three signs that your knee pain may be originating in your back

Just about everything you think you know about your knee pain probably is wrong. Most physicians hold fast to what they learned in medical school, but the science of medicine is constantly evolving—finding less invasive ways to treat our ailments and discovering the root causes of our pain.

An important thing to understand is that what hurts is not necessarily the problem, but a symptom of the problem. If your knee pain isn’t the result of traumatic injury, a strong possibility exists that it could be caused by a problem in your back. Not determining the root cause of your pain could lead to an unnecessary knee replacement that doesn’t address the source of the pain. Research studies consistently show an unacceptably high percentage of patients continue to have chronic pain after knee-replacement surgeries.

Your back houses the nerves that drive the muscles around the knees. A problem with a nerve in your back can affect how those muscles work. Low-level nerve irritation usually isn’t noticed by patients as back or leg pain. It just causes the muscles to misfire, destroying the otherwise needed protection for the knee joint.

There are three signs that your back could be causing your knee pain.

1. knee pain accompanied by back pain
If you have acute or chronic knee pain, mentally and purposefully scan for other pains or discomforts that accompany it. These pains or discomforts may seem completely unrelated, but consider them anyway. Back pain can be related to knee pain simply based on the phenomenon of referred pain. The nerves to the lower extremities branch directly off the lower spine. So it’s easy to see how a pinched nerve, perhaps due to a bulging lumbar disc in the lower back, could direct pain down that nerve branch and into the knee. Maybe you travel for a living and spend a lot of time on airplanes, or maybe you have a desk job and don’t get up and move around like you should. Sitting reduces the disc height and increases the disc bulge by pushing water out of the disc. If you sit a lot, and you have both back and knee pain, it’s possible the knee pain is due to your back. You might not even consider your back discomfort to be pain. It may just be a little tense or tight. It could be very mild, but don’t discount it. Before deciding on a major knee surgery, you owe it to yourself to have even the mildest back discomfort investigated to determine if it’s causing your knee pain.

2. tightness in the hamstrings
Ever see people in the gym every day using a foam roller to massage and relax their hamstrings? These people can never seem to get permanently rid of the tightness. If this is you, there’s a reason this is happening, and it’s not good for your knees. The L5 nerve travels from the lumbar spine and down the outside hamstring muscle to power the biceps femoris. Hamstring pain or tightness that won’t go away despite repeated stretching is one of the first signs in the lower extremity that there could be a nerve issue in your back causing knee pain.   When the hamstrings become tight, painful, or inflamed, this will impact how the knee joint works. After a few weeks of hamstring tightness, the meniscus will begin to suffer and your body will attempt to repair it by mobilizing the stem cells in your knee and other inflammatory cells in the body. Since the trauma will be constant and ongoing, the cells’ efforts will be futile, and the swelling will live there until the root cause is addressed.

3. bunion formation
This may seem odd, but bunions can be a direct result of back issues. Where there are bunions and back issues, there is probably knee pain. The L5 spinal nerve goes to the muscles that help support the inside of the foot, while the S1 nerve goes to muscles that support the outside of the foot. When the nerve is stressed or injured, the muscles that support the outside of the foot as you walk, run, or stand won’t be able to do their job. This will cause the foot to pronate, forcing a misalignment in the main tendon and leading to an unnatural tilting of the big toe joint. This tilting of the toe joint creates pressure in the joint, where bunions, or bone spurs, can form. When you develop a bunion, it’s important to find its source. There’s a good chance your back is the culprit.

“Could Your Back Be Causing Your Knee Pain?” first appeared as a post on the Regenexx blog.
Like all medical procedures, Regenexx procedures have a success and failure rate.
Not all patients will experience the same results.

Can Your Lower Back Cause Knee Pain?

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Just about everything you think you know about your knee pain is probably wrong. This is because so much of what you hear is based on a surgical and old-school impression of the musculoskeletal system.

Most physicians hold fast to what they learned in medical school, but the truth is, the science of medicine is constantly evolving, finding less invasive ways to treat our ailments, and discovering the root causes of our pain.

Can Your Back Cause Knee Pain?

An important thing to understand is that what hurts is not necessarily the problem, but a symptom of the problem. For knees, the first thing to consider if knee pain isn’t the result of traumatic injury is, are issues in your back causing your knee pain?

Not determining the root cause of your pain could sadly result in a shiny, new (and unnecessary) knee replacement that doesn’t actually address the source of your pain (1). And as we’ve seen in research studies, an unacceptably high percentage of patients still have chronic pain after knee replacement (2).

Learn about Regenexx procedures for knee conditions.

How Are the Lower Back and Knee Pain Connected?

Your back houses the nerves that drive the muscles around the knees. Hence, a problem with a nerve in your back can impact how those muscles work. Low-level nerve irritation usually isn’t noticed by patients as back or leg pain. It just causes the muscles to misfire, destroying the otherwise needed protection for the knee joint.

Given the importance of nailing down the actual source of your pain, you need to know the 3 signs that it could be your back causing your knee pain.

What Are the Signs Your Back Is Causing Your Knee Pain?

1. Both Lower Back and Knee Pain

If you have acute or chronic knee pain, mentally and purposefully scan for other pains or discomforts that accompany it. These pains or discomforts may seem completely unrelated, but consider them anyway.

Back pain can be related to knee pain simply based on the phenomenon of referred pain. The nerves to the lower extremities branch directly off the lower spine. So it’s easy to see how a pinched nerve, perhaps due to a bulging lumbar disc in the lower back, could direct pain down that nerve branch and into the knee.

If you sit a lot—maybe you travel for a living and spend a lot of time on airplanes, or maybe you have a desk job and don’t get up and move around like you should—sitting reduces the disc height and increases the disc bulge by pushing water out of the disc. So if you sit a lot, and you have both back and knee pain, it’s possible the knee pain is due to your back.

You might not even consider your back discomfort to be pain. It may just be a little tense or tight. It could be very mild, but don’t discount it. Before deciding on a major knee surgery, you owe it to yourself to have even the mildest back discomfort investigated to determine if it’s your back causing your knee pain.

2. Tightness in the Hamstrings

Ever see people in the gym every day using a foam roller to massage and relax their hamstrings? These people can never seem to get permanently rid of the tightness. If this is you, there’s a reason this is happening, and it’s not good for your knees.

The L5 nerve travels from the lumbar spine and down the outside hamstring muscle to power the biceps femoris. Hamstring pain or tightness that won’t go away despite repeated stretching is one of the first signs in the lower extremity that there could be a nerve issue in your back causing knee pain.

When the hamstrings become tight, painful, or inflamed, this will impact how the knee joint works (3). So not only is the knee affected directly by the nerve but also by the adjustments you might make in how you move to compensate for the stressed hamstring.

After a few weeks of hamstring tightness, the meniscus will begin to suffer and your body will attempt to repair it by mobilizing the stem cells in your knee and other inflammatory cells in the body. Since the trauma will be constant and ongoing, the cells’ efforts will be futile, and the swelling will live there until the root cause is addressed.

3. Bunion Formation

A7880S/Shutterstock

Bunions? Really? You might wonder what in the world bunions have to do with your back; however, bunions can be a direct result of back issues, and where there are bunions and back issues, there is probably knee pain.

When there’s a problem in the back, this can cause the stabilizing muscles of the foot to weaken and lead to bunions. The L5 spinal nerve goes to the muscles that help support the inside of the foot, while the S1 nerve goes to muscles that support the outside of the foot.

When the nerve is stressed or injured, the muscles that support the outside of the foot as you walk, run, or stand won’t be able to do their job. This will cause the foot to pronate, forcing a misalignment in the main tendon and leading to an unnatural tilting of the big toe joint. This tilting of the toe joint creates pressure in the joint, where bunions, or bone spurs, can form.

When you develop a bunion, it’s important to find its source. There’s a good chance your back is the culprit.

The upshot? It won’t do you any good if we just treat your knee pain with a knee stem cell injection if it’s an issue in your back causing your knee pain. It may provide some slight temporary relief, but it won’t fix your problem. Likewise, it won’t do you any good if a surgeon cuts out your knee and replaces it when the knee isn’t the true source of your pain (4).

To find out if you might be a candidate for a Regenexx procedure, complete our Regenexx Procedure Candidate Form online.

