Sciatic Nerve / Sciatic Nerve Pain / Sciatic Nerve Treatments

Chances are if you’re over the ripe old age of 25 you’re familiar with the term Sciatica or sciatic nerve.  The sciatic nerve is actually a very long nerve, the longest in your body, and it extends from your spinal cord, through your hip and down the back of your leg. 

Sciatica while typically treated as a diagnosis is actually a symptom of a bigger issue.  Sciatica occurs when this nerve is irritated or pinched.  The result is pain that radiates from the small of your back all the way down the back of your leg.

While some people feel the pain along the length of the nerve, others feel the pain more localized and typically as a pinching or throbbing pain in the buttocks. Some don’t feel any direct pain at all and rather feel a tingling or numbness radiating down their leg.

So how does sciatica happen?  What causes this nerve pain? 

Sciatica can actually be the result of simple over use.  This is a common occurrence in runners and athletes who often complain of sciatic pain.  However the most common cause for sciatic pain is a herniated disc which causes compression of the spine, inflammation and results in the nerve being pinched. 

Many women experience sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy too.  This is due to the shifting of the pelvic structure which in turn puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.  This sciatic nerve pain can become particularly uncomfortable during the later months of pregnancy often making sitting in one position for any length of time nearly impossible

Sciatic Nerve Treatment - What can you do about it?

For most people sciatic nerve pain goes away after a few weeks.  The treatment of course is related directly to the cause.  If sciatic nerve pain is being caused by a herniated disc then chiropractic or surgical treatment may be necessary. If it is due to overuse then rest and relaxation will usually do the trick.

There are wonderful stretching exercises which can help to eliminate or reduce flare ups and the occasional use of NSAIDS is often recommended by physicians.  Another preventative is to eat a diet rich in antioxidants and to avoid eating food that causes inflammation. These foods are typically starchy high sugar high carbohydrate foods.

That being said, sciatic nerve pain can be debilitating for some individuals and simple stretching and analgesics won’t be enough to treat the pain. For those individuals more drastic measures may be advised including steroid shots, surgery and a physical therapist.

Other sciatica treatments include:

-          Massage

-          Acupuncture

-          Manual therapies

Sciatic nerve pain is a real problem for many people.  The good news is there are treatments to handle the pain when it flares and ways to prevent the pain from reoccurring.

Learn much more about sciatica and sciatica nerve pain on this website.