Sciatica refers to a type of pain that travels down the hips, through the buttocks and then radiates down the back of the leg. It is so named because it travels along the path of the sciatica nerve.
This is one of the largest nerves in the body and is responsible for carrying pain and other signals between the brain and the lower half of the body. Although the sciatic nerve splits into two branches after leaving the buttocks and travels down the back of each leg, sciatic nerve pain normally only occurs on one side of the body.
The most typical cause of sciatica is pinching of the nerve either in the spinal canal or at the point at which it exits the spine. The conditions that most commonly cause sciatic pain are herniated discs and spinal stenosis.
In addition to pain, the symptoms of sciatica include (in some cases) leg numbness and tingling.
Although sciatic pain can in some cases be sharp and unpleasant, the good news is that it is in most cases treatable and manageable by non-invasive approaches such as activity modification and pain relief medications.
In a few cases, however, it can cause problems with bowel or bladder control. When this happens, other serious medical conditions may be present and immediate medical attention may be indicated.
The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the body. It has five roots – two in the lumbar spine (i.e. in the lower back) and three more at the bottom of the spine (known as the sacrum). As mentioned, it travels through the hips and buttocks and down the back of each leg, ending just below the knee.
Several smaller nerves in the calves, feet and toes, connect to the sciatic nerve and carry pain and other signals to and from it.
The most common cause of pain that travels along the sciatic nerve is pinching of the nerve roots in the lower back. This can be a result of:
In a minority of cases, sciatica can be caused by either a tumour that attacks and damages the sciatic nerve, or by diabetes, in which excess blood sugar produces toxins that do the same.
The following things can increase the risk that you may develop sciatica at some point:
The signature symptom of sciatica is pain in your lower back that may radiate down your lower body and as far as your knees;
In addition:
One additional symptom experienced by some sciatica sufferers is loss of bowel or bladder control. This is a possible sign of a serious medical condition known as cauda equina syndrome. If you experience this difficulty (in addition to some or all of the other symptoms above), you should seek medical advice urgently.
In diagnosing the cause of your pain, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and particularly about any back injuries you may have experienced previously.
The next step will probably be a complete physical exam. During this stage, you may be asked to do a couple of simple tests that indicate whether or not the cause of your pain is sciatica:
Pain experienced while trying to do any of these things is a possible indicator of the presence of sciatica.
Finally, your doctor may request an imaging scan of your lower back to identify signs of stenosis or disc herniation (conditions that could cause sciatic nerve pain). The scan may be a CT scan, MRI or X Ray.
Sciatic pain may be severe and debilitating but it is usually treatable using simple conservative remedies that are accessible at home:
If the home based treatments discussed above are not successful, doctors can suggest other sciatica treatments:
As a final option, or if there are signs of potentially serious medical problems (such as fecal or urinary incontinence), doctors may suggest surgery to correct the cause of the sciatica.
Surgical treatment options may include:
Spinal surgery is a very risky procedure. It has many potential complications, including bleeding, infections, leaks of spinal fluid, blood clotting and even greater loss of bowel or bladder control. Discuss these risks thoroughly with your doctor before agreeing to any surgical procedures. And do not be afraid or reluctant to seek a second opinion.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Adjustable Back Brace offers you custom fitting, courtesy of its tapered cut. The Adjustable Back Brace features eight steel springs with the flexibility that allows them to conform for superior lumbar support. Additional support comes from its main 9 inch elastic band. You can also adjust the tension using its 4″…
The Mueller Sports Medicine Back Brace, White is a comfortable and lightweight solution to back sprains and strains, an arthritic back, moderate disc conditions, muscle spasms, sciatica, chronic unstable lumbar spine or for strains of sacroiliac area. Equipped with a 9 inch wide elastic band, a large foam pad and supportive steel springs. The pad conforms to your lower back area and supports your back in the most critical areas. There is also a second 6 inch wide outer elastic band to secure the pad and provide additional back support.
SIZING: (Measure around waist) SM 28 – 32″ (71 – 81 cm) MD 32 – 36″ (81 – 91 cm) LG 36 – 40″ (91 – 102 cm) XL 40 – 44″ (102 – 111 cm) XXL 44 – 48″ (111 – 122 cm)
The It’s You Babe Best Cradle maternity support is ideal for the mom having twins, triplets or quads and for the mom needing support early in pregnancy. Also an effective support for non-pregnant patients who have a pendulous abdomen. Open abdominal design is cool and comfortable.
The Mueller Sports Medicine EASYfit® Kinesiology Tape applications are designed to be simple to use and can help relieve certain overuse injuries. Three (3) applications in each package for the knee, shoulder, foot/arch, calf/ankle/neck and waist/back applications. Six (6) applications in each package for the X & Y pattern applications.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Kinesiology Tape – 30m Continuous Roll features Mueller’s revolutionary wave adhesive pattern for effective rehabilitation of sore, weak or damaged muscles or joints.
Mueller Sports Medicine Kinesiology Tape – 5m Continuous Roll is a great choice for rapid rehabilitation for your sore, weak or injured muscles and joints. With its revolutionary wave pattern adhesive, it will lift your skin as you move to optimize your circulation and promote early recovery to full health. You cn wear it for up to 5 days at a time. Made from pure high grade cotton. Latex free, highly elastic and breathable in order to perform its “lifting” function more effectively.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Kinesiology Tape – I-Strip Roll will help you to treat ligament and other soft tissue injuries as well as repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel.
The It’s You Babe Mini Cradle is a premium maternity belt to complement every expectant mom’s collection of maternity wear. It perfectly complements maternity fashions and discretely fits under most maternity clothes. The Mini Cradle is wearable throughout pregnancy and helps provide continuous pain relief.
Use Kinesio Pre-Cut Application tapes for treatment of various repetitive stress injuries. As the pieces are pre-cut, you do not need to cut them before putting them on, which simplifies application.
Kinesio Tex Classic successfully treats a variety of orthopaedic, neuromuscular, neurological and medical conditions. It provides fast and effective pain relief and support for muscle aches and pains and directly targets the fascia (skin layers) and muscle tissue to treat the cause of muscle inflammation and pain.