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References

(1) Metsna V, Vorobjov S, Märtson A. Prevalence of anterior knee pain among patients following total knee arthroplasty with nonreplaced patella: a retrospective study of 1778 knees. Medicina (Kaunas). 2014;50(2):82-86. doi:10.1016/j.medici.2014.06.001

(2) Beswick AD, Wylde V, Gooberman-Hill R. Interventions for the prediction and management of chronic postsurgical pain after total knee replacement: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. BMJ Open. 2015;5(5):e007387. Published 2015 May 12. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007387

(3) Kumar D, Subburaj K, Lin W, et al. Quadriceps and hamstrings morphology is related to walking mechanics and knee cartilage MRI relaxation times in young adults. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2013;43(12):881-890. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4486

(4) Kahn TL, Schwarzkopf R. Does Total Knee Arthroplasty Affect Physical Activity Levels? Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.  J Arthroplasty. 2015;30(9):1521-1525. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2015.03.016

Join us for a free Regenexx Spine Webinar Chris Centeno, MD is a specialist in regenerative medicine and the new field of Interventional Orthopedics. Centeno pioneered orthopedic stem cell procedures in 2005 and is responsible for a large amount of the published research on stem cell use for orthopedic applications. View Profile

If you have questions or comments about this blog post, please email us at [email protected]

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Pinched Nerve (Compressed Nerve): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Nerves extend from your brain and spinal cord, sending important messages throughout your body. If you have a pinched nerve (nerve compression) your body may send you warning signals such as pain. Don’t ignore these warning signals.

Damage from a pinched nerve may be minor or severe. It may cause temporary or long-lasting problems. The earlier you get a diagnosis and treatment for nerve compression, the more quickly you’ll find relief.

In some cases, you can’t reverse the damage from a pinched nerve. But treatment usually relieves pain and other symptoms.

Causes of Pinched Nerves

The term “pinched nerve” describes one type of damage or injury to a nerve or set of nerves. A pinched nerve happens when there is “compression” (pressure) on a nerve.

The pressure may be the result of repetitive motions. Or it may happen from holding your body in one position for long periods, such as keeping elbows bent while sleeping.

Nerves are most vulnerable at places in your body where they travel through narrow spaces but have little soft tissue to protect them. Nerve compression often occurs when the nerve is pressed between tissues such as:

For example, inflammation or pressure on a nerve root exiting the spine may cause neck or low back pain. It may also cause pain to radiate from the neck into the shoulder and arm (cervical radiculopathy). Or pain may radiate into the leg and foot (lumbar radiculopathy or sciatic nerve pain).

These symptoms may result from changes that develop in the spine’s discs and bones. For example, if a disc slips out of place or protrudes — known as a herniated disc — pressure can get put on a spinal nerve.

Nerve compression in your neck or arm may also cause symptoms in areas such as your:

This can lead to conditions such as:

These injuries may range from minor temporary damage to a more permanent condition. If nerve compression lasts a long time, a protective barrier around the nerve may break down. Fluid may build up, which may cause:

• Swelling
• Extra pressure
• Scarring

The scarring may interfere with the nerve’s function.

Symptoms of Pinched Nerves

With nerve compression, sometimes pain may be your only symptom. Or you may have other symptoms without pain.

These are some of the more common symptoms of compressed nerves:

• Pain in the area of compression, such as the neck or low back
• Radiating pain, such as sciatica or radicular pain
• Numbness or tingling
• “Pins and needles” or a burning sensation
• Weakness, especially with certain activities
• The feeling of having a foot or hand “fall asleep. ” 

Sometimes symptoms worsen when you try certain movements, such as turning your head or straining your neck. Early diagnosis is important to prevent further damage or complications. A pinched nerve is a common cause of on-the-job injury.

Treatment for Pinched Nerves

How long it takes for symptoms to end can vary from person to person. Treatment varies, depending on the severity and cause of the nerve compression.

You may find that you benefit greatly from simply resting the injured area and by avoiding any activities that tend to worsen your symptoms. In many cases, that’s all you need to do.

If symptoms persist or pain is severe, see your doctor. You may need one or more types of treatment to shrink swollen tissue around the nerve.

In more severe cases, it may be necessary to remove material that’s pressing on a nerve, such as:

• Scar tissue
• Disc material
• Pieces of bone

Treatment may include:

NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may reduce swelling.

Oral corticosteroids. These are used to reduce swelling and pain.

Narcotics. These are used for brief periods to reduce severe pain.

Steroid injections. These injections may reduce swelling and allow inflamed nerves to recover.

Physical therapy. This will help stretch and strengthen muscles.

Splint. A splint or soft collar limits motion and allows muscles to rest for brief periods.

Surgery. Surgery may be needed for more severe problems that don’t respond to other types of treatment.

Work with your doctor to find the best approach for treating your symptoms.

What Is the Outlook for a Pinched Nerve?

With treatment, most people recover from a pinched nerve. But in some cases, the damage is permanent.

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Nerve Pain in Knee | Armor Physical Therapy

You have nerves in almost every part of your body, and they allow signals to be sent to and from the brain. However, nerves can also be irritated or pinched, which can lead to pain. 

The knees are one area of the body that often become painful, and medical studies show that up to 25% of adults are affected by frequent knee pain. A nerve problem is one issue that can lead to pain in the knees. Fortunately, a physical therapist can help you learn about common problems that trigger nerve pain in the knees, and they can help you treat your knee pain as well. 

These three issues commonly cause nerve pain in the knees

A few issues that often lead to nerve-related knee pain are: 

1. Sciatica — This issue occurs when the sciatic nerve that runs from your lower back to your feet is pinched or irritated. The most common symptom of sciatica is a burning or shocking pain that can run down the entire length of the affected nerve.  

2. Knee ligament injuries — A branch of the sciatic nerve, called the peroneal nerve, runs around the outside of the knee. Injuring a knee ligament can lead to inflammation in knee soft tissue. In turn, the inflammation can cause the peroneal nerve to be pinched and add to the pain you feel in your knee. 

3. Common daily activities — There are other ways that the peroneal nerve could be pinched or irritated. Many of these are activities that people do every day. For instance, crossing your legs at the knee can cause the peroneal nerve to be pinched. Also, people who spend a lot of time squatting down have a higher risk of pinching this nerve. 

What can a physical therapist do to treat nerve pain in your knees?

There are many therapy methods that a physical therapist can use to address nerve-related knee pain. Some of the techniques that your therapist might use to help you include: 

• Therapeutic exercises intended to strengthen muscles around the knee and take pressure off the pinched nerve.  

• Gait evaluation designed to reveal walking or running stride issues that could be triggering your nerve problem. 

Armor Physical Therapy offers treatment options for nerve pain in the knees

Experiencing nerve pain in one of your knees? Our team of specialists at Armor PT is ready to help you find effective treatment for your pain. We can perform a free screening on you that’s designed to pinpoint the source of your knee pain. Next, our physical therapists can create a personalized therapy plan intended to reduce your pain and prevent it from returning in the future. 

Not able to come into one of our clinics because of your pain? No worries! Our team offers services you can use right from your home, including at-home care and virtual therapy. 

Contact us today for more information about our knee pain treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment.

Pinched Nerve Symptoms & More

The symptoms of pinched nerves range from nonexistent to severe and debilitating. This can depend on the location of the pinched nerve, amount of compression, and cause of the pinched nerve. Pinched nerves occur most frequently in the cervical and lumbar spine due to their range of motion, but more frequently affects the latter.

Cervical Pinched Nerve (Neck)

Spinal nerves that exit in the cervical region are directly involved in the function of the shoulders, arms, and hands, meaning that pinched nerves in this region will create symptoms in those locations. Typically, symptoms from a pinched nerve will only produce unilateral symptoms, symptoms that occur on one side of the body. Symptoms usually manifest as a sharp shooting or throbbing pain, numbness, tingling, or decreased sensation. Pain is experienced in the body part that the pinched nerve is involved in the function of. For example, weakness in the deltoid muscle while raising your arms from your sides could indicate a pinched nerve at the C4-5 level. Other potentially affected muscles include the bicep, triceps, wrist, and hand muscles.

C4-C5 Pinched Nerve: The C5 nerve root is responsible for the deltoid muscle which sits on top of the shoulder, outside of the upper arm. A pinched nerve at the C4-5 level would cause shoulder pain and possibly weakness of the deltoid muscle.

C5-C6 Pinched Nerve: The C6 nerve root is responsible for the bicep and wrist extensor muscles. The bicep bends the elbow and the wrist extensors allow for pulling the wrist back to put the palm up. A pinched nerve may cause weakness at one or both muscles groups with pain that may radiate down the thumb side of the arm.

C6-7 Pinched Nerve: The C7 nerve root is responsible for the triceps and flexors of the wrist. The triceps straighten the elbow and the wrist flexors bend the wrist to bring the hand closer to the forearm. A pinched nerve may cause weakness at one or both muscle groups. Pain may radiate down the back of the arm and into the middle finger.

C7-T1 Pinched Nerve: The C8 nerve root is responsible for flexion of the fingers, such as with making a fist. A pinched nerve may cause a weakened grip with pain that radiates into the pinky side of the arm.

