by Larry Judge
OUCH!!! Sciatica. Lower back pain.?
Suffering from sciatica and lower back pain can be very debilitating and lower one’s quality of life.?? Many people are looking for safer non-drug methods of handling and dealing with sciatica and lower back pain.
Just what is sciatica?? Sciatica refers to back pain caused by a problem with the sciatic nerve. This is a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks, and leg.?
Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You might feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it’s especially likely to follow a path from your low back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf.
The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating pain. Sometimes it can feel like a jolt or electric shock. It can be worse when you cough or sneeze, and prolonged sitting can aggravate symptoms. Usually only one side of your body is affected.
Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.
One fascinating method in dealing with sciatica and Lower Back Pain is PEMF therapy. PEMF stands for Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Field. This process involves directing powerful, pulsed energy waves to different areas of a person’s body.
Research has shown that PEMF therapy can relieve sciatica by reducing inflammation, rebuilding cartilage, repairing scar tissue, muscle strains, and regenerating nerves.
All sciatic problems involve nerve damage from one cause or another. PEMF has been demonstrated to help with nerve regeneration in scientific research studies:
Previous studies confirm that pulsed magnetic field (PMF) accelerates functional recovery after a nerve crush lesion [a traumatic injury]? The influence of a new PMF application protocol (trained PMF) on nerve regeneration was studied in a model of crush injury of the sciatic nerve of rats?. PMF treatment during the 38 days following the crush injury enhanced the regeneration? In addition, corrective effects of PMF on sensory fibers may be considered an important finding for neuropathic pain therapy. (1)
A scientific study conducted by a group of doctors and scientists at the John Hopkins School of Medicine concluded:
Peripheral nerve regeneration has been manipulated with? pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs)?. PEMF, attractive because of its noninvasive nature, increases the speed of axon [nerve cell] regeneration in the first week by 22?24% ?(Sisken et al., 1989; Rusovan et al., 1992)” (2)
PEMF helps stimulate the repair of cartilage and bone materials as was reported by K. Perjes:
“This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of magnetotherapy (PEMF) in patients following herniated disk surgery. Results showed that 52 percent of patients receiving the treatment compared to 30 percent of controls reported being free of symptoms at the time of hospital release.” (3)
Effective treatment of cartilage and bone was reported by in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry:
The therapeutic effects of electric and magnetic fields have been studied largely for their promotion of connective tissue repair. The most widely studied application concerns bone repair and deals with acceleration of the healing of fresh fractures, delayed and non-unions, incorporation of bone grafts, osteoporosis … More recently the effects of these fields upon the repair of cartilage and soft fibrous tissues have been described. In all these experimental systems and clinical applications an acceleration of ? tissue healing has been observed? (4)
The body naturally handles pain by producing endorphins (which are natural chemicals in the body that fight pain) in the central nervous system and the pituitary gland. Endorphins block the transmission of pain signals to the brain. PEMF stimulates the production of endorphins and is very effective in dealing with pain.
Pain is also caused by inflammation and a of a lack of oxygen in the body. The power of PEMF can penetrate deep into the body and assist in the healing of internal injuries.
PEMF stimulates an energy-carrying molecule found in the cells of all living things, ensuring healing and empowering cells to do what they were designed for. Oxygenation is dramatically increased, and healthy cell life is maintained, while damaged cells are quickly treated or replaced.
PEMF acts directly on the nervous system, glands, cells, tissues and organs. When used consistently, PEMF therapy can bring about a state of relaxation while promoting numerous health benefits at the same time.
Long-term use of PEMF therapy can help the body remodel tissues that tend to be hyper-reactive to chronic or acute stress. Over time, that tissue becomes less and less reactive.
The primary reason many use PEMF therapy is for relaxation. PEMF’s have been proven to bring the mind and body into a state of relaxation which also improves sleep. PEMF therapy may also prevent an imbalance in the immune system. This is possible because PEMF’s stimulate the cells.
Results show that PEMF therapy is a safe alternative for dealing with sciatica and lower back pain.