Sciatica: Low Back Pain Relief Once and For All

by Sean Sumner, Daniel Sumner (Editor)

Sean Sumner is a practicing Physical Therapist with over 10 years of experience, currently working as the lead Spine Care Therapist for one the nations top Spine Clinics in Sacramento California

He is board certified Clinical Orthopedic Specialist places me in the elite company of the top 4% of practicing physical therapists across the U.S.
He work closely with primary care physicians, spine surgeons, pain management physicians, and physiatrists in developing plans for patients with pain and other disabilities related to the spine.

This book is for anyone who is currently suffering from sciatica or has suffered from sciatica in the past. It is for people that want real world solutions for their sciatica, based off clinical practice.

In this book I will teach you how to understand which positions and movements may cause pain, and which ones will help alleviate pain. I will also share with you what you can start doing at home today to decrease your pain, including when to use heat vs. cold, what types of exercises are right for you, and how to lift and move to protect your back for the future.

Most of all, I will provide important information for you, to ensure you are educated when you meet with your doctor or physical therapist to discuss diagnosis and treatment. This will allow you to work together as a team to come to the right treatment solution for your body. Once you understand what is going on and why you are having this pain, you will be better equipped to choose the right plan and be empowered to advocate for yourself.

Genres: Health

67 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 24, 2014

Reviews

[John Mulvihill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains useful information

The book could use the services of a copy editor. But that said, it was written by a guy who's been in the trenches with sciatica sufferers and is especially tuned in to the little things that can ignite sciatic pain without our being aware. He brings important things like this to mind whereas other sources either are not familiar with them, or take them for granted.

The writer stresses the importance of staying in good aerobic condition while working our way out of sciatica. This was the first mention I’ve come across about this and it is excellent advice. I’m a cyclist and when I was struck by a devastating bout of sciatica three months ago (from sleeping on a too-soft bed), I quit cycling and my floor exercises and totally gave in to the condition.

My greatest fear was not being able to overcome the condition and ending up a chronic pain sufferer. If you’ve had sciatica, you know that what I’m referring to is the next thing to a death sentence.

Now that my sciatica is “centralizing” (where the pain is returning to my lower back, its origin, rather than be “referred” to my hamstrings or hip), and I can feel a slow but sure recovery is underway, I’m going to have to pretty much start from scratch to regain my cycling fitness and lose the 10 pounds I’ve gained by being so sedentary.

Sciatica needs to be fought aggressively, while at the same time avoiding stress on the lumbar region where the nerve irritation is taking place. Now I realize I should have seen a specialist many weeks ago and used X-ray or MRI to get a solid diagnosis, then base my treatment on that.

One thing I never want to experience is spine surgery. By following the advice in this book, and never again sleeping in an overly soft bed (shame on you, Saatva!), I believe I will be among the lucky ones who can wrench myself free from the worst pain I’ve experienced over my 60+ years.

To the writer, my thanks. And to fellow sciatica suffers, good luck!

[Honeybee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real life-saver

I don’t know what I did to hurt my back, but one Sunday I woke up with intense pain in my groin and back. I couldn’t get comfortable, no matter what I did, and I was losing sleep, which made it all worse.

A few years ago, I was able to eliminate debilitating neck pain by incorporating the author’s simple exercises into my daily routine. I knew he had one for sciatica, too, so I bought it.

The exercises Sean Sumner prescribes are simple and easy. It hurt at first to do them, but within days the pain subsided and I was able to enjoy living again. I have since recommended the book to several friends.

Sean Sumner really knows his stuff! He includes an explanation of possible causes of sciatica, how to strengthen your muscles to properly align your spine, and helpful pictures along with step-by-step instructions on how to stretch. Priced around $3 for the eBook, this life-saver is a great value!

[Kristi Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to get better

This book helped my sciatica tremendously. Water therapy is the choice for me because it’s the easiest on my back and it’s more pleasant than doing some the other therapy. I’m doing the exercises daily that are recommended in the book. Book is short & easy to read & gets right to the point.

[Marcia Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information for back pain sufferers

I suffer from back pain periodically. This book gave good information on how to manage the pain at home as well as providing information about why doctors use certain treatment methods and medications.

[Jeff Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tips

I read this in about 20 minutes full of good detail stretching exercises in ways to stay healthy. Back pain is no joke it becomes a priority but to keep it a priority in preventing back injury is also important

[caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy an well written

Very well written book easy to understand an explained so well. Simple exercises to follow yet so important for people like myself who is in chronic pain daily.

[Ahmed Al-Khalifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short book and to the point

Good information with strength and stretching movement that will help you with your pain and preventing it from returning again.

[Scott Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book by Sean Sumners, the author gives readers/patients a clear cut description of what exactly Sciatica is, who gets ait and how, and then most importantly, the steps you can take to avoid getting this condition, or: what to do if you have developed it and the exercises/therapy recommended for treatment.

Before reading this book, I knew nothing about sciatica, least of all the causes and how millions are affected each year just by sitting all day long at a desk, which can later grow into arthritic problems. Other groups hit by this condition are runners, heavy-lifters, or people with diabetes.

