Tips to Prevent Aggravating or Triggering Sciatica During The Holidays

By Adam Arnette

The holiday season is filled with parties, people and presents - At least for many of you who have been preparing for Christmas, since... well maybe even before... Thanksgiving!
For some, the holidays may be less joyous, as many injuries occur during this time as well. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 5,800 back injuries out of more than 50,000 annually, occur during the holidays. Putting up Christmas lights is more dangerous than you'd think! So before rushing into your holiday preparations, take a look at these tips to help you avoid aggravating a pre-existing conditions such as sciatica, or to avoid developing a new injury that may send you off to spine surgery this coming year:
Christmas Tree - Don't even consider picking one up by yourself to strap to the top of your car. Get help from a family member or friend and bribe them with cookies and milk when the job is done. Use your legs and keep your core tight when lifting, and avoid lifting overhead and twisting while reaching. Preventing a sciatica ridden holiday may be worth generously tipping "Santa's Helpers" to deliver and set up the tree in your home.
Don't decorate alone! Every year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Climbing onto shaky stepladders and reaching while twisting is a sure-fire way to injure your back. If you are alone, decorate at eye-level and avoid dicey maneuvers. If you have an eager team of friends, children and family... make an event of it and whip up some tasty treats while everyone pitches in. Also avoid carrying large or heavy boxes down from the attic. Divide your loads into smaller bags or boxes, and distribute the weight evenly in both hands to protect your spine from strain.
The Big Day - you may be stressed about getting your last-minute cooking completed and home cleaned up, so keep in mind that this is the time when many people overdo it, get injured and wind up needing laser spine surgery. Standing on your feet for hours and cooking is quite stressful on your back, so remind yourself to stand correctly, take breaks to stretch and move about.
Despite the stress to make everything just right, remember what this season is really about: Joy! So avoid triggering your sciatica, or worse, risking a new injury to your back that could send you for laser spine surgery. Relax and enjoy
If you suffer from sciatica, or any other type of chronic back pain, you can get a Free MRI Review by North American Spine, the leader in minimally invasive spine care. Visit http://www.NorthAmericanSpine.com or call us direct at 877-474-2225.
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