Adele reveals struggling with sciatica that affects her ability to walk
Adele has revealed that she has been suffering from sciatica, which has been affecting her ability to walk.
During her "Weekends with Adele" concert in Las Vegas last weekend, the 34-year-old singer had to walk across the stage of the Colosseum at Caesars Palace with "a waddle."
"I have (two) more songs, I've got to get over to the other side of the stage," Adele said. "I have a waddle these days because I have really bad sciatica."
Weekend 7
— Adele (@Adele) January 1, 2023
Happy New Year to You and Yours ♥️ pic.twitter.com/uKMto32POV
While Adele has not revealed the details of her injury, Healthline describes sciatica as a condition that is caused by an irritation in the sciatic nerve—the body's longest nerve which runs from the spinal cord and branches down to the legs.
It is one of the most important nerves in the body and directly affects one's ability to control the legs and feet. It can be damaged in several ways, which include sitting or lying down for long periods, acquiring an infection or injury in the spine, and the loosening of ligaments during pregnancy.
The most common cause, however, is slipped disc which one can get from simple tasks such as heavy lifting without proper technique.
In an interview with The Face last year, Adele shared her experience of slipping several discs in her back since her teenage years.
"I slipped my first disc when I was 15 from sneezing. I was in bed and I sneezed and my fifth one flew out. In January, I slipped my sixth one, my L6. And then where I had c-section, my core was useless," the singer-songwriter said.
She added, however, that strengthening her core muscles helped resolve this: "But where I got my tummy strong, down at the bottom, which I never had before, my back don’t play up as much."
People suffering from sciatica would usually feel a tingling sensation, burning or sharp pain, numbness, or weakness in their bottoms, legs, feet, and toes. This is in addition to moderate or sharp pain in the back.
According to Medical News Today, most cases of sciatica would last four to six weeks and usually self-resolve with the practice of proper posture and exercise, such as walking, yoga, pilates, and light stretching. If the pain lasts for more than six weeks, it would be best to consult a doctor.