What To Do For Sciatica Pain In Lower Back

How To Do It:

â Begin by kneeling on all fours with your hands positioned under your shoulders and your knees positioned directly below your hips.â Begin by kneeling on all fours with your hands positioned under your shoulders and your knees positioned directly below your hips.â Exhale and arch your low back gently.â Hold this position for 2 seconds.â Inhale and round your back.â Hold this position for 2 seconds.â Aim for 10 repetitions.

How Is Sciatica Affecting Your Quality Of Life

Sciatica pain may extend all the way from the lower back, through the back of your thigh, to your foot. The pain can come and go, sometimes lingering for days and even weeks. This may cause anything from mild discomfort to making the simplest tasks intolerable. Sitting could be painful with sciatica and driving even more so. Not to mention playing sports and being active.

As you contemplate surgery for sciatica, consider how much the pain affects your quality of life. If your work, hobbies, social life or relationships suffer from your being in constant pain, it may be time to think about surgery.

Although sciatica starts as nerve inflammation, it may eventually progress to nerve damage. If the sciatic nerve is damaged, it could result in numbness, tingling and, in more severe cases, weakness in the knees or legs. The longer it is left untreated, the longer it will take for numbness and weakness to go away, and they may become permanent.

How Long Should I Try Self

Every person with sciatic pain is different. The type of pain can be different, the intensity of pain is different and the cause of the pain can be different. In some patients, a more aggressive treatment may be tried first. However, generally speaking, if a six-week trial of conservative, self-care treatments like ice, heat, stretching, over-the-counter medicines has not provided relief, its time to return to a healthcare professional and try other treatment options.

Other treatment options include:

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Southern Cross Medical Library

The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. For more articles go to the Medical Library index page.

Acute Low Back Pain: First Dont Panic

When acute and extreme low back pain strikes, your first reaction may be one of worry. The pain can be so severe that it may limit your ability to lie down or sit comfortably. Standing upright and walking may be difficult, and going to work may be impossible.

Remember that most low back pain and sciatica gets better quite quickly, and many cases resolve completely in a few short weeks. Sometimes, your low back pain may go away with no treatment whatsoever.

Rest assured that while your current pain is intense and your functional mobility is limited, you can be up and about in a few short days with the right treatment and advice.

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Should I Rest If I Have Sciatica

Some rest and change in your activities and activity level may be needed. However, too much rest, bed rest, and physical inactivity can make your pain worse and slow the healing process. Its important to maintain as much activity as possible to keep muscles flexible and strong.

Before beginning your own exercise program, see your healthcare provider or spine specialist first to get a proper diagnosis. This healthcare professional will refer you to the proper physical therapist or other trained exercise or body mechanics specialist to devise an exercise and muscle strengthening program thats best for you.

What Sciatica Pain Feels Like

Firsthow do you first realize you may have sciatica? What does sciatica pain feel like, and why is it happening to you?

Because the symptoms of sciatica usually appear in the buttocks and leg , many people mistakenly believe theyve sustained a leg injury. Actually, sciatica pain is a lower back issue. It originates in the largest nerve in the human body, the sciatic nerve. Also called the ischiadic nerve, the sciatic nerve begins in the lower back and runs behind the thigh to the knee, where it splits into the tibial and common peroneal nerves that continue down into the feet.

So when you feel a shooting pain or tingling, burning sensation somewhere in your leg, the actual source of these symptoms is some part of the sciatic nerve in the lower back or buttocks being pinched, damaged, or inflamed. For example, a vertebral disc may slide out of alignment, putting pressure on the nerve. Likewise, a back muscle may be swollen or inflamed from overexertion or injury, which can crowd the area around the spine and apply pressure.

The causes of sciatica pain can vary. Sports or accidents may contribute, as can degenerative spinal conditions. Pregnancy is also a very common cause.

Before treating your pain, your doctor will need to examine you and to determine the reason youre experiencing symptoms. Often, treating the underlying cause takes the pressure off the nerve and makes the symptoms disappear.

What are these symptoms, exactly?

• Pain anywhere along the leg

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A Disc Bulge In The Lower Back

Your intervertebral discs act as a cushioning between the vertebrae in your spine.

They help to lubricate movement, and are formed by tough outer fibres which protect a soft centre.

When some of these tough outer fibres are damaged or affected by repetitive stress, the inner centre can bulge towards the problematic area. This causes a disc bulge which can press on the spinal nerve roots and give you sciatica.

Now, if the disc bulge is situated towards the rear of the disc, any pressure on the front part of the disc is likely to make the bulge at the rear worse.

When we sit, we are effectively putting more pressure on the front of our discs which is usually fine but when we have some degree of damage to the outer fibres of a disc, it can cause the bulge to be pushed into a position where it might touch a nerve root.

This contact of the nerve root can cause sciatica. Watch the video below for a further explanation:

You can read an explanation of this in more detail HERE.

