Almost everyone will deal with a headache at some point, making them a very common health complaint. In fact, almost half of the population is affected by headaches. They can range from a minor nuisance to severe and debilitating that impacts daily life. The 3 most common types of headaches are tension-type, migraines, and cluster headaches. Cervicogenic headaches fall within the tension-type group, which will be the focus of this series.

When someone is struggling with sciatic nerve issues it can be debilitating. Like many conditions, the advice we give can be just as important as the treatment itself. In the case of sciatica, eliminating nerve stretch is necessary in order for the symptoms to calm down or to avoid flare-ups.

Sciatica can be brought on by compression of the nerve by surrounding tissues. When that compression is found in the hip area, a group of muscles, that originate at the tailbone and attach to the hip, are often the culprit. This is often referred to as Piriformis Syndrome. The piriformis is the largest of those muscles. Along with pain, symptoms such as numbness and tingling and weakness can also be present.

Irritation to the sciatic nerve can happen due to a traumatic injury or as the result of repetitive use. Before treatment can take place a proper diagnosis has to be made. The diagnosis is not only important to confirm that the sciatic nerve is affected, but also to know the location or locations where the nerve is being irritated.

Sciatica can be a painful and debilitating problem that commonly interferes with walking, standing, sitting, and sleeping. In some cases, it is difficult to find any comfortable position at all. Along with pain, symptoms such as throbbing, numbness, weakness, and “pins-and-needles” can also be present.