Archive for September, 2011

What is Sciatica… and What Causes Sciatica?

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

what causes sciaticaSciatica is the name given to any pain stemming from the irritation of the sciatic nerve. Anything that irritates this nerve can cause pain that ranges from mild to severe; usually, from a compressed nerve root in the lumbar spine. Often, the term “sciatica” is confused with general back pain. However, sciatica is not just limited to the back and sciatic pain often spreads through the thighs, buttocks and legs.

The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the human body. It runs from the lower back, through the buttocks, and down the legs, ending just below the knee. This nerve controls several muscles in the lower legs and allows that area to be sensitive to touch.

It is often confused that sciatica is a condition. That is incorrect, sciatica is not a condition, but rather a symptom of another problem involving the sciatic nerve.

One of the most common sciatica causes is a slipped disc, other sciatica causes include:

  • Lumbar spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the spinal cord in the lower back that may compress the sciatic nerve.
  • Spondylolisthesis – a condition in which a disc may slip forward over the vertebra below it, pinching the sciatic nerve.
  • Tumors within the spine may compress the root of the sciatic nerve.
  • Infection within the spine.
  • Injury within the spine.
  • Cauda equina syndrome – a rare, but serious condition that affects the nerves on the lower part of the spinal cord; it requires immediate medical attention.

 

Sciatica Pain Treatment | Treating Sciatica With Homeopathy

Monday, September 26th, 2011

sciatica pain treatmentTreating Sciatica With Homeopathy |  Ingredients In Sciaticalm

Sciaticalm, a sciatica pain treatment, represents an innovative homeopathic treatment for the debilitating impact and consequences of Sciatica nerve pain.  The following section of this article will present the 7 ingredients of Sciaticalm and demonstrate how each one of them, working in concert will promote inherent abilities to minimize the pain and discomfort associated with Sciatica nerve pain.

Arnica Montana

Arnica (Arnica montana) has been used for medicinal purposes since the 1500s and remains popular today. Applied topically as a cream, ointment, liniment, salve, or tincture, Europeans and Native Americans have used arnica to soothe muscle aches, reduce inflammation, and heal wounds. It is often the first remedy used for injuries such as sprains and bruises.. Arnica is often used in homeopathy, and should be taken internally only in the extremely diluted form common to homeopathic remedies.

Arnica is used topically for a wide range of conditions, including bruises, sprains, muscle aches, wound healing, superficial phlebitis, rheumatic pain, inflammation from insect bites, and swelling due to fractures. Homeopathic preparations are also used to treat sore muscles, bruises, and other conditions caused by overexertion or trauma. Homeopathic doses are extremely diluted. They have no detectable amount of the plant in them and are generally considered safe for internal use when taken according to the directions on the product labeling.

Belladonna
Belladonna has long been used within homeopathic treatments as a mechanism for combatting the painful onset and lingering complications due to inflammation.  Studies have demonstrated the positive impact Belladonna has on treating patients with these specific conditions (Pedallino, 2004). Belladonna or Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade)-the source of the drug atropine belongs to genus Atropa along with two other species (Hunziker, 2001). Although the phylogenetic affinity of Atropa to Hyoscyameae has been controversial for over a century (Hunziker, 2001), however, in a recent study this affinity was conclusively proved (Yuan et al., 2006). The plant Atropa belladonna is surrounded by myth, fear and awe. That this plant contains poison is known from the ancient Greek and Roman civilization to medieval witches, professional poisoners, sorcerers and ultimately in 1830s atropine was isolated from the plant (Lee, 2007). Atropa belladonna is rich in tropane alkaloids, primarily atropine and scopolamine (Talaty et al., 2005).Roots are the major organs of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis and after their formation in roots, tropane alkaloids are transported to the aerial parts of the plant. Putrescine N-Methyltransferase (PMT) is the pivotal enzyme for the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids. The PMT cDNAs were cloned from A. belladonna and were found to encode a protein homologous to spermidine synthases indicating the evolutionary origin of PMT from spermidine synthase. In A. belladonna, PMT is located in pericycle and xylem cells of the root. Root cultures of A. belladonna form the tropine derived alkaloids hyoscyamine, scopolamine and calystegines. While hyoscyamine and scopolamine are also found in other related species to A. belladonna, thus calystegines appear to be the key agent which is present in high concentration to A. belladonna only and thus differentiates biological activities of belladonna from other related plants.
The biosynthetic pathway of tropane alkaloids is very complex. Putrescine first converted into N-methyl putrescine by PMT. N-methyl putrescine yields tropinone. In tropinone I pathway tropinone is converted to tropine, tropine is converted to hyoscyamine and finally converted to scopolamine by the action of hyoscyamine-6-hydroxylase. In the relatively less investigated tropinone II pathway at first there is formation of pseudotropine, which is then converted to calystegine.

