The term sciatica describes pain that often begins in the lower back and travels through the buttocks and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of each leg. Sciatica is not a medical diagnosis but rather a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Sciatica causes one or more of the following:
Chronic pain that is always present in one side of the buttock or leg (rarely it can be both)
A sharp pain that makes standing up or walking difficult
Pain that radiates down the leg and as far as the foot and toes in some cases. It is rarely only in the foot.
Leg pain described as burning, searing, or tingling rather than a dull ache
Pain that worsens when sitting
Difficulty moving the leg, foot, or toes
Weakness or numbness
The pain of sciatica can be at varying degrees from infrequent and irritating to constant and incapacitating. The symptoms depend on where the irritation or pinching of the sciatic nerve is located. The symptoms are painful and can cause you to be unable to perform some tasks, but the good news is that it is rare for permanent sciatic nerve damage to result. Spinal cord involvement is possible but rare, as well.
How Sciatica Relates to the Sciatic Nerve
The sciatic nerve is about the size of the small finger, making it the largest single nerve in the entire body. It is composed of individual nerve roots that branch out from the spine in the lower back. They then combine to form the sciatic nerve. When this nerve becomes pinched or irritated, sciatica ensues. Here are some facts about the sciatic nerve:
Portions of the sciatic nerve branch out into each leg to innervate certain parts of the leg, such as the thigh, foot, toes, and calf.
The sciatic nerve begins in the lower part of the back around the lumbar segment 3 or L3.
The sciatic nerve travels from the lower back, through the buttocks, and down the back of each leg.
At each level of the spine in the lower part of the back, nerve roots exit from inside the spinal canal then come together to form the large sciatic nerve.
How Sciatica Develops
Sciatica is not generally seen before the age of 20 and is seen most often in middle age, developing most often around age 40 or 50. It is estimated that it affects around 43 percent of the population at one time or another. It does not seem to be related to a particular event or injury but develops gradually over time.
Sciatica usually clears up within a few weeks. However, this is not always the case. For some, it can last several months or longer. The pain from the pinched nerve can be severe and disabling.
Tips for Easing Sciatica Pain
There are a few things you can do at home to try to ease up the pain of sciatica.
Massage: Massaging the muscles in the back of the legs and the buttocks can help loosen them and decrease nerve inflammation. Massage promotes good blood circulation, which helps to ease tenderness.
Apply ice and then heat: Begin by applying an ice pack to decrease nerve inflammation. Then switch to a heating pad to soothe the tension in the muscles and encourage blood flow.
Stretching: This encourages tight muscles to loosen up. Stretching promotes flexibility and improves lower back support, increasing your core strength. This puts less pressure on the backs of the legs where the sciatic nerve runs.
Back support aids: Sitting for long periods in an uncomfortable office chair can make the pain of sciatica much worse. Investing in a sturdy office chair with good back support and a balanced surface that promotes good posture will reduce the pressure on the lower back.
Hydrotherapy: Immersing your sore body in a hot tub or jacuzzi bath can do wonders for stiff muscles and inflammation. It also promotes circulation to soothe nerve spasms.
Finding Natural Relief for the Pain of Sciatica
Many of those suffering from sciatica are looking for a natural alternative to help with the pain. One area of care seeing much success is that of upper cervical chiropractic care. We focus on the top bones of the spine and ensure that they are in their proper position. How does this help the pain being felt in the lower back?
A misalignment in the neck, particularly the C1 and C2 vertebrae, causes the spine to compensate for the heavy head (weighing as much as 14 pounds) being off balance. As the bones of the spine begin to shift and move, a person’s posture is affected. One hip may become higher than the other causing the legs to be at differing lengths. This leads to all kinds of problems as one walks around, even affecting the position of the shoulders. This causes the muscles and nerves to become irritated as the spine twists, affecting the sciatic nerve. The misalignment in the bones of the neck can be as tiny as ¼ of a millimeter and still lead to major problems. Communication between the brain and body can be hindered causing a number of different health problems in addition to sciatica, such as fibromyalgia and migraines.
We use a gentle method that does not involve popping or cracking the spine in order to correct this misalignment. The method is based on scientific measurements and a small amount of gentle pressure to a specific area of the neck. This allows the bones to move back into place naturally and without force, resulting in a longer-lasting adjustment. Many of our patients report positive results with their sciatica after just a couple of adjustments.
To schedule a consultation with N8 Upper Cervical Chiropractic clinic, call (02) 8553-6218 or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.