Sciatica is simply a pain that runs from the lower back down the leg, often into the foot and toes. It is caused by an irritation of the sciatic nerve brought about by a compression.
Some people experiencing sciatica may experience a burning, tickling or prickly sensation, typically on one side of the body. The type and level of pain a person experiences depends on the location of the nerve compression.
In many instances the pain might be very mild, while in others it can be debilitating and severe. Although most people will recover from an episode of sciatica within a few weeks, the pain can sometime worsen over time or persist for much longer. Everything depends upon the underlying source.
Sciatica and Nerve Damage.
Even though it is rare, in some instances sciatica can lead to irreversible nerve damage. But the irritation of the nerve that induces the sciatica pain usually is reversible.
Symptoms of a more serious medical problem include bladder or bowl incontinence, growing weakness, or the loss of sensation in the leg.
Exactly Where the Sciatic Nerve is Located:
Sciatic nerves are the longest in the body. They stretch out from the lower back all the way down to the feet.
Sciatic nerves exit the spine between two vertebrae in the lower back and travel behind the hip joint down the buttock and along the back of each leg into the foot.
Sciatica is triggered by the irritation of one or both of these nerves. Generally, a herniated disk places pressure on the sciatic nerve root.
Often, people experiencing sciatica have leg pain, which makes them incorrectly think that the sciatica is caused by some sort of problem within the leg.
Other root causes of sciatica can include spinal tumors, , trauma, spinal stenosis, or injury.
Anyone Can Easily Have Sciatica.
People believe that sciatica is something that solely effects people who have an inactive lifestyle. And while it’s correct that sedentary people are more at risk to get sciatica, it in fact can affect active people also, especially if they participate in activities that involve twisting the back or carrying heavy weights regularly.
For the most part, sciatica will resolve itself within a few weeks. Therapy options include exercise, physical therapy and corticosteroid injections. For some patients, however, the pain can last much longer, so individualized therapy plans are suggested.
Sciatica Treatment Options.
Another more natural sciatica therapy option is gentle, non-surgical spinal decompression treatment. By lightly decompressing the involved spinal discs pressure on the sciatic nerve can be eased and the pain from sciatica can disappear.
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