Overview of Sciatica and Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica is when you have lower back pain that is combined with pain that radiates through your buttock and then down one of your legs. The pain in the leg many times stops at the knee but can also in some cases go all the way to the foot. It can even be possible for your leg muscles to be weak when you have sciatica.

The largest nerves in your body are the sciatic nerves. In size they are around thumb size. Low in your back they come out of your spinal column and then behind your hip, down your buttock, and down your leg to your foot. This pain is generally different from other types of lower back pain due to the fact that it might begin in your back but also goes down one of your extremities.

This pain is generally a pain that is shooting, like electricity. It might even feel like fire burning or a tingling like when your leg happens to fall asleep. This pain can be unbearable for some and only annoying for others. Some people have reported having pain in one portion of their leg and then the other portion is numb.

One should know when they need to contact a doctor or start looking for sciatica treatment methods. If your pain is not getting better after a few days or if you feel it is getting worse you should contact your doctor. If you are older in age than 55 or younger in age than 20 and you have never had sciatica pain before you might need to see your doctor or seek out sciatica treatment.

If you have fever or chills that cannot be explain or have found that you lost a good amount of weight lately. You find that you are positive for HIV or if you have been using IV drugs. If after one week you still are have trouble with bending forward. If the weakness seems to be getting more pronounced then you need to call your doctor.

There are a few different reasons that you will need to get to the ER:
? The pain is following an injury that was violent like a car crash or even a fall from a high distance.
? You have pain your chest from the back.
? Your pain seems to be unbearable.
? You can't move or even feel your feet or legs.
? You begin to lose control of bladder and bowel function.

These are all important to remember. Even if you have to go see the doctor you will want to let them know that you are more interested in natural sciatica treatment methods than surgical methods. The doctor should be able to point your in the right direction for the sciatica treatments and if he can't the internet is a great place to start looking.

Neck Braces, Rigid Collars, Cervical Orthoses - A Guide on Bracing The C-Spine - Part 5

How Do You Know A Rigid Collar is On Correctly?

Each collar is made differently, but there are some overall rules of thumb that can apply to all collars.

Snug Fit and Chin Position

First, it is important to always wear a brace snug, never loose. This includes the use of a "rigid cervical collar". This ties into the position of a cervical collar as well. With many cervical collars that are available today, it is important that you can see the patient's chin, when they have the brace on. If a person has on a neck brace and their chin is tucked inside of the cervical collar, chances are that the brace is not doing what it is designed to do. You do not want to see a patient's bottom lip first when you look at them, while they have a cervical orthosis donned. Unless the brace is the incorrect size, or made improperly, (which should not be the case if a licensed orthotist provided it), then you should always be seeing the patient's chin when they have the brace on.

The Words on The Brace, Why Its Important To Look From Outside The Brace

Almost any brace that is provided today is designed so that other individuals (besides the patient) can look at the collar and read the words on it the right way up. Remember that the manufacturer does not want to be forgotten about. After all, they have spent a lot of time manufacturing this product and they are proud of their work. Therefore, if an "outside" individual, who is looking at at the brace, can not read the writing then something is usually wrong. If the person looking at the collar can not read the words correctly, then it is quite possibly on upside down.

Arrows Located On The Brace

Lastly, if there are any arrows on the collar, they are usually meant to point upward when the brace is on as well. These are the arrows that the manufacturer put on the brace. - This general example applies to any brace that you see a patient wear. If you have any questions about the fit and function of your current collar, then it is wise to communicate with your providing brace specialist for more information.

*Note: This is health information. When it is time to get personal, medical advice on bracing, then it is best to speak with your local, licensed orthotist on the subject. This is good information, but this is not medical advice.

Neck Braces, Rigid Collars, Cervical Orthoses - A Guide on Bracing The C-Spine - Part 2

How do you know when a soft collar is fitting correctly?

This is a very good question because many times these braces are fit incorrectly. A brace, no matter if it is a collar or another type of orthosis (brace), needs to be applied in a "snug" fashion. Well, what does "snug" really mean, right? - Snug, usually means that the brace has been applied in a way that it is comfortable, without gapping, and without a restriction on breathing when it comes to cervical collars. If an orthosis is worn loosely, it will not do a patient any good. Plain and simple.

The cervical spine needs to be supported when weakness or instability is present. A soft collar will help a patient in this manner by supporting the chin and remainder of the mandible (jaw). If a person every dips their chin inward and down, the collar is probably not doing what it is designed for. In addition, if a soft collar has the velcro attachment placed in the front, it is probably not on correctly either. You will always have to allow for the brand that does attach in the front, but typically these collars attach in the back.

