Did you know that about 40% of people may suffer from sciatica at least once in their lives? So what is sciatica, what are its most important symptoms, and how to treat it?

What is sciatica ?

Sciatica is not considered a disease in itself, but it is a symptom of a problem related to the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is the name given to pain caused by injury or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is the widest and longest nerve in the human body.

As it extends from the lower back, through the buttocks and legs, and ends at just below the knee, then the sciatic nerve branches out to other nerves, which in turn extend to the toes.

This may be due to several reasons, but a person usually suffers from sciatica as a result of a narrowing of the spinal spaces, or as a result of bony protrusions at the bottom of the spine, or when a herniated disc presses on a part of the sciatic nerve, or as a result of a tumor in the spine, This causes pain ranging from mild to severe.

Sciatica pain

Some people may describe sciatica pain as sharp, shooting, electric, or stabbing. This is due to the disease and its cause. The pain may occur continuously or it may occur at varying intervals.

Also, the pain usually becomes more severe in the leg than in the lower back. The pain gets worse when standing, sitting for long periods, or when twisting the upper body. Sciatica usually affects one leg, and rarely affects both legs.

In addition, sudden body movement caused by coughing or sneezing may lead to more pain.

Factors that may increase the risk of infection

The possibility of sciatica increases in the following cases:

1. A previous spinal injury: The risk of sciatica may increase if a person has had an injury to the lower back or spine.

2. Getting older: With aging, bone tissue and discs in the spine begin to wear down, which increases the risk of injury.

3. Weight Gain: The higher the body weight, the greater the load on the spine, which leads to back stress and pain with the possibility of other problems. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a healthy weight and get rid of excess weight.

4. Heavy Lifting: Jobs or physical activities that require heavy lifting may increase the risk of developing lower back problems, especially if you do not pay attention to the position of the body shape while carrying or lifting weights.

5. Diabetes: Having diabetes may increase the risk of nerve damage, which in turn increases the risk of sciatica.

6. Osteoporosis: With osteoporosis, the risk of nerve and spine damage increases. Therefore, you should pay attention to the symptoms of osteoporosis and prevent them as much as possible.

7. Sitting for long periods: Lack of movement and lack of exercise, or sitting for long periods without movement may increase the risk.

8. Smoking: Cigarettes contain nicotine, which can damage spinal tissue, increase the risk of weak bones, and accelerate the wear of intervertebral discs.

Symptoms of sciatica

Sciatica symptoms usually increase when sitting or standing for long periods, or when coughing or twisting the spine. Sciatica symptoms may vary according to the severity of the condition Among the most common symptoms:

• Pain in the lower back and buttocks.
• Numbness in the leg along the nerve.
• Feeling tingling in the feet and even toes.
• The pain may worsen when sitting or standing for long periods.
• Weak leg and foot muscles.
• Loss of feeling in the affected leg in severe cases.
• Loss of bowel and bladder control in severe cases.

Sciatica treatment

Treatment methods include both home and medical treatments. Some home remedies can be followed first in order to relieve pain for mild and moderate cases within about two weeks, and the pain usually goes away in a period ranging from 4 to 6 weeks of home care.

Home treatment methods

1. Simple exercises and stretches that can help relieve pain.
2. Doing normal activities as much as possible
3. Warm compresses can be placed on the painful areas
4. Place a small pillow between your knees when sleeping on your sides, or place a pillow under your knees if you sleep on your back
5. Do not sit, stand, or lie down for long periods of time, even if the movement hurts.
6. Avoid carrying heavy things.
7. Make sure to use proper body position when standing, sitting, and when lifting things.

For more, read this article: Sciatica exercises to relieve sciatic nerve pain

Notice: In the event that the pain does not improve within a few weeks or the pain is severe with light exercise, or if severe symptoms appear, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Medical treatments

1. Prescribed Medications: Your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant, such as cyclobenzaprine, to relieve muscle spasms. Medications that may be prescribed for treatment may also include tricyclic antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, and anti-inflammatories, which are determined according to your pain level.

2. Physiotherapy: This is done by doing some appropriate exercise movements in order to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve.

3. Spinal injection: Injecting a corticosteroid (an anti-inflammatory) into the lower back may help relieve pain and swelling around the affected nerve roots. Which helps relieve pain for a short period of time, up to three months only.

4. Surgeries: In some rare cases, the doctor may resort to the option of surgical intervention to treat sciatica. And this is in the event that the condition develops and does not respond to other treatment methods, by removing the bone spur or part of the herniated disc that is causing pressure on the sciatic nerve.

After knowing what sciatica is and its most important symptoms. Our advice to you will always and forever be that prevention is better than cure, so take care of your health, avoid what may harm your health, and your spine, while maintaining a healthy weight to reduce the risk of infection.