I knew there must be better tools for measuring back pain. There must be scales that acknowledge the complexity of the condition, and reveal the sacrifices that are made to avoid pain.
Category: Sciatica
Why Do I Have to Rate My Pain on a Scale of 0–10?
The medical question I find most baffling is, “What is your pain level today?” What is it supposed to accomplish? I set out to find the answer.
Human vs. Primate Lumbar Spines: What Have We Gained? What Have We Lost?
How similar are human lumbar spines to those of other primates? Are they prone to the same sorts of injuries? And if not, then why did humans evolve such an obviously flawed system?
Disc Herniations: A Failure Between the Bones
A disc herniation is a simple concept to explain. A bit of disc material crosses the border, and starts occupying space that belongs to other tissues. But when I started reading up on disc herniations in an effort to understand my own, I realized that this simple definition belies the complex nature of the tissues and processes involved. The disc itself is an impressive feat of engineering, but it also has fatal weaknesses. And once structural integrity has failed, the disc is capable of wreaking havoc on the body to a degree inconsistent with its small size. What a Disc…
New Study Asks, “How Well Do Epidural Injections Treat Sciatica?”
Before I got my first epidural injection, my doctor confidently predicted that they would wipe out my sciatica…Eleven shots later, I was seriously questioning whether these shots were capable of curing anyone.
Zero-Gravity Chairs: What Are They, and Should You Get One?
Zero-gravity chairs supposedly help people with back problems and sitting pain. But where did these ideas originate? And are zero-gravity chairs actually good for your health?
This New Treatment Plan Is Fixing My Sciatica
After a few weeks, I realized my nerve was quieter at night. The first time I lay down to sleep and didn’t feel my sciatic nerve pulsing, I was so excited I nearly cried.
Back Pain as Metaphor
Do you know of any books, TV shows, or movies, where a character’s back problems are a significant focus? Or even a distinct part of their identity?
Stan’s Story: From Aspiring Nomad to Homebody to Sciatica Cheerleader
Stan moved to Miami to enjoy the outdoors and fix up a van. Instead, he got sciatica, and saw the inside of his house.
Sitting and Back Pain: What’s the Connection?
Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that back problems are linked to sitting pain, in the same way that rain is linked to mud.