Sciatica is a relatively common affliction in the United States and worldwide. Essentially, it’s a form of nerve damage that causes pain along the lower back and legs. While a majority of sciatica cases are minor and can safely be ignored, this is not always the case.
Especially considering that it’s the kind of condition that one can reasonably ignore, it’s all the more important to be vigilant about sciatica and know when medical intervention is necessary. Otherwise, it’s all too easy for untreated sciatica to develop complications that can lead to serious long-term damage to your overall health.
Knowing when to seek treatment or physical therapy for an injury or pain is critical. Read on to learn the basics of identifying sciatica and key warnings about when and how to seek treatment for it.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica affects your sciatic nerve. This name is a bit deceptive because the sciatic nerve is a bundle of nerves, and you have two.
Each sciatic nerve bundle stems from five nerve roots that run along your backbone. At the base of your spine, the sciatic nerve splits into two bundled chords of nerves that run through your hops, past the buttocks, and down each of your legs.
Causes
Sciatica occurs when extra pressure is applied to the sciatic nerves in the spine due to unusual growth or damage to the bone in the spine, causing pinching of the nerves. Because this pressure is being applied “above” the sciatic nerve, anatomically speaking, communication between the brain and these nerves lower in your body is hindered, which leads to discomfort and potential medical issues.
The conditions that can easily lead to spine issues (and thus sciatica) include but aren’t limited to:
- Pregnancy
- Osteoarthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- A herniated disc
- Conus medullas syndrome
- Tumors or malignant growths on the spine
- Spinal injuries.
Symptoms
Due to the pinching and interruption occurring in the nerves of the backbone, there are a few common and less threatening symptoms that most people suffering from sciatica will experience, the most common being leg pain. Patients have described it as similar to being burned or receiving an electric shock that starts in the hips and travels down the affected leg.
This pain is often triggered as a physical response to something the body is doing, such as bending, lying on one’s back, or even coughing or sneezing. Many patients also commonly reported that the affected legs also experienced numbness in the skin and the sensation of pins and needles, as if their leg had gone to sleep after a long time sitting cross-legged.
While these are the most common symptoms, they aren’t the only ones. Muscle weakness is a sign that the brain is losing even more ability to communicate with your leg muscles and is a sign that sciatica is worsening and becoming more severe.
Developing incontinence is an even more worrying sign. The brain cannot communicate successfully with the bowels or bladder, indicating that the issue has become serious.
Risk Factors
As we mentioned, sciatica is very common and can be caused by a wide variety of reasons. People who fit the following profiles are more prone to developing the ailment.
- Older People — Natural wear and tear to the body over a lifetime makes sciatica more likely.
- Obese or Heavier People — The more weight your back muscles carry, the harder they work and the more likely they will eventually have issues.
- Your Job — Spending excessive time bending, lifting, or even sitting all day can lead to lower back issues.
- Lifestyle Choices — Habits such as inactivity or tobacco use can also contribute to developing sciatica.
When To Seek Treatment for Sciatica
As we mentioned earlier, in many cases, sciatica will often go away on its own or be treated using simple at-home techniques. However, there are situations where you should seek swift medical attention for sciatica. Here are some of the most common and important to be familiar with.
When Sciatica Is Caused by an Injury
Mild sciatica that develops slowly and naturally over time is much more likely to be benign and ignorable. However, if you develop sciatica after an injury, especially in a car crash or nasty fall, seeking medical advice is essential. Pain in your legs and buttocks can also indicate wider or deeper nerve damage and should be examined to see what further steps (if any) are necessary.
When Symptoms Become Severe or Intense
You should seek medical treatment when your sciatica symptoms become more intense or severe. Mild pain and numbness might now slow you down much, but they can become much more intense, leading to severe discomfort and difficulty performing daily tasks and moving.
As we alluded to earlier, if you are experiencing sciatica symptoms and begin to lose control of your bladder and bowels, it’s critical to seek medical attention right away. This is a sign that your brain is having significant trouble communicating with the nerves in your lower body and will need intervention, often with physical therapy or even surgery.
When Regular At-Home Treatment Is No Longer Effective
You may already be familiar with various common at-home methods of dealing with sciatica. Localized pain can often be alleviated by applying alternating heat and cold to the affected area every 15 minutes. Other common remedies include periodically lying in a reclining chair, sleeping with a pillow between one’s knees at night, or doing daily specialized stretches.
However, if you’re using any of these methods and begin to notice that they are becoming less effective or that symptoms are worsening over time, you should seek a medical opinion to better understand and correct the issue.
The Number One Solution for Sciatica? Physical Therapy With UpSlope Physical Therapy
Sciatica is generally best remedied through physical therapy unless there are unusual complications. Through targeted exercise, stretching regimens, and manual therapy, the body can strengthen key muscles to help support more weight around the sciatic nerve, loosen and ease joints for better movement, and improve posture to reduce strain on the lower back.
Finding the right physical therapist is essential. If you or a loved one are experiencing sciatica issues, just want to reduce pain or increase mobility for a big trip, and are in the Fort Collins area, turn to the experts at UpSlope Physical Therapy.
Our expert family of physical therapists is here and dedicated to helping you improve the quality of your life through physical therapy. Contact us today to find out how we can help you feel better!
