Back Pain and Sciatica

Lower back pain is common affecting about 80% of people at some point in their lives. Acute back pain resolves within 6 weeks but chronic back pain, by definition, lasts longer. Sciatica implies entrapment of the sciatic nerve into the leg causing numbness and/or pain and in more severe cases weakness.

The following weblink is useful for back pain

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/back-pain/

The following weblink is useful for sciatica

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sciatica/

Arthritis research UK has some useful advice on back exercises

https://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/exercises-to-manage-pain/back-pain-exercises.aspx

For those who would like to give joga a try to address their chronic back or sciatica there is a wealth of online self help videos on youtube. I suggest these as an introduction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5h0jkoBFbI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeXz8fIZDCE