Sciatica Pain

Sciatica PainSciatica pain is not a spinal condition in itself but an indication of another disorder or disease affecting the spinal column specifically the lower back as the sciatica nerve extends from the lower back and down the back of each leg.

SCIATICA SYMPTOMS

The major back pain symptom of sciatica is that trickles down to the buttocks and leg. Other common symptoms of sciatica include:

  • Tingling and burning sensation down the leg
  • Radiating back pain that trickles down to leg as well as buttocks
  • Pain that gets worse while sitting
  • Pain that is steady in just one side of the rear
  • Numbness and weakness as well as difficulty in moving foot or leg
  • Pain that gets worse when standing

The main symptom of sciatica is that it most of the time just effects one side of the lower body and rarely takes place in both the legs or foots. Sometimes this sciatica pain can be severe and debilitating and in extremely severe cases the patient may even lose control over bowel and bladder movement. This is when the person should seek immediate medical attention.

SCIATICA PAIN CAUSES

Sciatica back pain can be caused by conditions like lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. Sometimes sciatica is also caused when a woman is pregnant.

SCIATICA DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

In certain cases the sciatica pain is severe and the flare-ups are ongoing which means the patient is in extreme pain and discomfort due to the sciatica pain. This is why a proper diagnosis is needed so that the condition is treated and the sciatica pain does not get worse over time. Usually doctors order imaging test like X-ray, MRI and CT scan to diagnose the compression of sciatica nerve.

Sciatica treatment includes nonsurgical and surgical options like:

  • Heat/Ice
  • Pain Medications
  • Epidural Steroid Injections for Sciatica
  • Chiropractic/Manual Manipulation
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage Therapy
  • Decompression surgery