An Overview of Sciatica

What is sciatica? That is normally the initial question that springs into mind when we come across of the word. Could it be a title for a new science fiction video? Well, a clinical condition where the sciatic nerve is compressed is known as sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve fiber encountered in our body that runs from the nerve roots of the lumbar or lower back spinal cord down to the nerve endings of the lower limbs.

With sciatica, also referred to as sciatic nerve pain, the sciatic nerve becomes irritated and inflamed caused by several reasons, which can cause lower back pain that extends down to the buttocks and even to the area below the knees. Though there are many causes of sciatica, it is usually a result of a herniated disc. Sciatica indicated by extreme back pain may also be a result of variables, such as soreness of the nerve from surrounding bone, tumors, muscle, internal bleeding, infections, and damage to the sciatic nerve.

How then can you recognize when sciatica strikes? So, what precisely are the symptoms of sciatica you should look out for? Back pain, especially lower back pain, is often the very first symptom of sciatica, especially when there are extra symptoms, like burning, numbness, or tingling sensation in the lower back that travels down to the legs. At times the pain may not expand down to the legs and instead concentrate on the hip area only.

There are also circumstances where lower back pain may not be a symptom for a sciatica patient. However, in spite of the lack of pain, some patients may find walking difficult to do. Moreover, uncomfortable movements like bending down can increase the severity of the pain. This is the very reason why many patients choose to lie down in order to get sciatica nerve relief.

Sciatica Pan Relief

Some sciatica cases can be very unpleasant and can really be a concern for people with little threshold for pain. Fortunately, you can relieve sciatica with a wide range of treatments, making the pain much more tolerable.

Natural Relief. Home remedies, being more economical, accessible, effective, easier, and safer is a great alternative to traditional sciatica treatments and there are many accessible in the market today. Whether standing or sitting, as a way to obtain relief for sciatica, correct stance is a must. Always make sure to have proper support, such as the ideally suited back support or even shoe support, to name some. Ice and heat compresses can also help relieve the pain by reducing inflammation and irritation. Short bed rests are ideal after the onset of sciatica though after that, you should keep your body active.

Alternative Treatments. Increasing in popularity today, alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic manipulations, physical therapy, and specific exercise routines, can be employed to reduce and even treat sciatica.

Surgery. Obviously, there are also patients who would prefer medications and surgery. Many doctors generally prescribe NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or COX-2 inhibitors, and also oral steroids, for pain and swelling relief. Epidural steroid injections may also be supplied to patients for faster results, since these are injected instantly into the affected area.

When the condition is extreme, chronic, and recurring, surgery may be the greatest choice. Sciatica surgical procedures focus on reducing the pressure on the sciatic nerve by extraction of the concern. A couple of the more popular procedures are the microdiscectomy, which is a minimally-invasive procedure, and the lumbar laminectomy, an open surgical procedure.

Sciatica can be hard, though luckily, if given enough time to recover, it can quickly heal itself even without the assistance of numerous treatments. What is sciatica, what are its symptoms, and how to treat it are some questions that you won't be asking anymore with this brief background on sciatica.