Dr L.E.McGuigan

Low back pain and sciatica are leading causes of disability from rheumatic disease. These conditions are virtually always caused by the degeneration of the intervertebral discs. Sometimes the material from these discs protrudes backwards and presses on the spinal nerves causing pain and discomfort in the regions those nerves supply. When these nerves supply the legs this gives rise to sciatica. However sometimes the pain in the back is due to instability when one vertebra slips on the one below, as the disc between them does not stabilize them. Although it is impossible to cure the degenerate disc there are physical techniques and medication that can usually improve the pain. Rarely surgery is necessary to correct the situation.