Question
Many times a month (for years and years) my L4/L5 is compressed and I get horrific foot cramps and also awful sensations to the side of the lower leg above the ankle - it is torture when it happens.  PT has helped the most over the last 20 years - but I'm open to hearing anything you have learned about preventing L/4 and L5 compression. Thanks

Answer

Lawrence Gold Somatics  

Hanna Somatic Educatio   Hi, Debbie,

Here are two articles that answer your question about preventing L4/L5 compression:

http://somatics.com/back_pain.htm
http://somatics.com/chronic_back_pain.htm

Disc compression results from muscles held in contraction by muscle/movement memory formed upon an injury or during periods of long-term stress.

See the link to "back pain terms" in those articles.

Hamstrings are usually involved, as they are reflexively connected to the low back muscles.

See this article and do what's shown in the video AFTER you have disarmed back muscle tension with the somatic exercises pointed to in the back pain articles (beyond the one shown, there).