Sciatica Tips That Actually Work

Sciatica is a common form of lower back pain. It can be a 'real pain in the butt' for you and those around you. It can limit your activities so that you miss out and so do your family and friends. Sciatica can be helped and help is here...

Simple effective sciatica home treatment, sounds too good to be true doesn't it. Like I said before, you can ease your pain, especially if you don't wait too long. The tips below will help to relieve back pain if you start now.

Tip 1 - in the first 48 hours use ice. Ice will decrease the inflammation present and can stop sciatica before it starts. So put ice on the area for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes and then repeat the process two more times. Ice is only effective for the first 48 hours, so don't delay using it. Ice can be a simple and quick pain reliever in those initial stages.

Tip 2 - Stretch your Piriformis muscle. The Piriformis muscle has the sciatic nerve either running through it or next to it. If the muscle tightens then sciatica is common. To ease your sciatica, you must stretch effectively.

Tip 3 - Balance your Pelvis. The pelvis is like a foundation to a house. If the foundations are in balance, the rest of the house won't creak. The same for back pain. If the pelvis is balanced tension eases off other areas quickly.

(Your pelvis is the most common cause of lower back pain and sciatica It is also commonly left untreated)

Tip 4 - Keep moving. You do not need to move fast but you need to move. If you rest and do not move at all, muscles will tighten quicker. This is why you may pain is worse in the morning after a nights sleep. Once you move your pain can ease considerably.

Tip 5 - As the saying goes, if pain persists seek help. This doesn't necessarily mean consulting a practitioner. But if you have had a fall or injury, you should. Seek help from those who are experts in treating sciatica. Gain their knowledge and expertise to learn simple ways you can eliminate your sciatica with.

Sciatica home treatment is easy if you know what to target, how to target the areas and how to effectively eliminate your pain. Sciatica is a common condition, but you have the tools to make it disappear quickly. All you need to do is follow some simple tips for sciatica home treatment.

Dr Graeme Teague is a back pain expert of almost 20 years experience. With his free eBook, he has helped thousands of sufferers relieve back pain quickly. Head over to his site http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/sciatica.html to read more.

What Is Ortho-Bionomy?

Have you been experiencing pain? Maybe you've got some low back pain, neck pain, or hip pain? How about chronic tension in muscles and joints? Would you like to be able to bend over to put on socks or shoes? Do you want to feel good again? If so, you might be ready to try a type of therapeutic bodywork called Ortho-Bionomy. For several years now I've used Ortho-Bionomy in my San Antonio Massage Therapy and Bodywork practice to relieve pain and stress.

What Is Ortho-Bionomy and How Does It Work?

Ortho-Bionomy is a non-invasive, gentle, and very powerful type of therapeutic bodywork. Ortho-Bionomy works with the body's own self-corrective reflexes to effectively relieve acute and chronic pain, chronic tension patterns, and stress. Ortho-Bionomy is done most often with the client relaxing fully clothed on a comfortably padded table while the Ortho-Bionomist performs releases by positioning the client's body and joints in positions of comfort then applying gentle motions and/or compression. The result of an Ortho-Bionomy session is less pain, reduced muscle tension, greater circulation, greater flexibility, and an overall sense of wellness and relaxation.

Where Did Ortho-Bionomy Come From?

Ortho-Bionomy, both the name and the body of work, is based on the work of Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls. Dr. Pauls was an Osteopathic Physician and Judo instructor. After a presentation of the work of Dr. Laurence Jones regarding "Spontaneous Release By Positioning", Dr. Pauls became fascinated with the body's self-corrective reflexes. He drew upon his knowledge of Osteopathy, Homeopathy, and Judo to find ways to work with the body instead of attempting to force change. After several years of work and experimentation Dr. Pauls began teaching Ortho-Bionomy in the U.S. and Europe. Today Ortho-Bionomy is taught and practiced around the world.

What Can Be Treated With Ortho-Bionomy?

