Sciatica is the pain caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. Anything that irritates this nerve can cause pain, ranging from mild to severe. Sciatica is usually caused by a compressed nerve in the lower spine. The term sciatica is confused with general back pain. However, sciatica is not just limited to the back. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the human body. It runs from the lower back, through the buttocks, and down the legs, ending just below the knee.
The main symptom is a shooting pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve; from the lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of either leg. Other common symptoms of sciatica include numbness in the leg along the nerve and tingling sensation in the feet and toes. This pain can range in severity and may be aggravated by sitting for long periods.
If symptoms are not severe but persist beyond a couple of weeks, your doctor may recommend physical therapy. The proper exercises may actually help sciatic pain relief. They can also provide conditioning to help prevent the pain from coming back. If your pain doesn't improve with self-care measures, your doctor might suggest some of the following treatments.
Acute sciatica treatments
Most cases of acute sciatica respond well to self-care measures, which include:
Over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen, which are also available to buy online.
Exercises such as walking or light stretching.
Hot or cold compression packs help to reduce pain. They are available to purchase online. It is often helpful to alternate between the two.
Not all painkillers are suitable for everyone; individuals should be sure to review options with their doctor.
Chronic sciatica treatments
Treatment of chronic sciatica usually involves a combination of self-care measures and medical treatment:
physical therapy
cognitive behavioral therapy – helps manage chronic pain by training people to react differently to their pain
painkillers
Surgery may be an option if symptoms have not responded to other treatments and continue to intensify. Surgical options include:
Lumbar laminectomy – widening of the spinal cord in the lower back to reduce pressure on the nerves.
Discectomy – partial or entire removal of a herniated disk.
Depending on the cause of sciatica, a surgeon will go over the risks and benefits of surgery and be able to suggest a suitable surgical option.
Alternative medicine
Alternative therapies commonly used for low back pain include:
Acupuncture. In acupuncture, the practitioner inserts hair-thin needles into your skin at specific points on your body. Some studies have suggested that acupuncture can help back pain, while others have found no benefit. If you decide to try acupuncture, choose a licensed practitioner to ensure that he or she has had extensive training.
Chiropractic. Spinal adjustment (manipulation) is one form of therapy chiropractors use to treat restricted spinal mobility. The goal is to restore spinal movement and, as a result, improve function and decrease pain. Spinal manipulation appears to be as effective and safe as standard treatments for low back pain, but might not be appropriate for radiating pain.
If the symptoms of sciatica are mild and do not last longer than 4-8 weeks, it is probably acute sciatica, and medical attention is not usually necessary. A complete medical history may help speed up the diagnosis. Doctors will also have the individual perform basic exercises that stretch the sciatic nerve. A shooting pain down the leg while performing these exercises usually indicates sciatica. If pain persists for more than 4-8 weeks, imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI may be necessary to help identify what is compressing the sciatic nerve and causing the symptoms.
