What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is radiating pain that originates from the sciatic nerve, located primarily in your lower back. This condition can happen because of illness or injury but all comes down to irritation of the sciatic nerve.
Risk factors include age related changes to the spine, obesity, individuals putting strain or a lot of weight on their spines in their recreational hobbies or occupation, and sedentary lifestyles.
While sciatica can be pretty severe and disrupt your day-to-day, there is treatment available from medical professionals.
What Are The Symptoms of Sciatica?
Sciatic pain consists of a couple of tell-tale signs, including shooting, stabbing and sometimes even burning sensations. All signs of sciatica should be seen by a medical professional to confirm diagnosis and necessary treatment. Some common indicators of severe sciatica may include:
- Shooting pain in your lower back or leg
- Tingling/numbness to your leg or foot
What Causes Sciatica?
While sciatica is always due to irritation of the sciatic nerve, the cause of that irritation can vary. Sometimes a short term version of sciatica could happen because of fast twisting movements, prolonged sitting, or strain and will subside in one to two weeks. The longer term pain, however, is typically caused by some form of pressure or pinching, which can happen to the nerve because of:
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Obesity
- Occupation
- Diabetes
What are My Treatment Options for Sciatica?
Depending on the severity, root condition, and the duration of your sciatica symptoms, the treatment plan followed by your doctor will vary. But let’s discuss some of the ways your doctor could treat your pain.
1. Spinal decompression – In some cases, the gentle act of stretching the spine using a traction table can help relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve.
2. Rehab Therapy – A specialist will develop custom exercises for you to practice at home to help relieve the pressure on your sciatic nerve.
3. Chiropractic Care – Depending on the severity of your sciatica pain, a chiropractor may be brought in to assess you for spinal abnormalities that may be pressing on the sciatic nerve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sciatica?
1. How to relieve sciatica pain at home
Sciatic pain will need proper diagnosis from a medical professional, but if the pain is minor and short term, you can try to treat it at home with rest, proper posture and icing.
2. Where is the sciatic nerve located?
The sciatic nerve is located in your lower back, through your hips and down into each leg.