Ortho-Bionomy is generally used to treat various painful conditions, postural distortions, chronic tension and stress. That covers a lot of ground doesn't it? As a Licensed Massage Therapist who has studied Ortho-Bionomy for some time I've used Ortho-Bionomy to successfully treat:

1. Back Pain - low back and upper back
2. Neck Pain including whiplash
3. Hip and Knee Pain
4. TMJ Dysfunction - Jaw Pain
5. Headaches and Migraines
6. Shoulder Pain and Rotator Cuff issues
7. Leg Length Discrepancy and Functional Scoliosis
8. SI Joint Pain and Sciatica
9. Chronic Stress and Tension

...and more.

As you can see, Ortho-Bionomy is effective in treating a wide range of complaints. However, while Ortho-Bionomy is very gentle, non-invasive, and compatible with all healing systems you should consult with your physician prior to receiving an Ortho-Bionomy session or any other form of massage or bodywork. Ortho-Bionomy practitioners welcome working in conjuction with your health care team.

Where Can I Get An Ortho-Bionomy Session?

If you're in San Antonio, Texas or the surrounding area you can get an Ortho-Bionomy session from me at my Massage Therapy and Bodywork practice Massage By Ben. If you don't live in the San Antonio area you can find an Ortho-Bionomy practitioner near you by contacting the Society of Ortho-Bionomy International at Ortho-Bionomy.org where you will find listings of practitioners around the world.

Ortho-Bionomy is a registered trademark of the Society of Ortho-Bionomy International (SOBI) and is used with permission.

Author Resource: Ben Crabtree is a Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Neuromuscular Therapist in San Antonio, Texas. His practice is dedicated to relieving pain through the use of several massage and bodywork techniques. See his site MassageByBen.com or SOBI

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Common Causes of Lower and Upper Back Pain

Lower back pain, as well as middle back pain and upper back pain, can be caused by several factors, which can be either chronic or acute. Acute back pain is usually related to a recent occurrence, and chronic back pain is one that has been present for an extended amount of time.

To determine what type of back pain you have, the first thing to ask yourself is how long the pain has been occurring. This will answer the question as to whether you suffer from acute or chronic back pain, which will then aid you in developing a back pain treatment.

Lower back pain factors

Two common causes for lower back pain are muscle imbalance and trauma, such as an injury. An imbalance in muscles means that muscles which are used frequently become weak, while unused muscles stay strong. This causes sharp back pain and discomfort until a balance is established once again. Trauma in muscles comes from overuse and overextension, resulting in pain and injury. Pain and poor movement can be a result of unused or overused muscles.
Poor posture has been known as a direct link to chronic back pain. This is caused from misalignments of the spine and pelvis. It causes increased stress on the muscles, joints, and the ligaments. Stretched out, weak, and stressed muscles cannot give adequate support to the spine in order to achieve good posture. There is a scientifically designed product, called The Turtle, which relieves back pain by allowing body pressure to create the correct curvature. When placed behind your lower back area, The Turtle relieves back pain and naturally gives you gives good posture.

Upper back pain causes

Typical causes of upper back pain are pulled muscles, arthritis, or disc related problems. Upper back pain is similar to lower back pain, except for the ways in which it affects your ability to function. Lower back pain tends to be a steady and underlying pain, while upper back pain and neck pain make it difficult to move around. With upper back pain, performing simple tasks, such as getting dressed and driving a car, become uncomfortable. The neck and upper back regions are very complex in joint interaction and can make daily activities very painful.
Scoliosis is a source of back pain that is caused by an improper curvature of spine, and it is usually developed early in life. It may be hereditary or caused by bone abnormality. As you grow older, back pain commonly increases, and surgery may be required. Using The Turtle would be beneficial and effective in relieving this type of back pain as well, however, bracing the back has been common for treatment.

Spondylolisthesis, Herniated Disc, Piriformis Syndrome, and Spinal Stenosis are conditions that cause sciatica, which sends pain down the back of your leg from your lower back. This commonly means that something is putting a pressure on the sciatic nerve. The degree of severity varies and should be diagnosed and treated by your doctor.
Other more common causes of upper back pain and lower back pain are very easily controlled. Not getting enough exercise can cause your muscles to become weak and result in chronic back pain. Yoga has been known to offer back pain relief when performed regularly. Also an unhealthy diet can contribute to having back and neck pains.

