Sciatica

When people talk about sciatica most of the time they’re referring to pain that travels down the path of the sciatic nerve from the lower back through the hips or buttocks and down one of their legs. Sciatica can occur from a disc bulge or when bones put pressure on part of the sciatic nerve. Both of these cause inflammation and if the problem is bad enough can produce numbness in the impacted leg. Most cases of sciatica clear up by themselves within a few weeks but people can experience severe kinds that causes very bad leg weakness or even bowel and bladder issues. People often describe sciatic pain as sharp, burning pain and sometimes like a jolt of an electric shock. People usually have a hard time coughing or sneezing due to the pain.

Sciatica is a common problem that affects many people. It is a type of nerve pain that can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the lower back, buttocks, and legs. The symptoms of sciatica vary from person to person, but can range from a mild ache to intense pain. The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disc, or a bulging disc in your spine. This can occur when the disc material becomes damaged, allowing it to press on the nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve. Other causes of sciatica can include spinal stenosis, spinal tumors, infection, and pregnancy. Treatment for sciatica can range from at–home remedies to medication and physical therapy. Home remedies such as applying ice, using a heating pad, stretching, and taking over–the–counter pain medications can often provide relief. In more severe cases, doctors may prescribe stronger medications, physical therapy, and even surgery. It is important to talk to your doctor about any pain or discomfort you are experiencing. Your doctor can help you determine the underlying cause of your sciatica and create a treatment plan that is best suited for you. With the right treatment, you can find relief from the pain and discomfort of sciatica.

Sciatica in its true form is caused when the sciatic nerve becomes pinched. In very rare cases a tumours can put pressure on the nerve or blood-borne diseases like diabetes can also damage the nerve due to lack of blood supply. Age, weight, lifestyle and prolonged sitting can all lead to more likelihood of experiencing sciatica.
Sciatica is a type of leg pain that can be caused by a number of different factors. Inflammation in your sacroiliac joint accounts for about 2 to 3% of sciatic type pain. Another cause of sciatic pain is a ligament syndrome in the lower part of your back and sacrum usually caused by strain due to lifting with rotation involved.
Another way your sciatic nerve can be trapped and give you pain is the way it interacts with your piriformis muscle. 80% of people have their sciatic nerve go under the main component of the piriformis muscle. However some people have a sciatic nerve that goes through the belly of the muscle and that this can cause problems if your group muscles become tight.

How to prevent sciatica – it is important to be properly assessed and diagnosed by a trained professional (such as one of our Chiropractors) in order to determine what the right course of treatment is to manage your sciatica. General advice is to exercise regularly to keep your back & core muscles strong, maintain a good posture when sitting and try not to twist or turn when you pick up items. If you can reduce the amount of stress on your lower back and body during times of standing for long periods or sitting for long periods you’ll have a better chance to avoid any kind of sciatic nerve irritation.

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