The sciatic nerve is the largest in our body and is a critical one as well. Its nerve roots begin in the lower back and it leads all the way through both legs. It is linked with the spine and has very important role for the walking function.
Sciatica is a health condition that is painful especially in the lower back and the back of the legs and it appears because of the pressure on the nerve roots at the end of the spine.
Symptoms of Sciatica
- Pain in the back and the back of the legs. It is not unusual to feel pain in one leg only.
- Increased pain while sitting
- You are feeling burning sensation in the legs
- Loss of sensation in the legs or numbness
- Unable to walk for longer periods or moving your legs
Causes of Chronic Sciatica Pain
- Ruptured Disc – it is also called slipped disc or broken nerve
- Degenerative disc – the proteins in the disc are wide-open by movement in the spine, which leads to irritation in the back
- Isthmic spondylolisthesis – the bone that links the joints near the spine fractures. This results with clipping between the vertebral bodies
- Lumbar spinal stenosis – this happens when the spinal canal narrows down
- Piriformis syndrome – the nerve roots are pinched by the piriformis muscle
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction – it happens when the sacroiliac joint is irritated
- Pregnancy – because of the increased weight and changes in gravity
- Scar tissue – the scar tissue makes pressure on the nerve roots which results with pain
- Muscle pain – inflammation of the muscle strain makes pressure on the nerve root which results with pain
- Spinal tumor – the nerve root could be affected by tumor
Treatment for Chronic Sciatica Pain
- Physiotherapy sessions
- Painkillers that will relax the muscles
- Exercising and stretching
- Resting in comfortable bed
- Some serious cases require surgery in order to relieve the pain in the patient.