Have you ever felt pain in your lower back radiating to your lower limb? You most likely suffer from sciatica, a pain caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve that can extend from the hip to the back of the calf. The discomfort is quite high and the treatment options are limited. In most cases, the pain goes away on its own without the need for surgery.
What is the sciatic nerve and what are the causes of sciatica?
Sciatica is pain or pressure felt along the sciatic nerve. This nerve is the longest and most important of the lower limbs, the one that controls the joint of the hip, knee, ankle and muscles in this area. There are several causes that can lead to this sciatic nerve pain:
● Pregnancy: pregnant women are prone to such pains as the pregnancy progresses and the uterus puts pressure on the nerve,
● Herniated disc – the most common cause of sciatica,
● Various conditions: tuberculous spondylitis, arthrosis, stenosis, etc.
● Damage to the sciatic nerve,
● Various cancers, such as a spinal tumor.
Studies show that sciatica is more common among the elderly, pregnant women, sedentary or obese people, and diabetics. People who work in industries that involve heavy lifting or frequent trunk rotation are also at an increased risk of developing sciatica.
How is sciatica treated?
At first it is quite difficult to distinguish between simple back pain and sciatica. When pain is accompanied by tingling in the legs or numbness along the sciatic nerve or in the calf, it would be good to call a doctor for a prescription. treatment of sciatica adequate – most often we talk about drugs that have the role of relaxing the muscles or strong anti-inflammatories. In severe cases, surgery may be required, but these cases are generally rarer and the pain is associated with other medical conditions, such as a herniated disc.
Here are some other tips you can follow to get rid of this annoying pain:
● Apply an ice pack where the pain is to reduce inflammation,
● Correct your posture and make sure your sleeping conditions are right (or memory foam mattress and sleeping without a pillow relieves discomfort),
● Introduce stretching into your daily routine,
● Exercise daily, even if it is low intensity physical exercise,
● Avoid physical exertion, heavy lifting or sudden movements, at least until the pain subsides,
● Call for physical therapy,
● If you are overweight, your doctor will advise you to lose extra pounds to relieve pain.
The pain can go away on its own, as suddenly as it appeared, or it can get worse, in which case you need to urgently consult a doctor. It is also advisable to see a doctor if the pain occurs after severe trauma or if it is accompanied by muscle weakness or urinary incontinence.