Localized pain symptoms from a pinched nerve may include neck pain, neck stiffness, decreased range of motion in the neck, and headaches.

Thoracic Pinched Nerve (Mid Back)

The spinal nerves from the thoracic spine are involved with the function of the chest and abdomen. The exception is with the first thoracic nerve, which is also responsible for the ring and pinky fingers. A pinched nerve at the thoracic levels may cause pain and/or numbness in the back, chest, abdomen, and/or the ring and pinky finger. The nerves from the thoracic spine run directly above each rib. These nerves supply sensation to the torso and motor strength to the intercostal and abdominal muscles. Symptoms of pinched nerves typically unilateral, or only occurring on one side of the body.

T1-T2 Pinched Nerve: The T1 spinal nerve is responsible for the ring and pinky fingers and the area at the first rib. A pinched nerve may cause pain in the back or chest at the first rib, or pain in the ring and/or pinky fingers.

T2-T6 Pinched Nerve: The T2 through T6 spinal nerves are responsible for the intercostal muscles and skin on the thorax, corresponding to the rib that it is numbered. A pinched nerve may cause pain in the back or chest at the corresponding rib.

T7-T12 Pinched Nerve: The T7 through T11 spinal nerves are responsible for the intercostal muscles of the corresponding rib, skin on the thorax, and the abdominal muscles. A pinched nerve may cause pain in the back, chest, or abdomen.

T12-L1 Pinched Nerve: The T12 spinal nerves are responsible for the abdominal muscles and the skin over the buttocks. A pinched nerve at this level may cause pain into the buttocks or over the abdomen.

Localized symptoms of pinched nerve in the thoracic spine may include pain or stiffness of the midback. As there is little range of motion in this portion of the spine, no changes in range of motion would be noticed.

Lumbar Pinched Nerve (Lower Back)

Spinal nerves that branch out of the lumbar spine control function in the lower extremities (buttocks, hips, legs, and feet). Therefore, a herniated disc causing nerve compression in this region will produce symptoms in the lower extremities including a sharp, shooting, burning, or electrical pain and potentially numbness or changes in sensation. For example, weakness while straightening the leg could indicate a pinched nerve at the L3-4 level. Other potentially affected muscles include the quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and flexors of the foot. Symptoms may also include neurogenic claudication, a nerve-related pain that increases with walking and improves with rest. These typically occur unilaterally, only on one side of the body, and the specific location of the symptom will vary based on the nerve being compressed.

L1-L2 Pinched Nerve: The L1 spinal nerve root is responsible for the psoas muscle, which is found within the body cavity along the lumbar spine. Weakness in the psoas muscle and pain in the groin and front of the thigh may occur; the former can cause difficulty with lifting the leg, for example, while walking up starts.

L2-L3 Herniation: The L2 nerve root is responsible for the iliopsoas muscles. A disc herniation at this level may cause weakness in an iliopsoas muscle, which may cause difficulty while walking up the stairs and/or pain that radiates into the front of the thigh.

L3-L4 Pinched Nerve: The L3 nerve root is responsible for the quadriceps femoris muscles, located on the front of the thigh and helps extend, or straighten, the knee. A pinched nerve may cause weakness of quadriceps femoris, which may cause weakness while straightening the leg and/or pain in buttocks that radiates to the lower portion of the front of the thigh.

L4-L5 Pinched Nerve: The L4 nerve root is also responsible for the quadriceps femoris muscles and in some people, is also responsible for the tibialis anterior muscle. The quadriceps femoris straightens the knee and the tibialis anterior brings the toes up while walking. A pinched nerve may cause weakness while straightening the knee or lifting the toes when walking, which may lead to a foot drop. Pain may radiate from the buttock to the top of the back of the thigh and then to the front of the shin.

L5-S1 Pinched Nerve: The L5 nerve root is responsible for the tibialis anterior muscle in most people and foot and toe dorsiflexion. The tibilais anterior brings the toes up toward the face and foot and toe dorsiflexion brings the foot toward the face. Pain may radiate from the buttock, down the back of the thigh and calf, and into the foot, mainly on the inside of the foot.

S1 Pinched Nerve: The S1 nerve root exits below the S1 vertebral body, which is responsible for calf muscles, which allow for plantar flexion, or pressing down like on the gas pedal in the car. A pinched nerve may cause weakness with plantar flexion which could cause difficulty or inability to stand on toes and pain that may radiate from the buttock down the back of the leg and into the bottom of the foot’s outside edge.

The main symptoms of a pinched nerve radiate based on the location of the pinched nerve. There are other symptoms such as localized lower back pain, decreased range of motion in the lumbar spine, and limping or difficulty walking. An emergent spinal condition found only in the lumbar spine is cauda equina syndrome. The spinal cord ends around the T12-L2 vertebral bodies in a collection of nerves called the cauda equina, which is like a horsetail. If a pinched nerve places pressure on the cauda equina, this produces a large amount of inflammation around these nerves and distinct symptoms which include saddle anesthesia (numbness in the perineal regions, the region that would make contact when sitting in a saddle), bowel and/or bladder incontinence, weakness in the legs, and unsteadiness with walking. This is a rare condition, but is serious and needs emergent attention to prevent irreversible damage to the nerves.

Sciatica and Sciatic Nerve Pain Information

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The Universal Guide to Sciatica: Everything you ever wanted to know, straight from the experts.

In This Article: What Is Sciatica?   |   What Is The Sciatic Nerve?   |   What Are Common Sciatica Symptoms?   |   What Causes Sciatica?   |   How Is Sciatica Diagnosed?   |   What Are Some Nonsurgical Sciatica Treatments?   |   Do You Need Sciatica Surgery?   |   What Type of Sciatica Surgery Do You Need ?   |   Sources

The sharp, shooting nerve pain of sciatica can take your breath away. When low back pain radiates through the buttocks and down the leg, the symptoms are known as sciatica. Although sciatica is common—affecting up to 40% of adults—there are many misconceptions about what sciatica is.

Leg pain that descends below the knee is the classic hallmark of sciatica, a type of lumbar radiculopathy. Photo Source: 123RF.com.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is not a disorder itself but is a general term used to describe the pain that occurs when nerve roots in the lumbosacral spine (low back) become compressed (pinched), irritated, or inflamed, often from a herniated disc or other narrowing of the spinal canal (called stenosis). Sciatica may be accompanied by numbness/tingling and muscle weakness.

“Sciatica means that there is irritation or a problem with the sciatic nerve that usually emanates from the low back, from the nerve roots in the spine,” explains orthopedic surgeon Jeffrey C. Wang, MD, who is Chief of the Orthopaedic Spine Service and Co-Director of the University of Southern California Spine Center in Los Angeles. The nerve irritation or compression activates the sciatic nerve and causes pain and other symptoms down the leg on the path of the affected nerve, he says.

Not all radiating pain in the butt area or down the leg is sciatica. In most cases of sciatica, the pain extends down past the knee, Dr. Wang says. Also, true sciatica is caused by impingement (pinching) or inflammation of the sciatic nerve, while sciatica-like symptoms can stem from joint or muscle problems. It is important to work with your doctor to determine the cause of sciatica to find the best treatment to relieve your pain.

What Is the Sciatic Nerve?

The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body; its diameter is about three-quarters of an inch. It originates in the sacral plexus; a network of nerves in the lower back (lumbosacral spine). The lumbosacral spine refers to the lumbar spine (lumbo) and the sacrum (sacral) combined, way down at the base of your spine and above the tailbone (coccyx).

The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body.

The sciatic nerve exits the sacrum (pelvic area) through a nerve passageway called the sciatic foramen. At the upper part of the sciatic nerve, two branches form; the articular and muscular branches. The articular branch goes to the hip joint (articular means related to a joint). The muscular branch serves the muscles of the leg.

The sciatic nerve has several smaller nerves that branch off from the main nerve. These nerves–the peroneal and tibial nerves–enable movement and feeling (motor and sensory functions) in the thighs, knees, calves, ankles, feet, and toes.

What Are Common Sciatica Symptoms?

Sciatica is the most common symptom of lumbar radiculopathy, a condition described as pain, and sensations such as numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, or poor reflexes found along the path of a nerve.

“Radiculopathy” means irritation or injury to a nerve root that causes pain and other symptoms that radiate away from the affected nerve root. In the case of sciatica, usually the pain is felt as low back pain that radiates down the leg.

Pain is the hallmark sciatica symptom. Although sciatica symptoms may be felt anywhere along the sciatic nerve, classic sciatica radiates from the low back into the butt, and down the leg to below the knee. In fact, your doctor will usually check for sciatica if you have low back pain. Less commonly, sciatica pain may be felt starting in the buttocks or hip area and radiates down the leg.