The author is an authority in the matter and as the lead therapist for back pain and spinal care at on one of the leading facilities in the world, he shares with us his experience in how to handle this condition if it does occur. I personally do not suffer from sciatica but knowing people who do, I read this book for them and highly recommend that this is the book you need to read if you or anyone you care about is struggling with sciatica.

There are several key reason I recommend this book.

• First of all, it doesn't read like a medical journal. The writing style and tone the author uses is very clear and medical terminology [there are a few but not many] are clearly explained by Sumners so readers can fully grasp what is being said without having any prior knowledge about the condition.
• Sean explains about the anatomy of the spine and includes very clear diagrams that just expands on the reading experience.
• Colourful diagrams to explain the anatomy of sciatica and the various disks that it is made up of;
• The book is well-organized in a logical flow that starts off with explaining "What Sciatica is", the anatomy of sciatica, the symptoms of the condition, and how symptoms progress
• The author avoids long, drawn out explanations and keeps it simple. This is perfect for readers who just want to get to the "meat" of the material that tells them how to treat this if they have developed sciatica.

Chapter 2 gets into the ways patients can relax the pain and therapy strategies are recommended, as well as the common triggers to be aware of. I thought the advice on the medicine to use was particularly useful. Some people will find the section on Traction very interesting as a way to relieve the pain.

Chapter three gets into cardio exercise for treating sciatica, and chapter four is about stretching for sciatica by doing such exercises as: single knee to chest, hamstring stretch, pidiformis stretch, and the lumbar rotation.

Chapter 4 is my favourite because these stretches are great, even if you haven't developed sciatica but want to avoid getting it in the first place. The chapter ends with stretches to avoid as well, and each stretching activity comes with a pic to demonstrate.

Chapter 5 focuses in on core strengthening exercises: abdominal crunches, supine marching, 4 point leg extension, and squats. I have personally performed these exercises and they make up a great combination of exercises for building up body strength without having to go to the gym.

Finally we get into the body mechanics section that discusses sitting/standing/posture, and bending/lifting/turning. Basically the everyday body movements we normally don't think about.

So what's the overall verdict on this book?

The book is, in a nutshell, written with authority from an expert in the field that has helped thousands of people to recover from a condition that millions suffer from. I appreciated the easy-to-follow explanations and corresponding diagrams that added value and depth to the material. There are great exercises introduced to build up the lower back muscles as well as stretching activities to build into the therapy.

This book is a definite good read and serves to function as an important source of material if you or anyone you know is suffering from sciatica.

[Whistler's Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in my early 30's, I started having pain radiating down my left buttock. I remember wondering how on earth I had managed to sprain my butt. I looked in a home medical book and diagnosed myself (correctly) as having sciatica. Being without insurance at the time, I followed the self-help suggestions in the book and I have continued to look for others through the years. I have gradually evolved a regimen of techniques ranging from how I sleep, stand, and sit to nightly stretches. I guess you could say that I have been successful, since I have managed to remain pretty much pain free for decades without resorting to surgery or pain medication.

But I always wondered why there were so many different methods of self-treatment and why some worked for me and some didn't. Turns out that "sciatica" isn't really a diagnosis, but a description of a set of symptoms. Different problems may be causing those symptoms, which is why some treatments may work for you and others not. Understanding that basic fact clears up many of the things that have puzzled me during all the years that I have dealt with sciatica.

Last month I read this author's excellent book on chronic neck pain (NECK CHECK) and learned so much from it. Now he's written this book which addresses my second problem area. Is he reading my mind or am I simply a very typical Baby Boomer dealing with the effects of ageing? Probably Door #2.

This author is a well-credentialed and experienced physical therapist, but the value of his books lies not in what he knows, but in his talent to explain complicated medical information in terms that the rest of us can understand without being intimidated or overwhelmed. He describes the anatomy of the back and how the sciatic nerve can become the victim of accidents and/or ageing. He explains the importance of getting an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your sciatica and what that may entail. He gives a list of "Red Flag" symptoms that require immediate medical intervention, although most of his advice involves self-help techniques

He discusses ways to alleviate the pain of a sciatica flare-up while the body heals itself and you can start to make changes to prevent another flare-up. He talks about the danger of sitting and the value of cardiovascular exercise to help you recover from a flare-up. The first I was all too aware of, but the second really surprised me. He even shows you some simple methods to use traction to give your damaged spine some temporary relief.

He shows stretching exercises that help alleviate the pain and "core strengthening" exercises to give you a stronger body that can support your weight and take some of the pressure off of your lower spine. I can tell you from decades of experience, these exercises WORK if you will do them regularly.

This is all the information I wish had been available to me many years ago and it's in a readable, easy-to-understand format. You are your own best doctor, which is why the best medical outcomes happen when the patient is educated and involved. If you suffer from lower back pain, you owe it to yourself and your family to read this book.

[Eleanor Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advice and information.

Great intro into the world of sciatica. Good advice and exercises. Would like a few more pics on correct movements for vacuuming and unloading dishwasher. Been seeing a chiropractor and this book validates the advice I've been given. Now I just have to make it a way of life. I am female and 68.

[Marilyn Woolison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful information

Sean provides enough useful information about sciatic pain to encourage a person to follow his plan. His recommendations are doable.

[Kathryn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is good, but it helped more to speak with a physical therapist for some relief.