Sciatica is simply a pain that runs from the lower back down the leg, often into the foot and toes. It is triggered by an irritation of the sciatic nerve triggered by a compression.
Some people experiencing sciatica may experience a burning, tickling or prickly sensation, typically on one side of the body. The type and level of pain a person experiences depends on the area of the nerve compression.
In many instances the pain might be very moderate, while in others it may be debilitating and extreme. Although the majority of people will recover from an episode of sciatica within a few weeks, the pain can sometime worsen gradually or persist for a lot longer. Everything is dependent on the underlying cause.
Sciatica plus Nerve Damage.
Although it is rare, in some instances sciatica can lead to permanent nerve damage. The irritation of the nerve that causes the sciatica pain usually is reversible.
Symptoms of a more critical medical problem include bladder or bowl incontinence, growing weakness, or the loss of sensation in the leg.
Where Exactly the Sciatic Nerve is Located:
Sciatic nerves are the longest in the body. They reach out from the lower back all the way down to the toes.
Sciatic nerves exit the spine between two vertebrae in the lower back and travel behind the hip joint down the buttocks and along the back of each leg into the feet.
Sciatica is brought on by the irritation of one or both of these nerves. Generally, a herniated disk puts pressure on the sciatic nerve root.
Often, people experiencing sciatica have leg pain, which makes them erroneously think that the sciatica is due to some kind of problem within the leg.
Other sources of sciatica can include spinal tumors, spondylolisthesis, trauma, spinal stenosis, or sciatic nerve tumor or injury.
Anybody Can Have Sciatica.
Many people believe that sciatica is something that just effects people who have a sedentary lifestyle. And while it’s true that sedentary people are more at risk to get sciatica, it in fact can affect active people too, specifically if they participate in activities that involve twisting the back or carrying heavy weights frequently.
For the most part, sciatica will resolve on its own within a few weeks. Therapy options include exercise, physical therapy and corticosteroid injections. For some patients, however, the pain can last much longer, so individualized treatment plans are suggested.
Sciatica Treatment Options.
Another more natural and less invasive sciatica treatment option is , non-surgical spinal decompression therapy. By lightly decompressing the involved spinal disks pressure on the sciatic nerve can be relieved and the pain from sciatica can disappear.
Contact us today for your free consultation if you or somebody you know is suffering from sciatica. Our medical experts can tell you if , non-surgical spinal decompression treatment is a good option for treating your sciatica and other pain and spinal issues.
Contact Sussex County Disc Center at 973-948-7595 to Schedule a Free Consultation!