Fitness for Life

   I was recently talking with a friend about our aches and pains. She revealed she was have some excruciating pain on the left side of her upper hip. Her doctor had informed her it was Sciatic pain and gave her some stretches to help alleviate the pain. As we talked I realized how much I didn't know about this condition. 

   So, after some diligent research I realized that no two pains are alike. And like everything, sometimes just being more aware of how you walk, stand or sit can help to identify areas that could be creating potential problems. 

   Sciatica is a nerve pain from the sciatic nerve being irritated. It is the largest nerve in the body and is usually felt from the low back to behind the thigh. It can radiate all the way down below the knee. 

   Next week I'll share with you some stretches you can do to help alleviate some of the discomforts of sciatica. But first I'd like to touch on 6 common lower back problems that cause sciatica.

Lumbar herniated disc       

   A herniated disc is a spine condition that occurs when the gel-like center of a disc ruptures through a weak area in the tough outer wall, similar to the filling being squeezed out of a jelly doughnut. Low back or leg pain may result when the disc material touches or compresses a nearby spinal nerve. A herniated disc is sometimes referred to as a slipped disc, ruptured disc, bulging disc, protruding disc, or a pinched nerve. Sciatica is the most common symptom of a lumbar herniated disc.

Degenerative disc disease

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

   Spinal stenosis occurs when the space around the spinal cord narrows. This puts pressure on the spinal cord and the spinal nerve roots, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs. As we age, our spines change. These normal wear-and-tear effects of aging can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal. Degenerative changes of the spine are seen in up to 95 percent of people by the age of 50. Spinal stenosis most often occurs in adults over 60 years old. Pressure on the nerve roots is equally common in men and women.

Piriformis Syndrome

   Thankfully, Piriformis syndrome is correctable and reversible. The syndrome is caused by a short, tight piriformis muscle. This increase in tension can compromise the sciatic nerve by squeezing or pinching it, leading to inflammation of the nerve causing pain, numbness and tingling down the leg on side of the  muscle affected. Short, tight muscles can come about from a few different situations. When a muscle doesn't get stretched enough a different sequence of muscle  contractions occur creating an altered movement pattern. The altered movement pattern is a sign of muscle imbalance in the body and the tendency for a specific muscle to become overactive and another muscle to become inhibited over time. Subluxation (an altered position of the vertebra) can also create loss of function as well as any type of foot dysfunction.

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

   The SI joints have a cartilage layer covering the bone. The cartilage allows for some movement and acts as a shock absorber between the bones. When this cartilage is damaged or worn away, the bones begin to rub on each other and degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) occurs. This is the most common of SI dysfunctions. Any condition that alters the normal walking pattern places increased stress on the SI joints. This could include a leg length discrepancy (one leg longer than the other), or pain in the hip, knee, ankle, or foot. Pain is usually associated with this joint dysfunction.

Isthmic spondylolisthesis

   This condition occurs when a small stress fracture allows one vertebral body to slip forward onto another. When the disc space collapses it becomes a fracture and with the vertebrae slipping forward, the nerve then can get pinched. The cause of this condition is due to fibrous defects (healed or unhealed stress fractures surrounded by fibrous tissue) in the vertebra which allow the forward slippage of the vertebra over time. These defects occur in an area of the vertebra called the par interarticularis, which is a narrow area of bone between the upper and lower articular processes. A defect in the pars interarticularis represents a condition known as spondylolisthesis. If this condition progresses and the vertebra continues to slip posture, bending, and walking then can become affected.