The spine is not designed to carry weight in excess of our natural, lean body weight.  As we put on extra pounds, the spine becomes more compressed and distorted, resulting in back pain. 

Distortion and compression of the spine also affects the sciatic nerve.  Compression or “pinching” of the sciatic nerve can cause excruciating pain in the back, hips and legs.  As a matter of fact, this is one of the main reasons people who are overweight tend to have problems with their lower back, either due to the distortion of the spinal column or sciatica.

If you’ve been carrying around a lot of belly fat and having low back pain, there is only one thing you can do to end the pain . . . lose weight.  When you lose those extra pounds you’ve been carrying around, you will take the pressure off your spine and sciatic nerve.

Of course, losing weight is not something you can do overnight.  You must put forth some effort and be committed. However, the benefits of losing weight far outweigh the inconvenience you may experience from the effort.

Since you are already experiencing back pain, you must take things slowly.  Consulting with your physician should be at the top of your “To Do” list when it comes to designing a weight loss and exercise plan that will work for you.  Losing weight naturally, a little bit at a time, through diet and exercise is a very good way to go.  Start exercising slowly and do stretches before and after your exercises.  Focusing on strengthening your core body muscles will help decrease the low back pain you are experiencing by giving your back better support and alignment.

Within a couple of weeks, you should notice a difference in the way you feel if you’ve been consistent with your healthy eating plan and exercise routine.  Within a month or so, you should see a physical difference – less belly fat and less back pain.

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Sciatica most commonly affects people between the age of 30 and 50. It can begin suddenly due to a traumatic event or it can develop slowly over time as a result of wear and tear of the lower back. Stress and tension on the muscles in the legs and buttocks can also cause it. In approximately 90 percent of sciatica cases, the cause is a herniated disc. However, sciatica can also be caused by other things, including spinal stenosis, fracture, infection, tumor, cyst, or degeneration of the sciatic nerve.

Having suffered from sciatica myself for several years because of a herniated disc, I know, first-hand, how debilitating it can be. I get an electrifying or a burning pain that radiates down my left leg. I also get shooting pains in my left buttock which usually occurs when I’m sitting on a low sofa or chair and attempting to get up or shift positions. Standing for more than 15 minutes is difficult for me and will bring on sciatic pain. Because the pain is usually so excruciating, I have to immediately sit down or squat to get some relief.

Chronic low back pain and sciatica is usually caused by a sudden traumatic event or manifests over time. There are some not-so-obvious factors that contribute to sciatica:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Weight gain during pregnancy
• Poor posture
• Prolonged sitting
• Occupation
• Poor sleeping position
• Poor quality mattress
• Smoking
• Stress

For most people, sciatica responds well to self-care measures that include:

• Stretching
• Exercise
• Cold and hot packs
• Over-the-counter medications
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Unit
• Bed rest
• Meditation
• Yoga

If chronic low back pain or sciatica symptoms continue to persist or worsen, home treatment may not be enough. Advice from a medical professional or doctor should be sought. Your doctor may recommend some conservative measures, such as:

• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy
• Spinal decompression therapy

When conservative measures do not alleviate the pain within several months, your doctor may recommend:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Surgery

Complementary and alternative medical treatments found outside conventional medicine that may alleviate the pain are:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic treatments
• Massage
• Hypnosis
• Botox injections

Although most people recover fully from sciatica, often without any specific treatment, sciatica can potentially cause permanent nerve damage. Other complications may occur, depending on what’s causing the nerve to be compressed. These complications may include:

• Numbness or loss of feeling in the affected leg
• Loss of movement in the affected leg
• Loss of bladder and bowel function

Chronic low back pain and sciatic nerve pain may be severe and persist for a prolonged period of time. Healthy back maintenance is extremely important. If you suffer from chronic low back pain or sciatica, feel free to share what has or hasn’t worked for you in the comments below so we can all improve our health.

Technorati Tags: back pain relief, chronic low back pain, Sciatica, sciatica