The sciatic nerve is located at the base of your backbone, near your tailbone.  It runs through the buttocks and down the back of the thigh, all the way down through the foot.  This is the longest nerve found in the body, and a number of conditions can easily put stress on it, resulting in severe back pain.  Simple things like unsuitable furniture, or even sitting on your wallet too long can irritate the nerve.  Too much stress can result in compression of the sciatic nerve, resulting in a condition called sciatica.

This pain that results from the impingement of the sciatic nerve can be quite excruciating, and can lead to debilitation in worst case scenarios.  However, there are a many aches and pains associated with sciatica that are not as severe, and can be properly treated.  A careful examination is necessary to properly diagnose the symptoms, and come up with the right solution.  The doctor will ask you for your previous medical history, the duration and frequency of the pain, if you have had previous sciatic episodes, even if you are using the proper posture and back support.  Some people with chronic illnesses such a diabetes are more predisposed to have sciatic problems than others, so make sure your complete medical history is well known.

After the doctor has discussed the symptoms with you, a physical examination will take place.  The source or origin of the pain is determined by making the patient perform a number of common activities like sitting, walking, standing, bending in different directions, even jumping up and down.  Other tests can include electrical conduction to establish whether there is a more serious problem with the transmission in the nerve, or if the nerve has been damaged by some other cause.  A simple X-ray or MRI should be able to get a clear diagnosis if there is any nerve or tissue damage, and will be able to diagnose the severity as well.

In some minor cases of sciatica, doctor intervention is not always necessary.  In some cases doing basic stretching exercises, coupled with extreme rest, can help the affliction.  Some people have even had success with meditation and yoga as an alternative method to treating this affliction.  However, if you are suffering from back pain and you think that it might be being caused by your sciatic nerve, it is best to go get it looked at immediately.  If you are having back pain, get it checked out at a doctor’s office first before you try any alternative methods of treatment.  It could be nothing, or it could be serious, but the only way to have the piece of mind in knowing, is to get a doctor’s opinion.

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When we think of injuries in the office workplace, we most often think of back and wrist injuries.  The fact is there are a multitude of office injuries that can result from improper back supports and lack of an ergonomic seat to give us the support we need. Chronic wrist and back pain are the most common, but an improper work station can also cause knee, leg, eye and even ankle strain.

General muscle aches and strains include tired legs, aching backs, stiff knees, shoulders and neck muscles.  When you get home at the end of the day and feel tired all over, this can be the result of a poor workplace set-up.

Wrist pain such as carpal tunnel results from repetitive motions such as typing without having proper support for the wrist.  The nerve that travels down the arm and through the wrist becomes compressed, resulting in pain and sometimes a tingling and numbness in the fingers.  Carpal tunnel can be improved by the use of a wrist brace, although sometimes surgery becomes necessary.

Eye strain is another common complaint among office workers.  Poor lighting is often the cause and can even lead to stiff and aching neck and shoulder muscles from hunching over to see things clearly.  This in turn can cause headaches and blurred vision as well as irritated watery eyes.  Occasionally accidents may occur when people have to move from a brightly lit area into a darker one.  For safety’s sake, lighting should be consistent throughout the workplace.

Lower back and leg pains can result from poor or lacking lumbar support and improper back support.  When we sit at a desk, our feet should always rest flat on the floor and our thighs should be parallel to the floor.  This alleviates stress and strain on the lower back.  Armrest should also be in the right position so that we don’t slouch or bend to rest our arms.

Another less commonly known injury in the office setting is a static posture injury.  This most often involves hip and knee strain.  It results from moving too quickly into an active position after sitting or standing in the same position for long periods.  The sudden movement causes strain to the muscles and can wear down ligaments causing serious pain.

All of these office workplace injuries can be avoided by the use of an ergonomically designed seat which provides proper back and lumbar support as well as a design that allows fluid movement between positions.

Having your office station set up with the proper lighting, seat and placement of equipment will help to ensure your comfort at work and at home at the end of the day!

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