THAT’S A REAL PAIN IN MY BACKSIDE! W hat I s the S ciatic N erve and H ow D oes I t A ffect Y our L ife Between your neighbor asking to borrow your lawn mower, your sister asking you to feed her goldfish, and your friend asking for help to move an old, heavy couch, you might find yourself bending over backward to be of service to those around you. Unfortunately, all of this bending can become a real pain in the backside — literally! Millions of Americans suffer from constant pain in their glutes, and in several cases, this pain stems from issues related to the sciatic nerve — the largest nerve in the human body. The sciatic nerve runs from each side of the lower spine all the way down the backs of your thighs to your feet. Because it is your largest nerve, it serves a vital role in connecting your spinal cord to the muscles in the lower half of your body, and just as you may expect, any issues that occur in this giant nerve cause a great deal of pain. These issues usually originate from some kind of compression on the sciatic nerve, but the specific symptoms vary depending on the location and type of compression that occurs. For example, if you have a herniated disk that presses against the nerve root in your lower spine, you may experience numbness or a burning sensation in your thighs, calves, feet, and toes. Some of the other symptoms include dull or shooting pains in the gluteal area, hips, or lower back. Because we know that sciatic nerve pain can be frustrating and sometimes even debilitating, our physical therapists here at Vital Care take ample time to review each case, identify the true causes of our clients’ pain, and create uniquely tailored treatment plans in order to restore normal motion, flexibility, and mobility. We work to ensure that, first and foremost, you no longer experience the awful pain of sciatica, but we also want to get you back to being the helpful, charitable human being who teaches your grandkid how to do a perfect summersault or helps your friend move their furniture. But only if you want to, of course!
L ate -S ummer P anzanella
INGREDIENTS
• 1 small loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups) • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 2 large tomatoes, cubed • 2 red bell peppers, seeded and cubed
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced • 1 cucumber, sliced into rounds • 20 basil leaves, chopped • Salt, to taste • Vinaigrette
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large sauté pan, set to medium-low heat and add olive oil. Add bread and 1 teaspoon salt and toss often for 10 minutes or until toasted. 2. In a large bowl, mix vegetables and herbs. Toss in bread and your favorite vinaigrette and mix again. 3. Serve immediately or let sit 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Inspired by Delicious magazine.
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