What causes sciatica?
Sciatica is the medical term for compression and inflammation of your sciatic nerve. This is the nerve that runs through your lower back and branches out through your buttocks and into each leg. Your sciatic nerve can become pinched or inflamed due to:
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Bone spur
- Herniated disc
- Bulged disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Being overweight
You’re also more likely to suffer from sciatica if you have a sedentary lifestyle and sit for most of the day, or if you work in a job that requires you to twist your back, lift heavy objects, or drive for long periods.
How do I know if I have sciatica?
Sciatica causes all kinds of symptoms, beginning with lower back and leg pain. Depending on the severity of your sciatica and nerve damage, the symptoms you experience can include:
- Pain that radiates down one leg
- Numbness, tingling, or leg weakness
- Burning, stinging, or stabbing sensations
- Discomfort that worsens when you cough or sneeze
When you have sciatica, you’re also probably going to notice that periods of prolonged sitting can aggravate your condition and make your symptoms worse — or trigger a flare-up.
In most cases, these issues begin in your lower back, run through your buttocks, and down one leg, although sciatica can occasionally affect both legs. No matter what’s causing your nerve pain though, you have options for relief at Regency Pain & Therapy Institute.
Can I get treatment for sciatica?
Yes! Because sciatica pain often starts with no obvious warning, the top-rated pain specialists at Regency Pain & Therapy Institute provide treatment to relieve acute symptoms and to prevent future sciatica flare-ups and nerve pain as much as possible. Your tailored treatment plan can include:
- Physical therapy
- Corticosteroid injections
- Anti-seizure medications
- Narcotics or muscle relaxants
- Manual spinal adjustments
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Your dedicated pain specialist also teaches you about lifestyle changes you can make to relieve sciatica when it strikes, as well as daily stretches you can perform to relieve and prevent nerve pain and compression.
Get relief from sciatica pain by booking a consultation at Regency Pain & Therapy Institute today over the phone.
