxed so the treatment is comfortable and effective.

Preliminary studies have shown a success rate for spinal decompression of 80 to 90%, with the beneficial effects holding up well over the long-term. The one-year recurrence rate post-treatment is less than 5%. While spinal decompression is not appropriate for everyone with sciatica and is not effective in every case, it does represent a big improvement in sciatica treatment.

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Most people can recall some experience with Back Pain or Sciatica during their lives, either as a sufferer themselves or through knowing someone who was. Searching for information you can uncover volumes of advice on lower back pain, upper back pain, sciatica, herniated discs, scoliosis, bulging discs, ruptured discs, fibromyalgia, nerve problems and degeneration, but very little practical advice on back pain treatments and relief from back pain.

The Book Where Does It Hurt? is a unique look at back pain and associated problems and whats more it is FREE!

When you get back pain you want to know how to deal with it fast to get relief and most importantly stop your back pain returning.

Back pain and sciatica seem to baffle the medical profession and subsequently they more often prescribe drugs and surgery or the suggestion that, in time, rest will make it magically disappear. In many cases back pain doesn’t go away with rest or even time. Cases of sciatica can hang around for months and people with common lower back pain or upper back pain have been known to suffer for years.

By reading Where Does It Hurt? you will learn why if you are going to make a significant change to your back pain or sciatica. You are going to need to work on your muscles, ligaments and tendons in a way that allows the vertebrae, discs and nerves to be correctly aligned and under no pressure.

The Book Where Does It Hurt? covers everything you need to know about the muscles, ligaments and nerves and how the body ends up with back pain or sciatic nerve problems.

If you found stretching and exercises haven’t helped your back pain or they irritated your sciatica then you are not alone. Getting effective back pain relief is possible but not the way many of the conventional therapists or doctors will advise.

If you focus on the specific area of your back pain when treating the problem you may achieve a temporary improvement, or you may irritate and inflame the area, but either way you will do nothing to deal with the cause of why the back pain is there in the first place.

This Book will explain why in simple easy to follow language that anyone can understand. It will provide you with more useful information covering lower back pain, upper back pain, sciatica, herniated discs, scoliosis, bulging discs, ruptured discs, fibromyalgia, nerve problems and degeneration, back pain treatments and back pain relief than you would normally pay hundreds of pounds for. It is FREE and you can download a copy here. “Where Does It Hurt?” From http://www.backtrouble.co.uk

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When it comes to low back pain symptoms, it helps to know the causes. While the result may be the same in spite of of the cause, for some causes there are other options for pain relief. Some are temporary while others offer more permanent relief.

The lower back has bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles and disks. Problems can arise with any of these things. Furthermore, in some people, no definite cause is ever found. In those cases, relief is independence from pain.

Strains

The most common reason for low back pain symptoms is damage caused by heavy lifting, a sudden movement that jerked the back a certain way or strained back muscles or ligaments. A muscle spasm in the lower back can also give one symptoms.

Structural Issues

There are some structural things that can cause low back pain symptoms. These include: sciatica, bulging or ruptured disks, osteoporosis and skeletal irregularities of the spine such as scoliosis, and arthritis.

Sciatica is caused by compression of a disk in the spine pressing on a main nerve (sciatic nerve) that runs the length of the leg. It is felt as a sharp, shooting, pain, usually running through the buttock and down the leg. Sciatica can be felt as very severe back pain. Disks that are not functioning the way they should can cause a lot of low back pain symptoms. Disks are supposed to be the cushions between the vertebrae. If the disk bulges or ruptures it can compress the nerve and be very painful.

Osteoporosis is a disease where the bones become brittle and porous. This can lead to an increased risk of fractures of the vertebrae, leading to severe pain in the lower back. If the spine curves in a different way, it can cause low back pain symptoms. One condition where the spine curves to the side is scoliosis. If the spine curves too much in any of its curves, it can cause back pain.

Arthritis in the spine can lead to many low back pain symptoms if the person suffers from spinal stenosis. This is caused by the arthritis narrowing the space for the spinal cord. Arthritis can also be in the hips, hands and knees. All of these conditions, once diagnosed, can be treated properly.

Serious

There are a few rare yet serious conditions that can lead to low back pain symptoms. If there is a tumor on the spine, it can press on the nerve and cause back pain. If there is an infection in the spine, one will have a fever and warmth in the area of the pain. Finally, there is a neurological problem that can affect the nerve roots for the legs and lower back. With this condition (cauda equine syndrome) there will be weakness in the legs, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, and numbness in the saddle or groin area.

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