Sciatica - Lower back pain that radiates down to back of Leg

Do you have lower back pain that radiates down to the back of the leg? Beware, it might be Sciatica

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg along the path of the sciatic nerve. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Sciatica is a common type of Radiculopathy (pinched nerve).

The sciatic nerve is also called the ischiadic nerve and is the longest and widest nerve in the human body. It begins from nerve roots in the low back (in the lumbar spinal cord) and extends through the buttock area down to the lower limb. Sciatic nerves play a vital role in connecting the spinal cord with the muscles of the legs and feet.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Sharp or electric-like pain that originates from the lower back, radiates down to the back of thigh and leg. Sometimes the pain may extend to the foot. The pain can be accompanied by tingling or numbness, and sometimes by muscular weakness in the leg.  It is usually felt in one leg at a time and may get worse when you sit, cough, or sneeze. The symptoms of Sciatica can appear suddenly and can last for days or weeks.

How do health care professionals diagnose Sciatica?

Your doctor will account your medical history and will perform a physical examination of the spine and legs. The doctor might ask you to demonstrate several movements so that muscle strength, flexibility and reflexes of your body can be checked.

X-rays don’t show up herniated discs or nerve damage, therefore, aren't of much help for Sciatica, but they can show spondylolisthesis, bone spurs, narrowed disc spaces and other bone diseases. Rather, CT scans or MRI scans are often used to pinpoint the cause of sciatica.

Treatment of Sciatica

Home remedies for Sciatica

• Rather than resting, carry out normal activities

• Perform regular back stretches

• Start to perform basic exercises

• Hot or cold packs to the painful areas might help

• Acupuncture and Massage Therapy

• Avoid Sitting for Long Periods, Get Moving

• Yoga will help

If above-mentioned home remedies aren't assisting in relieving pain, visiting Doctor is suggested. Below mentioned treatment might be suggested by the Doctor: 

Medicine - Pain medicines and anti-inflammatory drugs help to relieve pain and stiffness, allowing for increased mobility and exercise. There are many common over-the-counter medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Muscle relaxants, such as cyclobenzaprine, might be prescribed to relieve the discomfort associated with muscle spasms.

Physical therapy - Aim of physical therapy is to decrease sciatic pain by reducing pressure on the nerve. A program of exercise often includes stretching exercises to improve the flexibility of tight muscles and aerobic exercise, such as walking.

Spinal injections - An injection of a cortisone-like anti-inflammatory medicine into the lower back might help reduce swelling and inflammation of the nerve roots, allowing for increased mobility.

Surgery - Patients who have progressing symptoms which aren't improving even after many weeks might be required to undergo surgery.

Surgical options include:

Microdiscectomy -Fragments of a herniated disc is removed by this procedure.

Laminectomy - In this procedure, the bone that curves around and covers the spinal cord (lamina) are removed.

Alternative medicine - There is also a belief that yoga or acupuncture can improve sciatica. 

Alternative therapies to relieve pain includes:

Acupuncture - In acupuncture hair-thin needles are inserted into the skin at specific points on the body. Some studies suggest that acupuncture can help back pain, while others don't believe the same.

Chiropractic - Chiropractic is a hands-on therapy. Chiropractic manipulation is the application of pressure to a person's spine or other parts of their body by a qualified chiropractor.

Celebrities suffering from Sciatica

• Indian most loved actor Salman Khan suffered from Sciatica in 2011 and underwent treatment in London
• Olivia Newton-John an English-Australian singer is suffering from Sciatica as well
• Pascaline Edwards - Veteran Ghanaian actress is suffering from this disorder as well

To be continued...

References
1. Diagnosis:  https://www.mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/sciatica-symptoms-causes-and-diagnosis
2. Home remedies: https://draxe.com/sciatic-nerve-pain