Taking charge of your back pain

Regardless of the source of back pain, be it upper or lower and chronic or acute, it is important to note that life does not have to include back pain. Pills are not able to relieve pressure from a nerve or make a difference in the curve of your lower back. However, unique and effective back treatment devices, such as The Turtle, can. Using The Turtle can help achieve a postural balance that not only relieves back pain, but can even prevent and cure the imbalance, letting the sufferer get back to performing activities that they love and allowing them to once again enjoy life.

Author Resource: David Gervase is an expert in health and wellness supplements and products. For more information relieving back pain with the Turtle, please visit www.USATurtle.com.

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Piriformis Syndrome and Massage Therapy

In my San Antonio, Texas based Massage Therapy and Bodywork practice I often treat pain from various syndromes including Piriformis Syndrome. Like many painful conditions Piriformis Syndrome responds quite well to massage therapy and bodywork.

What is Piriformis Syndrome?

Piriformis Syndrome is the name of a painful nerve entrapment condition in which the sciatic nerve is placed under abnormal pressure by the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle attaches to the sacrum bone of the low back to the top of greater trochanter of the femur (thigh bone) and lies on top of the sciatic nerve. When the piriformis muscle becomes tight and enlarged, pain results from myofascial trigger points (knots) in the muscle, pressure on the sciatic nerve, and sometimes from the S-I Joint in the low back. Pain from Piriformis Syndrome is usually found in the extreme low back, buttocks, hip, and often the back of the thigh. Most of the time the symptoms are on one side, but may affect both sides in some cases. Additionally, people with Piriformis Syndrome often have trouble sitting for long periods and the pain may worsen when walking or squatting.

What is the cause of Piriformis Syndrome?

There are a number of causes for Piriformis Syndrome including direct blunt trauma to the buttocks, prolonged sitting while working or driving, Morton's foot, or S-I Joint instability. Frequent or prolonged running on canted surfaces and participation in sports requiring quick lateral movement such as tennis, skiing, and basketball may also overstress the piriformis muscle and lead to Piriformis Syndrome.

Massage Therapy and Bodywork for Piriformis Syndrome

There are many ways that massage therapy and bodywork can be used to treat Piriformis Syndrome. The massage therapist will employ a number of techniques to relieve the condition. For example the massage therapist may use Neuromuscular Therapy or Trigger Point Therapy to eliminate myofascial trigger points in the piriformis muscle. The massage therapist could also use Myofascial Release techniques or Deep Tissue Massage techniques to release adhesions between the piriformis muscle and surrounding tissues while also using Muscle Energy Techniques to gently lengthen the piriformis muscle. Piriformis Syndrome also responds well to positional release therapies such as Ortho-Bionomy which work with the body's nervous system to release muscles and improve joint movement in the area. In addition to working on the piriformis muscle it may be necessary to provide therapy for other muscles near piriformis and even to muscles opposing piriformis to improve muscular balance. Comprehensive treatment with massage and bodywork, in conjunction with a home program of stretching and exercise, usually helps to completely resolve Piriformis Syndrome.

Other Treatments for Piriformis Syndrome

While massage therapy and bodywork are an excellent treatment for Piriformis Syndrome there are other treatments you should discuss with your physician:

Anti-inflammatory medications
Anesthetic and Steroid Injections
Surgery

Other Names for Piriformis Syndrome

Pseudosciatica
Back Pocket Sciatica
Deep Gluteal Syndrome
Hip Socket Neuropathy

The information on this page has been provided for information purposes only. It is not meant to provide a medical diagnosis, only a licensed physician may diagnose Piriformis Syndrome. If you feel that you have the symptoms of Piriformis Syndrome please see your physician for a proper diagnosis and plan of treatment which may include massage therapy and bodywork. There are a number of more serious conditions that resemble Piriformis Syndrome that could require immediate medical attention.

If, after consulting your physician, you would like to pursue treatment of Piriformis Syndrome with Massage Therapy and Bodywork please contact me at my San Antonio Massage and Bodywork practice or contact a Massage Therapist near you.

Author Resource: Ben Crabtree is a Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Neuromuscular Therapist in San Antonio, Texas. His practice is dedicated to relieving pain through the use of several massage and bodywork techniques. See his site MassageByBen.com or his blog.

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