Skin Precautions With A Soft Collar

Monitoring your skin with any brace is also very important. In the vast majority of cases, people will not have skin problems, but it is best to be proactive and monitor your skin anyways. The main reasons why people's skin suffers in any brace is that the brace is not kept clean. This is important for people because a patient will probably have to wear a brace for at least a few weeks, so cleanliness of the collar and patient's skin does come into play.

In addition, individuals that are not alert can suffer from skin irritation as well. Or, if someone has a lack of sensation, then redness can develop in conjunction with a brace. Why is this the case? - The patient may not always be alert enough to monitor the way the brace is feeling or their body is not giving them proper feedback. If redness appears, then you need to contact your brace provider for a possible adjustment on the collar.

Note: This is health information. If you want medical advice on bracing, it is best to speak with a local, licensed orthotist. This is good information, but it is best to see someone locally for your particular bracing needs.

Neck Braces, Rigid Collars, Cervical Orthoses - A Guide on Bracing The C-Spine - Part 4

Who Uses a Rigid Collar?

Someone that needs motion control in their cervical spine. In comparison to the soft collar, rigid cervical orthoses (braces) are used for more serious conditions. Yes, they are more supportive than a soft collar, but rigid collars are still not considered to be a the cervical brace that provides optimum cervical spine control. The CTO (cervical thoracic orthosis) and Halo can inhibit more movement than a rigid collar. The CTO and Halo need to be considered when motion control is a must and a clear understanding of the diagnosis will help to determine when each brace is needed. When instability is at a critical level, a CTO and Halo need to be considered.

What Are The Different Brand Names of Rigid Collars?

Common brand names you may hear of are the Atlas, Aspen, PMT and Miami J cervical collars. The purposes of this article, we are not going to comment on which rigid collar is better than the next, but these collars mentioned here are commonly used today in medical settings, on a daily basis.

Where Do You Get A Rigid Collar?

We recommend that you get a rigid cervical collar from a licensed orthotist in your area. Why? These individuals are brace specialists and can provide you with the most detailed information about your new orthopedic orthosis. These individuals are medically trained in the field of orthotics, which surrounds the field of orthopedic bracing. Nothing else gets focused on besides orthoses (braces) in this industry.

Other individuals that may work in hospitals may provide collars, but the best detailed advice regarding braces still lays in the hands of an orthotist, on a day to day basis. - We always use the example of your automobile, if you drive. (It is a general example that will get the point across more clearly for you.) If you own a car, and you wanted to get top notch service, wouldn't you take it to a specialist? Or, would anybody be qualified to do the work? - We think you know the answer for yourself. Why not do the same with orthopedic braces that you need for medical reasons. Your health is considered to be more important than that of your car, so why not treat a bracing scenario in the same way?

Note: This is health information. For medical advice on bracing, it is best to speak to with a local, licensed orthotist. When you need to get medical advice on your particular situation, then it is best to speak these individuals.

Neck Braces, Rigid Collars, Cervical Orthoses - A Guide on Bracing The C-Spine - Part 3

Take Home Points For Medical Professionals Regarding Cervical Collars

Loosening a collar for a patient is not always the right action to take. The brace, no matter if it is a neck brace or any other type of orthosis, needs to be placed on the patient in a snug fashion. Unless the brace is somehow made wrong for the patient, a snug fit should not be a problem. Sometimes patients will turn to a medical professional or family member and ask for the brace to be loosened. This is all done without a bad intent and a gaurdian is happy to help the patient with this request. However, many times what this does is allow the brace to become more mobile. Then, can easily happen is the brace "migrates". As a result, the patient will have more problems with the brace in most cases. We all want the patient to be happy, but making a brace too loose can be a serious mistake. - Not only will the cervical collar be able to migrate, but it may also lose the support that it provides to the patient.

A Note on Skin Precautions & Cervical Bracing.

As a medical professional, it is important to monitor the fit of the brace for the patient, especially if you are in a setting where your patients are not entirely alert. You do not have to be an expert in the field of orthotics to notice some important things for the patient when it comes to bracing. For example, the patient's skin will tell you how the patient is feeling. If the patient can not consciously communicate with you in a verbal manner, then let their skin do the talking. If it is irritated, you will be able to know by looking at it.

When a patient is not entirely alert, like in an ICU situation, or they are heavily sedated, then this is when the skin irriation issues can come into play. Sometimes a patient will be in a position, in bed, that causes more problems with a brace and the patient does not even know it. That is where a health professional has to be aware and call the providing orthotist (brace specialist) when necessary.

Note: This is health information. Medical advice on bracing should be provided from your local, licensed orthotist. This is good information on bracing, but we say this because each bracing scenario is slightly different and we can not be held liable for each unique case.

