Sciatica – Understand its Main Symptoms and Causes

Sciatica is a common type of sciatic nerve pain which affects the nerve. This nerve is the largest nerve of our body which extends down the lower back to the back of each leg. When this large nerve goes through certain compressions or irritation, then this pain occurs.

Sciatica is a symptom rather than a disease, some people address this word to connote any pain, starting in the lower back which is going down the leg. Some people address this word to imply a particular nerve dysfunction, which is caused by compression of sacral root nerves.

Some Common Underlying Symptoms of Sciatica

• Pain in the leg, which get worse when sitting
• Burning sensation down the leg
• Inability to stand even for a few minutes
• Weakness, numbness or feeling difficult to move leg or foot
• A constant pain to one side of the rear or back

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This problem mainly affects one side of the body and the exact location of pain depends upon the location of affected sciatic nerve.

Recognize the Responsible Sciatica Causes or Factors

Some lower back problems are associated with Sciatica. These problems include:

• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

This condition is caused due to narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back. This factor is mainly found in adults over the age of 60.

• Degenerative disc disease

Disc degeneration is a natural process that occurs as per aging, in some people this degeneration in one or more discs of the lower back causes sciatica.

• Spondylolisthesis

This condition arises when a small fracture allows one vertebra to slip forward over another one.

• Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

This condition arises when an irritation occurs in Sacroiliac joint because this joint is located at the bottom of spine and its irritation causes Sciatica pain.

• Pregnancy

Some hormonal changes during this period and weight gain arises the condition to cause this type of pain.

• Muscular Strain

Sometimes inflammation is related to muscular strain and causes pressure to the nerve root to cause the pain.

• Infection

Although this condition is rare, still some infection in the lower back may affect the nerve root to arise this condition.

Some Sciatica Exercises to Cure the Problem Effectively

A combination of physical exercises (strengthening and stretching) may help you to recover from the pain effectively, these exercises include:

• Knee to Chest Stress

This exercise improves flexibility of your back, steps to do this exercise:
1. Lie down on your back and bend both the knees
2. Bend one knee up towards your chest by protecting it with both of your hands
3. Hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds
4. Repeat this for both of your legs, three times

• Back Extensions

To do this exercise, follow these steps:
1. Lie down on your stomach and pull yourself upward with the help of your elbows
2. Continuously breathing, hold this position for 5 to 10 seconds
3. Come back to starting position and repeat it 8 to 10 times

These Sciatica Exercises are found very useful to reduce the pain, therefore many physicians also suggest their patients to be regularly.

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