Pain in the lumbar region, which radiates to the hips and drops to the feet, is caused by a sciatic nerve dysfunction. This manifestation is called sciatica nerve pain and is not a disease but rather a symptom of a sciatic nerve dysfunction. It is common among people of over 40 years of age.
Sciatica nerve pain prevention and exercises for pain relief are hot topics of debate among sciatica nerve pain sufferers, so, here is how can you prevent it and what can you do for pain relief.
What is the sciatic nerve?
The sciatic nerve is the largest in the human body and consists of the nerve roots that come out of the spinal cord in the lumbar region and extend to the buttocks and legs, and to the ankles.
Its compression (herniation or inter-vertebral disc rupture) can cause mild or severe pain, tingling sensation, or numbness. Generally, sciatica is confused with general back pain.
Types of sciatica nerve pain
There are two types of sciatica:
- Acute sciatica – it can take between 4 and 8 weeks. It does not require medical treatment, and the pains can be controlled with soothing medications, combined with sports and hot and cold compresses.
- Chronic sciatica – persists for a longer time. It requires medical treatment (physiotherapy) that includes sports, heat applications and, in some cases, surgery.
How the sciatica nerve pain installs?
Sciatica is a common symptom of several diseases, the most common being the hernia disorder.
The vertebral spine is made up of three parts:
The discs are made of elastic but durable cartilaginous tissue and their positioning between the vertebrae gives them the role of absorbing shocks. In addition, the discs allow the spine to be mobile. The discs jam assumes that one disc has been moved from its normal position, compressing the sciatic nerve.
Other causes of sciatica include:
- lumbar spinal stenosis
- the presence of a tumor or infection in the spine
- strokes in the spine
- Cauda equina syndrome or ‘horse tail syndrome’
In most cases, sciatica does not have an apparent cause, so it can be said that any irritation of the sciatic nerve causes pain.
What are the risk factors?
Age – due to deterioration of inter-vertebral discs as they age, people over 30 or 40 years of age are more at risk of sciatica.
Occupation – jobs involving the picking up or carrying of heavy objects for long periods represent another risk.
Sedentary lifestyle – people who sit down for long periods of time and do not move are also in danger.
What are the first signs of sciatica?
The main manifestation of sciatica is localized pain along the sciatic nerve starting from the lumbar area to the buttocks along the lower limbs to the knee (usually only one foot is affected).
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