Sciatica pain is often described as electric, burning, or sharp. The nerve pain can vary from mild to excruciating and can worsen when you bend down, twist your spine, or cough.

Although you have two sciatic nerves (one on each side of your body), sciatica symptoms typically only occur on one side of the body. If you have radiating pain down both of your legs, it is less likely that the pain is caused by a pinched sciatic nerve, Dr. Wang says.

In addition to pain, if the sciatic nerve is compressed, the muscles it serves may become weak. It may be hard to bend your knee, bring your thighs together (adduction), and point your foot and/or toes upward or downward.

What Causes Sciatica?

In short, anything that compresses or pinches the sciatic nerve (particularly where it exits the spine) can cause sciatica, Dr. Wang says. Some of the most common include:

• Herniated discs: The rubbery disc in between the vertebrae in the lower back may bulge or herniate, causing irritation and/or compression of sciatic nerve roots. A herniated or bulging disc is the most common cause of sciatica.
• Degenerative disc disease: With age, vertebral discs may start to wear down. If the discs become too thin, the space between each vertebra becomes compressed, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve root. If the outer covering of the discs wear down, fluid from the disc may leak out and irritate the sciatic nerve.
• Bone spurs: An overgrowth of bone (osteophyte) on the vertebrae can put pressure on sciatic nerve roots. These bone spurs often form near vertebra affected by osteoarthritis.
• Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space that the spinal cord and sciatic nerve roots travel through, causing compression. This narrowing may be caused by arthritis or aging.
• Spondylolisthesis: The vertebrae are designed to be stacked one on top of the other for stability. If one vertebra in the lower back slips forward over the vertebra below it (spondylolisthesis) it can press down on the sciatic nerve.
• Vertebral fracture: The sciatic nerve can be compressed if the part of the vertebra that forms a joint (pars interarticularis) cracks or fractures, which is known as spondylolysis.
• Piriformis syndrome: The piriformis muscle typically runs on top of the sciatic nerve in the buttocks and can compress the sciatic nerve if the muscle becomes too tight. The symptoms may get worse after sitting for a long time, walking up stairs, walking, or running. The piriformis muscle is a flat band-like muscle that runs from your sacrum (the triangular bone below your spine) to the top of the thigh bone in the hip joint.

Other conditions can mimic the symptoms of sciatica, but are not truly caused by sciatic nerve impingement, Dr. Wang explains. For example, sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a joint problem in the pelvis that causes pain in the buttock that may radiate down into the upper leg.

A tight iliotibial band (the tendon that runs the length of your outer thigh) or hamstring muscle can mimic the radiating symptoms of sciatica. Additionally, “stress on the spine from pregnancy can cause radiating back pain, that is not typically sciatica in the classic sense,” Dr. Wang says.

“If radiating pain stays in the buttock area and doesn’t travel down the thigh or travels only halfway down the thigh, then it is less likely to be sciatica,” Dr. Wang says.

Another severe condition called cauda equina syndrome (often caused by a herniated disc pressing on the cauda equina nerve roots at the end of the spine) can be mistaken for sciatica. In addition to radiating pain and weakness, cauda equina syndrome may lead to bowel or bladder incontinence. Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency and can lead to permament problems. See your doctor right away if you are having symptoms.

The most common causes of Sciatica.

How Is Sciatica Diagnosed?

When searching for the cause of sciatica symptoms, spine specialists “usually start with the spine just because the most common cause of sciatica is pinching or compression of the sciatic nerve roots in the spine, most commonly from a herniated disc,” according to Dr. Wang.

Your doctor will take a medical history and ask questions such as what makes the symptoms feel better or worse and where the symptoms are felt. Then, during a physical exam, your doctor will see what movements make your symptoms worse and will test for muscle strength, decreased sensation, and reflexes.

“If there is a deficit and the symptoms are consistent with that same nerve root, we start to think that the cause is probably a pinched nerve and we can localize the cause to a specific nerve root,” Dr. Wang explains.

One exam is called a straight leg raise test, where you lay on a table face up and your doctor slowly lifts one leg up to see if it aggravates your symptoms and at what point your symptoms start. This test stretches the sciatic nerve, so if there is any pinching, the test will cause sciatica symptoms. Also, if symptoms increase when you bend a certain way and or change the position of your spine, that is a sign that the sciatica symptoms may be coming from your spine. 

The straight leg raise test can help your doctor diagnose sciatica.

To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will likely order an imaging study. X-rays will find bony problems and an MRI will pinpoint where the nerve compression is located, Dr. Wang explained. 

What Are Some Nonsurgical Sciatica Treatments?

Most patients with sciatica symptoms or lumbar radiculopathy improve over time and respond well to non-surgical treatments, such as medication, exercise and special sciatica stretches, and physical therapy (PT). Spinal manipulation, such as chiropractic care, also can help reduce sciatica symptoms. In most cases, sciatica gets better in 4 to 6 weeks.

“Standard treatments for sciatica include PT, exercise, avoiding activities that aggravate symptoms, as well as OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),” Dr. Wang says. “If that doesn’t work and the pain is acute, the next step is usually injection of an epidural steroid injection or a nerve root block.”

In some cases, a short course of oral steroids may be considered before trying steroid injections. Under a doctor or healthcare provider’s advice, over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help reduce swelling and sciatic pain. There are many types of OTC medication, such as acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol), ibuprofen (eg, Advil), or naproxen (eg, Aleve).

Do You Need Sciatica Surgery?

Most patients with sciatica symptoms or lumbar radiculopathy respond well to non-surgical treatments, such as medication, exercise and special sciatica stretches, and physical therapy.

“If your quality of life is good, and you are still able to work and do the things you want to do, there is no reason to have surgery,” Dr. Wang notes. However, if a person comes into his office and can barely sit down, can’t work, and can’t take care of their family, surgery may be the best option.

“If you try the conservative treatments and the pain doesn’t get better, if you have progressive neurologic weakness that is not improving, or have incapacitating pain, surgery may be considered sooner than later,” Dr. Wang says. “I always consider surgery as a last step,” Dr. Wang says, adding that decision to perform surgery usually comes naturally for people.

Sometimes, sciatica and lower back pain can be serious and require surgery. Surgical treatment for sciatica is recommended for patients with:

• Loss of bowel and/or bladder function (this is a symptom of the rare condition cauda equina syndrome)
• Severe leg weakness
• Non-surgical sciatica treatment is ineffective or no longer reduces sciatica pain
• Progressively worsening pain

For the right patient, surgery can be very effective. In a small 2020 study in New England Journal of Medicine patients with sciatica due to a herniated disc who had surgery reported much lower pain levels than the people who underwent PT only. 

Medical guidelines also state that for patients with severe symptoms, discectomy for a herniated disc with radiculopathy (radiating pain) “is suggested to provide more effective symptom relief” than nonsurgical treatments such as PT and steroid injections.

“Studies have shown that surgery can be very successful for sciatica, especially when there is real nerve compression, whether it is from a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, disc degeneration, bone spurs, or spondylolisthesis,” Dr. Wang explains. “The type of surgery selected depends on the cause of sciatica.”

What Type of Sciatica Surgery Do You Need?

The type of surgery recommended depends on the diagnosis, number of spinal levels requiring treatment and surgical goals. In general, “we try to do the smallest surgery possible,” Dr. Wang says.

Most surgeries to relieve sciatica are called spinal decompression surgeries, which are procedures the spine surgeon performs to remove whatever is pressing on the sciatic nerve—such as a disc herniation. Some patients need a combination of these surgeries to relieve sciatica symptoms.

Many patients undergo decompression surgery in an outpatient or ambulatory spine center without being hospitalized. Also, many of these procedures can be performed using minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS).,In a MISS, surgeons use special instruments and visualization tools (such as tiny cameras) that allow them to operate using very small incisions.

Minimally invasive spine surgery uses small incisions, small tools and a flexible camera. It carries less risk and may be easier to recover from than traditional open surgery.

The benefits of the minimally invasive approach include less pain and a faster recovery after surgery in part because there is less cutting through soft tissues (eg, ligaments, muscles). This approach also is linked to a lower risk for infection and less blood loss from surgery.

Minimally invasive surgery is a good option for patients who have a herniated disc or spinal stenosis in only one vertebrae. For patients who need surgery in multiple vertebrae or a more complex surgery, a traditional open surgery may be best.

Microdiscectomy

“If sciatica is caused by a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, which is one of the most common reasons for sciatica, then a simple minimally invasive microdiscectomy is used,” Dr. Wang says. “The results of microdiscectomies are typically very good.”

