Sciatica is leg pain caused by a pinched nerve in the lower back…
It’s a painful and debilitating condition to have to suffer through, and if you’ve ever experienced it then you know how miserable the severe nerve pain makes you feel; it’s both mentally and physically exhausting. Simple everyday activities, such as sitting down or standing up, suddenly become hard to do and it can really affect life and spirit.
There are several causes and variations of sciatica but the medical condition is most generally characterized as back pain originating in the buttocks or lower spine area, which goes down the leg(s) and radiates through the lower body area.
The reason why sciatica is referred to as sciatic nerve pain is because it stems from the irritation, pressure, and/or pinching of several nerves which run from the spinal cord to the sciatic nerves. When the area surrounding the nerves in the lower back and spine becomes severely inflamed it causes an intense, radiating type of pain to shoot out along those affected sciatic nerves. The pain tends to range from moderate and manageable to severe and intolerable, but it can get a lot worse. People report that sneezing, coughing, getting up or sitting down too quickly, sudden movements, and things that put strain and pressure on the area can cause the pain to suddenly flare up.
A combination of lifestyle changes and medicine is how sciatica is treated. To help manage discomfort and pain medications may be prescribed and doctors recommend that patients take NSAIDs, like Aleve, to help reduce swelling and inflammation in the lower back. You should also try to stay active and strengthen your core to prevent future flare ups. Yoga is one of the best ways to condition your body and get into shape and it’s highly recommended that you start stretching.
Activities that place a lot of stress on the lower back should also be limited. In particular, bending or folding forward should be avoided like the plague! In the video below, Brett Larkin goes over why this is so and sheds a lot of light on sciatic nerve pain. She has some great tips on how to work yoga and gentle stretches into your recovery approach and going forward from there. She knows her stuff and you’ll likely learn something new so check her video out, it’s short and straight to the point.
Hopefully these tips can help you find relief if you suffer from sciatic nerve pain, and it turns out to be beneficial to both your health and overall well-being.
