How Can Pain and Spine Specialists Help Your Sciatic Pain?
The sciatic nerve is a large nerve the size of the pinky finger. The sciatic nerve originates from the spinal column in the lower back and travels behind the hip joint, to the buttock, and down the back of the leg to the foot. When a patient experiences sciatica, they often experience pain, numbness, burning, and muscle weakness. Sciatica can occur in 1 to 10 percent of the population in individuals between the ages of 25 to 45 years. How does sciatica pain start and how can it be treated by Pain and Spine Specialists?
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is defined as a pain that is caused by pressure or irritation of the sciatic nerve. This pressure and irritation branches cause pain that radiates from the lower spine to the buttocks and down the back of the leg. Sciatica discomfort can occur anywhere along the nerve pathway; however, sciatica is likely to follow the path from the lower back to your buttock and the back of the thigh and calf. This pain can vary widely from a mild ache to a sharp and burning sensation to an excruciating pain. The pain can be worse when sneezing, coughing, or sitting for a prolonged time. Some people may experience numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot. Although the pain associated with sciatica can be severe, this condition can usually be resolved with non-operative treatments over a few weeks.
Treatments for Sciatica
There are some therapies to do to relieve sciatica pain. For most, sciatica will respond to self-care measures. Although resting a day or so can offer some relief, prolonged inactivity can make the symptoms of sciatica worse. Some self-care treatments can include alternating hot and cold packs, stretching, and over-the-counter medications. If self-care options do not provide relief, there are some other options, a healthcare professional may recommend including medications, physical therapy, steroid injections, durable medical equipment, or surgical options.
