Best Health And Wellness Info

The exception to the rule of considering surgery as a last resort is in the rare case of severe neurological compromise known as “cauda equina syndrome”, which may be indicated by a loss of bowel and/or bladder control, sudden severe weakness in one or both legs, and/or “saddle anaesthesia” (a loss of sensation in the lower buttocks and inner thighs). Except in the rare instance of cauda equina syndrome though, it is generally better to avoid surgery if possible.

The second mistake sciatica sufferers often make is returning to normal activities too quickly once symptoms improve. The vast majority of true sciatica cases are due to bulging or herniation of one or more discs in the lumbar spine, and the inflammation that typically is associated with such disc problems. In many cases, slight improvements in inflammation can result in dramatic symptom improvement. Many sciatica victims mistakenly believe they are back to normal as soon as they feel better, but the reality is that the bulging/herniated disc is far from fully healed, and too much exertion too soon can easily trigger a recurrence of symptoms - sometimes even more severe than they were to begin with. Even professional physical therapists sometimes make the mistake of pushing a patient to do too much too soon, with the result being a return or increase in sciatica symptoms.

The third mistake people, including doctors, often make regarding sciatica is to view it as a condition that can be “cured”. Because most people continue to engage in the activities that caused the underlying disc problems to develop that produced sciatica in the first place, the vast majority of sciatica sufferers will experience repeated episodes, usually becoming more severe and more frequent over time. This is because the disc problems that produce sciatica will gradually worsen over time if they are neglected. Again, people mistakenly assume that the problem is gone if the symptoms resolve. In fact, what happens in many cases is that the spine and discs gradually degenerate over time, making the person more and more susceptible to sciatica episodes. Eventually, the degeneration can become so severe that there really is no effective treatment, and many people are left with chronic, debilitating pain.

The good news is that for most people, sciatica can be effectively managed long-term with awareness and simple home exercises. Chronic pain and disability can be prevented, but it does take a bit of time and effort to do the appropriate exercises on an ongoing basis and to avoid engaging in those activities that are particularly hard on the spinal discs, such as repeated bending, improper lifting, and poor posture (particularly when sitting). By making the small effort to manage your sciatica, you can avoid big problems in the long-run.

For additional resources, follow this link to my website on sciatica.  There you can sign up to get my free ebook on basic sciatica exercises and my 12-part video series that explains sciatica and the treatment options for it.