Touching A Nerve: Sciatica Causes

There are many painful conditions that can be experienced by the body. Generally these painful episodes are symptoms of something more serious happening within one particular part or various parts of the human anatomy. For example, if an individual has upper right quadrant pain they may be experiencing gallstones formed by improper diet, too much cholesterol in the bloodstream, etc.

Another part of the anatomy that can cause excruciating pain is associated with the nervous system. Specifically, there are two large nerves that extended down from the nervous system through both the left and the right leg. Subsequently, pain associated with these nerves can be due to a condition called sciatica. Therefore, if wishing to know more about this condition, it is important to know what sciatica is and what some of the causes of sciatica are.

First of all, when talking about sciatica it is important to know that sciatica is not a disease or a malady that affects the individual, but is more of a symptom of something else. Specifically, the pain associated with sciatica generally begins in the lower back area. Often, this pain is due to pressure that is placed on one or both of the sciatic nerves. This pain then radiates down the nerve resulting in discomfort down one or both of the legs.

The symptoms of sciatica vary from individual to individual and are contingent upon the pressure that is being placed on the sciatic nerve. Therefore, the pain can range anywhere from a mild prickly type of sensation to excruciating pain and even may range up to complete immobility for the individual. Additionally, this pain can be experienced in various parts of the leg. Those leg locations can range from the hip to the knee to the back of the leg. Also, numbness is an associated symptom of sciatica.

When answering the question of what causes sciatica is important to know that there are many sciatica causes. The most common sciatica cause is due to a herniated disc within the spinal column. A herniated disc occurs when an individual improperly lifts an object or strains their back. This results in a bulging disc which then can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Another common sciatic cause is due simply to the aging process. Specifically, a nerve disorder associated with an individual who is growing older is a condition called spinal stenosis. Simply put it is a narrowing of the openings found within the spinal column due to aging. When this occurs, the nerves that pass through these openings are compressed or pinched.

Are You Worried About Sciatic Nerve Symptoms?

sPeople that suffer from lower back pain need not worry too much because the numbers of people suffering from such a condition that goes on to develop sciatic nerve symptoms are quite negligible. So, it means that in case you are experiencing lower back pain you must not automatically jump to the conclusion that the pain in your back will lead to developing sciatic nerve symptoms. Sciatica is often brought on when there are problems in a person’s spinal disc. In case you suspect having sciatic nerve symptoms then you need to look for telltale signs such as pain that affects the buttock or legs and sometimes the feet and of course your lower back as well.

Other possible sciatic nerve symptoms include feeling pins and needles kind of sensations and even numbness in your legs or even in the feet. And, you will also notice feeling weak in the legs and feet. Furthermore, sciatic nerve symptoms will vary and how much or how little pain you experience will depend on the kind of nerve root that has become irritated and also by the severity of such irritation.

Depending on how badly your nerves bulge you will feel corresponding amount of pain. Typically, sciatic nerve symptoms are often felt in the last fifth lumbar as well as the first sciatic nerve root that is often referred to as level L5/S1.

Commonly, sciatic nerve symptoms include pain or numbness in the lower back region and also in the legs and the reason for such numbness is a herniated disc which only adds to the pressure on the nerves leading to feeling numbness or having a tingling feeling. The muscles also tend to feel weak around the affected area and this is yet another sign that you have developed a herniated disc.

Without a doubt, pain in the lower back is the most typical of all sciatic nerve symptoms and this kind of pain is believed to affect an estimated seventy percent of the population of the world and of course a person’s damaged or irritated nerves play a major role in causing such pain. In some cases the sciatic nerve symptoms can cause severe pain that will then prevent a patient from standing up and they will feel as if they have been crippled. In other instances, this pain might be of a milder nature and only as bad as a mild inconvenience.

When it concerns identifying pinched sciatic nerve symptoms you can put numbness as well as tingling sensations at the head of the list of symptoms. These symptoms are noticed because the sciatic nerves might have been damaged or even because they have become irritated.