Chamomilla

M. Chamomilla is an herbal remedy derived from the dried leaves of the German chamomile plant. This specific homeopathic remedy is believed to be a natural sedative. Furthermore, the oil from this plant has several topical uses for treating skin inflammations.  Supplements such as Roman Chamomilla and and Chamomile have been demonstrated to possess the requisite compounds and properties to alleviate skin inflammation. It contains several classes of biologically active compounds, including essential oils and several polyphenols that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties when applied topically. The principal components of the essential oil extracted from chamomile flowers are the terpenoids ?-bisabolol and its oxide and azulenes, including chamazulene and acetylene derivatives. Terpenoids, bisabolol, and chamazulene have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antipyretic, ulcer-protective, and antifungal properties.
M. Chamomilla has also been reported to have anti-angiogenic properties. A review of numerous homeopathic treatments indicates that specific treatments contained properties that prevented tumors from generating blood vessels and therefore deregulating the delivery of oxygen and other nutrients critical to vital internal organs. Specifically, it was reported that M. Chamomilla was effective in prohibiting such angiogenesis from occurring and assisting standard chemotherapy treatments in causing critical tumor necropathy.

Colocynthis

Colocynthis is native to Turkey but is cultivated in many dry, hot semi-desert areas around the world. The fruit is an orange sized gourd that contains pulp and seed. The seeds are claimed to be nutritional but the pulp and outer skin of the gourd contains a highly poisonous constituent called colocynthin. The plant is very similar to the common cucumber plant which is probably where the name “Bitter cucumber” comes from. Colocynthis people are reserved with a restless and anxious undercurrent which is hard to hide. They tend to bear grudges when humiliated by being disregarded or contradicted and suppress anger and this is normally when the physical symptoms appear. Colic, abdominal pain and other gastric upsets are the main physical symptoms. They may be accompanied by headaches and neck pain and shooting pains in the limbs which are the hallmarks of Sciatica pain.  This quality of Colocynthis renders it a vital component of the overall homeopathic treatment for the disorder.

Gnaphallium

A remedy of unquestioned benefit in sciatica, when pain is associated with numbness of the part affected. Gnaphallium possesses remedial effects for the following conditions, all of which render the homeopath a vital component of Sciaticalm.  Gnaphallium addresses symptoms in the back and extremities. With respect to the back, Gnaphallium specifically addresses chronic backache in lumbar region; better resting on back along with lumbago with numbness in lower part of back and weight in pelvis. Respecting the extremities, Gnaphallium addresses cramps in calves of legs and feet when in bed. Rheumatic pain in ankle joints and legs. Intense pain along the sciatic nerve; numbness alternates with pain. Frequent pains in calves and feet. Gouty pains in big toes. Better, drawing limbs up, flexing thigh on abdomen. Gouty concretions (Ammon benz). Anterior curial neuralgia (Staph). Pain in joints as if they lacked oil. Chronic muscular rheumatism of back and neck.

