Sciatica

“Do you know that most commonly affected people from Sciatica are between 40 – 59 years of age, but that might occur in people within 20 years of age? Around 13% to 40% percent of the people in the world experience issues of Sciatica at some point in their lives. And if left untreated it can lead to other serious conditions. So, you must see a doctor if you don’t feel any betterment in the pain after a few weeks.” – Wiley Online Library, National Library of Medicine

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica pain starts from the nerves and further goes down the buttock and alongside the thigh back. This initiates from a herniated disc in the spine and further goes down the spine there by pressing other nerves. In fact, an overgrowth or a bone spur may start that can put the nerves under pressure. Sciatica can heal by itself with an adequate amount of rest. But if it doesn’t cure, it requires attention and treatment. In fact, if it’s not treated, that can lead to worsening conditions like-

Permanently damaging the nerve
Losing sensation and motor control
Leading to herniated disc

What are the symptoms of Sciatica?

Sciatica is characterised by:

It can be anywhere along the nerve pathway.
Usually, it follows a pathway from the low back to the down towards the buttocks. This might go back to the thigh and calf muscles.
Pain feels like an electric shock and can vary from a mild ache to a burning pain.
Some people might feel numbness or muscle weakness in the foot.
Sometimes, one part of the leg can be in pain, and the other part can be numb. These are the Sciatica symptoms that need to be looked upon seriously.

What are the causes of Sciatica and the risk factors attached to the illness?

Sciatica occurs mainly because of the sciatic nerves. The condition that leads to the five nerves that bundle to form a sciatic nerve is the cause of Sciatica. There can be various Sciatica causes that are important to know. These could be conditions arising from degenerative disk disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, osteoarthritis, pregnancy, cysts, injuries, and other growths.

Sciatica can originate from various risk factors:

There can be several age-related factors like herniated discs or bone spurs that can lead to Sciatica.
Older people are more likely to develop spinal stenosis that leads to degenerative disc diseases.
A job that requires longer hours of sitting down in the car or maybe heavy lifting or twisting might lead to Sciatica.
A sedentary lifestyle or lack of activity can lead to loss of muscles. This can increase their susceptibility to Sciatica.
Being overweight can cause excessive pressure on the spine and vertebral discs. This can lead to nerve compression and, thereby, Sciatica.
Chronic diabetes can lead to nerve damage and thereby lead to Sciatica.
Excessive smoking can lead to lesser blood flow in the spines and thereby lead to Sciatica.
During pregnancy, excessive weight can lead to Sciatica, which arises from increasing pressure on the nerves.
Any previous injuries, such as spondylitis or piriformis muscle, can lead to Sciatica.
There can be various cases of genetic disposition or spinal disorders that can lead to Sciatica.

What are the various Diagnosis methods for Sciatica?

The diagnosis of Sciatica can be done by various methods:

Studying the medical history of lifestyle and previous injuries and then accessing the various risk factors
Physical examinations like neurological tests, movement analysis, and straight leg tests can be performed.
There are various imaging tests to be done, such as X-ray, MRI CT scan, and Ultrasound.
Various electrodiagnostic tests like Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Tests.

What is the Best Sciatica Treatment: Sciatica Treatment Options

Since sciatica is a problem that gradually disappears on its own, you may only need to manage the pain and discomfort due to the condition. It can be done with pain relief medication, heat and cold therapy, physical therapy, etc.

However, if the condition doesn’t heal on its own, then you must consult a doctor. The doctor, based on the diagnosis, may recommend surgical procedures to treat the condition. While it’s rare to happen, it is necessary to get the treatment done to relieve the symptoms of sciatica, as otherwise, it may cause other problems.

There are minimally invasive sciatica treatment options like transforaminal endoscopic lumbar decompression, which is a surgery to widen the gap in the foramen. Moreover, there can be a need for any other surgery, like laminectomy or microdiscectomy, if the condition is caused by a herniated disc.

What are the various recovery and rehabilitation tips required for Sciatica?

Sciatica pain could be severe, but following certain tips can help you get rid of it.

In the acute stage (that occurs within 6 months), you rest adequate rest and modification of activity. You may use the hot and cold treatment therapy and finally manage the pain. You can perform gentle stretches from knee to chest and avoid heavy exercises.
In the sub-acute stage (which occurs within six to twelve weeks), you can perform some physical therapy like swimming or even walking. You can perform stretches like the cat-cow pose or the child’s pose.
The prevention of chronic stages (that occur beyond twelve weeks) would include strength training, physical activity, and lifestyle change. You may opt for long-term physiotherapy and strengthening exercises.
Throughout these stages, you have to keep yourself hydrated, sleep comfortably, and be mindful of managing stress.

Prevention Tips for Sciatica

Exercise: Regular exercise, such as aerobics, walking, and swimming, can prevent Sciatica. They can even improve muscle strength and fitness. You may try specific exercises to improve the strength of core muscles. These can be pelvic tilts and some abdominal curls.
Posture: You have to maintain a good sitting posture. Sitting with your back straight and the shoulder over the hips can help reduce the chances of Sciatica. Use an ergonomic chair for maximum back support. You can stand up and walk at regular intervals while doing work to keep you healthy.
Avoid Smoking: Smoking causes rupture of the inner walls of the vertebral disc, and you are more susceptible to wear and tear.
Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight is an added advantage. Checking the BMI (body mass index) is a mandatory thing to keep healthy.
Lifting: While lifting heavy objects, you should bend your knees and not your back. This important tip will help to avoid any kind of injury.
In case of utter pain, you can apply hot and cold water treatment. Applying an ice pack to the lower back for about 20 minutes can prevent extreme lower back pain.
You can consider supplements that can supply micronutrients to your body. Although a balanced diet can supply nutrition, supplements can also help supply total nutrition.

When to See a Doctor?

Whenever you have some symptoms of Sciatica, you can see the doctor. You may see if you can experience some symptoms like feeling the pain even after three months of lasting. Some pains can interfere with your daily activities or even get worse with time. But you have to see the doctor in some circumstances like:

Feeling weakness or numbness in your legs
Having high fever
Having difficulty in urinating
Having difficulty walking or running
Having consistent pain following an injury/ accident.

Sciatica can be a serious problem, but once detected and treated, you will win over it. You have to know the reasons for Sciatica and rule them out with proper treatment.

Conclusion

Sciatica is a common condition, which is why it affects a lot of people each year. However, with the right care and treatment, you can make sure that it doesn’t affect your life’s quality. If you are having a Sciatica problem, contact experts at Axis Clinics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best ways to cure Sciatica?

The common way to get rid of Sciatica is exercising to get rid of sciatica pain. There are other methods of opting for medical treatment and also self-care tips.

What causes the flare-up of Sciatica?

The sciatica symptoms can even get worse as you sit for a longer time or have a bigger body size. If you lift heavy things, you can get a herniated disc or even a bone spur. This will trigger a health condition that will cause nerve damage.

How do I know if I am having Sciatica nerve pain?

There are some red flags that govern sciatica pain, and these are mainly numbness of the buttock or any pain down the lower part of your leg. You may lose control over the bladder or your bowels. There might be muscle weakness in the leg affected by Sciatica. Going to the doctor is the best possible solution in any case.

What is the exact position of the Sciatica nerve?

Two sciatica nerves run from the spine back to both legs. One bunch of the nerves goes from the buttock to the knees. There is another big nerve that branches to the lower leg, toes, and foot.

How long does it take for the nerve to heal after Sciatica?

In many cases, Sciatica might go away four to six weeks after the disease commences. But that depends again on the severity of the disease. In certain cases, there cannot be any way out beyond consulting a doctor.