Sciatica Pain Causes, Treatments and Exercises
The sciatic nerve is the longest known nerve that is found in humans and other animals, and when fully grown it can equal the size of a man’s thumb. This nerve has its origin in the lower spine but runs down to the back of the legs and toes.
It is comprised of five smaller nerves, three of which are found in the sacral spine, while the other two are extensions of the lumbar nerves. Scientific research indicates that this particular nerve serves nearly the whole lower body.
This particular nerve is pivotal to our mobility and when affected, patients experience difficulty in overall body movement. Therefore, it is essential to seek medical attention as soon as you suspect sciatic nerve pain, which is also popularly known as sciatica in medical terms.
Sciatica is characterized by pain and numbness, and in some cases tingling and weakness. This is usually a result of irritated nerve roots, which have their origin in the lower end of the spine.
There are different types of sciatica and they are characterized by numbness and pain. However, the symptoms tend to remain the same irrespective of the levels of the pain.
Instructions
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Causes of Sciatic Nerve Pain
It is important to note that sciatic nerve pain is mainly caused by the rupturing of the herniated disc at the hip or when this particular disc bulges, causing great discomfort. In some cases, this might be a result of other diseases that a patient might be suffering from. The two most common diseases that cause sciatica are spinal steneosis and arthritis, which often leads to bone spurs.
Pregnant women are also prone to sciatica due to hormonal and other changes that take place during the gestation period. Tumors which can affect the spine are a common cause of sciatic nerve pain and can only be treated using medication and exercises.
Muscle spasms and spinal neoplasm as a result of cancer can lead to sciatica too, but the treatment of these two conditions will vary due to symptoms they depict.
Other diseases and health conditions that fall in the same range include degenerative disc diseases, spondylolisthesis, muscular hypertension, and piriformis syndrome.
Remember, sneezing is also an acute cause of sciatica, but can easily be tackled with quality medication. Similarly, Osteotomy can also lead to sciatica. The good news however, is that patients who suffer from this nerve pain tend to recover faster and are expected to return to their normal routines within 6 months. -
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Symptoms of Sciatic Nerve Pain
Sciatic nerve pain can come in many ways but the most common characteristics include:
-An excruciating pain can radiate from the nerve and is felt in the leg.
-The pain is sharper when you stand up or sit, but subsides when you lie down.
-In some instances the pain can be excruciatingly sharp and uncomfortable.
-The pain originates from the lower back and moves downwards to the back of the lower leg. This is due to the fact that the sciatic nerve has its origin in the lower end of the spine.
-One can also experience vomiting when this nerve is affected in one way or another.
It is important realize that your ability to do certain things will be affected according to the area of pain.
For instance, sciatica that originates from the L5 nerve root will lead to problems moving the big toe. In fact, a patient will start to feel excruciating pain between the big toe and the toe that follows. This is followed by numbness, which will be felt in the upper part of the leg.
In the case of the L1 nerve root, numbness will be felt at the outer part of the foot and it might become quite difficult for the patient to lift his leg, hence affecting his mobility.
This is the sole reason why treatment measures will differ from one patient to the other, necessitating proper check-ups before the commencement of any medical care. The causes of sciatica vary too and so do the treatment methods and therapies. -
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Treatment of Sciatica/Pain relief
First aid is an integral part of the treatment process for those suffering from sciatica. You should apply presses on the inflamed areas and use hot baths to reduce body tension and spasms, if any.
Doctors always recommend the use of specific analgesics and antidepressants for treatment, and massages or physical therapy might be required to realign the spine. Surgery will always be the last solution that a doctor might recommend, depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, especially in case of a herniated disc.
If the pain is unbearable, you can take painkillers to alleviate it, but they won’t solve the main issue. -
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Exercises for Sciatica Patients
Physicians generally recommend structured exercise programs under the supervision of qualified physiotherapists. The main objective of these exercises is to reduce pain and help avoid recurrence.
The two most common exercise programs recommended include core muscle strength exercises and specific diagnosis exercises, because they achieve better results within a short period.
There are many different causes of sciatica and this necessitates that you consider consulting a qualified physician for professional services. After evaluating your condition and determining the root-cause of the pain, the doctor will advise on the best treatment methods and exercises that you should use.
The best way to counter Sciatica is by a combination of good medication and therapies.