Magnesia Phosphorica

M. Phosphorica blends a unique mixture of homeopathy and traditional science. Formulated within the laboratory, this ingredient as the widest range of effectiveness on diseases and disorders affecting and emanating from the nervous system. Diseases having their seat in the nerve-fibre cells or in the terminal bulbs of the nerves, in the muscles or in the muscular tissue itself, are cured by this remedy. It corresponds to pains of all kinds with the exception of burning pains; it is especially related to cramping pains. Pains which are darting, spasmodic in character, boring, lightning-like, accompanied by a constrictive feeling. They are often changing in locality, and are relieved by warmth and pressure. It is purely antispasmodic, and hence is curative in cramps, spasms of the glottis, tetanus, epilepsy, spasmodic retention of the urine, paralysis agitans, etc.
It is best adapted to lean, thin, emaciated persons of a highly nervous organization, and prefers light complexion and the right side of the body. Cold in general favors its action exceedingly, whereas heat and pressure interfere with it. Hence the patient is relieved by these. Attacks are often attended with great prostration and sometimes with profuse sweat. The Magnes. phos. patient is languid, tired, exhausted, and unable to sit up, whether he is suffering from acute or chronic affections.

Conclusion

In summation, the clinical benefits of Sciaticalm are demonstrated within this article.  The Homeopathic ingredients have been shown to possess properties that render them effective in combating the hallmark symptoms of Sciatic Nerve pain. The most common symptom, inflammation, is targeted by several of the homeopath’s compounds including Gnaphallium and Colocynthin.  As more analysis and clinical trials are conducted, it stands to reason that the ingredients within Sciaticalm are poised to bring welcomed relief to those that suffer from debilitating sciatic nerve pain.

Article written by Dr. Thomas Latino

Sciatica Remedies | Relaxation Therapy As A Sciatica Remedy

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

sciatic pain remediesSciatica remedies don’t have to be prescription drugs or injections. Simple techniques or remedies such as homeopathy, stretching or relaxing can all greatly improve sciatic pain. Since many of us hold tension, emotion and  pain in our backs, becoming aware of that pain and relaxing into it can help to relieve this tension that becomes low back pain and sciatica. The particular relaxation therapy that is most useful depends on the individual patient.

Different types of relaxation techniques which can be used as a sciatica remedy include:

• Deep Breathing
• Meditiation
• Visualization
• Guided Imagery
• Aromatherapy

Web MD reccomends visualization as a great way to de-stress, especially if you have a racing mind! Check out their tips below:

“Is your mind too talkative to meditate? Try creating a peaceful visualization, or “dreamscape.” To start, simply visualize anything that keeps your thoughts away from current tensions. It could be a favorite vacation spot, a fantasy island, that penthouse in New York City — or something “touchable,” like the feel of your favorite silk robe or cozy sweater.

The idea is to take your mind off your stress, and replace it with an image that evokes a sense of calm. The more realistic your daydream — in terms of colors, sights, sounds; even touch and feel — the more relaxation you’ll experience.”

 

 

Exercises For Sciatica | Pelvic Tilt Stretch

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

There are many different exercises for sciatica, one such exercise is called the pelvic tilt. The pelvic tilt is a stretch that helps to relieve pressure on the lower back and loosen tight muscles. Exercises for sciatica such as stretching, will help to relieve pressure off of the spine therefore improving pain. Read below for instructions on the pelvic tilt, a exercise designed to relieve sciatica pain.

Pelvic Tilt Instructions:

Lie on the floor with your knees bent and together. Keep you feet flat on the floor and squeeze the muscles of your buttocks and abdomen tight, and at the same time press your lower back into the floor. Your pelvis should tilt up slightly and you should feel a stretch. Hold for one second, then relax. Repeat.

exercise for sciatica

For more detailed exercises for sciatica visit our stretching and exercise tips!

 

Sciatica Symptoms : What Are The Symptoms Of Sciatica?

Monday, September 19th, 2011

sciatica symptoms Sciatica symptoms result from sciatica, sciatica is a symptom in itself which often occurs when the sciatic nerve, is impinged, irritated or inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. The position where the sciatic nerve is affected will determine where the sciatica symptoms are felt but it could be anywhere from the lower back to the lower legs, usually only on one side of the body. While there could be a range of sciatica symptoms you might experience, there are some symptoms that are the most common.