Microdiscectomy involves a small incision, is a short surgery, and is typically performed in the outpatient setting, Dr. Wang notes. During either procedure, the surgeon removes the entire disc or the portion of the disc compressing nerve(s). In some cases, an artificial disc replacement is placed to help restore space and movement between the vertebrae.

Laminotomy and Laminectomy

Laminotomy and laminectomy are commonly used to treat spinal stenosis and involve removing a part of the spine called the lamina—a thin bony plate that protects the spinal canal. The lamina is located at the back or posterior spine between two vertebrae. The difference between these procedures is the amount of lamina removed to access bone, disc, or other soft tissue compressing spinal nerve roots.

• Laminotomy involves partial removal of the lamina.
• Laminectomy involves total removal of the lamina.

By partially or entirely removing a lamina, the surgeon can access the bulging or herniated disc from the posterior spine. Of course, the surgeon may remove other tissue (eg, bone spur) pressing on a spinal nerve root at a particular spinal level (eg, L4-L5).

Foraminotomy

Foraminotomy enlarges the hole (called a foramen) where the spinal nerve root exits the spinal canal. A small incision is used to remove small pieces of bone that are pinching the sciatic nerve root.

Interspinous Spacers

Small devices called interspinous spacers are sometimes used for people with spinal stenosis to help keep the spinal canal open, so the nerves are no longer pinched.

Spinal Fusion

In patients with spinal instability from spondylolisthesis or degenerative disc disease at different levels of the spine, spinal fusion of the vertebrae may be required, Dr. Wang says. This is a more extensive surgery designed to strengthen the spine and prevent painful movements. In spinal fusion, the spinal discs in two or more vertebrae are removed and the vertebrae are fused (joined together) by bone grafts and/or metal devices that are screwed into place.

The good news is that sciatica goes away over time in many people with conservative therapies, and that surgical options also have a high success rate, Dr. Wang says. The most important step is to see your doctor to make sure there are no urgent problems and to find the underlying cause of sciatica.

It’s time to get rid of your sciatica once and for all. Step one is finding out the specific cause of your sciatica, so you can get the most effective treatment for your particular condition. Dig deeper into six common sciatica causes. And, when you’re ready for a firm diagnosis or you need treatment, find a spine specialist near you who can help.   

Continue reading: Sciatica Symptoms and Causes

Sources

American Academy of Family Physicians. (2018.) “Piriformis syndrome.” familydoctor.org/condition/piriformis-syndrome/

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2016.) “Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.” orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/spondylolysis-and-spondylolisthesis/

American Association of Neurological Surgeons. (n.d.) “Cauda equina syndrome.” www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Cauda-Equina-Syndrome

American Association of Neurological Surgeons. (n.d.) Minimally invasive spine surgery. www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Minimally-Invasive-Spine-Surgery

Cureus. (2019) “A review of lumbar radiculopathy, diagnosis, and treatment.” www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6858271/

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. (2020.) “Spinal stenosis.” www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/spinal-stenosis

National Institutes of Health. (2019.) “Sciatica.” medlineplus.gov/sciatica.html.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2020.) “Low Back Pain Fact Sheet.” www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Low-Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet

North American Spine Society. (2012.) “Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation with Radiculopathy.” www.spine.org/Portals/0/assets/downloads/ResearchClinicalCare/Guidelines/LumbarDiscHerniation.pdf

StatPearls [Internet]. (2020) “Anatomy, Sciatic Nerve.” www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482431/

StatPearls [Internet]. (2020) “Sciatica.” www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507908/

Updated on: 05/12/21

Pinched nerves and how to unpinch it | Joondalup, Perth Chiropractor

A pinched nerve can occur at several sites within the human body and usually occurs when there is too much pressure applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues; such as bones, tendons, cartilage and muscles. The nerve may be compressed, stretched or constricted, which results in abnormal pressure, which in turn disrupts the nerve’s normal function and can cause many symptoms. A pinched nerve, for example, a herniated disc in your lower spine which may put pressure on a nerve root resulting in pain radiating down the back of the leg.

As a pinched nerve is most commonly caused by compression of surrounding tissues a number of conditions can contribute to this such as;

1. Injury
2. Sporting activities
3. Rheumatoid arthritis
4. Stress from repetitive work
5. Poor posture
6. Obesity
7. Carpel tunnel syndrome

The symptoms associated with a pinched nerve include:

1. Numbness or a decrease in sensation of the area supplied by a particular nerve which is affected (often the leg or arm)
2. Sharp, aching or burning pain which may radiate outward.
3. Tingling sensations also known as paraesthesia.
4. Pins and needles
5. Constant severe pain
6. Muscle weakness in affected area

Un-pinching a nerve that has been compressed can provide a huge benefit to the patient as ultimately it reduces/prevents the pain that is occurring. Pain relief can occur by taking pressure of the affected nerve through a chiropractic manipulation/adjustment. A doctor of chiropractic is trained to discover these displacements in your backbone and use their educated fingers to discover and reveal the source of irritation causing the “pinched nerve”.

Other treatment options include a variety of stretches and exercises to strengthen the back or core muscles to decrease pressure on the nerve roots can be prescribed by the chiropractor, Flexion distraction, a decompression technique that requires a specially designed table, to take pressure off your spine/discs and help with alignment, blocking to reduce pressure on nerve and dry needling to reduce tight muscles compressing the nerve. Chiropractic adjustments to open up and free joints to release the pressure off the nerves.

Rest and anti-inflammatories can be another option adopted in the treatment of a pinched nerve if the other conservative care is failing to make a difference. At Lakeside Chiropractic we incorporate all of the techniques as mentioned above and aim at returning you back to normal functioning in the shortest amount of time possible.

Lakeside Chiropractic is located in Joondalup, central to Perth’s Northern Suburbs. We have many visitors from various surrounding suburbs including Kingsley, Wanneroo, Burns Beach, Kallaroo, Beldon, Heathridge, Greenwood and North Beach. We also have on site HICAPS Facilities for all major health insurance providers in addition to being a Medibank Preferred Practitioner and BUPA first provider. We also accept Medicare referrals from General Practitioners. If you are in need of any further information or wish to book an appointment please give us a call on 9300 0095 or check out our website at www.lakesidechiro.com.au.

Osteochondrosis

What is osteochondrosis? What are the reasons for its occurrence? With such questions more and more often a person faces in our time. Osteochondrosis is pain in the back, as a result of which the thickness of the vertebral processes increases. In this case, the vertebral ligaments become weakly elastic, which leads to aging of the cartilage tissues. First, osteochondrosis affects the intervertebral disc, and then other parts of the spine, the motor function of the body and the nervous system.

Depending on where the pain occurs, several types of osteochondrosis can be distinguished:

• Cervical spine.
• Thoracic spine.
• Lumbar spine.
• Sacral spine.

Stages of osteochondrosis development:

Pain in certain areas of the spine, weakness, malaise. The elasticity of the vertebral discs decreases. A nerve is pinched between the vertebrae.The formation of an intervertebral hernia. The mobility of the spine decreases, a sharp pain appears at the slightest movement. The reason is an increase in bone tissue. As a result, you can remain disabled and spend the rest of your life in an orthopedic corset.

What is the cause of osteochondrosis and how to recognize it?

The main reason for such a disease – it can be suffered injuries of the vertebrae, lifting heavy objects, “sedentary” lifestyle, scoliosis, stoop. The appearance of osteochondrosis is caused by metabolic disorders, lack of calcium, vitamins and other microelements.Stress, heredity can also become the causes of the disease.

There are many reasons for this ailment. As a rule, osteochondrosis occurs in people over 30 years old. But lately, young boys and girls, and even schoolchildren, have been suffering. Everyone knows that schoolchildren now spend more time watching TV and computers. And they give less preference to walks, stadiums, outdoor games. The result is poor posture, curvature of the spine. Pain is one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis.Pain in the neck, chest, back. Dizziness, weakness, nausea, tinnitus, double vision, as a result of a pinched nerve. Pain in the region of the heart – osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. Some may feel numbness in the muscles of the arms and legs, joint pain. If you experience similar symptoms, you should consult a specialist and do not postpone a visit to a doctor. Neuropathologists and traumatologists, surgeons are engaged in the treatment of osteochondrosis.

