By Dr. Allen Shah
Q: I never truly knew pain until I experienced sciatica. What is this nerve and why does it hurt so intensely?
A: Your sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, running from your pelvis through your hip area and buttocks and down each leg. The sciatic nerve controls many of the muscles in your lower legs and provides feeling to your thighs, legs and feet.
Sciatica is a symptom of another problem that causes inflammation or puts pressure on the nerve, such as can occur in a herniated disk. The discomfort can range from mild to incapacitating. Some people feel the pain like a jolt of electricity, others feel the pain come on gradually then intensify. The discomfort may be accompanied by tingling, numbness or muscle weakness.
Sciatic pain usually goes away on its own in six weeks or so. In the meantime, hot and cold packs, over-the-counter pain relievers, and exercise or physical therapy can help ease discomfort and speed recovery.
Q: What is a herniated disk and how does it happen?
A: Disks are the soft pads between the vertebrae in the spine. It’s these disks that allow our spines so much mobility and flexibility. When a disk presses on the nerves around the backbone, it’s called a herniated or ruptured disk.
Herniated disks are most common in people in their 30s and 40s because, as we age, our disks become compressed and less cushiony. If a disk becomes too weak, the outer part may tear. The inside of the disk pushes through the tear and presses on the nerves beside it, causing pain in the back and the legs. The location of the pain depends on which disk is weak. How bad the pain is depends on how much of the disk is pressing on the nerve.
Your doctor may prescribe a pain medicine and rest for the first few days, but after that, it’s time to get up and active. Gentle stretches and no-impact exercise, especially those that strengthen the abdominal muscles, are helpful.
Q: Can you “get” cerebral palsy?
A: Cerebral palsy (CP) describes an assortment of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more areas of the brain. Typically, CP occurs during fetal development or infancy, but can also be triggered by a brain injury, like a car accident or serious fall.
Cerebral palsy is neither progressive nor contagious. It is also not “curable” in the conventional sense, although education, therapy and technology can help people with CP lead productive lives.
Q: What are repetitive strain injuries?
A: RSIs are a response to excessive and repetitive demands placed on the body. The hundreds of known repetitive stress injuries, or RSIs, all have a similar cause: excessive wear and tear on the soft tissues of the body (tendons, nerves, circulatory system and more).
The injuries are prompted when you do the same motion over and over again, from maneuvering a mouse to craning to reach a file cabinet. If your body doesn’t get a chance to heal, the damage accumulates. Other contributing factors are force, posture, exertion and stress to the same joint or body part. Though our bodies are generally able to perform a scope of activities, repetitive movements wear away typical staying power.
Another element of RSIs is that personal medical conditions may increase your risk, including being overweight or sudden weight gain, having diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, gout or thyroid disease, as well as hormonal conditions (pregnancy or hysterectomy), smoking and prior injuries.
If you have RSI symptoms, go see your doctor. Starting treatment sooner rather than later can make the difference between a quick recovery and extended suffering.
Allen Shah, M.D., is a physiatrist with Camino Medical Group.
E-mail questions to Camino Medical Group representative Cynthia Greaves at greavec
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