Jordan: Sciatica is so painful
The model and TV star suffers from a bad back
Friday, 22 June 2007
Jordan has revealed that she's not only plagued by morning sickness when she's pregnant, she also suffers from sciatica – a back condition that gets so uncomfortable, she becomes virtually immobile.
‘It can be so painful I can hardly walk,’ says Jordan. ‘I had it the first time when I was pregnant with Junior, and when I got pregnant again it got worse.’
A common problem
Most of us will suffer from back pain at some point in our lives and sciatica is very common. The condition is caused when the sciatic nerve – one of the largest nerves in the body, which runs from the base of the spine along the back of the thighs to the knees – becomes compressed at the base of the spine.
This causes pain of varying severity in the buttocks, back of the legs, knees and feet, as well as numbness, tingling and muscle weakness. It’s usually triggered by an inflamed or slipped disc in the spine, which then presses on the nerve.
Combine medication with physical therapies
However, in Jordan’s case, it’s pregnancy that causes the problem. Frida Ljungars, of the London Back Clinic, explains: ‘During pregnancy, the ligaments that keep your pelvis together soften, making it easier for the birth. Unfortunately, this means the ligaments aren’t able to support the full load of the body and pressure’s put on the spine, which can lead to sciatica.’
While this will clear up on its own after giving birth, there are measures you can take, whether pregnant or otherwise, to improve the condition. If you aren’t expecting, painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication can help, although this will mask the problem rather than correct it.
The best course of action is to combine medication with physical therapies, such as yoga, physiotherapy or the Alexander technique, which help by increasing flexibility, adjusting the spine or manipulating the body to free the sciatic nerve.
The main thing is to try to keep active
But what do you do if you’re pregnant and these therapies aren’t suitable? ‘The main thing is to try to keep active,’ advises Frida Ljungars. ‘If you don’t, you’re more likely to put on weight, which will put further pressure on your spine.
So go for walks, but take small steps rather than big strides because this will prevent you rotating the pelvis and exacerbating the problem. If you’re in agony, use cold or heated pads for the inflammation.’
Despite the pain Jordan suffers during pregnancy, it seems unlikely to deter her and Peter from having more children – she’s already admitted that she wants five or six. Clearly there's no stopping this particular mother.
SCIATICA EXPLAINED
What is it?
The sciatic nerve becomes compressed at the base of the spine, causing pain.
Causes
A slipped or herniated disk; or inflammation due to osteoarthritis or pregnancy.
Symptoms
Pain in the buttocks, hamstrings and sometimes tingling or numbness.
Treatment
Physical therapies, such as physiotherapy, osteopathy or chiropractic. Or anti-inflammatory or painkiller medication.
For more info
Visit
www.backcare.org.uk or call 0870 9500275.
Emily Watkins
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