Symptoms and Causes of Sciatica
By Madhusudhan Tammisetti
Sciatica is generally the cause of pain that radiates from the back to the leg. Various problems stemming from the sciatic nerve may cause this condition. Inflammation or herniated disc, for instance, might be the reason.
The sciatic nerve is the human body's thickest nerve. It continues along the thigh's back and divides into the tibialis nerve and the peroneal nerve at the knee level. Its sensory parts send sensory information to the nervous system from hip to toes, and it feeds the sensory messages to leg muscles.
Chiropractors may adjust the spine to correct dysfunctions to restore the spine positions. They may also suggest some simple exercises such as walking or stretching.
Symptoms
Sciatica may be painful over time or all at once. A normal sciatica pain is referred to as neuropathic pain. Some patients describe sciatica symptoms as tickling of ants in the leg or a sensation of an electric shock. Paralysis and numbness are other possible symptoms.
The pain spread is also quite typical. Then there's the issue of radicular pain. This is how sciatica differs from lumbago. This may also happen as a result of unintentional lifting or twisting, and it appears as abrupt back pain. This back pain does not carry on to the leg.
The pain may even go all the way down to the ankle. Sciatic pain travels from the sacrum through the buttocks and to the thigh's back if the sacrum's first nerve root is injured. The pain extends from the knee to the foot's lower part.
The sciatic nerve originates in the back of the thigh and splits into two lower leg branches near the knee. Radiating sciatica is often caused by injury to the intervertebral discs.
When the sciatica gets strained owing to coughing, sneezing, a herniated disc, or movement, you may experience intense pain. Flushing out body waste is also sometimes disrupted. If sciatica is caused by inflammation, the pain frequently worsens at night.
Causes
A herniated disc or disc protrusion is the most common cause of sciatica pain. Other disorders may be at fault if they stress on the sciatic nerve roots and fibers.
Lyme disease may also cause sciatica pain. Ticks carry the bacterial infections that cause this ailment. The herpes viruses that cause shingles may also induce sciatica.
Chiropractic Care
A chiropractor may advise you to do physiotherapy to help reduce sciatica pain. It may relieve tight muscles and strengthen and stabilize the spine. It also rectifies any incorrect postures. Moving the body, heat treatments, and massages may also help relieve pain. Each patient's condition differs from another. So chiropractors devise treatment according to the patient's condition.
The chiropractor may use a combination of minimal strength and gentle pressure that involves high-velocity force to adjust the spine for the treatment of lower back pain caused due to sciatica.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Jose, Calif.