With sciatica, you may experience one or more of the following sciatica symptoms:

  • Feeling of cramping in the thighs
  • Extreme pain in the legs that stems from the buttocks
  • Needle like sensations in the thighs and legs
  • Burning sensation in the thighs
  • Difficulty in walking
  • Pain on one side of the body (this pain could be dull, sharp or even shooting)
  • Extreme weakness that can cause difficulty in moving

The above sciatica symptoms may be felt at different levels of discomfort and are often intensified by something specific movements or activities. If you experience pain and discomfort and believe you are feeling sciatica symptoms it is important that you see a professional to determine what is causing the sciatica. Determining the root cause of the sciatica symptoms is the first step in healing your sciatic pain.

 

3 Common Myths About Back Pain | thesciaticafix.com

Friday, September 16th, 2011

three back pain mythsAs you may know there are many common misconceptions about back pain symptoms and the treatment of those symptoms. Below are three common myths about back pain and the facts to back them up!

Back Pain Myth #1: I’m Physically Active, So I Shouldn’t Get Back Pain

Fact: While it’s true that well-conditioned individuals are less likely to have an episode of back pain than sedentary individuals, back pain can affect all people regardless of the level of activity. Some sports are more likely to cause back pain, such as golf, volleyball and gymnastics. In all cases, however, the back should be considered a priority in conditioning, because it creates a stable platform from which the arms and legs work.

Back Pain Myth #2: My father (or mother) had bad back pain and back problems so I’m likely to have it.

Fact: For the vast majority of conditions related to back and neck pain, there is no genetic predisposition, which means that parents do not pass their back conditions onto their children.

Back Pain Myth #3: Back surgery is the best medical option.

Fact: According to a study from The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 90 percent of patients with low back pain will see their symptoms fade on their own within three months. The first course of treatment for patients with low back pain should be non-invasive.

 

OTC Back Pain Treatments: NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

OTC back pain treatments

Which NSAID is right for you?

Sciatica pain medications such as over-the-counter medications include a group of drugs called NSAIDs. The term NSAIDs stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsNSAIDs are a group of drugs that work similarly to one another to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

There is no one “right” NSAID for back pain — you may need to try a few before you can identify the best choice.In addition to aspirin, there are currently several types of over the counter NSAIDs used to treat sciatica and lower back pain:

The three types of NSAIDs most commonly used to treat back pain include:

  • Ibuprofen (brand names: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
  • Naproxen (brand names: Aleve, Naprosyn)
  • Aspirin (brand names: Anacin, Ascriptin, Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin, Excedrin)

Because most episodes of back pain have inflammation as a contributing factor, anti-inflammatory medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is often an effective pain medication treatment option. Some doctors say that it is better to use NSAIDs continuously to build up an anti-inflammatory blood level, and the efficacy is markedly lower if taken only when experiencing pain. Taking the drug regularly in the prescribed/recommended dose may let the drug build up over time in order to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Ibuprofen (Brand Names: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)

Ibuprofen was one of the original non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and is available without a prescription. For patients with back problems, ibuprofen is most commonly recommended to relieve mild or moderate back pain, tenderness, inflammation, and stiffness.

Naproxen (Brand Names: Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, Naprelan)
Naproxen is available in both non-prescription strength (brand name: Aleve) and prescription strength (brand name: Naprosyn). For patients with back pain, it works by reducing proteins that cause inflammation and pain in the body and is commonly recommended for treatment of back pain.

Aspirin (Brand Names: Bufferin, Bayer, and Excedrin)
Aspirin is used to treat mild to moderate pain, and also to reduce fever or inflammation. It is sometimes used to treat or prevent heart attacks, strokes, and angina. Aspirin is sometimes used to treat or prevent heart attacks, strokes, and chest pain (angina). *Aspirin should be used for cardiovascular conditions only under the supervision of a doctor.

 

Researchers Find A Gene Responsible For Chronic Back Pain!

Monday, September 12th, 2011

researcher find pain geneMedical researchers believe they’ve found a way to block the gene responsible for chronic pain! This could prove to be quite helpful for those of us who suffer from severe back aches and sciatica pain. University of Cambridge researchers were able to remove the HCN2 gene from pain-sensitive nerves in mice. They believe that this gene is responsible for evoking the pain itself. It seems they were right! “By measuring the speed that the mice withdrew from different types of painful stimuli, the scientists were able to conclude that deleting the HCN2 gene abolished neuropathic pain,” reports the BBC.

