Sciatica is the term used to describe a set of symptoms including pain in the lower back, buttock, leg and foot, tingling sensations, pins and needles and difficulty in moving the limb; these symptoms are usually felt on one side of the body. Clinically it is referred to as “Radiculopathy” meaning that a disc in the vertebral column has moved out of place and by protruding, puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. You need to clearly understand that Sciatica is a symptom not a medical diagnosis, of something that causes compression or irritation of the nerve root in the low back.

Treatments vary from person to person because the causes of the nerve compression or irritation maybe due to different reasons. This article takes a look at some of the causes of this problem.

* Spinal disc herniation: the spinal discs separate the vertebrae and provide room for the nerve roots to exit through the spaces. Herniation of the disc happens when the liquid center that the disc is made up of bulges outward; to do this it tears through the out ring of fibers, extruding into the spinal canal and compressing the nerve root of the vertebra. This may result in inflammation and swelling of the tissues further compressing the nerve root and causing the pain.

* Tumors: on the spinal cord or nerve roots result in severe back pain that extends to hips and feet and causes muscle weakness.

* Trauma: car accidents or other types of accidents can cause damage to the nerve roots that could result in “Radiculopathy”.

* Spinal Stenosis: narrowing of the spinal canal causes compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots, giving rise to sciatic problems. Anything from bone spurs to inflammation can cause the pain.

* Pregnancy: when the uterus presses on the sciatic nerve or compresses the vertebrae due to the added weight, it could give rise to sciatic nerve pain.

* Personal habits: like sitting on a big wallet that is in your back pocket or even sitting on your feet for long periods of time can give rise to sciatic symptoms.

At the first sign of pain or tingling, it is recommended that you seek medical assistance because Sciatica can be cured.

Just about anyone could suffer from a muscoskeletal dysfunction, and that means you. That also means that you are not excluded from the benefits of chiropractic treatments in Fort Collins. It doesn’t matter if you have a misaligned spine, neck, or other back issues, chiropractic care can help you. There are some that will have worse side effects than others. If you are in Fort Collins and use your body a lot in exercise or at work, then back issues will start to interfere with your everyday life.

Here are a few of the benefits of Chiropractic Care:

? Better Blood Circulation

Acid Reduction

? Better nutrition for the body

Improved flexibility

? Recover faster from any condition

Feeling relaxed

Combination Treatments

It is quite possible to enhance these benefits. You don’t have to rely on the Fort Collins chiropractor alone you know. You can actually combine the treatments that are being given to you by your chiropractor with some natural treatments. Doing this will help you to feel much better overall, and of course you will live a better life.

So let’s talk about getting great results from results that were already good.

Proper body hydration should always be a top priority, even if you are not undergoing chiropractic care. Sometimes we tend to take water for granted, but our bodies are actually about 75% water.

Eat healthy, and if you need to, consult a nutritionist at your earliest convenience.

Exercises such as jogging, stretching, and lifting will help to improve your overall health.

But that’s not all!

There are many people in Fort Collins Colorado that believe that chiropractic care isn’t actually treatment. They might think that it can’t help anything more extreme than a mild headache or slight pain, but it can actually go much further than that and have more benefits than you can possibly imagine.

Pregnant women will experience much easier deliveries.

Babies will have a decreased chance of deformities or conditions early on

Children will have a reduced chance of asthma and bed wetting. It may also extend to other illnesses.

Adults will feel stronger and be more physically fit.

There are so many other benefits to this, including some that will help the elderly and will generally help you to feel better. Ignore the belief that chiropractic care in Fort Collins Colorado doesn’t make a difference. Believe in it and you will have a happier, healthier life.

Back pain is a very common symptom which many people suffer at some point in their lives. Most of the time, they are acute episodes which are self-limiting. However, in some, they can be chronic and debilitating.

Back pain may arise from different structures in the back. Most commonly, they are muscular strains and sprains, from poor posture and lifting of heavy loads. Typically, these muscular pains occur at the most mobile sections of the spine - the neck and lower back.

Listed below are the possible causes of back pain:

• Muscle and ligament strains

• Bone fractures eg. From acute injury, osteoporotic fractures

• Slipped, herniated discs

• Infections of the spine eg. Tuberculosis

• Tumours

Symptoms:

The affected part of the back, most commonly the lower back and neck, may feel anything from a dull, tight ache to an acute stabbing pain. Typically, the pain is made worse by movement, thus restricting mobility and affecting posture.

Symptoms associated with back pain that warrant seeing your doctor urgently would be:

• fever, chills, cold sweats

• weakness, numbness or tingling sensation down a limb, indicating nerve impingement.

• numbness around the anal region or difficulty getting an erection

• bowel or bladder dysfunction

Managing Back Pain:

Most back pains improve with rest during the acute stage followed by incremental strengthening exercises. Staying in bed for too long is not advisable since the supporting muscles of the spine will become weaker with disuse. Weak supporting muscles make the back more susceptible to recurrent injury.

A recent study showed that maintaining regular activities helps patients recover more quickly than bed rest. As such, activity should be resumed as soon as possible whilst avoiding lifting heavy loads.

Tips for taking care of your back:

• Do not sit too much - most of us sit at our desks for far too long, resulting in a stiff back, neck and shoulders. Take 1 minute breaks to stand, walk and stretch for every 30 mins of work.

• Poor posture - slouching, crossing legs, wearing high-heels etc all add up to cause that back pain. Be mindful of your posture at all times. Ensure an ergonomic work station (chair, desk, computer etc)

  Correct posture: back straight, shoulders back, both feet flat on the ground with knees even or slightly higher than the hips.

• Do regular stretching for improved flexibility

• Strengthen your back muscles for more support

• Lose weight if you are overweight. The excess weight you carry puts more strain on your back muscles

• Ensure safe lifting technique.

  (1) Stand close to the load with your feet shoulder width apart

  (2) Tighten your abdominal muscles

  (3) Keep your back straight as you squat down to grasp the object

  (4) Keep the load close to your body and use your legs to stand up, lifting the load off the floor

  (5) Your back should remain straight throughout the lifting process

  (6) Employ the same technique in reverse when putting down the object.