Managing Sciatica

Managing Sciatica

Sciatica is one of the most underrated types of pain that 40% of people suffer from at some point in their life. It is important to know how to manage the pain when it starts effecting your everyday life.

What is Sciatica? Sciatica is when there is a pinched nerve in the lower back, the sciatic nerve, and causes pain that radiates from the lower back down through one or both of the legs.

What causes Sciatica? Some common causes of sciatica is damage done from degenerative disc disease, and lumbar spinal stenosis. Either of these diseases cause brittle and narrowing passages for the sciatic nerve, and will cause it to be pinched.

Symptoms of Sciatica? 

  • Pain that radiates from the lower back down through the leg(s)
  • Difficulty walking, sitting, moving
  • Leg and/or feet numbness

How to treat Sciatica?

  • Exercising and stretching
  • Medications (anti-inflammatory and pain medication)
  • Muscle Relaxants
  • Massages and physical therapy

On rare occasions, surgery needs to be performed to help relieve some of the pressure on the nerve. It is best to make sure with your doctor to see if there is anything they can do to help relieve the pain. Sciatica is not something that goes away completely, but it can be managed to help relieve some of the pain before it becomes too unbearable.