Sciatica
What is Sciatica?
● Sciatica is pain that runs along the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve runs from the buttock down through each leg. Sciatica refers to pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in the leg. Sciatica is caused by injury or pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a symptom of a disease.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
● Pain. Sciatica is caused by compression of the affected nerve. Most people describe sciatica as a burning or electric sensation. This pain also often radiates to the affected leg. The pain usually occurs when coughing, sneezing, bending over, or lifting the leg upward while lying on your back.
● Tingling or “pins and needles” sensation (paresthesia). This is similar to the feeling you get when your leg falls asleep while sitting cross-legged.
● Numbness. This is the lack of feeling in the skin of the affected area of the back or leg. This happens because signals from the back or legs have trouble reaching the brain.
● Urinary or fecal incontinence. This is a very serious symptom. It means that the signals that control the bladder and bowels are unable to reach their destinations.
What causes sciatica?
Any condition that affects the sciatic nerve can cause sciatica. Any of the five spinal nerves that affect the sciatic nerve may also cause sciatica. Conditions that can cause sciatica include:
● Herniated discs
● Degenerative disc disease.
● Spinal stenosis
● Foraminal stenosis
● Spondylolisthesis
● Osteoarthritis
● Injury.
● Pregnancy.
● Tumors, cysts, or other growths.
● Medullary Cone Syndrome
● Cauda equina syndrome
Treatment of Sciatica
In some cases, it can recover on its own without treatment. Mild sciatica usually goes away with time. If self-care measures do not relieve symptoms, call a health care professional. If pain persists for more than a week, is severe or worsens, contact your doctor for immediate medical attentionIn many cases, conservative (non-surgical) treatment is the best approach. Healthcare providers may recommend the following measures to relieve symptoms and reduce inflammation:
● Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
● Apply heat or ice to the painful area. Try ice packs for the first 48 to 72 hours, then use heat packs.
● Movement (keeping your body in motion minimizes inflammation)
● Osteopathic manipulation
● Surgery (to repair your herniated disk, if the condition persists)
How can I prevent sciatica?
Sciatica is not always preventable and it can come back. To protect your back:
●Exercise regularly. To keep your back strong, work the core muscles - the muscles in your abdomen and lower back - that are necessary to maintain good posture and alignment. A healthcare professional can recommend someactivities for you.
●Maintain good sitting posture. Choose a chair with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. For better lumbar support, place a pillow or rolled-up towel in the small of the back to maintain the normal curve of the lower back. Keep your knees and hips level.
●Use your body properly. When standing for long periods of time, place one foot on a stool or small box from time to time. When lifting heavy objects, let your legs work. Keep the weights close to yourbody. Don't lift and twist at the same time. Get help lifting heavy or awkward objects.