What is sciatica?
Back pain is the most common reason for people seeking medical attention. About 40% of Americans have or experience sciatica in their life. Sciatica is a feeling of sharp, shooting pain which is caused by the sciatic nerve which has been irritated, pinched, or inflamed in the lower back. The sciatic nerve is the body’s longest and thickest nerve. It starts in the buttock/gluteal area and runs down the hips, and legs, stopping just below the knee. For this reason, any pain that is described to originate in the lower back and radiate down the leg is termed as “sciatica”. Sciatica can affect both legs, depending on where the nerve is agitated.
What does sciatica feel like?
Everyone experiences pain differently and can develop over time or come on suddenly. For instance, a bulging or herniated disc may cause immediate pain, while sciatica pain associated with arthritis can occur and increase in sensitivity over time. Most people describe their pain as sharp, shooting, radiating pain that goes down the leg. For some, it can “burn”, or feel an “electric jolt” or “stabbing pain”. The pain can also be a constant pain or come and go. It can be agitated when in certain positions or when doing certain movements. Some patients experience pain when they sit or stand for long periods of time, in the motion of standing up, or when twisting the upper body. Minor and sudden movements such sneezing or coughing can trigger the sciatica nerve to be sensitive as well.
What are sciatica symptoms?
- Lower back pain
- Hip pain
- Buttock pain
- Pain down the leg(s)
- Numbness or weakness in the legs or feet
- Increasing pain with movement or loss of movement
- Feeling of “pins and needles”
- Trouble controlling bowel and bladder
What causes sciatica?
Typically, a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, pinched nerve or bulging disc is the cause of sciatica. A fall onto your back or though improper lifting and movement can cause inflammation as well. Anything that causes pressure on the nerve root can cause sciatica.
Here are some factors which increase your risk of sciatica:
- Past or current injury to the lower back
- Beyond a healthy weight range
- Lack of muscle strength, especially around the core
- A physically active work environment
- Poor form when lifting weights
- Diabetes
- Osteoarthritis
- Lack of flexibility or range of motion
- Normal wear and tear with age
How do I know if I have sciatica? How is sciatica treated?
Seeking care from your healthcare provider is the first step. The providers who can best help you identify and overcome your back pain are physical medicine doctors such as chiropractors and pain management doctors. Understanding your medical history, limitations in range of motions, identifying factors which irritate or increase sensitivity to sciatica pain as well as diagnostic testing such as x-ray, MRI’s and nerve conduction studies (NCV) help to identify the root cause of your pain.
For pain which has lasted less than 6 weeks, treatment may include:
- Ice and hot packs
- Over the counter antiinflammatory medication
- Stretching
For pain which has lasted more than 6 weeks, treatment includes:
- Physical Therapy
- Chiropractic Care
- Acupuncture
- Prescription medication
- Spinal injections
- Surgery
How long should I try to relieve my sciatica symptoms myself before seeing my healthcare provider?
Everyone experiences pain at different scales. If pain lasts more than 2 weeks it is best to seek medical attention to identify the condition. It is best to understand what your body is saying to you. You want to make sure you are applying treatment to the right areas, whether it’s with heat and ice packs or stretching.
If at home treatments are no longer helping or the pain is more constant, seek professional help. Chiropractic care and physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen those irritated and weak areas. If after a couple months, you are not experiencing adequate relief and having trouble with daily activities, it is best recommended to see a pain management doctor for a more invasive approach to care.
Final words about sciatica…
Most of the time, with the help of conservative treatment, surgery is not required. The first step is to always identify the issue and root cause of your pain so it can be treated properly at home as well as by a professional.
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