DEAR DR. GOTT: I am 62 and have two bulging discs in my lower back that caused me really bad sciatic pain. I had to get an injection in my spine every six months. I can’t remember what they called it but it is the one that they watch on the TV screen when they put it in you.
In looking for help, I ran across a website that is run by two men who work with professional athletes when they get hurt.
I do a very simple exercise. I sit on the front edge of a chair and bend forward, grab my legs at the back of the calves and stretch my spine as far as I can. One day when I was in a lot of pain, I tried the exercise and it seemed to ease a little. I did the stretch four more times that day and by the next morning when I got up I was not in pain anymore. I have been doing the stretches whenever my back feels tight. It has now been three and a half years since I have had an injection.
If I could afford an inverter board I would get one but the chair stretch does just fine for me. I have even stretched while standing and bending over, letting my upper body just hang there.
I wanted to let you and your readers know that there is an easy way to deal with sciatic pain.
DEAR READER: As part of our core, we use our abdominal and back muscles in many of the activities we do daily, even if we are unaware of doing so and lower back pain is one of the most common pain complaints discussed today. When back pain develops, it can put a real damper on our normal functioning.
Sciatic pain is a result of impingement of the sciatic nerve that runs down the spine and splits at the tail bone to continue down both legs. When a disc bulges or is herniated, swelling occurs; or, another anomaly that puts pressure on this nerve can result in pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, and even bowel or bladder problems.
The best way to prevent problems is to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles so that normal wear and tear don’t do as much damage. For disc problems, stretching, heat, ice, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and chiropractic manipulation can work wonders. When these steps fail, prescription pain relievers, physical therapy, steroid injection, epidurals (which I believe are the injections to which you refer in your letter), and in severe cases, surgery, may be beneficial.
I am printing your letter in the hopes that others will benefit as much as you have appeared to. Thank you for sharing your story.
Readers who are interested in learning more can order my Health Report “Managing Chronic Pain” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 US check or money order to Dr. Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title when writing or print an order form from my website, www.AskDrGottMD.com.