The sciatic nerve enables you to feel and control your legs. It is the longest nerve in a human’s body, running from the spinal cord to each leg. Any disturbance to this nerve results in sciatica.
However, sciatica is not a condition on its own, but rather a symptom of an underlying condition. Find out more about sciatica below and its causes.
What Causes Sciatica?
The spinal column consists of disks, vertebrae, and nerves. The disks provide cushion for the vertebra to avoid friction. When the disk slips out of place, the sciatic nerve undergoes pressure, resulting in sciatica.
Also, sciatica may occur when an infection, tumor, or injury affects the spine. A disk may also slip forward and exert pressure on the sciatic nerve. Cauda equine syndrome can also affect your spinal cord’s nerves, triggering sciatica.
Symptoms of Sciatica
If you suffer from sciatica, you may feel pain in your lower back, buttocks, and the back of your legs, which worsens when you move. You may also have weak legs and feel numbness or a burning sensation in your legs. If cauda equina syndrome is the cause of sciatica, you may be unable to control your bowel and bladder.
Predisposing Factors
Some factors may make you more susceptible to sciatica—for instance, sitting for a very long time, lifting heavy objects, or making twisting movements. In addition, as you advance in age, your body parts, such as disks, start wearing out. Smoking may also make your discs’ outer layer wear out, exposing you to sciatica.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will try to understand your medical history. They will want to know whether you have any recent injuries. They will also want to know which activities cause the most pain.
The doctor may also conduct tests on the sciatic nerve to observe how it relays impulses. They may also subject you to imaging tests such as MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans to show any abnormalities in your spinal cord.
Treatment
Anti-inflammatory medication is a reliable sciatica treatment option that helps in pain management. A pain specialist in Delray Beach can also recommend natural body healing remedies such as acupuncture, where a professional uses needles on certain body parts.
Massage is also an effective strategy for pain management in Delray Beach. This sciatica treatment in Delray Beach involves applying tension, pressure, and vibration to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve. Stretching is another reliable sciatica treatment in Delray Beach.
Sciatica stretches include:
- Side-lying hip stretch.
- Back-lying hip flexor stretch.
- Buttocks pinch.
- Back-lying hip rotation.
- Knee-to-opposite-shoulder stretch.
Exercising regularly releases endorphins in your body. Some natural substances that exist in your body help to relieve pain.
Consider creating an exercise regimen that includes core stability, aerobics, and strength training for sciatica treatment. A pain specialist in Delray Beach can help you create an exercise regimen that is safe for you.
Contact Expert Care Center for effective pain management in Delray Beach. Our professional pain management specialist will recommend several options that you can explore to relieve pain.
