Sciatica is a pain that runs from the lower back down the leg, often into the foot and toes. It is triggered by an inflammation of the sciatic nerve induced by a compression.
Some people dealing with sciatica also may experience a burning, tickling or prickly sensation, usually on one side of the body. The type and level of pain a person experiences hinges on the specific location of the nerve compression.
In some instances the pain may be very light, while in others it might be incapacitating and severe. The majority of people will recover from an episode of sciatica within a few weeks, the pain can sometime worsen over time or persist for much longer. Everything is dependent on the underlying source.
Sciatica and Nerve Damage
Though it is rare, in some instances sciatica can bring about irreversible nerve damage. The irritation of the nerve that causes the sciatica pain generally is reversible.
Symptoms of a more critical medical complication include bladder or bowl incontinence, growing weakness, or the loss of sensation in the leg.
Where the Sciatic Nerve is Located:
Sciatic nerves are the longest in the body. They reach out from the lower back completely down to the feet.
Sciatic nerves exit the spine between two vertebrae in the lower back and travel behind the hip joint down the buttock and along the back of each leg into the foot.
Sciatica is caused by the irritation of one or both of these particular nerves. Usually, a herniated disk places pressure on the sciatic nerve root.
Commonly, people experiencing sciatica have leg pain, which makes them incorrectly think that the sciatica is due to some sort of problem within the leg.
Other sources of sciatica can include spinal tumors, , trauma, spinal stenosis, or sciatic nerve tumor or injury.
Anybody Can Have Sciatica
Most people believe that sciatica is something that only effects people who have an inactive lifestyle. And while it’s right that sedentary people are more susceptible for sciatica, it in fact can affect active people too, especially if they participate in activities that involve twisting the back or carrying heavy weights routinely.
Sciatica will typically resolve on its own within a few weeks. Therapy options include exercise, physical therapy. For some patients, however, the pain can last much longer, so individualized therapy plans are suggested.
Sciatica Treatment Options in Miami Florida
Another more natural sciatica therapy option is gentle, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy. By lightly decompressing the involved spinal disks pressure on the sciatic nerve can be eased and the pain from sciatica can disappear.
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