Are You Triggering Your Sciatica Pain?
May 22, 2021
Sciatica Specialist in Clifton Reveals 6 Habits that Are Bad for Your Back
Sciatica is a very distinct type of pain that is triggered in the lower back but can extend through the sciatic nerve, causing pain in the hips or legs as well. Occasionally, sciatica pain can be accompanied by a numbness tingling sensation in the legs.
People can experience sciatica pain differently, both when it comes to intensity and duration. Some are able to manage it using over-the-counter medicine in a matter of days, while others will go through severe pain and end up seeking medical advice.
Sciatica pain is not a condition itself but a symptom that is triggered when the sciatic nerve gets damaged, irritated, or compressed. It usually happens as a result of herniated disks, injury to the back, or a more severe condition such as spinal stenosis. While back pain can sometimes go away on its own, it is advised you book an appointment with a pain doctor to ensure there is no severe condition causing it.
The risk of developing sciatica pain can increase due to a variety of factors we are exposing ourselves to every day. One of these factors is, unfortunately, age, which we can do nothing to prevent. To help you understand the rest of the risk factors a bit better, Dr Shane Volney, a top sciatica specialist in Clifton is here to explain what daily habits can actually increase the risk of developing sciatic pain. So, without further ado, here is what you should stop doing if you don’t want sciatica to become a burden.
Living a sedentary life
Most people know that too much physical activity, especially when done improperly, can damage your spine. However, what some don’t realize is that sitting for prolonged hours every day can do the same thing and increase your risk of developing sciatica.
This is especially an issue for people that spend a lot of time at a desk, drive a lot, slouch for many hours on the couch, or get involved in other prolonged seating activities due to their job or lifestyle.
One of the main reasons that sitting can cause sciatica is that it puts pressure on your spine and discs, compressing them and irritating a spinal nerve root. Another explanation is that sitting may place direct pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Performing frequent manual labor
Due to the nature of their job, some people have to perform repetitive movements or pick up and carry heavy objects. Activities such as heavy lifting on a regular basis, twisting the spine, or keeping your body in irregular positions for prolonged periods are also associated with disc herniation. This can cause sciatic pain and can often evolve into lumbar radiculopathy.
Other workers that are put at risk of developing sciatica pain are those working on construction sites, particularly those handling jackhammers, due to the heavy vibration the machinery creates.
Putting yourself under too much stress
Stress is an issue of the mind, but it can have significant impacts on the body as well. Many experts agree stress can be a trigger for sciatica. In this case, sciatica develops not due to nerve damage but rather due to the fact that the brain mildly deprives the nerves of oxygen, resulting in symptoms similar to sciatica pain. It can also be accompanied by weakness in the leg or other weakening sensations.
This is why many doctors choose to factor in the patient’s mental and emotional state when diagnosing and researching accurate treatment. Together with other forms of medical examination, this can provide a much more accurate idea of the patient’s condition and overall mental and physical state.
Excess weight
Excess weight can put pressure on the sciatic nerve and cause pain, as well as weakness in the leg. People that are overweight are more at risk of developing a wide range of medical conditions, including herniated discs and lumbar radiculopathy. The risk increases the more overweight the patient is.
A similar thing can happen to pregnant women, as the weight of the baby can put pressure on the sciatic nerve and cause low back pain. This is especially a risk during the second and third trimester of the pregnancy, as both the mother and the baby are gaining more weight. Taking hot showers or applying a heating pad to the back can help alleviate the pain. Some women find that staying active helps prevent sciatic pain and swimming is one of the best ways to keep active during pregnancy.
Keeping your wallet in your back pocket
We already covered the fact that sitting for prolonged hours every day can put you at risk of sciatica. However, sitting with your wallet or keys in the back pocket can actually increase the risks of developing sciatic pain. This happens because the objects in your pocket can irritate the piriformis muscle. Because the sciatic nerve runs under this muscle, it can get irritated or compressed, leading to pain.
Some call this Wallet Sciatica, and there have been some notable case studies on this topic. In our times, there is a potential new addition to the list of things that can cause Wallet Sciatica – our mobile phones.
Wearing improper shoes
Another thing that can trigger sciatica pain is wearing improper footwear, such as high heels and un-cushioned shoes. Ground forces produced while walking or standing can move up your lower extremity to the structures of your back and hip, which can potentially lead to sciatic pain.
Furthermore, high heels cause you to shift your weight forward, making you flex forward at the hips, which is your body’s way of keeping itself upright. The issue is that this pelvic movement stretches the back hamstrings, and since the sciatic nerve runs parallel to the hamstrings, this position can also irritate your sciatic nerve.
If you are looking for help dealing with sciatic pain, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with one of the Harvard-trained doctors at Pain Treatment Specialists, in Clifton, on Route 46E, just past the Ford dealership. We are here to help you find a way to live a pain-free life and get back to doing what you enjoy!
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Scheduling a consultation with one of our pain treatment specialists is one of the best ways to determine the proper solution for pain relief.
Meet Our Team of Back Pain Specialists
All of our Pain Doctors in New Jersey are Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management
Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ
Dr. George Hanna
Dr. Hanna is a Harvard Trained back specialist in New Jersey and New York. He serves as Medical Director of Pain Management.
Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ
Dr. Laura Lombardi
Dr. Lombardi is a Harvard Trained back pain treatment doctor, currently seeing patients in Clifton and West Orange, New Jersey.
Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ
Dr. Shane Volney
Dr. Volney is a Harvard Trained back treatment doctor seeing patients in the NJ areas of Clifton & West Orange, and in NYC.
Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ
Dr. Michael Nguyen
Dr. Nguyen is Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management. His pain center accepts major medical insurances and Medicare.
Dr. George Hanna
Dr. Laura Lombardi
Dr. Lombardi is a Harvard Trained back pain treatment doctor, currently seeing patients in Clifton and West Orange, and Paramus New Jersey.
Dr. Shane Volney
Dr. Volney is a Harvard Trained back treatment doctor seeing patients in the NJ areas of Clifton & West Orange, and in NYC.
Dr. Michael Nguyen
Dr. Nguyen is Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management. His pain center accepts major medical insurances and Medicare.