Buttocks Stretch For The Piriformis Muscle

The buttocks stretch or pigeon is a superb stretch for the gluteal muscle groups and the piriformis muscle. It could assist to launch tight hip muscle groups and can usually enhance hip mobility.

• Place your palms and knees on the bottom.
• Deliver the foot of your affected leg beneath your abdomen, twisting it towards the alternative aspect close to the hip.
• Lean your forearms on the bottom and decrease your brow to the touch the bottom.
• Whereas conserving your pelvis straight, slowly stretch out the non-affected leg behind you.
• Your hips must be barely pushed towards the ground.
• Maintain for 30 seconds, then slowly return to the beginning place. Repeat 4 instances on all sides.

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The Course Of Sciatica

Often, a particular event or injury does not cause sciaticarather it tends to develop over time. Sciatica affects 10% to 40% of the population, typically around the age of 40 years.1 Sciatica is found to be common in certain types of occupation where physically strenuous positions are used, such as machine operators or truck drivers. Specifically, people who often bend their spine forward or sideways or raise their arms frequently above the shoulder level may be at risk of sciatica.1,5

The vast majority of people who experience sciatica typically get better within 4 to 6 weeks with nonsurgical sciatica treatments.1 If severe neurological deficits are present, recovery may take longer. An estimated 33% of people, however, may have persistent symptoms up to 1 year.6 When severe nerve compression is present with progressive symptoms, surgery may be indicated.

How To Tell If Sciatica Is Triggering The Pain In Your Back

If you have pain that runs from your lower back through your buttock, down your leg and into your ankle or foot, it could be sciatica. Sciatica is a medical condition caused when your sciatic nerve gets irritated.

With sciatica, the pain is typically constant, but it can be aggravated by movement or activity, said R. John Hurlbert, MD, a neurosurgeon at Banner – University Medicine North in Tucson, AZ. Its common to have numbness and tingling that accompanies the pain.

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Do Some Stretches And Yoga

There are more forms of stretching out there, but yoga seems to be the most popular one. Such exercises will remove tension from all affected parts. Stick to exercises and poses that target the neck, as this is where you want the tension gone. Make sure you do not overreact, as discomfort can worsen the issue.

If you experience further pains or more intense symptoms while doing physical activity, stop right away. Chances are you are doing it too hard, so you might damage the nerve some more you risk aggravating the condition then.

Home Spinal Decompression For Sciatica

Sit and Decompress see user reviews

Spinal decompression is by far the fastest and best sciatic pain relief method, in my experience.

Spinal decompression treatments have been shown to fix herniated and bulging discs pressing on nerves time and time again without surgery.

Sciatica can be eliminated and even arthritis sufferers find tremendous relief using spinal decompression.

Heres how to do it:

Sciatica Spine Decompression Exercises

If your pain is not debilitating and you are able to move, spinal decompression exercises can be the best place to start your healing process .

Above is an image with some of the best spinal decompression exercises you can do at home daily for a quick sciatica pain relief.

You can also get your own back traction device to use anytime you need it at the comfort of your own home and save a fortune on chiropractor treatments.

Heres my post about how to do back traction at home and which devices are best.

Inversion Therapy for Sciatica

Using an inversion table can relieve your sciatic pain in just a few minutes. If you use it daily, it will allow you to gradually incline your body until you can remain upside down for 5-15 minutes a day.

While upside down, gravity pulls your spine allowing the vertebrae to relax enough for the spinal discs to recover their proper shape and increase circulation for faster healing.

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Taming The Pain Of Sciatica: For Most People Time Heals And Less Is More

• By Steven J. Atlas, MD, MPH, Contributor

Despite being a less common cause of low back pain, sciatica is still something I regularly see as a general internist. Primary care doctors can and should manage sciatica, because for most individuals the body can fix the problem. My job is to help manage the pain while the body does its job. When a persons symptoms dont improve, I discuss the role of surgery or an injection to speed things up.

Muscle Strain Or Sprain

A muscle strain or sprain is the most common cause of low back pain.

A strain is a tear or stretching in a tendon or muscle, while a sprain is a tear or stretching in a ligament.

Sprains and strains usually happen when you twist or lift something improperly, lift something heavy, or overstretch your back muscles.

These injuries can cause swelling, difficulty moving, and back spasms.

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How Is Sciatica Treated

The goal of treatment is to decrease your pain and increase your mobility. Depending on the cause, many cases of sciatica go away over time with some simple self-care treatments.

Self-care treatments include:

• Appling ice and/or hot packs: First, use ice packs to reduce pain and swelling. Apply ice packs or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to the affected area. Apply for 20 minutes, several times a day. Switch to a hot pack or a heating pad after the first several days. Apply for 20 minutes at a time. If youre still in pain, switch between hot and cold packs whichever best relieves your discomfort.
• Taking over-the-counter medicines: Take medicines to reduce pain, inflammation and swelling. The many common over-the-counter medicines in this category, called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen . Be watchful if you choose to take aspirin. Aspirin can cause ulcers and bleeding in some people. If youre unable to take NSAIDS, acetaminophen may be taken instead.
• Performing gentle stretches: Learn proper stretches from an instructor with experience with low back pain. Work up to other general strengthening, core muscle strengthening and aerobic exercises.

