Sciatica and Back Pain

Back pain radiates through the lower back and down one leg. This leg may feel numb or weak. Sciatica symptoms occur when pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve occurs. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and runs down the back of each leg. This nerve controls muscle movement and sensation in the legs. Sciatica can start suddenly with no warning and it can leave just as suddenly.

Causes

• Injury to the lower back where the sciatic nerve lies can cause sciatica. This can occur with an automobile accident, hip fracture or falling off a horse. Sciatica is common with back disorders like a slipped disc or bone disorders like osteoporosis that can lead to compression of the spinal column and the nerves it contains. Nerve damage can occur from diseases such as diabetes and Lyme disease. Spinal stenosis narrows the bone surrounding the spine causing damage to nerves as a person ages. In rare cases sciatica is caused by a tumor or blood clot pressing on the sciatic nerve.

Prevention

• Prevention can include protecting the back from injury. Bend at the knees when lifting not at the waist. Get adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D to ward off osteoporosis complications. Lower your risk of diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly. In areas infested with ticks use tick repellent. Avoid staying in one position for prolonged periods of time to reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Diagnosis

• Mild sciatic bouts last only a few days and do not usually need the attention of a care provider. When the pain is persistent, severe, gets worse, accompanied by loss of sensation or loss of function contact your care provider for treatment. Because sciatica can be caused by tumors, contact your doctor if you have a family history of cancer to rule it out as a cause. Sciatica is usually diagnosed by symptoms, physical examination and an analysis of medical history.

Medical Treatments

• The best treatment for sciatica is the control of the underlying cause if it is known. Otherwise treatments can ease the symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can relieve pain and swelling. A doctor can prescribe corticosteroids or narcotics, such as codeine or morphine for severe pain relief. Botulinum toxin injections can bring effective relief for chronic sciatica.

Other Treatments

• Hydrotherapy treatments of alternating cold compresses followed by hot compresses help decrease pain. Bed rest helps but only for a couple of days. More than two days of inactivity will make symptoms worse. Try to stay active to reduce the impact of symptoms. Walking is a good treatment to maintain mobility functions. Avoid heavy lifting and sudden twisting movements. Massage and acupuncture offer other options for pain relief.