What is sciatica
Sciatica is defined as the pain caused by irritation or pressure on the sciatic nerve. This pain includes the areas along the nerve, from the lower back to the pelvis, the back, until it reaches both legs; it is therefore the longest nerve in the human body. The patient with the sciatica usually feels pain in one side. It often results from either cartilaginous sliding, slipping of the vertebrae, or narrowing of the spine, which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve causing irritation, and thus feeling pain and numbness in the affected side. Although severe sciatica pain is present, most cases are treated in non-surgical ways within weeks. The surgical solution is limited in some cases, such as in patients with impaired leg injury, change in output or urination.
What are the symptoms of sciatica
The severity of the symptoms of sciatica differs depending on the amount of irritation of the sciatic nerve, depending on the individual. Some people experience severe pain that prevents them from doing any work, and some suffer from relatively mild pain that may increase with time and in a few times. The symptoms of sciatica are divided into general symptoms in which most patients feel the different root of the injured nerve, and specific symptoms according to the root of the nerve. These symptoms are as follows:
- General symptoms : Sciatica pain includes the lower back, the back of the thigh down to the leg, and affects the habit on one hand only. Some of the following symptoms usually occur:
- Permanent pain in the butt or leg in one hand.
- This pain is usually described by patients as acute, incendiary or piercing.
- Pain starts at the lower back or in the ass, and includes areas located on the path of the sciatic nerve.
- Patients feel better in certain situations, such as lying or walking, as well as worse in other situations, such as standing or sitting.
- Feeling weak or numb in the foot when moving, or feeling them along the path of the sciatic nerve.
- The sensation of severe foot pain in some cases, making it difficult to stand or walk.
- Lower back pain, this is less severe than foot pain.
- Specific symptoms according to the root of the injured nerve : The nerve is composed of five nerves: two of them graduated from the lumbar part of the spinal cord, and the remaining three graduated from the sacral part of it. After its meeting to form the sciatic nerve branch back in the leg to feed with sensory and motor nerves. Therefore, the symptoms vary according to the root of the nerve as follows:
- Root of the fourth lumbar nerve: The pressure on this root generates symptoms that usually affect the thigh, and the patient has a reaction known as knee dystrophy (knee reflex), and also feel the weakness of the leg when extending the integrity.
- Root of the fifth lumbar nerve: The patient may feel pain or numbness in the front of the foot, specifically in the area between the first and second fingers, and may extend the above symptoms to include the ankle also in the so-called foot.
- Root of the first sacral nerve: The patient may experience weakness in the foot when trying to lift the heel of the ground, such as trying to stand on the heads of his fingers, for example, and include the symptoms of the outer part of the foot, as well as the fingers. The casualty may have an involuntary reflex of the ankle.
Causes of sciatica
There are several reasons that may result in the infection of sciatica, including:
- Slipped disc : This stands behind most cases of sciatica. This occurs when the cartilage disc is torn between the vertebral vertebrae, resulting in the release of the gels located within these disks, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. The reason for the rupture of these disks remains unknown, but aging may affect their elasticity and thus facilitate their rupture.
- Narrowing the spine : This occurs when the ligaments around the spine grow excessively. It is usually obtained as a result of changes caused by aging on the spine, and may also result from degenerative diseases in the joints of the spine.
- Sliding paragraphs : Usually you get older. In young people, it occurs when the spine is broken or because of severe bending.
- Other causes of sciatica Such as exposure to injury or damage to the spine, muscles or ligaments surrounding it, as well as an infection in it, or the syndrome of the tail of the Persians (resulting from pressure on the last nerves of the spinal cord and the tail of the horse), or the development of a tumor in the spine.
Treatment of sciatica
To treat sciatica several methods; including:
- Self-treatment : It is advised at first not to bend or carry heavy things or sit in an improper manner, as well as taking painkillers that do not need a prescription for pain relief. Some doctors believe that the use of cold or hot compresses will relieve severe sciatica pain. The patient may improve when lying on a hard surface almost with a pillow under the knees, or lying on the side of the body and put a pillow between the knees.
- Take medications : Specifically those related to pain relief and relaxation of muscles. Pain relievers are usually meloxicam or diclofenac, or acetaminophen if the pain is severe. For muscle relaxants, cyclopenzabrine is often used, or tizanidine.
- Surgery : Usually after exhaustion of all possible solutions and lack of improvement of the patient, or patients with the syndrome of the tail of the Persians, or other cases where the destruction of the nerve.
- Other ways to treat sciatica : Physical therapy, spinal injection (in the epidural area) with steroid, or botox injection.