When Should I Contact My Healthcare Provider

Get immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Severe leg pain lasting more than a few hours that is unbearable.
• Numbness or muscle weakness in the same leg.
• Bowel or bladder control loss. This could be due to a condition called cauda equina syndrome, which affects bundles of nerves at the end of the spinal cord.
• Sudden and severe pain from a traffic accident or some other trauma.

Even if your visit doesnt turn out to be an emergency situation, its best to get it checked out.

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Secret #: Chiropractic Massage

There is no doubt that massage therapy has multiple benefits, and for those with sciatica, the pain relief from chiropractic massage can be nothing short of magical.

Under the direction of the chiropractor, the massage therapist will address tight muscles, making them relax and become more flexible. This relieves pressure on the sciatic nerve. Massage also reduces stress, lowers inflammation, and reduces pain by stimulating the release of the bodys own natural painkillers, known as endorphins.

Chiropractic massage is often recommended for the relief of pain symptoms such as burning sensations in the leg or throbbing pains in the feet. Your chiropractor might suggest a trigger point massage, which is a special type of massage designed to release muscle knots, known as trigger points, for the relief of sciatica pain.

Deep tissue massage is one of the recommended non-invasive treatment options that can provide substantial relief. When used in conjunction with chiropractic care, it can be a great way to get rid of sciatica pain fast.

Imagine receiving substantial pain relief from a chiropractic massage that uses no drugs, no injections, and no steroids.

What Are The Symptoms Of Sciatica

The symptoms of sciatica include:

• Moderate to severe pain in lower back, buttock and down your leg.
• Numbness or weakness in your lower back, buttock, leg or feet.
• Pain that worsens with movement loss of movement.
• Pins and needles feeling in your legs, toes or feet.
• Loss of bowel and bladder control .

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Stretch And Build Muscles To Relieve Physical Stresses

Exercises that include stretching and strengthening can help relieve stress in your lower back. Exercise also promotes healing of soft tissues, improves the functioning of the nervous system, and may decrease your sensitivity to pain.1 Sciatica exercises include techniques that help relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve roots and build strength in the lower spine, abdomen, and legs.

See Sciatica Exercises for Sciatica Pain Relief

Using infrared or heat therapy before an exercise helps warm up and loosen stiffness in the tissues. You can use an ice pack after the exercise to treat any pain or soreness. Simple stretches can be done at home or at your office when you have recurrent or flaring sciatica symptoms. Always exercise within tolerable limits and start with 2 to 3 repetitions, slowly moving up to 5.

• Capsaicin
• Camphor

In some preparations, more than one drug may be combined together. While using topical medication, avoid using a heat patch3 or ice pack over the area at the same time. Combining both therapies may reduce and/or alter the effects of topical pain medications.3

See Sciatica First Aid

Diagnosing Lower Back Pain

To diagnose lower back pain, a doctor will first do a physical exam. Theyll look at how well you move and if your back has any visible issues.

Then theyll take a medical history. This will cover your symptoms, any recent injuries, previous back issues, and the severity of your pain.

A physical exam and medical history are often enough for a doctor to determine the cause of your pain. However, they may also need to do an imaging test. Potential tests include:

• X-ray, which can find broken or misaligned bones.
• CT scan, which shows soft tissues such as the discs between vertebrae and potential tumors
• myelogram, which uses dye to enhance the contrast in a CT scan or X-ray to help a doctor identify nerve or spinal cord compression

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Causative Difference Between Sciatica And Lumbar Back Pain

True spinally-motivated sciatica can only come from 2 source processes: compression and/or chemical irritation of the lumbar and sacral nerve roots which form the sciatic nerve. Compression can be caused within the central or foraminal canals by a wide range of possible direct causes and contributors, typically found acting in unison with one another. These factors might include disc desiccation, intervertebral herniation, osteoarthritic narrowing of the central and foraminal canal spaces, changes in lumbar lordosis and facet joint changes that might further reduce the patency of the neural foramen. Less common potential causes of true sciatica due to nerve root compression might include spondylolisthesis, lumbar scoliosis, previous lumbar surgery and congenitally-narrowed central or foraminal canals.

Sciatica caused by chemical irritation of nerve fibers will only occur due to the existence of an annular tear or ruptured disc that spills the substance named tumor necrosis factor alpha out of the disc nucleus and onto sensitive nerve fibers. Not all herniated discs involve the migration of nucleus proteins from the disc and not all people are susceptible to pain due to contact between nucleus proteins and nerve root tissues.

Difference Between Sciatica and Lower Back Pain Regarding Treatment