In the last few weeks, we’ve had lots of patients coming into our clinic complaining of sciatica pain, either due to too much gardening or maintenance work in and around their villas, or other strenuous activities…and we do tend to do a bit more when the weather is wonderful!

When sciatica flares up, it is helpful to know what can be done to alleviate the pain and stay active.

Sciatica and leg pain

The term ‘sciatica’ is used to describe pain that radiates down the sciatic nerve, which starts from each side of the lower back, extends down the back of the thigh and into the foot. It’s caused by compression of nerve roots in the lower part of the spine, which merge together to form the sciatic nerve in the pelvis.

Chiropractic Care

As you may know, chiropractors use their hands to gently adjust the part of the spine that is misaligned and causing the pain. Once the skeletal joints are moving freely, you will experience less joint irritation and less inflammation.

Ice Pack At Home

For sciatica pain, you can use an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel) and place it over the lower back, as that is where the sciatic nerve is usually pinched. Keep it in place for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat each hour.Remember though that there are other causes of pain in the leg that may not actually be ‘sciatica’. Therefore, get ANY pain checked out by Dr Wen at Lagos Health Chiropractic. Call us on +351 282 768 044 to make an appointment. You can also check the other blog pages on our website for articles on various health issues, plus you can get tips and news by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Long hours of sitting can jeopardize your lumbar spine and can even be felt in the middle-back and neck. Furthermore, you put the surrounding muscles under undue strain, only adding to the pain. Unfortunately, long periods of sitting are becoming more commonplace in today’s computer age.

Top Tips on improving your posture and reducing irritating back and neck pain.

This process begins all too early in life, so maybe it’s time to ask: “How many hours a day do I spend sitting down?” If it’s two or more, perhaps it’s time to get off the sofa and get your spinal alignment checked by a qualified and registered chiropractor.

5 Top Tips On Posture and How To Prevent Back Pain & Neck Pain

1. Adjust your seat so that your feet are flat on the ground or on a foot rest.

2. Sit with your hips higher than your knees and your eyes level with the centre of the computer screen.

3. Relax when sitting in your chair, making sure you have your bottom against the seat back and your shoulder blades are touching the back-rest of the chair.

4. Your arms should be flat and your elbows level with the desk or table you are using. Try to use a seat with arm rests.

5. Don’t sit at the computer for more than 40 minutes. When you take a break, walk around and stretch a little.

Get Checked By Your Chiropractor

If you have back or neck pain, or just feeling a slight twinge, perhaps now is the time to have a comprehensive examination by a trained, qualified and registered Doctor of Chiropractic, who can also advise you on all posture and pain-related issues.

By Dr Wen Oates DC MChiro (Principal Chiropractor at Lagos Health Chiropractic Clinic).

Do you have one spine…or several? The answer, of course, is that you only have ONE. And, as it’s in use every minute of every day, it’s vitally important to look after it!

There are five important functions of the spine:

In the words of that old spine song, “Your hip bone’s connected to your back bone…”

• Movement: With 24 vertebrae, it’s able to twist and bend. However, because it can move a little in many directions, you can easily injure it.
• Protection: The vertebrae protect your spinal cord and all the nerves that come from it. As you may know, the spinal cord is the first thing that develops in life and it controls every single organ and function of the body.
• Posture: The spine holds up upright. Therefore, if it’s crooked, your posture will also be crooked.
• Support: The vertebrae in the neck support the head, which weighs 9-13lbs (or about 5kg). Lower down, we have just TWO vertebrae in the lower back that support all the weight above, which is about two-thirds of your total body weight.
• Attachment: Your back and neck muscles attach to your spinal column. If the spine is not straight, the muscles on one side of your body will not be balanced and therefore will stretch to compensate, while the muscles on the other side will shorten. Muscle imbalance pulls the vertebrae out of alignment.

Finally, take a look at yourself in a full-length mirror. If you see that one shoulder is lower than the other, or your pelvis appears twisted, it really is time for a chiropractic check-up.

Here at Lagos Health Chiropractic, we are often asked by patients whether we think chiropractic or massage would be the best choice for them.

To be honest, the answer is usually a combination of the two…but why?

Your muscles attach to your bones and, whether or not they are tight and contracted, are controlled by nerves. If bones don’t move, the muscles will have no reason to lengthen. But how do you know if your bones are moving properly?

• First of all, is the motion in your neck restricted when you look at the ceiling?
• When you try to look round while driving, do you have to rely on your mirrors because your neck is too stiff?

If you answered yes to both questions, then the problem stems from a skeletal issue and so chiropractic would be your best choice.

Do you ever have tingling or numbness in your fingers or toes? Do you have referred pain down an arm or leg? These things point toward an issue with your nerves and so your problem needs chiropractic attention.

Massage is a wonderful thing. It stimulates blood flow and just the simple act of someone touching you is relaxing. But does it correct the underlying cause?

Actually, no! The reason your muscles are too contracted is often much more complex than a simple muscle issue. It often relates to poor posture or a sedentary lifestyle.

When faced with the choice of chiropractic or massage, go to a chiropractor first to get your spine moving better and then supplement that work with a soothing, cozy and comforting massage.

If you’d like to know more, or make an appointment, contact Lagos Health on +351 282 768 044.