A Guide to Sciatica Treatment Exercises

Sciatica describes the pain caused by the irritation of sciatic nerve, and pain is usually felt from the lower back to behind the knee. Sciatic nerve is the largest and biggest nerve in the body, and begins from nerve roots in lumbar spinal cord. Most common cause of sciatica is the disc herniation, directly pressing against the nerve. However, anything that causes the inflammation or irritation of this nerve can produce the symptoms of sciatica. Some of the most common causes include internal bleeding, injury, infection and irritation of the nerve from adjacent bone. Physical examination and medical history are the best ways to diagnose sciatica. Sometimes CAT scan, x-rays, electomyogram and MRI scan are used to further define the causes.

Back stretch is one of the best sciatica treatment exercises, and is quite easy to do. You can lie down on the even surface on your back, and bring both your knees to your chest. Wrap your arms around your legs, and press under your knees. This will give a good stretch to the lower back, and help relieve the sciatic pain. It is important to only stretch as far as you feel comfortable, and make sure never to jerk the body at any given time.

Quad stretch is another excellent sciatica treatment exercise, and it helps alleviate the pain. Lie down flat on the stomach, and bring the right leg up to your buttocks. Grab this leg with your right arm, and try to bring the foot up as close as possible until you feel a full stretch. Hold it for 10-15 seconds, and repeat with the other leg. Make sure that you do all the stretches for both sides of the body. While stretching, take deep breaths and stay calm through the entire process.

Before doing any sciatica treatment exercises, it is important to consult a physical therapist or doctor to determine the source of sciatica pain. The experienced professional can help you design a daily exercise routine to manage the sciatica symptoms.

Another sciatica treatment exercise is to sit on the ground and support your body on the palms. Stretch your feet out in front of you, and keep your back straight. Lower your back on the floor, and fold one of your legs so that the knee now faces your chin. Hold the folded leg and hold for 10-15 seconds. Repeat for other leg.

Torso twisting poses are good sciatica treatment exercises. You can start by sitting on the firm straight backed chair with your knees slightly apart. Twist your torso towards one side and hold for 10 seconds. Now, twist to the other side and hold again.

While doing sciatica treatment exercises, make sure to maintain a good posture, and continue deep breathing.

In addition to doing various sciatica treatment exercises, it helps to make few lifestyle changes. To get the complete idea, you can browse through various internet sites that give the detailed description regarding sciatica symptoms and treatment. You need to choose the treatment based on the symptoms, and affected area.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is actually not a condition but is instead a group of signs or symptoms. These set of symptoms is basically a result of the compression or general alteration of one or more of the five nerves which is connected to the sciatic nerve. The compression of this nerve can also result to sciatica. Many people believe that sciatic symptoms are a condition but the realty of it is that these are just ordinary symptoms due to a cause.

The cause is something that needs to be determined by finding out what is compressing or affecting the nerve. This factor, whichever it is, is the one that will need to be treated in order to get rid of sciatica. If any of the symptoms may be experienced by an individual, consulting a doctor may be the best choice since this form of condition is not easy to self diagnose and may be downright dangerous if self diagnosis is done.

The causes of compression and sciatica are varied but all connected to nerve compression or irritation. While it is clear that sciatic symptoms are caused by the irritation, alteration or compression of one or more of five nerves which are connected to the sciatic nerve, the cause of the alteration, compression and irritation may be different sources.

Spinal disc herniation, pregnancy, spinal stenosis and piriformis syndrome may be any of the causes of these set of symptoms. These conditions all have something to do with an alteration in the spinal column in which the five general nerves as well as the sciatic nerve are located. Injury to trigger points and certain lifestyle or work habits may also contribute to sciatica. Sometimes muscle or tissue injury can add to the symptoms and sitting at work for too long may also have an effect on it. Even using a work belt can also be a factor to sciatica if this work habit affects the spinal column and the nerves in question.

Sciatica symptoms are all focus on pain or discomfort in regions from the back and up to the legs. Sciatica is not usually felt all at once in these regions, instead there are regions which may experience pain, numbness, tingling sensation and loss of control or difficulty controlling a leg. Sciatica is usually experienced in just one side of the body but there may be instances when both sides of the body will experience sciatica.