Although lamenting sciatica has become a comedic device indicating advanced years in comics and cartoons, sciatica is common among many demographics, affecting up to 40% of the population at some point in their lives. So what exactly is sciatica?
Defining Sciatica
Sciatica refers to nerve pain that starts in the low back or buttocks and moves into the leg(s). There is a common misconception that sciatica is a condition, but in fact it is a symptom of various disorders. Conditions that can cause sciatic symptoms include misalignments of the lumbar spine, herniated or bulging discs, pregnancy and childbirth, in addition to lifestyle factors like sedentary time, repetitive motions, and sitting on your wallet or phone in your back pocket. These conditions can cause compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is the largest single nerve in the body.
The sciatic nerve is formed by the union of 5 nerve roots in the lumbar and sacral spine. From the low back it runs all the way down the legs. Common symptoms described under the term “sciatica” include sensations of burning, shooting pain, numbness, tingling, weakness or heaviness, typically occurring primarily in the lower limbs, but sometimes in the low back, hip or buttock as well. These sensations usually affect one side of the body more than the other.
Treatment
Because sciatica primarily affects the nervous system and is often caused by an underlying spinal or postural condition, chiropractors have a lot of experience with treating both the sciatic symptoms and the underlying cause. Massage may help decrease the pain sensation of sciatica, and release muscle tension that may contribute to the nerve irritation. Acupuncture can effectively reduce inflammation and relieve pain, both of which may help sciatic symptoms. One of the most effective things you can do to help with sciatic pain is make lifestyle changes to correct contributing habits.
Your chiropractor may recommend various lifestyle changes and/or exercises in conjunction with treatment to help relieve the sciatic pain as well as the underlying condition. Maintaining mild exercise or gentle movement routines through sciatic pain can help improve or stabilize symptoms. Long periods of inactivity will generally make the pain worse. Staying active and exercising regularly helps improve muscle and bone strength and promotes healing in the inflamed and damaged tissues. Exercise also helps reduce stiffness in the muscles, joints, that can affect the sciatic nerve.
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that sciatica is treatable and will not last forever! By working with your healthcare providers to identify and treat the cause of your symptoms they can be improved!