What is sciatica?
Sciatica is characterized by sharp, intense pain that runs the entire length of the backside of the leg. This can occur when certain nerves become pinched in the lower part of the spine running along the sciatica nerve, which is the longest single nerve in the human body.
Symptoms:
- Strong, shooting pains in the limbs and lower back -Numbness and tingling in the lower extremities -Difficulty moving and exercising
- Feeling stiff and unable to properly move feet -Pain when sleeping
- Throbbing around the thighs, glutes, and low back when sitting or standing for long periods of times
Non-Surgery Solutions:
- Since chiropractic care is the direct interaction with the nervous system, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that chiropractic adjustments can greatly improve sciatica! In fact, a 2010 study in the Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapies found that 60% of patients benefited from chiropractic adjustments AFTER having received failed medical interventions.
- Exercises to strengthen the low back AND the core are very important as well to treating sciatica. A modality therapy along with exercises such as forward fold, cat-cow, and plank can help with your lower back pain. A standard yoga class will incorporate these moves – along with much more – so it is well worth giving yoga classes Christchurch a try!
- Don’t sit for long periods of time. Movement equals life when it comes to your health! Unfortunately, most of us have sedentary jobs that require us to sit for extended periods of time. Try getting a standing desk or utilize a wobble cushion to keep your spine moving throughout the day. After all, 90% of the stimulation that goes to your brain is controlled by the spine directly.
- Lastly, eat a healing and non-inflammatory diet. This may not seem as obvious at first, but chronic and systemic inflammation lead to many underlying pains and diseases. A healing diet consists of things like healthy fats (think coconut oil, olive oil, and ghee!), high quality meats such as grass-fed beef and organic, free range poultry, and finally, reduce grains and sugars as much as possible from the diet. Turmeric is another fun spice to add into the mix due to its anti-inflammatory properties!
If your elderly relative has mobility problems due to sciatica or chronic back pain, they might need someone to provide them with home health care services.