Neck Braces, Rigid Collars, Cervical Orthoses - A Guide on Bracing The C-Spine - Part 6

CTO - Cervical Thoracic Orthosis - Their Function and Where To Get This Brace

What is a CTO?

The acronym stands for "cervical thoracic orthosis". As you will see with almost any acronym for bracing, the acronym starts with a letter that is closest to the head and distally (away from the head). You will see that this is the case for braces for the legs, arms and back.

The CTO is used to help support someone's cervical and thoracic spine. In specific, this orthosis (brace) is designed to support the cervical portion of the spine from C1 - C7. Sometimes to support a lower level of the cervical spine, however, you need to have the brace end lower than the injury level. - The CTO is designed to limit the motion of the cervical spine and skull, by stopping rotational movements and cervical capital flexion and extension.

What Does a CTO Do?

These orthopedic braces limit movement. More movement than that of a rigid collar. This is not necessarily a bad thing either. For example, after a surgery someone may need to be provided with this kind of orthosis to help act as an insurance policy for the surgeon's work. In other words, this orthosis (brace) will help to prevent a flexing or twisting movement that can ruin the surgical correction that was achieved. Typically, a rigid collar will extend down to a patient's clavicle area, where as a CTO will extend down to approximately the xyphoid process (or mid chest region).

A cervical thoracic orthosis can also be used for a fracture that has occurred in the superior portion of the thoracic spine (a high thoracic fracture) or a cervical fracture that is more serious in nature. - When you limit the motion at these segments, you improve upon the body's ability to heal itself. The brace does not heal you, but it does help to stop harmful movements that can easily occur at an injury level.

Who Are The People That Provide CTOs?

Today, many medical professionals can provide a cervical brace or a cervical thoracic orthosis. However, we believe that it is best to work with a local, licensed orthotist in your area when you get any type of orthopedic brace. Why? When a patient wears a CTO (whether it is custom or prefabricated) the person usually has a very serious diagnosis. A CTO is a special kind of brace which comes with a specific set of important instructions. This means that an orthotist should give you as much detailed information as possible when they provide the brace.

Note: This is health information, not medical advice. We believe that you can learn something from this information, but it is best to work with a licensed orthotist in your area for medical advice on bracing.

AFOs - A Down To Earth Guide on Ankle Foot Orthoses and Orthopedic Braces - Part 13

The Difference Between Traditional AFOs & CAM Walkers

CAM Walkers are effective orthopedic braces that should not be confused with AFOs. Yes, it is considered to be an orthosis for the ankle and foot, but there are large differences between a CAM walker and a traditional AFO.

What Does "CAM" Stand For?

CAM is an acronym that stands for "controlled ankle motion". These kinds of orthopedic braces are like removable casts for patients, except better. Many times patient's will wean into one after a cast is removed. The benefits here are that a CAM Walker can be removed so the patient can monitor their skin and clean themselves. From here, eventually, a patient can then wean into an AFO when the physician
sees fit.

Why Would A Patient Use A Cast Instead of A Cam Walker?

Interestingly enough, patient's might not go directly into a CAM walker after an ankle or foot fracture. For example, if the physician is concerned that the patient might now wear the orthosis provided, or it will worn incorrectly, then a cast might be applied and left on for these reasons. Not everyone is able to notice whether they have a brace on correctly (due to confusion or not being alert) and this is a major reason why a cast might stay on instead.

What Do These Braces Look Like?

CAM walkers usually have an open toe, are gray or black in color, and will also have tread and a rocker bottom on the plantar surface. (The plantar surface is considered to be the bottom of the foot.) These braces are typically prefabricated. These orthopedic devices also typically come up your leg as high as a traditional AFO (ankle foot orthosis). This means that a CAM walker will come up to the widest part of the calf for most people. As a result of having tread and a rocker bottom, as opposed to a traditional AFO, the patient does not have to put them inside a shoe, in the vast majority of cases. Why? Because of the presence of the rocker bottom and tread, these brace are already like their own shoe in effect.

Closing The Toe On A Cam Walker

If you are a professional in any field, or a student perhaps, then your association with work or school may insist that you have closed toe footwear. Yes, it is probably to protect your toes. You can also probably assume that closed toe footwear is required for insurance reasons as well. CAM "boots" as they are sometimes called (incorrectly) do not usually have a closed toe, so if you need one added to your orthosis, then do not worry. You can go to your local, licensed orthotist and they can help provide this for you.

* This is health information. Brace scenarios can vary slightly, so it is best to get medical advice from your local, licensed orthotist regarding your particular situation.