Getting Relief from the Pain of Sciatica

What Is Sciatica?

Nerve pain is unlike any other type of pain. When the nerves are pressed or pinched, the pain can radiate through your body. Sciatica is a condition where the nerve pain follows the sciatic nerve from the lower back through the hips, bottom, and legs. The good news is, thanks to your pain management physician at American Interventional Pain Institute (AIPI), you don’t have to suffer from sciatica in Greenacres, FL anymore.

Generally, mild sciatica pain will ease as time passes. However, if your pain stays over a week, is serious, or gets worse as time goes by, you need to consult your pain management physician for help. Look out for sharp, sudden pain in the lower back or leg, numbness or weakness in the legs, and trouble controlling your bladder or bowels. This could be a sign of a severe medical issue.

Causes of Sciatica

When the sciatic nerve gets pinched, you experience the pain of sciatica. This usually happens when a herniated disk or bone spur on your spine mashes the nerve.

There are several factors that could increase your risk of developing sciatica:

Age

Your spine ages right along with the rest of your body. Sometimes, changes occur that cause undue pressure on the nerves in and around the spine. Among these possible changes are herniated disks and bone spurs, the biggest causes of sciatica.

Occupation

If your job is physically demanding, it could raise your chances of sciatica pain. Issues that might affect the situation are jobs that require you to carry heavy loads, twist your back, or drive for long hours.

Weight

The heavier you are, the more stress you put on your spine. Obesity can add to your chances of suffering changes to the spine that could trigger sciatica.

Pregnancy

Younger adults can suffer from sciatica, too. Women often suffer from sciatic nerve pain due to the weight of the pregnancy applying extra pressure.

Prolonged Sitting Posture

A sedentary lifestyle creates a perfect situation for sciatica to develop. People with jobs in an office or driving for long stretches are more at risk for sciatica than their more active counterparts.

Diabetes

This auto-immune disease affects the body’s ability to manage sugar. Diabetes attacks the entire body and all its systems, the nervous system included.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Sciatica pain, like other forms of nerve pain, radiates. In this case, it moves from the lower part of the spine to the buttocks on one side and down the leg on that side. While you could experience discomfort at any point along the pathway of the nerve, it usually flows from the lower back to the buttocks and down the back of your leg.

Sciatic nerve pain can be anywhere from mildly aching to excruciating, sharp pain. Periods of sitting can trigger the symptoms of numbness, weakness, or tingling.

Pain Management Treatments

At AIPI, there are many treatments for sciatica available. The goal is to remove the pressure from the nerve, so you can get relief from your pain. Your pain management physician will provide you with a custom plan for treatment. That plan could include one or more of the following:

• Rest
• Stretches
• Anti-Inflammatory Medication
• Physical Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Weight Loss Program
• Epidural Injections

If back pain, neck pain, or the pain from injury or auto accident has kept you from enjoying your life, the pain management specialists at AIPI can help. Don’t let pain rule your life. Take back your life today with AIPI!