Sciatica FactsSciatica facts represent the actual objective nature of this agonizing condition, but not necessarily the popular conception of chronic back and leg pain. While there are huge numbers of sciatica patients who suffer terribly with this epidemic neuropathy syndrome, there are very few affected individuals who truly understand the realistic clinical profile of sciatic nerve pain.This crucial treatise will separate the facts from the myths, when it comes to sciatica. We will explain why many of the misconceptions of sciatic nerve pain have come about and why many continue to be propagated within the medical community. This article is a must read for anyone who has not found lasting relief, despite undergoing active treatment for chronic sciatic nerve symptoms.
Spinal Sciatica Sciatica Facts and MythsThere is an extensive mythology built up around sciatica, and lower back pain, in general. The following are the most common sciatica myths:Sciatica is always caused by a spinal structure, such as a herniated disc or bone spur, compressing a
nerve root.
Sciatica is best treated with
surgery.
The lower back is delicate and is highly susceptible to injury. Sciatica is most often caused by normal spinal degeneration. Sciatica means that something in the spine is actually pinching the sciatic nerve. Real Sciatica FactsIn order to defeat your radicular nerve pain enemy, you must first understand your opponent. Here are some actual facts concerning the true nature of most chronic sciatica conditions:Sciatica is not necessarily difficult to cure. However, it can be very difficult to accurately
diagnose. Sciatica does not usually result from typical spinal degeneration, despite the many structural scapegoat conditions blamed for its occurrence. Most typical degenerative changes in the lower back are coincidental to symptoms which may be experienced. This is statistically proven. Back injuries heal 95% of the time and do not cause ongoing chronic pain conditions, although they sometimes act as triggers for psychosomatic sciatica to begin. The lower back is incredibly strong and is not prone to serious injury more than any other part of the anatomy. The diagnostic
nocebo
effect is a major contributor to the escalation and perpetuation of
sciatica symptoms. Exercise will temporarily provide symptomatic relief from ischemic sciatic nerve pain conditions, but will not usually provide any lasting benefits towards resolving the underlying cause of pain. The number one reason why so many patients never
recover
is their inability to achieve a correct diagnosis. Advice Concerning Sciatica FactsMost patients, myself included, have been conditioned to think about back pain the way doctors want it to be viewed. Medical science teaches that most dorsalgia conditions are the direct result of spinal abnormalities, when in fact, clinical research suggests no such thing.In fact, widespread clinical studies have shown no correlation between the most common spinal abnormalities and the incidence of symptomatic expressions. In essence, some patients have disc and bone abnormalities and also have pain. Some have these same abnormalities, but have no pain. Others have severe pain, but no abnormalities. Furthermore, the clinical severity of spinal irregularities seems to have no bearing on the degree of symptoms when they exist. Minor or extreme disc and bone irregularities might cause the same symptoms or none at all. Sciatica can be caused by a spinal problem. It can also be caused by a non-spinal physical concern. However, a great number of cases are non-structural and these are the ones which become chronic problems, since the symptoms are typically mistakenly blamed on what amounts to normal lumbar degeneration. In some of these instances, the pain may be linked to a known or idiopathic soft tissue condition. In others, a disease process may be the root source. Still others have a psychological origin and these are the ones which are truly arbitrarily ignored by doctors, since physicians are simply not trained to recognize or treat them. Remember, every single chronic pain syndrome has a definitive psychoemotional component in the causation, escalation or perpetuation of symptoms. The medical establishment does not want to upset its long standing view of the body as a complex machine or accept the obvious influence of the emotional mind on the physical anatomy. After all, not only is this principle against the founding Cartesian precepts of modern medicine, but the idea that a physiological disorder can be completely and permanent cured by a psychological treatment greatly undermines the economic viability of the entire back pain industry. Let us not forget that back pain treatment is big business and accounts for billions of dollars every year in healthcare costs. Do the research for yourself. You too will soon see the objective sciatica facts are not what you might have thought to be true all along. Leaving the myths behind and embracing the truth is inherent to recovery. I highly recommend you continue your search for knowledge, since this is your most valuable weapon in the fight for your life against repressive chronic sciatica. Sciatica Facts to Sciatica 7/1/08 Revised 3/31/12 |
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