We will examine the triggers, causes, and treatment for sciatica in this post. People with sciatica will definitely feel pain when getting up from a seat or standing.
KAMPALA | LIFESTYLE UGANDA (https://lifestyleuganda.com/) — With sciatica, you will experience a lot of pain when you are getting up from a seated or standing position. In this article, we will cover the triggers, causes, and treatment for sciatica.
- Herniated discs may cause sciatica, and surgery may be recommended.
- Learn how to treat kidney stones naturally.
- Also read: How do you balance sex during pregnancy?
- Check out our article on back exercises to prevent back pain and strengthen your back.
The sciatic nerve runs through the muscles, and if you twist and point it incorrectly then the pain is more than likely going to be intense.
Sciatic Neuritis often causes inflammation of the nerve, so when you stand or sit, you might experience burning pain, numbness, tingling, or shooting pain.
Basically, sciatica is nerve pain on the right side of your back, and it could be down to one of the following causes:
- Advertisement -
#1. A slipped disc
Sciatica is when the sciatic nerve gets pinched between the bones in your spine, which is where a slipped disc could be the cause of your pain.
The disc is generally made up of calcium and weak, so it can eventually tear and get out of place.
This makes the nerve more sensitive and causes burning pain and weakness.
#2. Sciatica and Osteoporosis
The exact cause of osteoporosis is unknown, but there is a strong connection between osteoporosis and nerve pain, so it is a very common cause of Sciatic Neuritis.
The two are connected, and you are more likely to experience symptoms if you are suffering from either condition.
- Advertisement -
People with osteoporosis can be more at risk of getting sciatica, and when you do, your osteoporosis can get worse.
So, if you are suffering from both osteoporosis and sciatica, and you haven’t done so for a long time, it is likely you will develop relapse of both conditions.
#3. An injury to the sciatic nerve
Sciatica can be caused by a sudden spasm of your sciatic nerve, causing sharp shooting pain down the back of your leg. A rarer cause of sciatica is an injury to the nerve, and this can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness.
- Advertisement -
Sciatic Neuritis often gives off a radiating sensation from your backside to your knees, which is called sciatic nerve stimulation. It can also be the result of another common condition, known as sciatica and disc herniations.
Sciatica and herniated discs are two different things, but in most cases of sciatica, the pain can be the result of a herniated disc.
The most common symptoms of a herniated disc are numbness, weakness, and cramping. This can mean a herniated disc has to be treated very carefully to avoid the effects causing sciatica.
If you have symptoms of sciatica, you should contact a doctor as soon as possible so they can assess whether you are suffering from Sciatic Neuritis.
Symptoms
Symptoms of sciatica are fairly similar to those of other back pain, with a lot of pain and pressure. The pain is usually down the right side of your back, but it could also be in the right or left leg, depending on the severity.
Sciatica is often not painful, but you will be in a lot of pain while you are in the early stages of the condition.
However, once you have an x-ray done and it’s found to be a slipped disc, you are more likely to suffer from severe Sciatic Neuritis.
Sciatica is painful, and in severe cases, it can also cause the following symptoms:
- Burning or tingling in the back of the leg
- Numbness or weakness in the calf or the toes
- A feeling like something is digging into the back of your leg
- Sharp pain down the leg, usually in the back of the right leg
- Pain when you stand or lie down, but this can be in other places as well
- Worsening of symptoms if you have had too much lying down
How is it diagnosed?
Sciatic Neuritis is generally diagnosed based on a number of factors, including the age you are and your general health.
If you are young, then you may experience sciatica and haven’t noticed it for a long time. It’s more likely that this is an old back injury, or just a case of time being on your side.
But if you are between the ages of 20 and 50, you may be suffering from sciatica because you have a slipped disc in your spine. If you have symptoms of sciatica, it’s more likely that you have a slipped disc, which causes Sciatic Neuritis.
If you have Sciatic Neuritis, you should make an appointment to see your GP, as it could be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a herniated disc.
What are the causes?
There are many different causes of sciatica, and many of these can be linked to each other.
- Sciatica and disk herniations
The most common cause of sciatica is a slipped disc in the spine. The soft tissue in the spinal column, known as the sciatic nerve, runs through your spine. A slipped disc causes part of the disk to slip out of place.
This causes sciatica, as the back of your leg becomes damaged. If you don't treat a herniated disc with the correct treatment, you may be in for a lot of pain and even limited mobility. - Sciatica and kidney stones
People who suffer from sciatica have a higher than normal chance of suffering kidney stones, which can cause sciatica.
If you're at increased risk of this, you should make an appointment with your GP. - Sciatica and herniated disc
Sciatic Neuritis can also result from a herniated disc.
The exact cause of a herniated disc is unclear, but many people experience pain because their discs have lost their balance. They may be just pulling away from the bone on either side of the disc. - Sciatica and cancer
Sciatica can also be a sign of a type of cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
If you have more than one symptom of sciatica, this could be another indicator that you have a condition that requires further medical attention. - Sciatica and pregnancy
Sciatica is a common condition associated with pregnancy, although it's important to remember that pregnancy isn't the cause of sciatica.
Many people experience a nagging pain or numbness in their leg during the second trimester of pregnancy, but this doesn't have anything to do with Sciatic Neuritis. - Sciatica and arthritis
Arthritis is the most common cause of sciatica, but many people who have arthritis don't have it.
This is probably due to the fact that pain caused by arthritis can go down the leg, rather than down the back.
Sciatica triggers
Sciatic Neuritis can be caused by different things, but a lot of the time people experience it in their back. It is often triggered by sitting too long, lying down for long periods of time, or exercising too much.
If you get it regularly, make an appointment to see your GP, as this could be a sign of a more serious problem.
What are the main symptoms?
One of the most common symptoms of Sciatic Neuritis is a sharp, shooting pain down the back of your leg. This usually starts in your leg, and extends into your hip or down your leg, according to the NHS.
Sometimes the pain can spread and hit the sides of your body, especially in your hips and back.
The sciatic nerve itself is swollen and may be numb. The pain may also be sharp, or a dull, constant ache. The condition can be accompanied by a burning or prickly sensation, and a strange pulling sensation in the back of the leg.
If you get a lot of pain or a prickly sensation, it’s likely you have a slipped disc, which is caused by a disc between two bones in the spine getting squeezed and torn.
You may also get a nerve entrapment, where the nerve becomes compressed around a nerve root.
Occasionally Sciatic Neuritis can also be caused by a condition called impingement. In this case, the disc material sticks out into the sciatic nerve.
What are the treatments?
The first step is to make an appointment to see your GP, as sciatica can be caused by a range of things, including lower back pain, arthritis, an injury, or even pregnancy.
If Sciatic Neuritis is caused by a herniated disc, surgery may be recommended.
Some painkillers and physiotherapy exercises can help manage your pain. Click here for more information about home remedies to help relieve sciatica pain.
