Sciatica is the pain caused by irritation or compression of a sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in all nerves. It runs from the back of the pelvis, through buttocks, and down both legs, ending at feet. The pain of sciatica is customarily felt in buttocks and legs. Sciatica that radiates the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from the lower back through hips and buttocks and down each leg.
Usually, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Sciatica commonly involves a herniated disk and bone spur of the spine that causes pain and some numbness in the affected leg. Pain associated with sciatica can be severe, most instances it solves with non-operative treatments like physiotherapy. People who have sharp sciatica symptoms such as significant leg weakness with bowel or bladder out of controls might be candidates for surgery.
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Sciatica Symptoms
The pain may range from mild to severe pain and may be worse by sneezing, coughing or sitting for a long period of time. People with sciatica can additionally have general back pain, the pain associated with sciatica customarily affects the buttocks and legs much more than the back.
- Pain
- Numbness
- A tingling sensation that radiates lower back and peregrinates down one of your legs to your foot and toes
- The weakness of the calf muscles or that muscles who move the foot and ankle
Causes of Sciatica
In the astronomical majority of cases, sciatica is caused by slipped disc. A slipped disc occurs when one of the discs that sit between the bones of the vertebral spine is damaged and presses nerves.
- Less prevalent causes include:
- Spinal stenosis – narrowing of the nerve passages in the spine
- Spondylolisthesis – when a vertebra slips out of position
- Spinal injury or infection
- A magnification within the spine – such as a tumor
- Cauda equina syndrome – an infrequent but serious condition caused by the compressed and damaged nerve of the spinal cord.
Sciatica Treatment
Most cases of sciatica pass in around six weeks without treatment.
- However, a combination treatment does at home – such as over-the-counter analgesics, exercise, and using cold or hot packs – may avail reduce the symptoms until the condition better.
- Further treatment also recommended for more serious cases, such as:
- Exercise program under the supervision of the physiotherapist.
- In very rare cases, surgery may need for the correct your spine.
Prevention of Sciatica
You can minimize your further episode of sciatica by:
- Practicing a better posture technique at work.
- Stretching before exercise.
- Regular exercising.
The mattress should be firm enough to support the body while supporting the weight off shoulders and buttocks, that keep your spine straight. If the mattress is too soft, place a firm board under a mattress.