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It is estimated that up to 43 percent of the population will suffer the severe and debilitating pain of sciatica. It is that deep, striking pain that can be felt from the lower back and down the back of the leg. The pain is usually unilateral, meaning that it affects only one side of the body.
The term “sciatic” literally denotes as being of or related to the hips. In its clinical context, sciatica is not an explicit medical diagnosis but rather describes the accumulated leg pain symptoms that is associated with or has origins at the hip region. In essence, sciatica in and of itself is actually a symptom of an underlying medical condition.
The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the human body.
It extends from a network of nerve branches in the lower back known as the sacral plexus, which is connected to the buttocks, as well as the lumbar plexus, which is connected to the spine. The sciatic nerve connects these branches and runs directly through the buttocks, into the thighs, down the legs and branches out at the feet. The function of the sciatic nerve is to deliver nerve signals of movement and sensation directly from and to the muscles and skin of the thighs, lower legs and feet.
Symptoms of sciatica occur when this nervous pathway is disturbed by some or other irritation or compression at or near the nerve’s point of origin.
The development of sciatica nerve pain can be acute and sudden, however it is more common for symptoms to begin mildly and escalate over time. Sciatica usually presents with the following characteristic symptoms:
Symptoms of sciatica can range from a simple infrequent irritation to a severe, constant and debilitating pain that can render the sufferer incapacitated.
Sciatica will rarely, if ever, affect persons under the age of 20. It is a condition that is commonly known to develop in people between the ages of 40 to 50 years; however, it is not unheard of for a person in their 20s or 30s to report symptoms of sciatica.
Many people are under the impression that sciatica is commonplace for pregnant women; this is not true. It is however the case that pregnant women may be more susceptible to developing sciatica symptoms, not as a result of the baby putting pressure on the sciatic nerve as many believe, but rather as a result of possibly being more sedentary or developing bad posture during the pregnancy due to the added body weight.
Research also suggests that smokers are also at a higher risk for developing sciatica.
There are a number of diagnosable medical conditions that can be identified as actual causes for sciatica. These are usually medical conditions that related to or affect the lower back and/or the spine in one way or another. It can be said that, whatever the underlying medical condition may be that is causing sciatica; the actual cause of sciatica will always be the resulting irritation or compression onto or near the point of the large sciatic nerve’s origin.
Conditions that may cause irritation or compression to the sciatic nerve:
It is quite a rare occurrence for sciatica to cause any further serious damage to a person’s health; often it is resolved with some primary level care and heals within a few weeks to a few months or even less. If sciatica is left untreated for too long it can potentially lead to some major complications such as permanent nerve damage.
Symptoms of complicated sciatica may present as the following:
Treatments for sciatica generally seek to alleviate symptomatic pain and discomfort associated with the condition as well as to cure or correct the root cause of symptoms. A medical professional may recommend or prescribe pain medication to help ease the pain while further investigations are done to establish the underlying cause. In some cases, when sciatica is severe enough that immediate intervention is necessary, a doctor may recommend surgery.
Alternatively, for uncomplicated sciatica, there are some natural therapies that may be implemented as primary level treatment to either alleviate symptoms or to treat the underlying cause. These therapies include:
Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory agent. The active compound found in turmeric; curcumin, can help reduce nerve pain and inflammation.
Capsaicin cream. The active ingredient found in cayenne pepper, capsaicin, incapacitates substance P - a neurotransmitter which sends pain signals. An ideal cream would be one that contains about 0.025% to 0.075% capsaicin.
Valerian root is an herb that relaxes the muscles and helps relieve chronic nerve pain. It is especially helpful if pain is affecting sleep as a valuable sleeping aid.
White willow bark is a natural aspirin that relives pain. It is recommended for lower back and arthritis pain. The pnenolic glycosides with salicin that are contained in white willow bark provide anti-inflammatory and analgesic benefits.
Jamaican dogwood. This is a herb that is used to relieve nerve pain. Jamaican dogwood is a potent substance that can be taken in supplement form.
St. John’s wort. The wort oil has anti-inflammatory, astringent, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This makes it ideal for treating nerve irritation that may be caused by infection or inflammation. It regenerates nerve tissue and relives sciatica related pain.
Magnesium supplements have been shown to significantly improve functional recovery in various neurological disorders, sciatica included. Magnesium can help relax the muscles and help with sleep. Magnesium is also available as a topical product or can be used in a bath.
Chiropractor spinal adjustments aim to realign the spine with the aim of relieving pressure off of a compressed or irritated sciatic nerve. This approach is only recommendable once the nature of the spinal injury has been established.
Exercise. A sedentary lifestyle can aggravate sciatica, especially for herniated discs. General movement lightens pressure from the hips and all other related underlying tissue system of the pelvic region. A specialized workout regimen that incorporates isometric exercise will help to realign the body, relieve pain and improve strength.
Yoga and Stretching. Lengthening the spine through Yoga or stretching exercises can promote the development of good posture and help to naturally realign the body. Yoga and stretching exercises also relieves stiffness and inflammation in the body. This is in contrast to exercises that bend or shorten the spine like squats or raising the legs, which tend to trigger sciatica.
Acupuncture. Acupuncture uses small specialized needles that target specific pathways in the body to release and open the body’s natural flow of energy. This is believed by traditional Chinese medical practices to help achieve and maintain overall health. Acupuncture is an approved treatment for various kinds of chronic pain, including back pain.
Massage therapy. Massage therapy is a holistic approach that opens energy channels throughout the body. There are various types of massage therapy that may help relax the muscles and relieve the pain.
Sciatica is a fairly manageable condition with the right approach that seeks to treat the problem at the root cause. It is always recommended to check with a medical professional about symptoms, especially if these persist despite alternative treatment attempts or if the leg presents symptoms of numbness, weakness, or oss of bowel or bladder functions.