Matthew Burrell N.D.
Naturopath and Neuromuscular Therapist
If your answer is yes, you probably have sciatica.
Your lower back is constantly under load from standing, sitting, and even lying. Unfortunately, the weight bearing structures of your spine, including your bones, discs, and muscles, can become dysfunctional which ultimately leads to nerve irritation and pain.
WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL MECHANISMS OF SPINAL NERVE COMPRESSION AND PAIN?
Each segment of your spine is cushioned by a shock absorbing structure called a disc. Your disc creates space to allow your spinal nerves to travel to their destination. We can think of each disc as a bit like camembert cheese, with a leather like coating on the outside and a soft gooey centre. When the leather like coating is damaged the gooey centre can balloon outwardly (prolapsed disc), or split and allow the gooey centre to ooze out (herniated disc). When this occurs, the nerves exiting through the canals can become irritated compressed causing pain that may radiate along the nerve.
When the radiating pain involves your lower back, buttock, and leg it is called sciatica. As well as disc swelling the muscles surrounding the damaged disc tends to tighten, guarding the affected area from further damage. Which, unfortunately, further compresses the nerve thus increasing your sciatic pain.
There are several factors that put you at greater risk of experiencing sciatic pain.
These include age, excessive weight, careers that involves heavy lifting or long periods of sitting and diabetes. These factors place a greater emphasis on the load bearing structures of the spine and increase the chance of injury resulting in the sharp, burning discomfort that is nerve pain.
WHAT STRATEGIES CAN YOU IMPLEMENT TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF SCIATIC NERVE IMPINGEMENT?
⦁ Hydration is important for the structure of each disc. Have you noticed when you sit in the car in the morning that you may have to tilt the rear-view mirror up but at the end of the day you find yourself adjusting it back down? This may be due to a decrease in height of the discs as a result of a reduction in hydration. Please focus on hydrating your body.
⦁ Reducing your weight particularly around the abdomen will help to reduce the pressure being placed on your lower back.
⦁ Maintaining and improving range of motion to lubricate each spinal segment, will help reduce disc degeneration and help supply all spinal architecture with the nutrients it needs to remain healthy. We have found that this is best initiated using the R-system technique practiced here at Claridge Naturopathics. Thereafter, regular focused stretching is essential.
⦁ Decreasing lumbar muscle tension to reduce nerve compression via biomechanical therapies such as massage and address biochemistry using high grade bioavailable supplementation.
⦁ Practicing good posture.
If you feel that you need some assistance in improving your symptoms of sciatic pain and reducing the chances of recurrence I would love to help.
Please feel free to make an appointment by calling 03 5221 8220.
Take care,
Matt
References:
Davis D, Maini K, Vasudevan A. Sciatica. [Updated 2022 May 6]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507908//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507908/