In addition to being common to lower back pain, neuropathic pain is also often seen in patients with diabetes and shingles, and in the aftermath of cancer chemotherapy, according to the BBC.

Professor Peter McNaughton, the lead author of the study and the head of the department of pharmacology at the University of Cambridge, told the BBC there was now hope for these patients.

“Individuals suffering from neuropathic pain often have little or no respite because of the lack of effective medications. Our research lays the groundwork for the development of new drugs to treat chronic pain by blocking HCN2.”

Yes, the research is still only on mice. But its implications, especially for those who suffer from chronic back pain in particular, are extremely encouraging!

Back Pain In Lower Back | Can Yoga Help?

Friday, September 9th, 2011

yoga for back pain in lower back

Can yoga help back pain?

Many people who suffer from back pain, lower back pain and sciatica often look for available methods of at home back pain treatment. Back pain treatments or exercises that can be done at home are beneficial because they are convenient and can yield amazing results in a short amount of time. Many people have considered yoga as a treatment for back pain in the lower back, but ultimately they are skeptical of its actual effectiveness.

 

For all the skeptics:  Read further to learn more about the recent study on back pain in lower back and how Yoga can help!

A recent study of 101 adults with chronic back pain in their lower back was conducted which compared the benefits of yoga, conventional therapeutic exercise, and the information contained in a popular back pain book.

The result were quite obvious, those who took weekly yoga classes for 12 weeks experienced the most increase in function and the biggest decrease in the need for pain medication!

The study was sponsored by the National Institute of Health, and the results will appear in the Dec. 20 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

One thing I found particularly intriguing about this study was that the yoga participants reduced their use of pain medicine more than those in the other two groups… By the end of the 26 weeks, only 21 percent in the yoga class were taking medication for their back pain; 58 percent had been doing so before starting the yoga class!

This study is a great example of what yoga and other forms of mellow exercise can do to benefit our overall well being, both mentally and physically in the case of back pain in lower back.

Back Pain Caused By Childrens Backpacks

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Many parents and students themselves are unaware of the stress they place on their backs due to their over weighted and awkward backpacks. It is extremely important,especially back pain caused by childrens backpacksfor young children, to be careful to not to overload their backs with too much unnecessary weight from backpacks. Backpacks which are too heavy and used daily could severely damage a young persons back beyond repair by adulthood. Below are some easy tips from about.com to help combat back pain caused from backpacks and prevent early back pain in young adults.

Backpack Tips:

  1. limit the weight your child carries in a backpack to 10-20% of his body weight CHECK OUT about.com’s awesome backpack calculator tool here: backpack optimal weight calculator
  2. buy a backpack that has wide, padded shoulder straps and a waste belt
  3. avoid messenger bags and other single strap bags for your child
  4. encouraging your child to wear his backpack over both shoulders
  5. consider using a backpack with wheels
  6. consider having a second set of text books available at home so that your child doesn’t have to carry his books home regularly. Because of the expense, this usually only works if your child’s school is doing it as a general policy, which some are, although they are doing it because they want to eliminate school lockers and not because of backpack safety.
  7. Get your child evaluated by your Pediatrician. Although back pain is becoming more common in older adolescents, it is not as common in younger children and may be a sign of a more serious problem, such as spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, disk herniation, diskitis, a sport’s injury, or a tumor or infection. Don’t assume that your child’s back pain is caused by a heavy backpack, especially if the pain is very severe or persistent or if it lingers even after you lighten your child’s backpack load.

Although there is still much speculation about backpacks relationship with back pain, there was a recent study conducted by the University of California Riverside which determined that backpacks can in fact cause long-term pain for children who wear them.

According to the study published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics, the backpacks could be causing permanent back problems for the students. “This is truly alarming. Research has shown that adults with severe back problems often had pain as kids. You can suffer all your life from this kind of injury,” said lead author Dr. David Siambaes.

Nearly 3,500 middle school students, ages 11 through 15, were reviewed for the study. The research, funded by the Children’s Spine Foundation, involved weighing the students and their backpacks, questioning the students on how they used their backpacks and inquiring about any pain the children had. >>backpacks cause back pain