Types of diagnostics of osteochondrosis

Timely access to a doctor always contributes to a quick recovery and prevents the emergence of chronic diseases.Medical examination associated with the diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes:

• Examination of the back (posture, location of the shoulder blades, vertebrae, body contours)
• Passing certain tests
• Checking the functioning of the blood vessels of the brain
• X-ray of the spine
• Computer diagnostics tomography (this type of diagnosis is carried out in severe stages of the disease)

Methods of treating osteochondrosis

It is simply impossible to recover from this ailment in one day.This disease requires long-term treatment, great patience of the patient. Medicine in our time does not stand still and therefore there are a lot of different methods of treatment. Medicines, cosmetics, massage, physiotherapy exercises, manual therapy, acupuncture. There are also traditional methods of treatment: bee venom, leech therapy, and the use of cupping massage. Unfortunately, herniated discs are treated with surgery. The appointment of a tog or another method of treatment depends on the degree of morbidity and on the age of the patient.Several ways to help prevent osteochondrosis

Most prevention methods are aimed at reducing the load on the spine and strengthening the back muscles.

• Be as mobile as possible.
• Swimming, horizontal bar exercises, walking, industrial gymnastics, cycling, morning exercises.
• Monitor the power supply.
• Eat dairy products, fruits. Refuse fatty foods and eat less sweets.Include in your diet nuts, beans, fish, cabbage, as these foods are rich in magnesium and calcium.
• Monitor your posture.
• Correctly sit at the table, use a chair with a back. Make stops during long journeys in the car. Use an orthopedic mattress for sleeping. Correctly distribute the load on the back when carrying heavy loads (carry bags in both hands or with a backpack behind your back). Follow a diet so that you are not overweight.
• Protect your back from drafts and hypothermia.

As you can see, an active lifestyle is a guarantee of health. Be healthy.

Rapid relief of pain by injection therapy (blockades) in Moscow

Indications for medical and medical blockade

Blockades help to stop (relieve) pain syndromes associated with pathology of nerves, joints, muscles and tendons, which are not amenable to the usual treatment with analgesics in the form of tablets and intramuscular injections.

We use blockades to treat pathologies such as:

• osteoarthritis of the joints;
• osteochondrosis of the spine;
• humeroscapular periarthrosis;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint;
• entrapment of the sciatic nerve;
• muscle-tonic syndrome;
• carpal tunnel syndrome;
• joint pain of various etiology;
• sciatica;
• protrusion of the spinal discs;
• headache;
• migraine;
• neuritis and neuralgia.

Types of blockades

Specialists of the Clinical Hospital on Yauza perform local and segmental (paravertebral) blockades.

Local blockades

Local blockades are carried out directly in the affected area of ​​the pathological process. Local blockades are subdivided into:

• periarticular blocks – injections are made into the periarticular tissues;
• perineural blockade – injections into the canals where the nerves pass.

Segmental (paravertebral) blockade

Paravertebral blockade is performed in the area of ​​a specific segment of the spinal column. The mechanism of action of the procedure is based on the fact that each segment of the spine (spinal cord) and spinal nerves are responsible for the functioning of certain organs. Thus, injections of drugs can relieve pain in various diseases.

Paravertebral blockade with diprospan and paravertebral blockade with hyalripier are also highly effective.Paravertebral blockade with diprospan, a modern drug, is highly effective due to the combination of anti-inflammatory effect, fast action and persistent effect. The blockade with hyalripier, a new generation chondroprotector, is successfully used in the treatment of pain syndromes of various etiologies.

What drugs are used for blockade

Local anesthetics (such as lidocaine, novocaine), steroid drugs (diprospan, kenalog), chondroprotectors (hyalripier), vascular drugs can be used to carry out medical and medical blockade.

The doctor selects the drug on an individual basis, taking into account the patient’s age, the cause of the pain, its nature, intensity and duration.

Pain relief using botulinum toxins

Botulinum therapy is successfully used in the Yauza Clinical Hospital to relieve pain. We work with dosage forms of botulinum toxin – botox, xeomin, dysport. This method has a positive effect even in cases where drug therapy is not effective.Botulinum therapy expands the therapeutic possibilities of doctors: we treat diseases that previously did not respond to therapy. In our clinic, botulinum therapy is also used for:

The effectiveness of botulinum toxin is explained by the fact that the drug blocks the production of so-called pain mediators.

Mechanism of blockade

During the blockade, the drug is injected directly to the nerve root that generates pain, the tense muscle. It is:

• blocks pain,
• relieves muscle spasm,
• improves tissue nutrition.

Almost always, the pain goes away at the tip of the needle (that is, immediately after the injection).

Stages of treatment

• Consultation of a neurologist, vertebrologist, neurosurgeon.
• Examination to identify the causes of pain (radiation diagnostics – CT, MRI, laboratory tests) and to identify contraindications to blockade treatment.
• The drug or drugs for treatment are individually selected: anesthetics for blockade of nerve trunks, hormonal drugs for the treatment of joint pain.According to indications, vitamins, extended-release drugs (depot) are added to the injection.
• In the operating room, an injection is carried out, if necessary, the process is monitored visually using an electro-optical converter (C-arc).
• The number of blockages in the course of treatment is determined individually. It usually takes 3 to 7 treatments. The interval between injections is 3-4 days. Improvement most often occurs after the first blockade.

If the blockade course is ineffective or if there are contraindications, radiofrequency denervation is performed at the Yauza Clinical Hospital – coagulation of a nerve that blocks pain impulses.The method has no contraindications, it can be used in old age and against the background of somatic problems.

Contraindications to blockades

• Allergic reaction to drugs used for blockade.
• Infectious diseases, sepsis, skin lesions at the injection site.
• Decompensated diseases of the cardiovascular system, arrhythmias.

If you or your loved ones are in pain, contact the Clinical Hospital on Yauza.Our experts will definitely help you get rid of it.

Why us

• Doctors. The Clinical Hospital on Yauza employs specialists of different profiles who will help with different causes of pain.
• Expertise. The expert quality of diagnostics is ensured by world-class equipment and a high level of specialist training. The results of examinations of the Department of Radiation Diagnostics are accepted in all countries of the world.
• Individual approach.Effective pain relief is ensured by a detailed study of the characteristics of each patient, accurate diagnosis of the causes of pain syndrome and an individual selection of the optimal treatment method carried out by our specialists.
• Accuracy. The professional level of our doctors, high-quality innovative equipment of the hospital allow us to carry out blockades under visual X-ray control, guaranteeing the accuracy and efficiency of treatment.
• Efficiency. In the arsenal of our doctors are the best of the world-recognized methods of pain relief – blockages with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, with the deposition of drugs, blockade of facet joints, radiofrequency denervation, which allow you to relieve pain in almost any case.
• We value your time. All consultations, diagnostic and treatment procedures take place within the framework of our hospital, which saves time and effort for our patients.
• There is no systemic effect on the body. Local administration of the drug in therapeutic doses does not cause systemic effects, since its molecules do not penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

You can look at prices for services in the price list or check the phone number indicated on the website.

The article was checked by a neurologist, Ph.D. Akulova E.M. is for general informational purposes only and does not replace specialist advice.
Consultation of a physician is required for recommendations on diagnosis and treatment.

90,000 Medicines for joints and spine

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In the catalog of the Gorzdrav website you can order products for the treatment of joints and spine at a bargain price.A convenient filtration system allows you to quickly find the right medicine, compare the cost in different pharmacy points of the chain and order a purchase online. To maintain health, the site presents a large selection of chondroprotectors in various forms of release: tablets, solutions, ointments, suppositories, gels. Detailed instructions are displayed on the page of each drug.

Order preparations for joints

The Gorzdrav pharmacy chain operates in Moscow and St. Petersburg and has over 750 branches.When placing an order on the website, you can immediately see the price, familiarize yourself with the indications and contraindications for use and learn about the cheaper analogues of the drug. For a quick search for a remedy for joint pain, a special filtration by the active substance is provided. You will need to pay for the medicine for the joints upon receipt at a pharmacy convenient for you. We work only with certified brands, so all drugs for the treatment of arthrosis, arthritis or ligament injuries have a quality certificate.

Drug use for joints

The most common joint disease is arthritis. This definition includes diseases that affect the synovium, cartilage, capsule and other articular elements. Depending on the location of the diseased joint, various types of arthritis are distinguished [1].

Pain relievers are primarily used for treatment. In the early stages of the development of the disease, invasive methods can be dispensed with. There are 4 groups of drugs for the treatment of joints:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Prescribed in a short course, they can relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
• Mioreclassants. Used to relieve muscle tension due to pinched nerves.
• Steroid hormones. They are used for severe forms of joint damage. It has a strong effect on the functioning of the body, therefore, taking drugs only under the supervision of a doctor.
• Chondroprotectors. They have a cumulative effect, helping to build up cartilage tissue. They are used as a prophylaxis for osteochondrosis.

Form of issue

The most popular remedies for joint diseases are anti-inflammatory drugs, which you can buy as:

• gels,
• ointments,
• tablets,
• capsules,
• ampoules with solution for injection,
• emulsions,
• creams,
• balms.

