How is Sciatica Treatment done?

The condition of sciatica is caused by a pinch in the nerve located in your lower back. The pangs begin in the nerve roots situated on either side of your lower spine and then course through sciatica nerve that runs in length of each leg, right from the buttock and down to your foot. The leg pain is called ‘radiculopathy’ and sometimes worsens the condition of your backache. Sciatica usually happens in one leg and gives you a sensation that can be intolerable. Some people have compared the pain with a toothache and don’t know what’s more painful.

Symptoms of Sciatica

There are some common symptoms of sciatica that can help you detect the condition before it worsens and also takes preventive measures:

• Lower back pain is the most common symptom that can give you a slight insight into having sciatica
• Pain in leg that hurts too bad when you sit down
• Hip pain can also give you a sciatica indication
• When you feel a burn or tingle down your leg it can be another symptom
• Numbness and weakness can be a condition – you might find it difficult to move your leg
• There is a continuous ache on one side of the rear
• Shooting pain can make your legs feel disabled

Sciatica usually affects one side of your lower body or back. The pain tends to extend up the lower part of your leg. This is, however, depending on where your sciatic nerve is affected. The pain can also extend up to the toes right through your foot.

Causes of Sciatica

The sciatic condition is a common symptom of many medical conditions. However, there is an estimation of 90% cases that it happens due to a slipped disk or herniated disk. Our spinal cord is made of three parts – nerves, disks, and vertebra. The disks are made of cartilage and are quite strong and resilient. The cartilage works like a sturdy cushion between vertebras and allows your spine to stay flexible.  A slipped disk happens when the disk goes out of place and leaves a pressure on the sciatic nerve.

There are more causes of sciatica conditions are they are:

• Lumbar spinal stenosis that narrows the spinal cord in your lower back
• Spondylolisthesis when a disk slips ahead towards the vertebra or below it
• When you have tumors in your spine that compress roots of the sciatic nerve
• If you have infections affecting the spine
• The cauda equina syndrome is another rare condition that can affect your nerves in the lower part of your spinal cord. The condition might need immediate attention
• Some more causes can include injuries to the spine

Note that sciatica condition never happens due to one reason. There are plenty of reasons underlying the condition.

Risk from sciatica nerve condition

There are common risks factors for the sciatica nerve condition and they are:

1. Age: people between the ages of 30-40 have more chances of developing sciatica
2. Profession: lifting jobs that happen when you carry heavy load can lead to this
3. Sedentary lifestyle: if you sit for a long span of time and little physical activity, you can have sciatica.

What is the sciatica treatment?

The treatment of sciatica will depend on how severe your condition is. Your doctor might give you muscle relaxants, pain relievers, non-steroidal drugs that are anti-inflammatory and reduces pain and inflammation. The symptoms might decrease by using medication that reduces the efficiency of the pain signals going out from the nerve.

You need moderate exercising when the pain is minimal. When your symptoms have become least your therapy strengthens the adnominal muscles and back muscles. It prevents a return of your symptoms. There are some more things that can come to help when you are dealing with pain in your lower back.

• You can sleep on firm mattresses and on your side. If you sleep on your back, you must bend your knees.
• When you have a bad attack, you must sleep with your pillow between the knees.
• You should not sleep on your stomach.
• You can treat muscle spasms by treating cold or heat on the affected area.
• Try to adjust the heights of the chairs you sit on so that your feet are placed flat on the ground and knees are slightly higher than your hips.
• Don’t cross your legs when you sit.
• You must sit in the chair that has a strong back support and you will have to sit straight against the back of your chair.

Sciatica is not a general fever or flu that will heal with a few medications. These are serious conditions that need attention, priority and prompt treatment. You must understand the symptoms and take quick tests. The earlier you detect and treat, the more you’ll have chances to prevent it from worsening.