Sciatica
Before discussing treatment options, it is important to understand what exactly is meant by the term “sciatica”. It is an irritation of the sciatic nerve that travels from the lower spine through the buttocks into the thigh, leg and foot. This irritation can be mechanical or chemical and usually results in pain, numbness, tingling, cramps or a burning sensation in any area it is traveling through, as well as, weakness and atrophy in the muscles of the legs, usually on one side.
Sciatica is a fairly common condition, it should be understood however that it is a description of symptoms, not a diagnosis. There are number of conditions that commonly have sciatica as a main symptom. The most common include: a herniated disc, spinal stenosis due to arthritic changes, spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage), osteoarthritis of the spine, and piriformis syndrome.
The diagnosis is made by conducting a physical and orthopaedic examination and correlating the findings with the clinical presentation. Then, a decision is made if further diagnostic testing is necessary such as MRI, CT, X-Ray, nerve conduction studies or EMG.
Once the diagnosis and the structures involved are determined, a correct treatment protocol can be designed to achieve optimal results. The vast majority of people who experience sciatica get better with time and find pain relief with non-surgical treatment. Types of conservative treatments that are available and successful when dealing with sciatica are: chiropractic treatment, McKenzie exercises, neural flossing, myofascial release techniques, acupuncture, activity modification, postural alterations, traction, electric modalities, and stability exercises, or an appropriate combination provided by a regulated health professional. In severe cases of disc herniation or spinal stenosis, surgery or an epidural steroid injection may be the last resort, however conservative treatment should be attempted first for approximately six months prior to that, assuming there is no contraindication to such.
- Low back pain
- Neck Pain
- Headache and Migraines
- Jaw pain and TMJ
- Scoliosis
- Wrist Pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Sports Injuries
- Workplace injuries
- Automobile accident Injuries
- Elbow Pain (Golfer’s Elbow, Tennis Elbow)
- Fibromyalgia
Introduction
You ache all over and often feel very fatigued. Countless tests and examinations by different doctors have not been able to determine what is wrong causing you to feel frustrated and sometimes depressed. If this sounds like you, you may be suffering from fibromyalgia: a condition with a widespread range of symptoms and one that is not well understood.
Fibromyalgia has a way of taking control of your life. It can consume every ounce of energy and influence every moment of your day if you don’t learn ways to manage it. Bay-Bloor Chiropractic will help you to begin to take back control of your life.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder affecting up to 5% of the population, and for which the exact cause is still unknown. The name fibromyalgia comes from “fibro” meaning fibrous tissue (such as tendons and ligaments), “my” meaning muscles, and “algia” meaning pain. It is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons – the fibrous tissues in the body. As a chronic condition, fibromyalgia is ongoing but it generally doesn’t worsen nor does it cause inflammation to the muscles or internal organs. Also, fibromyalgia is definitely not fatal. As you may be experiencing, most patients with fibromyalgia feel like they ache all over. Muscles may feel like they have been pulled or overworked. The muscles affected most are in the shoulders, buttocks, neck, and lower back. Sometimes the muscles twitch and at other times they burn.
Muscles are made of two parts: a fleshy part and tendons. The tendons, which are made up of fibrous tissue, attach the muscle to bones. The fleshy part is what shortens when you contract or “flex”. Ligaments are made of tough tissue and connect bone with bone. The term fibromyalgia means pain of the fibrous tissue: muscle, ligament and tendon. People with fibromyalgia may also experience sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and other syndromes. Generally, fibromyalgia is more common in women of childbearing age (between the ages of 25 to 55), but children, the elderly, and men can also be affected.
The most frustrating aspect of fibromyalgia may be getting your family and friends relate to your condition. To help them understand what you are feeling, have them think back to the last time they had a bad flu. Every muscle in their body ached, and they felt devoid of energy; constantly fatigued.
Who Gets Fibromyalgia?
Although the exact cause of fibromyalgia has yet to be clearly elucidated, several risk factors have been identified that make one more prone to developing the syndrome. Unfortunately, most of these factors are non-modifiable (such as gender, age and family history). The important thing to remember is that although you may not control whether you acquire fibromyalgia, you have several treatment and coping options available to you that can greatly improve the quality of your life. The major risk factors for fibromyalgia include:
- Gender. Fibromyalgia occurs between 70% and 90% more often in women than in men. The exact reason for this remains unknown.
- Age. Fibromyalgia is most commonly seen in women of childbearing age. Thus, it normally develops between the ages of 20 and 55; however it has been known to occur in children also.
- Sleep Abnormalities. It is not known whether disturbed sleep patterns predispose one to developing fibromyalgia, or if they are just one of the many symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Either way, sleep problems and fibromyalgia are closely related and if you have one, you are more likely to have the other.