For whom

Medicines are selected by a doctor depending on the causes of the disease:

• NSAIDs are usually prescribed for the elderly, which are easier for the body to tolerate;
• for athletes, chondroprotectors and pain relievers are prescribed to eliminate joint pain due to injuries;
• for patients with an acute form of arthritis or osteochondrosis, hormonal agents are prescribed, as well as surgical treatment.

Contraindications

You can find a detailed list of contraindications for each joint remedy in the instructions on the website. Particular attention should be paid if you have:

• individual intolerance to the components;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• heart diseases;
• renal failure.

Certificates

Some certificates of goods presented in our catalog.

BEFORE USING THE PREPARATIONS, PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OR CONSULT A SPECIALIST.

References:

1. [1] Popular medical encyclopedia. More than 1000 of the most common diseases, various kinds of pathologies, symptoms and syndromes. – Moscow: Eksmo, 2015 .– 864 p.

Pinched nerve in the lower back – what to do if a nerve is pinched in the back

Pinched nerve in the lower back – how to treat it? – this question is asked by people who have encountered this problem for the first time.

Nerve branches of the spinal cord are compressed, forming unpleasant sensations during movement, and in some cases, acute pain paralyzing movement.

Most often, acute low back pain worries men over 30 years of age. This is a consequence of intense physical exertion and hypothermia. Symptoms of a pinched lumbar nerve are sometimes confused with sciatica. As for the causes of pain, there is also a constant debate in the medical environment.

What is the cause of a pinched nerve?

There are no unequivocally unconditional signs of a pinched nerve in the back. Although acute pain in this area is almost always associated with the nerves.If the muscles hurt, then the nature of the pain is different. In this case, it is constant, aching, weaker.

An unambiguously correct diagnosis can be made with the help of X-ray and MRI, but already by the type of painful sensations one can make assumptions.

If the lower back hurts when a nerve is pinched, then this is lumbagia. There is an option that the sacrum area will hurt with the transition to the back of the leg – this is ishalgia. A combined case is possible (when it hurts both in the first and in the second place) – this is lumboishalgia.

A burning sensation, numbness caused by pinched nerves.

In 90% of cases, the cause of a pinched nerve is malfunctioning of the muscles. There are muscle tissues near the nerves, which can spasm from overexertion and stop working adequately. If this lasts for years (and this is inevitable with sedentary work), then the spasmodic muscle either forms a protrusion or intervertebral hernia (and they already pinch the nerve), or the muscle itself begins to squeeze the nerve Muscle spasm is caused by a long stay in a sitting position, stress, a sedentary lifestyle and being overweight.

If you already have muscle problems, then any awkward movement or overload can cause severe pain. In unfavorable conditions, the spasmodic muscle tenses more and sharply compresses the nerve in the lower back or the sciatic nerve (most often it is compressed by the muscles). Severe pain occurs immediately. The man rested, the muscle relaxed a little, the severe pain passed. It may be that a person feels good in the morning, but in the evening pain in the lower back begins to appear. This means that the spasm increases, and the muscle pinches the nerve more strongly.

If left untreated, it will repeat itself over and over again, and the strength and duration of the pain will increase.

Best treatment for pinched nerve in the lower back

The effective treatment is based on the removal of muscle spasm. He is the root cause of this trouble.

For especially acute pain (actually paralyzing a person), it is best to use medications – ibuprofen or voltaren. For a quick effect, it must be administered by injection. This will help relieve severe pain and begin treatment.Do not think that after this you can decide that everything is in order. Without proper treatment, the pain will return.

For an effective and inexpensive home treatment of a pinched nerve in the back, it is optimal to choose the autogravity therapy technology. With her, a person with special devices stretches the spine and relieves muscle spasm. This allows the spine to recover, which reduces hernias and protrusions (the cause of pinching). If the nerve is compressed by a spasmodic muscle, then relaxation reduces it in size and also eliminates the cause of the pain.

The force of action is determined by the patient’s own weight. This ensures the safety of the procedures.

One of the leaders among autogravitational therapy is the Cordus & Sacrus technique.

Cordus & Sacrus technique – how does it relieve spasm and relieve a pinched nerve?

Cordus and Sacrus are Russian developments aimed at treating pain in the neck, lumbar region, and back. Cordus has 3 faces – each for its own spine.Sacrus follows the shape of the sacrum and works with this zone

The use is very simple – a person lies down on the apparatus and lies motionless for 3 minutes. Then he puts on another department. It is important to treat the entire spine as it is a complex system where all parts are interconnected.

Cordus performs several procedures at the same time:

• Spines activates proprioceptors. These sensors are active when the muscles are at rest. By activating them, Cordus makes the muscles relax, relieving the spasm.
• Due to its anatomical design, it sinks between two vertebrae, expands the space between them, eliminating nerve compression and allowing the hernia to shrink. Usually it takes 1-2 months to reduce a hernia by 2-4 mm.

A tangible effect comes after two weeks of spinal therapy at home. You need to do it every other day. Best of all in the evening, before bedtime. In this case, the spine will stay relaxed longer.

Sacrus aligns the position of the sacrum by relaxing nearby muscles.This eliminates dysfunctions in this part of the spine.

During the procedures according to the Cordus & Sacrus method, a patient with a pinched nerve of the lumbar spine is advised not to overcool or overload the back muscles. Correct the spine in the evening, so that later, in a dream, the body continues to correct the spine against the background of the achieved relaxation of the deep intervertebral muscles.

Fill out the application below and get a free specialist consultation for the optimal spine therapy in your case.Cordus & Sacrus – fill out an application (take the test).

90,000 Stretching will help prevent joint diseases

Stretching is the easiest and most effective way for office workers to avoid serious sedentary illnesses. Gazeta.Ru has figured out how to train profitably, not spending a lot of time on it and not far from the workplace, as well as keeping a good mood and working capacity all day long.

Everyone knows that people who work in offices at a computer for an average of nine hours a day run the risk of getting at least joint diseases, osteochondrosis of the neck or curvature of the spine very quickly, and at the most – dysfunction of the cardiovascular system and related diseases hearts.

Of course, all this can be avoided if you start to play sports on time. It is clear that many people find it difficult in their busy work schedule to find time for a workout or to force themselves in the evening and even more so early in the morning to go to a fitness club.But those who have already faced the real health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle are beginning to take sports much more seriously.

Although, in order to feel good, it is enough to carry out a small warm-up daily with stretching elements, which does not require spending a lot of effort and time.

For example, you can stretch your joints, neck, back, even without stopping from work, and this will take you no more than five minutes several times a day.But good health will be provided for the whole day.

And after a working day, you can go to the fitness club for a group stretching lesson or, during good weather, work out on the street in the park.

Stretching has a very significant effect on the body. It increases muscle elasticity and joint mobility, which improves blood circulation.

Stretching relieves back pain, joint pain, helps to avoid salt deposits, and also quickly relieves stress, allows you to relax physically and emotionally.But to achieve a positive effect, you cannot overdo it. In this case, the main thing is not to rush.

Stretching should be performed after a good warm-up, when your muscles are warmed up, and also in a calm mode, without sudden jerks and severe pain, first in a static mode, until the muscles adapt to the stretch, and then gradually add dynamic movements.

As a result, after proper stretching, your health and mood will significantly improve. You will feel relaxed and comfortable.

But, if at first you are in doubt that you know how to stretch properly, it is better to consult a trainer or attend a group stretching, Pilates or yoga class at a fitness club.

During sedentary work, the main stress is experienced by the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.Due to the sedentary position, they begin to swell, and the muscles ache. As a result, osteochondrosis develops in the cervical vertebrae, causing constant pain and strongly affecting performance.

In addition, posture quickly begins to deteriorate, a curvature of the spine appears, and as a result, pinching of the nerves may occur. All this leads to a decrease in the intensity of blood flow to the brain and, as a result, to headaches, deterioration of vision.

The same applies to all other joints and muscles.If they do not work, then this will lead to a violation of blood circulation in all organs.

For example, the majority of women leading a sedentary lifestyle, due to poor blood circulation in the lower extremities, actively develop varicose veins.

“Gazeta.Ru” talked with fitness trainer Olga Voilova, who told how to do stretching correctly in order to avoid serious consequences from working at a computer.

– The most common diseases of people working in a sedentary mode are joint pain, curvature of the spine, osteochondrosis of the neck, pinching of the nerves of the neck, which causes frequent dizziness, headaches, and darkening of the eyes.

In order to at least slightly stretch the joints and muscles during the working day, there is a small set of exercises that can be repeated several times a day without being distracted from work for a long time.

For example, to warm up the neck – rotating the head to the right / left, for the thoracic spine – bringing and extending the shoulders forward / backward, for the ankle joints – rotating the ankle outward / inward, in a sitting position, raising the foot on toes. It is also worth spending a few minutes on a warm-up while standing, doing bends to the sides, forward, backward.

