Sciatica is a condition that afflicts a considerable number of people, causing these individuals great pain in many cases. Sciatica is a condition that afflicts the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve begins in the lower back and downs that back of a person's leg. The pain associated with sciatica can become so debilitating in some cases that it makes it difficult for a person to move.
Symptoms of Sciatica
The specific symptoms of sciatica vary from one individual to another. Moreover, in most cases, a person experiences more than one symptom when dealing with sciatica.
One of the most prevalent symptoms of sciatica is pain the buttocks or leg when an individual is seated. The pain lessens, at least to some degree when a person is moving or even just standing. Another symptom is a burning or tingling sensation down the leg. Typically this occurs only in one leg.
Numbness, weakness as well as difficulty in moving a leg or foot are other symptoms of sciatica. Oftentimes this trio of symptoms are interconnected. Two other common symptoms are s sharp, shooting pain when a person tries to stand up and a chronic, prevalent pain in one buttocks or another.
Although many individuals experience chronic, persistent pain when afflicted with sciatica, others do endure less severe and infrequent sciatica related pain. However, with that noted, infrequent, less severe sciatica related pain increases or worsens over time.
Causes of Sciatica
At its essence, sciatica is caused as a result of the root (or roots) of the lower lumbar as well as the lumbosacral spine. In addition, sciatica can be caused by a condition that medially is known as lumbar spinal stenosis. This is a narrowing of the spinal canal itself through the lower back.
Sciatica is also the result of degenerative disc disease. What this means is that the discs that act like cushions between the vertebrae in the spinal column deteriorate, causing the discs to rub directly against one another.
Pregnancy can also lead to sciatica in some cases. In addition, another condition called spondylolisthesis does result in sciatica in some instances. This is a condition in which the vertebrae end up out of proper alignment due to one of slipping forward of another.
Treating the Pain of Sciatica
Prescription medications and even over the counter drugs are among the items used to combat the pain associated with sciatica for some patients. With that noted, more and more individuals are turning to physiotherapy as a means of addressing the pain associated with sciatica. Individualized treatment and therapy regimens are fashioned for a person afflicted with sciatica, which are designed to lessen or eliminate the pain associated with sciatica.
