Lower back and hip pain is perhaps the most draining of health issues preventing you from undertaking many of the things you want to do.

Undoubtedly one of the more common yet misunderstood medical conditions suffered by a lot of people is back and hip pain.

Because there is generally no outside physical symptoms of the problem it is often an extremely tough problem to diagnose. This short article will take a look at two key areas of lower back and hip pain:

* sciatica and
* herniated disc.

When you consider the real stresses and strains many of us put on the lower back and also the hips it’s obvious why so many of us suffer from lower back and hip discomfort. Even the very simple action of walking stresses these areas. When our feet strike the ground the impact of this action is transported to the hips and lower back. If we were perfectly put together then this would not generally lead to any kind of issues. However, very few of us can make this claim and such things as flat feet or one leg being just a bit longer compared to the other or even perhaps you have a small curvature of the spine could cause additional stresses on the back and hips that might lead to back and hip problems. (more…)

Sciatica is a very painful condition that affects many people. Some people complain of tingling and/or numbness in their lower back, buttocks, or leg. Other people have shooting pain that radiates down from the base of their spine all the way to their toes.

The good news is that it is fairly easy to relieve the pain. The bad news is that unless you go further and treat the underlying conditions that led to your sciatica, your pain will most likely return.

Obviously, if you are suffering from these types of symptoms, sciatic pain relief is first and foremost on your mind. In order to effectively treat your sciatica symptoms, you need to follow a three step process.

Three Steps To Sciatic Pain Relief

Step 1: Identify the Cause Of Your Sciatica Pain

First, it is important to identify what is causing your sciatica. For this part, it is very important to go see a doctor. All sciatica pain is the result of compression somewhere along your sciatic nerve. The problem is that this nerve runs all the way from the base of your spine, through you hips and buttocks, and down each leg. Most of the time the compression occurs in one or two locations. You’ll need your doctor’s assistance to determine where. (more…)

If a health care professional has recommended bed rest for low back problems or sciatica, you may discover that your pain actually worsens if you follow this advice. Or at best, there may be no change at all in your condition.

Another common treatment that includes the use of over-the-counter or prescription pain killers may relieve symptoms, but poses serious risks in terms of side effects and a tendency for abuse.

Numerous studies have concluded that the best treatment for back pain is a combination of continued movement and chiropractic care. The results of these research studies include:

* The Manga Report, from the University of Ottawa, Canada, concluded that chiropractic care for low back pain was shown to be more effective in terms of results, cost and safety than medical management. It also ranked higher in terms of patient satisfaction. (more…)