- Family History. It has been shown that you are more likely to have fibromyalgia if someone in your family (such as your mother) has been previously diagnosed with the condition.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
The cause of fibromyalgia remains elusive, mainly because there are no physical examination or laboratory findings suggestive of a specific diagnosis. Further, muscle biopsies taken from the tender points of fibromyalgia sufferers are inconclusive for any tissue abnormalities specific to fibromyalgia. However, researchers have several theories about causes or triggers of the disorder. A few examples would be an infection, hormonal changes, a car accident, sleep disturbances, immune system abnormalities, muscle tension, and the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or hypothyroidism. These injuries may affect the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia may be associated with changes in muscle metabolism, such as decreased blood flow, causing fatigue and decreased strength. Others believe that fibromyalgia is triggered by an infectious agent such as a virus in susceptible people, but no such agent has been identified. Even if these things don’t necessarily cause fibromyalgia, they may cause changes in your body that can predispose you to a developing fibromyalgia. Since it is believed that there isn’t one single cause of fibromyalgia, a number of factors probably contribute in addition to genetic predisposition.
Treatments for Fibromyalgia
Just as the signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia are very multifaceted, and incorporate different body tissues, so should the treatments. The treatments are very comprehensive and usually involve more than one type of treatment including: chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy etc. With all types of treatment the emphasis is on minimizing symptoms and improving general health. Furthermore, since the symptoms of fibromyalgia wax and wane, treatment is an ongoing process rather than management of a single episode. With the assistance of Bay-Bloor Chiropractic, you should collaborate to construct a unique treatment plan that addresses your particular circumstances. The treatment plan will necessarily evolve as you progress and change. Since individual manifestations of fibromyalgia vary from patient to patient, so do must successful forms of treatment. What works for one patient may not work for another. However, the treatment program at Bay-Bloor Chiropractic typically includes:
- Improving the quality of your sleep
- Exercise Program that includes stretching, strength training and aerobic activities
- stretching
- strength training
- aerobic activities
- Muscle stimulation. Specific electrical stimulation or electrotherapy of nerves and muscles can be effective in relieving muscle tension and pain.
- Chiropractic Care is one of the most often used types of alternative therapy, especially for chronic pain illnesses, such as fibromyalgia. A recent study showed that following four weeks of treatment, 21 patients with fibromyalgia improved compared with control subjects receiving medication alone.
- Lifestyle changes
- Nutrition advice
- Acupuncture. According to the National Institutes of Health, acupuncture to help control pain associated with fibromyalgia may be effective. A recent study confirmed the fact that acupuncture is an extremely useful adjunctive treatment for many patients with fibromyalgia.
- Massage Therapy
- Arthritis and joint pain
- Foot pain
- Knee pain
- Muscle tightness and stiffness
- Shoulder pain
- Stress
- Pain during pregnancy
The muscle strains and back pain of pregnancy are very real and can be more than just a nuisance. The average weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds, combined with the increased stress placed on the body by the baby, can sometimes result in severe discomfort. In fact, studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers will develop low back pain at some point during their pregnancy. This is especially true during late pregnancy, when the baby's head presses down on a woman's back, legs and buttocks, putting pressure on her sciatic nerve. And for those who already suffer from low back pain, the problem can become even worse.
During pregnancy, a woman's centre of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front of her pelvis; the displaced weight still increases the stress on her joints. Further, as the baby grows in size, the woman's weight is projected even farther forward, and the curvature of her lower back is increased, placing extra stress on her spinal disks in that area. As a result, the spine in the upper back area must compensate - and the normal curvature of her upper spine increases as well.
To combat this, during pregnancy, hormones are released that help loosen the ligaments attached to the pelvic bones. But even these natural changes designed to accommodate the growing baby can result in postural imbalances, causing pregnant women to be more prone to awkward trips and falls.
Many pregnant women have found that chiropractic treatment provide relief from the increased low back pain brought on by pregnancy with no increased risk to the pregnant woman or her baby. Chiropractic's non-drug, non-surgical approach to back pain can be especially attractive to pregnant women who are trying to avoid over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Here at Bay-Bloor Chiropractic, we can also offer nutrition, ergonomic and exercise advice that will help you avoid the discomforts of pregnancy.
Chiropractic care can also be helpful after childbirth. In the eight weeks following labour and delivery, the ligaments that loosened during pregnancy begin to tighten up again. Ideally, joint problems brought on during pregnancy from improper lifting or reaching should be treated before the ligaments return to their pre-pregnancy state. In addition, as the upper and lower spine return to normal, muscle tension, headaches, rib discomfort and shoulder problems can result.
Sciatica
Low back pain
Neck pain
Headache and Migraines
Jaw pain and TMJ
Scoliosis
Wrist pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Sports Injuries
Workplace Injuries
Automobile Accident Injuries
Fibromyalgia
Arthritis and Joint Pain
Foot Pain
Knee pain
Muscle Tightness and Stiffness
Shoulder pain
Stress
Pain During Pregnancy
Extra tips for sciatic sufferers
- When sciatic pain is caused by a bulging disc in the lower back, it is often made worse by bending, straining, coughing or sneezing. The lower part of the back feels stiff loses its curve and the muscles along each side of the spine may go into painful spasm. So avoid coughing and sneezing in a bent position
- Avoid continuous bed rest for a prolonged time which slows recovery
- When standing for some time, place one foot higher than the other on a block to transfer your weight
- When shopping move purposefully to your destination - ambling is often more painful.