All these exercises will help you avoid muscle leakage and quickly feel much more vigorous and comfortable, which primarily increases efficiency and improves mood.

In general, people working in offices are advised to move whenever possible.For example, it has recently become fashionable to come to work on a bicycle during the warmer months, and to go outside for a jog at lunchtime, and also to warm up with stretching.

In the cold season, office workers are definitely advised to visit the fitness club, especially group workouts to develop flexibility. There are several varieties of them: directly stretching, as well as Pilates and yoga.

Stretching is suitable for absolutely everyone, including men, but before classes, it is imperative to do a cardio workout with a calm heart rate on a treadmill or exercise bike.

Pilates is more conducive to the development of joint mobility, including elements of static load. Obese people will have a hard time on Pilates. Yoga is aimed at mental and physical relaxation with stretching elements.

Olga also advised a small set of stretching exercises that will help you to achieve positive results effectively and quickly. It can be performed independently in a fitness club, at home or in a park.

The main condition is regular training.You need to start with one lesson a day for 10-15 minutes, gradually increasing the load, but no more than three times a day for 15-20 minutes.

Exercises to warm up the neck, shoulder joints, back

1. The establishment of the elbows behind the head. Raise one hand up, bend it at the elbow behind the head and pull it towards the shoulder blade, additionally press on the elbow with the other hand. Then repeat this exercise with your other hand.

2. Standing facing the wall, rest your hands on it so that your torso is horizontal to the floor, and press on your shoulders so that they sag below your hands.

3. Head bends. In a sitting position on your knees, your back is straight, first perform smooth head tilts to the right / left, then turns to the right / left, then head rotation, and at the end press a little with your hands on the back of the head and pull your head forward.

4. Standing, feet shoulder-width apart, hands on the belt, perform bends to the sides. Then repeat the same with one raised hand and later with two. After that, stand in the position of the legs apart, hands on the belt and make smooth turns to the right / left, then you can straighten your arms a little and repeat the exercise, gradually increasing the amplitude of the turn.

5) “Ring”. To stretch your back, lie on your stomach, rest on straight arms that are next to your stomach, and stretch your head back, then bend your legs and stretch your toes towards the back of your head, you get a “ringlet”.

Stretching the legs

1. The ankles are the easiest to stretch. Sit on the floor with your legs forward, resting your back on straight arms. Pull your socks forward first, then pull them over. After that, perform circular rotations with the ankle. Then, in a standing position, resting your hands on the wall, perform lifts on one toe, then on the other, and then on both.

2. Seated fold. This exercise is aimed at stretching the back of the thigh, popliteal ligaments. In a sitting position, legs extended, perform a smooth forward bend, trying to reach the knees with your chest. The same exercise can be repeated with the legs apart.

3. Standing fold. In a standing position, feet together, bend forward, trying to reach the floor with your palms, while keeping your knees straight. Then, without lifting your hands off the floor, squat down and return to the starting position again.Repeat this several times, this exercise will allow you to stretch your knees and also pull your hamstrings well.
Then place your feet wider than your shoulders, grab your elbows with your hands and try to reach the floor with them.

4. Stretching with support. In a standing position on one leg, lift the other on a support at an angle of 45 degrees and bend forward, stretch your hands to your toes, and keep your knees straight. A little later, the leg can be raised higher. Repeat the same with support on the other leg.

Other news, materials and statistics can be viewed on page of the chronicle, as well as in the sports department groups in social networks Facebook and VKontakte .

90,000 medication and physiotherapy – clinic “Dobrobut”

Symptoms of sciatic nerve inflammation: the nature of pain and its location

Diseases of the sciatic nerve are diagnosed quite often. They arise both when a damaging factor (infection, cooling) acts directly on the nerve, and when the nerve is involved in the inflammatory process with pathologies of the surrounding organs and tissues.

The sciatic nerve is the longest in the human nervous system. It starts at the sacrum and runs through the buttock down the leg to the foot. Therefore, if the sciatic nerve is pinched, the pain spreads from the lower back along the back of the thigh, then to the lower leg, heel and toes. Pinching of the sciatic nerve is called squeezing, which causes irritation of the nerve tissue. Most often, compression occurs in the area of ​​the piriformis fissure or spinal discs.

Treatment of pinched sciatic nerve

The cause of pinching can be diseases of the spine, in which the nerve roots are compressed by intervertebral hernias and bone growths that appear in osteochondrosis.Compression is often the result of severe curvature of the spine and displacement of the lumbar vertebrae. Sciatica (pain along the sciatic nerve) can be caused by soft tissue trauma in the area of ​​the nerve passage, a tumor of the spine or surrounding soft tissues, inflammatory processes, general or local hypothermia, physical exertion. In women, sciatica sometimes occurs late in pregnancy.

Symptoms of sciatic nerve inflammation are pain, first concentrated in the sacrum region, and then covering the back of the leg, numbness, tingling, weakness in the leg.During the examination, the doctor reveals characteristic pain points, the disappearance of sensitivity in certain areas, vegetative-trophic disorders (impaired blood supply to soft tissues, sweating, and so on).

Treatment for a pinched sciatic nerve includes:

• use of medicines;
• physical therapy classes;
• massage;
• physiotherapy procedures.

For drug treatment of sciatic nerve inflammation, use:

• NSAIDs of local and systemic action.Injections for sciatic nerve neuralgia with severe pain syndrome are preferable to oral medications. Therefore, usually treatment begins with intramuscular administration of drugs prescribed by a doctor;
• warming ointments / gels;
• muscle relaxants – drugs that reduce muscle tension;
• vitamins of group B;
• in severe cases – hormonal agents.

Sciatic nerve blockade is performed if the standard treatment regimen is ineffective.Medicines (solutions of novocaine, lidocaine, diclofenac and others) are injected by the doctor directly into the affected area.

How to treat sciatica

Physiotherapy for sciatica helps to reduce the inflammatory process, helps relieve pain and muscle spasm.

With sciatica are shown:

• magnetotherapy;
• UHF therapy;
• Electro- and phonophoresis with the use of drugs;
• paraffin wax applications.

How to treat sciatica when the acute period is over? During the recovery period, manual therapy sessions are shown. Massage of the sciatic nerve area in the acute period is recommended to be carried out only on the healthy side, and as the patient’s condition improves, gradually increase the volume and intensity of procedures. Manual therapy and massage are aimed at preventing sciatica recurrence.

Exercise with pinching of the sciatic nerve helps to restore the normal functioning of the lower limb.The patient is also taught to gait correctly. As a preventive measure, exercise should be done regularly. Read more about the exercise therapy complex for the prevention of sciatica on our website https://www.dobrobut.com

Prevention of sciatica

Prevention of sciatic nerve inflammation consists in timely treatment in the initial stages of the disease. After suffering sciatica, all measures are aimed at preventing relapse. Patients are advised to avoid hypothermia: do not sit on a cold surface, do not swim in cold water, and wear warm underwear in winter.It is advisable to gradually harden the body, regularly perform the exercise therapy complex.

Patients prone to frequent respiratory diseases should not be tolerated “on their feet”. You should also avoid strenuous physical activity if possible. With sciatica, which is based on congenital changes in the spine or its acquired curvature, it is recommended to wear a fixation corset.

Doctors also advise to maintain a normal weight, since obesity is a common cause of pinching of the sciatic nerve.You should monitor your posture, lift heavy objects correctly, that is, keeping your back straight and crouching down to the load, and not bending over to it. It is advisable to sleep on hard mattresses.

Related services:
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Physiotherapy

What they are treating us with: Voltaren. Gel and patches against muscle and joint pain

Like ketoprofen, diclofenac in the form of gels and ointments fights bone and muscle pain better than placebo (here it was a gel with the same composition as the medicinal one, but without NSAIDs) …This scientists established when they analyzed studies on more than ten thousand patients. Most of the subjects were over 40 and suffered from knee pain due to arthritis. About 20% of patients received local side effects (skin irritation, redness, allergic reactions, and so on). By the way, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have not shown significant results.

Another review, no longer Cochrane, but with the same inclusion criteria, also concludes that topical diclofenac relieves pain in arthritis and rheumatoid diseases.The authors also add that diclofenac reduces inflammation in patients.

Another review summarizes data from other Cochrane Reviews. It reviews a list of several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including patches and gels with diclofenac, tested in total on thirty thousand patients. For patients with arthritis and arthrosis of the elbows and knees, diclofenac has become an effective pain reliever, like ketoprofen. But the gel with capsaicin (a component obtained from hot pepper) helped from postoperative neuralgia.