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
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?
10 Design Ideas That Don’t Involve Sitting
The world is not designed for people with sitting disabilities. But what would a world designed for sitting disabilities actually look like?
6 Tips for Making Temporary Lodgings Sitting Disability-Friendly
I asked what other people did to make their temporary living spaces sitting-disability friendly. These are great tips to know before you leave home.
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.
Book Review: Pain Woman Takes Your Keys, and Other Essays from a Nervous System
Sonya Huber’s book, Pain Woman Takes Your Keys, and Other Essays from a Nervous System, is a remarkable accomplishment. There were many points in this book where I felt the thrill of hearing someone say the thing you wanted to say, only better.
Julie’s Story: Traveling, Teaching, and Carrying Chronic Pain
Julie’s pain tolerance has been extensively tested through nearly two decades of severe and often inexplicable pain. While she’s made some concessions (no driving, for example), she hasn’t let pain stop her from following her interests, wherever they lead.
Behind the Tapestry: A Memoir of Pudendal Neuralgia
In her recently published memoir, Behind the Tapestry: My Discovery of God’s Grace Amidst Chronic Pain and Loss, Maryanne Rose Peluso tells the story of how she entered a Catholic convent at age 32, and spent eight years trying to balance the demands of religious life with the limitations of chronic pain. This is a condensed interview with the author.
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.