Top 6 Sciatica Symptoms
It is important to understand that sciatica symptoms are not a medical condition in and of themselves. Sciatica symptoms related to back pain is formerly known as lumbar radiculopathy. Lumbar meaning low back and radicular meaning radiating pain and that radiating pain is experienced through the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back all…
4 useful machine exercises for sciatica
If you enjoy the gym and have sciatica this gives you some ideas of gym machine exercises for sciatica. For some the idea of exercising with sciatica may seem like an absolute no no! It is counterintuitive but physical activity is the best medicine for most musculoskeletal ailments and sciatica is no different. Your starting…
Recovering from Sciatica Do’s and Don’ts
One of the most common questions we hear, which we have written about previously is “How Long Will Sciatica Last?”. Recovering from sciatica seems like a near impossible task when it first strikes, and pain is at its most acute. Just moving left or right or sitting or standing is draining. The good news is…
The Fear of Back Pain and Sciatica
The fear of back pain and sciatica can sometimes be as debilitating as the pain itself. Those of you who read my previous blog ‘Pain! The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’ will recall how I described the three types of pain. In summary:- Good pain is the pain we feel from physical exertion that…
3 Ways to Overcome Sciatica Pain While Standing
This was a question I was asked recently by one of my patients who was suffering with sciatica pain while standing after a short period of time, as opposed to most sufferers who get sciatic pain after being seated for a period of time. It turned out that they worked at a local supermarket and…
Keep Sciatica After Gardening at Bay
It is that time of year when sciatica after gardening is a very real risk. Often we are full of the winter blues and chomping at the bit to get out there and start tidying up the garden. Even more so now the garden is the only contact with the outside world for many of…
Sciatica and Coughing
It may seem strange to have sciatica and coughing linked together but anyone who has ever had sciatica and a cough at the same time knows that this can be a terrible combination. Indeed, some people have reported the onset of back pain and the subsequent onset of sciatica following a sneeze or a coughing…
Top ten tips to prevent back pain and sciatica
With over 150 million working days lost each year in the UK due to back pain and 15 million people visiting their GP each year complaining of back pain. Anywhere between 2 to 10% of people with back pain go on to develop leg pain related symptoms commonly referred to as sciatica. What can we…
Coping With Sciatica In Cold Weather
Do your sciatica symptoms get worse whenever the mercury drops? Increased sciatica pain is associated with tense muscles, which are caused by cold temperatures and inactivity. These symptoms can be managed. If you want to cope better with sciatica in cold weather, follow these 7 tips. 1. Keep your home warm This should be…
Tips for exercising with sciatica
When you are suffering from sciatic pain the last thing that springs to mind is exercising with sciatica, but as previous blog posts have shown, exercise is one of the best forms of relief for the condition if it is done correctly. Getting advice from a physiotherapist on therapeutic exercises to help you recover is…
Common mistakes people with sciatica make
Anyone who has ever experienced sciatica will appreciate that it’s not much fun. But, few people know that they could actually be making their symptoms worse. Here are some of the most common mistakes people with sciatica make. Putting up with the pain For various reasons, many people who experience sciatica pain delay seeking treatment…
Can massage therapy ease sciatica pain?
Having sciatica pain can make daily activities like sitting, walking, and standing a challenge. You may experience pain in your lower back, legs, feet, hips, and buttocks. While pain killers can provide temporary relief, you may want to consider getting a massage to ease sciatica pain. Read on to learn how massage is beneficial and…
Sciatica and Sleeping
Getting some sleep when you’re in pain with sciatica can be a frustrating process. Sciatica and sleeping is not a match made in heaven. No amount of tossing and turning seems to do the trick and you’re deprived of the rest you need. But there are some top tips you can follow to make getting…
4 Tips for Sciatica while walking
The natural instinct after experiencing sciatica while walking, when the pain hits you hard, is to take medication and then sit or lie as still as possible and wait for the worst of the discomfort to abate. With the right level of support for sciatic pain, rest can certainly bring relief. However, there is a…
Common myths about sciatica
Several myths exist about sciatica due to the endless information that is posted on the internet. The majority of people believe that sciatica is an illness but it is actually a set of symptoms usually caused by a spinal condition. One of the most common symptoms associated with sciatica is the pain or numbness that…
Spinal stenosis and sciatica
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition that causes compression of the nerves in the spine and occurs when the holes that nerves pass through within the spinal bones narrow leading to constriction of spinal nerves and sometimes the spinal cord. In previous blogs we have talked about different conditions that can lead to sciatica symptoms…
Swimming and sciatica
Many people are unaware that sciatica is considered a symptom of a medical condition, and not a medical condition in itself. Sciatic pain is caused by the sciatic nerve experiencing compression as a result of an underlying disorder. Although sciatica is often associated with back pain, it can also affect other areas of the body.…
Sciatica and cycling
Regular bike riders, motorcyclists and professional cycling athletes may be familiar with the phenomenon of bicycling sciatica. Sciatic pain that specifically affects cyclists can be linked to both physical and psychological sources, and will often include a bit of both for a challenging symptomatic profile. Why is it that sciatica and cycling often come together,…
The 3 stages of sciatica recovery
Sciatica pain is rarely a constant problem for sufferers, rather it comes in bouts. These can be more or less severe, sometimes only causing mild discomfort, other times leading to serious pain and impaired mobility. The road to sciatica recovery comes in three stages. Stage 1: Sitting and lying When suffering from a debilitating and…
Exercises to ease sciatica pain
Sciatica nerve pain can be unpleasant. However, the best part is that it’s possible to alleviate the condition without surgical intervention. Exercise is an excellent way to provide Sciatica pain relief. Lack of movement and exercise deconditions the spinal structures and back muscles. The result is that you’re less able to support the back, which…
Is Sciatica the same as Cauda Equina?
Anyone who has experienced sciatica will be very familiar with the pain that can be experienced down the leg. Sometimes people report pain down both legs. This can happen on occasions but usually the pain alternates from one side to the other. Pain down both legs at the same time is a ‘red flag’ and…