What is sciatic nerve pain?

What is sciatic nerve pain?




Sciatica is discomfort that extends down each leg along the route of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your hips and buttocks. Sciatica usually affects only one side of the body.

A herniated disc, a bone protrusion on the spine, or a narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses portion of the nerve, causing sciatica. Inflammation, discomfort, and numbness are common symptoms in the affected leg.

Although the pain associated with sciatica can be severe, the majority of cases recover within a few weeks with non-operative treatments. People with severe sciatica who also have significant limb weakness or bowel or bladder abnormalities may be surgical candidates.

Symptoms

Sciatica is characterised by pain that extends  the (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of the leg. The soreness can occur anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it’s most likely to occur along a line that runs from the lower back to the buttocks, as well as the back of the thigh and calf.

Pain can range from a dull discomfort to a sharp, searing sensation or severe agony. It can feel like a jolt or an electric shock at times. Coughing or sneezing can make it worse, and sitting for lengthy periods of time might exacerbate symptoms. Only one side of the body is usually affected.

Numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot are also common. One may experience pain in one portion of the leg while experiencing numbness in another.

Causes

Sciatica is caused by a pinched sciatic nerve, which is usually caused by a herniated disc in the spine or a bone spur on one of the vertebrae. A tumour might compress the nerve, or it can be injured by a disease like diabetes.

How to relieve sciatica at night

With sciatica, getting a decent night’s sleep might be challenging. Certain positions can put pressure on your inflamed nerve, causing symptoms to flare up. Some positions, on the other hand, are less prone to induce pain.

  1. Sleeping on your side may help relieve discomfort by relieving pressure on your inflamed nerve.

  2. Keeping your pelvis and spine in a neutral position might be as simple as putting a pillow between your knees. It also keeps your legs from turning in the middle of the night.

  3. The foetal position allows space between your vertebrae to open up, which may help relieve back discomfort caused by a herniated disc. Some folks, however, discover that it aggravates their discomfort.

  4. Lying on your back allows your weight to be distributed evenly across your back. By relaxing your hip flexors, placing a large pillow under your knees can assist maintain the curvature of your spine.

  5. By decreasing the distance between your back and the mattress, placing a towel or small pillow under your lower back can assist keep your spine in a neutral position.

  6. Your spine may bend out of alignment as a result of soft surfaces. You might discover that sleeping on the floor helps you maintain appropriate spinal alignment.

What causes sciatic nerve pain to flare up

Sciatica nerve discomfort can be worse by excess weight and poor posture.

Sciatica pain has been reported to be exacerbated by emotional tension or stress. The brain may deny nerves of oxygen during a chaotic period, particularly the sciatic nerve, which is where the pain begins.

Obesity has been linked to back pain in general, due to the additional pressure placed on your spine. This involves strain on the sciatic nerve, which can become worse when a person gains weight.

Many persons with chronic sciatic pain claim that restrictive clothes causes their pain to flare up. Tight jeans or undergarments with tight elastic bands, especially if they are worn close to the sciatic nerve.

When you wear high heels, your body weight shifts forward, forcing your hips to flex forward to keep you upright, which in most cases causes hip pain.

Another popular way to create sciatica flare-ups is to keep anything in your back pocket – keys, wallets, phones, etc. – and sit for an extended amount of time.

Poor posture can place additional stress on the lower back, which can lead to sciatic nerve problems. Standing up straight and good posture can help you avoid painful problems in the future.

Sitting for too long can lead to a variety of back problems, including sciatica.

Exercise for sciatica pain in buttock and leg

Any stretch that will externally rotate the hip to provide some comfort is the greatest technique to treat most sciatica pain.

10 exercises to do that include:

  1. Reclining pigeon pose

  2. Sitting pigeon pose

  3. Forward pigeon pose

  4. Knee to opposite shoulder

  5. Sitting spinal stretch

  6. Standing hamstring stretch

  7. Basic seated stretch

  8. Standing piriformis stretch

  9. Groin and long abductor muscle stretch

  10. Scissor hamstring stretch

How to relieve sciatica pain fast

The pain can be intense in some situations, and despite popular belief, sciatica usually goes away within three months with conservative treatment.

  1. Exercise:  it may seem counterintuitive to exercise when you’re in pain, studies show that resting too much can aggravate your back and leg discomfort. Instead, to relieve your sciatica, include light activity into your daily routine. Gentleness is the key. Painful or strenuous exercise should be avoided.

  2. Stretching: Gentle stretching should be a part of your everyday practise. Stretching is a great approach to increase spinal flexibility and range of motion while also strengthening your core and back.

  3.  Heat and ice therapy: Sciatic nerve discomfort can be relieved quickly by alternating heat and cold therapy. Heat increases blood flow to the hurting location, while ice helps to relieve inflammation (which speeds healing). Sciatica is often accompanied by severe muscular spasms, which can be relieved with heat and cold. Apply an ice pack for 15 minutes every hour to the sore area, then heat for 15 minutes every 2 or 3 hours.

  4. Change posture: if you stay in the same position for too long, whether you’re working at your desk or relaxing at home, your sciatica pain may worsen. Changing your position every 20 minutes and maintaining appropriate posture will help relieve pressure on your spine and alleviate sciatica symptoms. 

It’s critical to notice when at-home treatments aren’t working to relieve your sciatica. If these therapies don’t work, you should contact your primary care physician or a spine specialist. Delaying medical treatment can result in or cause lasting nerve damage in rare situations.

Getting rid of sciatica’s excruciating pain doesn’t always necessitate a drastic treatment plan. Using modest exercise, cold and heat therapy, appropriate posture, and medicine to relieve sciatic nerve pain at home may help you recover faster. The most important thing you can do for your low back and leg discomfort is to take it seriously; if you don’t get relief, call your doctor.

The good news is that sciatic pain normally goes away on its own with time and a few self-care techniques. The majority of persons with sciatica (80 percent to 90 percent) heal without surgery, and nearly half of those who do recover totally within six weeks.

The majority of sciatica patients do not necessitate surgery. All that is normally required is time and self-care therapy. However, if basic self-care methods do not reduce your discomfort, you should seek medical help. If necessary, your healthcare practitioner can determine the source of your discomfort, provide other treatments, and/or send you to additional spine health professionals.


Sources:

  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/symptoms-causes/syc-20377435

  2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12792-sciatica


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