What Is Sciatica And What Causes It?

Sciatica refers to pain experienced along the path of the sciatic nerve - the longest nerve in the body, which runs from the lower back through the pelvis and buttock area, right down to the back of the lower leg. Sciatica is a fairly common form of lower back and leg pain and is due to the sciatic nerve being irritated or compressed. The pain of sciatica varies from an infrequent discomfort to a continuous, excruciating and debilitating pain.

Sciatica is usually experienced as pain that radiates from your lower back to your buttock and down the back of your leg. This pain may be mild or severe and is sometimes felt as a burning sensation or a sharp jolt. Sciatica may be sudden or insidious in onset and worsen over time.

In some people who suffer from sciatic pain it may be accompanied by a numbness or weakness in the leg or foot as well as a feeling of tingling or pins-and-needles in the toes.

Complications of sciatica

Depending on the cause of sciatica, numbness or lameness in the affected limb may occur as well as loss of bladder and bowel control in some cases. In severe cases of sciatica, permanent nerve damage may occur.

How is sciatica usually treated?

Most people with sciatica are prescribed pain-killers or anti-inflammatory medications to relieve the pain. These generally provide some relief but have the potential to cause serious adverse side-effects. Medications are usually used in combination with physical therapy and stretching/strengthening exercises as well as hot and cold packs.

In severe cases of sciatic pain that does not respond to the usual treatments, conventional health practitioners may advise injections of anti-inflammatory steroids into the affected area. These injections are not always very effective and can also cause serious side-effects. Because of the dangers, there is a limit on how many of these injections an individual can receive - not usually more than three per year.

Surgery to remove the herniated part of a disc is sometimes performed on people with severe symptoms like weakness or incontinence or if the pain is worsening despite treatment.

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Herbal Sciatica Remedy