Lower back pain is nagging and can inhibit your essential daily life. However, sciatica is worse than the aches and pains of an aging spine. It is deeper than that and radiates a pain throughout the leg and lower spine. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It starts in the spine and moves down through the lower spine and into the buttocks. This is caused by trauma to the lower back, pregnancy, tumors, internal bleeding and degenerative disc disease.

Many who are suffering from this disease are unsure what to do about it. It is important to know that there are options when it comes to treating your lower back. Most sufferers will typically approach their physician who may or may not advise they go to a chiropractor. For many who have never been to a chiropractor the first visit may be nerve wracking. The historical image of the “back cracker” is scary. Plus, many associate the cracks with pain. The chiropractor is trained on how to persevere and prevent injury to the spine. The manipulations that they use to treat the lower back may sound scary, but are typically fast relief for the sufferer.

Just as you crack your knuckles without pain, so too does a chiropractor with your back and neck. Many times the first visit will be an evaluation period. This is the time when they review your past medical history to see if you have any trauma. Trauma to the spine can occur from car accidents and sports related injury. So the chiropractor will want to evaluate your level of trauma by having you fill out a form and talking with you about it. Then in most cases, in order to evaluate if you have sciatica or another issue the chiropractor will order an X-ray.

Myths About Chiropractors

• Chiropractors will hurt you- No, they won’t and in most cases the spinal manipulation will feel very nice.
• It is very costly- Most visits are only $35.00 or less.
• You have to remove your clothing- You can have your symptoms evaluated without de-robing

Chiropractic care is the main mode of ensuring that your back is pain free. However, in many cases sciatica will always be there if that is the pain you’re experiencing. Sciatica is very distinct from other types of lower back pain. It can cause horrendous issues with moving, standing or sitting.

Chiropractic Care

How to Identify Sciatica

• The pain can tingle
• The entire lower back and buttock region will go numb
• The pain can cripple your ability to walk

Sciatica is usually caused by degenerative disc disease or a collapsed disc. The nerve can be damaged due to trauma or simply from infections. The treatment for this issue depends on the severity. Many patients who are suffering from degenerative disc disease will be placed on a course of anti-inflammatory drugs, pain medication, monthly treatment with a chiropractor and home exercise remedies. The same treatment will apply to other patients. However, as each patient is unique so too, is each mode of treatment. A chiropractor will evaluate you on a case by case basis, so it is important to let them know all of your symptoms.

Treatment Options

• Pain medications
• Physical therapy
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Home exercise regime

There are great options out there to ensure that you are getting the best treatment possible. Treatment needs to become part of a daily routine for many who suffer. The stretching of the lower back and legs can help with the pain. Also, those who have been diagnosed and turned to yoga have had a high pain free success rate. Always pay attention to your posture and do not push yourself too hard when exercising. A gentle exercise program will strengthen and stretch your core muscles. The regime, if done daily will enhance your ability to walk, stand, stretch and move. Low back pain can be managed and with consistent work can sometimes be alleviated.

Melissa Cameron, is a full-time freelance writer living in Texas. Her work was produced with the assistance of www.ottochiropractic.net, a chiropractor for anyone seeking knowledge on the wonders of good health through chiropractic.

Exercise balls, also known as stability balls, add a new dimension to traditional yoga. These balls help to alleviate built-up tension by relaxing the back and neck muscles. They are a tool that can be added to any yoga program and are especially useful for people with a bad back.

Exercise Ball

Using these balls will help you stretch your back out gently so that you can physically feel the tension draining away. Simply rest against the ball and then lean back slowly and carefully. As you begin rolling you’ll start to feel loose and relaxed.

You’ll be able to assume new positions that cannot be reached with regular stretching or yoga. While it may seem unnatural, you’ll have to curve your body over one of these exercise balls to see for yourself just how natural it feels. The ball seems to absorb your weight, which results in a feeling of weightlessness. It is a relaxing stretch while at the same time a very powerful one.

Many yoga enthusiasts cannot perform regular yoga positions due to problems with their back. For these people, exercise balls give them the chance to be a yoga participant. Some back issues leave a person with a severe shortage of flexibility and they simply cannot move their bodies enough to enjoy regular yoga.

Not just for bad backs

These balls are great for flexible strong people that just want to add more to their exercise routine.  Stability balls can offer a balance challenge to many yoga poses. If you have reached a certain plateau with your yoga and are ready to go on to a new level, an exercise ball can give you the extra challenge you need.

Yoga balls also strengthen flexibility and endurance. As you follow your yoga program you’ll be able to stretch out in various ways to make your body more flexible. You’ll find your endurance rise as well. You’ll have to concentrate on balance and this will give you a better ability to focus on the task at hand and the rest of your yoga workout.

Besides yoga…

These balls aren’t used only for yoga, however. Some people are replacing the chairs in their office with an exercise ball. While sitting down to attend to their office work they are developing their abdominal and back muscles since it takes an extra effort to remain balanced on the ball.

As well, these balls are commonly used by pregnant women during labor. The woman sits with her back against the ball, which helps the baby get in the right fetal position. These balls are growing in popularity as a birthing tool and have assumed a new identity – the “birth ball” – in the process.

Exercise balls offer a well-rounded yoga routine for people with bad backs or for enthusiasts that want to add something new to their practice. There are also specific exercises available that require the ball in order to be performed. If you haven’t yet had the chance to try one out for yourself, give it a go. You’ll find that your yoga performance will rise to new levels faster and with less effort.