Are you suffering from a “True Sciatica Condition” or from what’s called a Piriformis Syndrome? A true sciatica condition can be due to a disc bulge or some degenerative changes to the lower lumbar spine usually in the L5/S1 vertebral levels. Where as a Piriformis syndrome occurs when you have irritation to the sciatic nerve as it passes the Piriformis muscle. Now both can and will give you pain into the “butt” with pain, burning or shooting sensations radiating into the leg, some time but not always going all the way to the foot. Usually a “Piriformis” problem will only be to 1 leg where as a disc can be to both or alternating between the two sides in some cases, depending on the location of the disc bulge. Now you may say if they both cause similar pain and “feel” the same what difference does it make. The treatment approach for the two conditions can vary greatly. First how do we tell which is which?

Sciatica from a disc or injury to the lowback can be determined by performing a few different orthopedic maneuvers. If you are in a seated position and raise the leg straight out and you get shooting pain think lowback/disc. If you are sitting or lying on your back and you bring the knee up straight to the same shoulder there should be no pain, but if you cross the knee to the opposite shoulder and get pain in the “butt” think Piriformis syndrome. The piriformis muscle assists in rotating the femur. Another way we check in the office is I have the patient in a standing position and put pressure at the lower lumbar joint. If that gives them pain – think sciatica. However, if I do that and they don’t get any or very little pain but when I apply digital pressure (take my finger and push) on the Piriformis muscle (which is located in the dimple of the butt) they have the pain shoot into the butt, leg etc. – think Piriformis. In my office more people come in with Piriformis injuries then actual disc/Sciatica injuries. You can try these simple checks at home but if you can’t figure it out you need to get it checked by a Chiropractor to see which one it is so you know what treatments and exercises to do to get it better.

Not only does it look bad it also has other health factors associated with it like rounding of the shoulders which can cause a 30% decrease in breathing capacity, headaches, problems with your nervous system, digestive system, hormone system and more.

According to www.NeckSolutions.com, for every inch that your head is held forward from perfect alignment, its weight on the neck increases ten pounds. That puts a lot of stress on your neck and facial muscles, which is transferred back to your head in the form of a headache or migraine as these muscles grow fatigued.  Read more:

What can cause poor posture? Injuries to the back that where never treated  or not treated properly. Sitting at the computer for hours on end (sound familiar) sitting there looking down and texting (for hours on end), lack of exercise, kids carrying to heavy of a back pack and not fitted to the properly, poor mattress or sleeping on your stomach, and the list goes on.

So what can you do about it? make sure your work station is set up properly for YOU, schedule stretch breaks when at the computer, start to exercise and strengthen the muscle in your upper back, neck and shoulders the right way. A really good website with stretches and exercises is www.straightenupamerica.org Go to a Chiropractor who can help restore the normal alignment to the spine while you are strengthening the surrounding musculature. There is even computerized programs out there like the one we use in our office called Posture Pro(tm) that allows use to measure your posture and monitor if it is getting better.

I had a patient today ask me the difference between PCP and SCP on her insurance card, besides the extra amount in the copay. PCP stands for primary care physician and SCP stands for specialist care physician. We as Chiropractors are now considered to be a SPECIALIST. It wasn’t long ago that Chiropractors were not being treated as real doctors. We were considered “alternative care”. In other words, if a medical doctor couldn’t help with medications then you might as well try Chiropractic care. We were lumped in with Massage Therapy as an either-or scenario. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good deep tissue massage and they have great therapeutic benefits when used properly, but massage therapists are not doctors and can not diagnosis a person’s condition.

Chiropractors have now become known as the “back specialists”. While we are, we are more then that. Chiropractors are really more specialists of the nervous system as we work on relieving the pressure on the nerves that are causing you the pain that you feel. We also work on more then just the lowback and neck. So next time you are experiencing pain in the neck, lowback or any other joint you might want to seek out a Chiropractor first instead of waiting till other things have failed.

You should also know that Chiropractors can’t fix everything like some like to believe and if it is something we shouldn’t be treating or is out of our scope of practice we will make sure to get you to the appropriate doctor.

Does this sound like you or someone you love?

• If I didn’t hurt so much I could still ______;
  
• I’m tired of taking more medications and still feeling pain;
  
• My posture seems to be getting worse;
• At the end of the day I am exhausted and I didn’t do much; or,
  
• There must be a safe and natural approach to ridding aches and pains.

Living Pain Free Naturally – Free Dinner Workshop

presented by
Dr. Gary Yaeger

Do not miss this special workshop given by Dr. Gary Yaeger. He will show you how to start feeling good again using some simple, easy-to-do exercises and stretches that have changed the lives of many of his patients.

This workshop will change you and your guests, too. Dr. Yaeger will change your perspective on what it takes to become healthy and feel good!

You Will Learn:

1. How to Get Rid of Pain;
2. The Secret Dangers of over-the-counter drugs;
3. New advances in care and diagnosis; and,
4. How to save money on treatment.

You and a guest are invited to this FREE dinner workshop. Dr. Yaeger wants to help as many people in this community get healthy and enjoy a pain-free life.

Register Today