All You Need To Know About Sciatica Pain

The pain caused by irritation in the sciatic nerve is known as sciatica pain. This pain, ranging from mild to severe, can be caused whenever anything irritates the sciatic nerve. The compression of the nerve in the lower spinal cord can be the main cause of sciatica pain.

Usually, people misunderstand sciatica pain like back pain but this pain is not limited to your back. It can run from lower back and can end just below the knee in the legs while traveling through your buttocks. In this way, sciatica pain can affect most of the lower part of the human body as this nerve is the widest and longest one in the body.

While controlling several muscles of lower leg this nerve supplies sensation to most of the lower leg and the skin of the feet. Sciatica pain should not be taken as a condition but as a symptom of various health problems related to the sciatic nerve. According to experts, sciatica pain is experienced by almost every human being in his lifetime.  

Symptoms of sciatica pain

Pain in the legs and back: The main symptom of sciatica pain is a killing pain along the nerve that goes from the lower back to either of the legs through the buttock.

Other common symptoms of sciatica pain

  • Numbness along the nerve in the leg
  • Tingling sensation in the toes and feet
  • The severity of this pain can get aggravated by sitting for a long time

Treatments for sciatica

Treatment for acute sciatica pain

Acute sciatica pain can be managed in most cases through self-care methods like:

  • By using OTC painkillers
  • Light exercises like stretching or walking
  • Cold or hot compression

All these measures can help in reducing pain to a considerable level. While taking painkillers you should talk to your doctor as any painkiller may not be suitable for you.

Treatment for chronic sciatica

In the case of chronic sciatica normally both self-care and medication treatments are used in combination, including:   

  • Physical therapy to train the individual to respond to his pain differently
  • Painkillers can be a better alternative to surgery if they respond effectively
  • Surgery should be taken as a last resort. It can be Lumbar laminectomy to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve by widening the spinal cord in the lower back or Discectomy to remove affected disk partially or entirely.   
  • Stretches and Exercises can help in reducing the symptoms, reducing the intake of medications, relive the condition during acute pain and provide long term relief.

Factors that can increase the risk of sciatica pain

Common risk factors for sciatica pain may include:

Age: The risk of developing sciatica pain can increase at the age between 30 and 40 years

Profession: The jobs requiring the lifting of heavy objects consistently for a long time can increase the risk of this pain

Inactive lifestyle: People are at great risk of sciatic pain if they are physically inactive or sit in one position for a longer time.

So, sciatica pain can be managed by changing your lifestyle and taking care of your body along with taking some pain-killing medications as suggested by your doctor.

Contact Owasso Chiropractor:

Ashlock Chiropractic
Address:12899 E 76th St N #101
Owasso, OK
Phone: (918) 272-0444