therapy incorporates spinal extension exercises that aim to return a bulged or slightly herniated disc into its original space. Since the disc material is herniated posteriorly, usually during a flexion of the spine, a series of extensions will hopefully force the disc to reverse, and free the spinal cord. This method has shown good results in moderate cases, however it has also produced some negative results as well. While seventy percent of patients using the McKenzie method showed a decrease in leg pain associated with sciatica, three percent found an increase in the radicular pain in their leg, and twenty eight percent did not notice a difference (Drivdahl, 1998). Still, those who experienced an increase in radicular pain, were the patients who initially had more severe conditions to begin with. This concludes that the McKenzie method of physical therapy is a viable option for most cases of sciatica, especially moderate ones. The prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs as a treatment has also gained increased in volume during the past five years. This is due in part to the apprehension doctors have when prescribing narcotic drugs, for fear of addiction. Thus, most intermediate cases of lumbar disc herniations are given the option to take anti-inflammatory drugs, with the hope that they will continue with their daily life activities. Sciatic pain is can be due in part to a perineural inflammatory response to a disc herniation(Hatori, 1999). The goal of the anti-inflammatory would be to reduce the inflammation, thus relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve. These non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) also have their problems, however. With most of these drugs, there is a relatively high rate of gastro-intestinal disturbances. For example, a commonly prescribed drug known as indomethacin has been reported to produce gastro intestinal side effects in up to twenty nine percent of it’s users(Hatori, 1999). ...
