At some time or another, most of us experience some sort of lower back pain. This can be due to an athletic injury, a twist-and-strain, being overweight (which puts a greater burden on the lower spine), arthritis, a herniated disc, a "pinched nerve," a significant loss of bone density, a torn or strained muscle, a pinched or trapped nerve... If you know the cause of the pain, it doesn't incapacitate you and it rapidly disappears (i.e., after a few days or so), you probably have nothing to fear. Acute and temporary back pain is a part of most people's lives. But chronic, incapacitating back pain of several or more weeks in duration might be indicative of a condition requiring medical attention.
There are several article excerpts, and some links to related articles that may help you to get the help that you need. While I do not endorse self-diagnosis, I do believe that each of us is responsible to 1) learn all that we can about how our bodies work, how to maintain them (wellness and prevention), and what to do in the event that a problem develops, and 2) serve as our own inquisitive, insistent and assertive healthcare advocate. Never let yourself get lost in the "busy healthcare shuffle," or permit someone in a professional capacity to stonewall you or take you less than seriously when you have any question about your health, your treatment, your medications, or any adverse reactions to therapy or medication.
Please read what follows, a portion which appears courtesy of WebMD for those of you who receive Links 4 Life Alerts!:
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to back pain caused by a problem with the sciatic nerve. This is a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks, and leg. Up to 90% of people recover without surgery.Symptoms of Sciatica
The most common symptom of sciatica is lower back pain that extends through the hip and buttock and down one leg. The pain usually affects only one leg and may get worse when you sit, cough, or sneeze. The leg may also feel numb, weak, or tingly at times. The symptoms of sciatica tend to appear suddenly and can last for days or weeks.Sciatica or Other Back Pain?
Up to 85% of Americans experience some type of back pain during their lives. But this doesn't always involve the sciatic nerve. In many cases, back pain is the result of overextending or straining the muscles in the lower back. What most often sets sciatica apart is the way the pain radiates down the leg and into the foot. It may feel like a bad leg cramp that lasts for days.Find out if what you have is sciatica. This requires an examination by a competent healthcare practitioner; sometimes a proper diagnosis might require an x-ray or MRI scan. Remember: You cannot know how to treat a serious or chronic back problem without having the proper diagnosis first. Don't guess -- some "easy home tratments" can worsen the problem tremendously.
You should not have to suffer with constant back pain. Don't. Get the proper diagnosis, and treatment or therapy if required. When you are in pain, your body and your mind are collaborating to tell you that something is not right. Learn to listen to your body.
Forward this article to friends, family and colleagues. We need to take better care of ourselves, and of each other, too.
Wishing you and your loved ones the best of health,
Douglas E Castle [http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/douglascastle]
http://Links4LifeAlerts.com
http://TheInternationalistPage.blogspot.com
http://TheGlobalFuturist.blogspot.com
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