In the late 1990s, geneticists began publishing compelling evidence that disc degeneration was indeed genetic. One of the most influential projects was the Twin Spine Study, which began in 1991
Category: Sciatica
Why Does Using the Elliptical Make My Sciatica Worse?
Although I knew the elliptical made my sciatica worse, I didn’t know why. How exactly was it different from walking? Why did walking improve my pain, while the elliptical made it worse?
Microdiscectomy vs. Conservative Care for Sciatica: How Do They Measure Up?
For years, I wondered whether a microdiscectomy would have fixed my sciatica. To find out, I turned to the data.
7 Exercises to Avoid If You Have Sciatica
In his textbook for coaches and trainers of elite athletes, Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance: Sixth Edition, Dr. Stuart McGill lists pervasive exercises that are particularly damaging to the spine. To my consternation, this list overlaps almost perfectly with the list of exercises I loved best when I was dedicated to pole dancing. Don’t be like me, kids! Save your spines! Don’t do these seven exercises!
What Happens to the Spines of Bipedal Rats?
Scientists will find a way to use lab rats for anything. They’ve even used bipedal rats to study spine injuries, osteoarthritis, and other human conditions.
Can Antidepressants Treat Sciatica?
The practice of prescribing antidepressants to treat sciatica is widespread. But is it effective? A new review considers the evidence.
The Human Spine is an Evolutionary Compromise
Rather than viewing my back problems as an individual failure, I learned to view them as a consequence of weaknesses that evolved along with humans.
There’s a Chronic Pain Narrative, and I’m Off Script
Illnesses are supposed to follow a narrative arc. You get sick, you get treated, you get better. Except, sometimes chronic pain departs from this pattern.
Even Neanderthals Had Back Pain
This article is devoted to the bad spines of hominins that walked upright, but weren’t fully human in the sense of being Homo sapiens. That may sound like an oddly specific topic, but it still breezes through about 3.5 million years of history.
What Does Sciatica Feel Like?
In order to properly describe what sciatica feels like, I surveyed other sciatica sufferers about their experiences.