Protect Yourself from Sciatica

Back pain is one of the most common types of pain and it’s especially prevalent in the lower back. Your back is vital to your overall health, and it takes a lot of wear over a lifetime. Dr. Adam Bezanis of Lemont Chiropractic Center offers treatment for sciatica in Lemont, IL, along with advice to keep you from developing it. 

Sciatica is an irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body and travels from the lower back down the leg. When it gets irritated it can cause severe pain. The irritation can be the result of stenosis in the spine, arthritis, a bone spur, or a bulging or herniated disc, among other things. The pain will travel over the buttocks and down the leg and can lead to weakness and numbness in that leg, which means a patient could also be at increased risk for falls. 

Exercise

One of the most important things you can do for your back is exercise. Keeping the core muscles that support the spine strong can help you prevent overuse injuries that lead to sciatic pain. Many types of exercises can be beneficial, including walking, swimming, yoga, and Pilates. 

Safe lifting

When lifting, it is important to use the legs and the hips, not the back to do the majority of the work. If you don't know how to lift correctly, talk to your chiropractor. Know your limits and don't try to manually lift things when it could be dangerous for you. 

Good posture

Maintaining good posture, especially when you are sitting, is vital for good back health and avoiding sciatica. Many people spend their entire workday seated and if you are not maintaining the correct posture, your back will suffer. Try to sit up straight and get up and move around every 30 minutes. 

Maintain a healthy weight

If you are obese or overweight, your back has to carry that extra weight around and gets subjected to unnecessary stress. If you carry your weight in the belly area, this can also affect your center of gravity, which also causes stress on the spine. Even just losing a few pounds can make a major difference.  

Dr. Bezanis at Lemont Chiropractic Center offers counseling and treatments to help you avoid sciatica. Give the office a call at 630-257-9132 for an appointment today.