| What it isSciatica is the name people give to a pain in | | | | spondylolysis usually does not represent a dangerous |
| the buttock, leg or foot brought on as a direct result | | | | condition in the adult and most treatments |
| of some form of irritation to the sciatic nerve. The | | | | concentrate on pain relief and increasing the patient's |
| sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs | | | | ability to function.The CureSome cases of sciatica |
| all the way from the lower back splitting at the base | | | | which result from inflammation get better with time |
| of the spine and terminating in the foot.The discs | | | | and heal themselves perhaps within six weeks to |
| which cushion the vertebrae in the lower back | | | | three months.Recent studies have shown that bed |
| become progressively thinner and harder as we get | | | | rest is not necessarily the best way to treat sciatica. |
| older. This stresses the lower back and often causes | | | | It is better to remain active, starting off with some |
| a variety of lower back pain disorders, including | | | | gentle stretching and exercise. Swimming is |
| sciatica.Sciatica is usually caused by a prolapsed or | | | | particularly useful, as it is not a weight bearing |
| 'slipped' disc bulging and pressing on to a nerve. It | | | | exercise. The good news is that herniated spinal discs |
| doesn't usually cause permanent nerve damage since | | | | usually do heal on their own, given time.There are |
| the spinal cord is not present in the lower part of the | | | | many different treatments for sciatica and it is |
| spine and a prolapsed or herniated disc in this area | | | | important to discuss these with your health |
| does not pose a risk of paralysis.The causeThe most | | | | practitioner. Accurate diagnosis to determine the |
| common cause of sciatica is a prolapsed (slipped) | | | | exact cause of sciatic pain is also equally important. |
| disc, pinched nerves or some form of arthritis. It | | | | The most conclusive diagnosis is usually gained by a |
| usually starts with back pain which sometimes | | | | having an MRI scan. However having said that skilled |
| improves only to be followed by hamstring or calf | | | | medical practitioners, and I include Osteopaths and |
| pain. It may also include numbness in the toes | | | | Chiropractors, are often able to determine the |
| depending on which branch of the sciatic nerve is | | | | suspected cause by carrying out a physical |
| irritated.Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the | | | | examinationStretching and exercising are a must if |
| piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve. The | | | | you really want to progress along the road to |
| piriformis muscle is a small muscle behind the gluteus | | | | rehabilitation and if you are in extreme pain this is |
| maximus. Piriformis syndrome is most common | | | | probably the last thing you will contemplate |
| among women, runners and walkers.Spinal stenosis is | | | | doing.Since getting mobile and becoming flexible is |
| the name given to the narrowing of the nerve | | | | extremely important you might require some pain |
| channel (vertebral canal) of the spine. This narrowing | | | | management to help you get going. For mild cases of |
| causes compression of either the spinal cord within | | | | sciatica your doctor may start off by recommending |
| the vertebral canal, or the nerve roots that exit the | | | | non prescription medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, or |
| spinal cord. People with spinal stenosis experience | | | | naproxen, known as non steroidal anti-inflammatory |
| sciatic pain symptoms in the legs and feet. It usually | | | | drugs, or NSAIDs. A downside of these drugs is that |
| results from degenerative arthritis causing a | | | | they may cause stomach upsets or bleeding.If your |
| narrowing of the spaces in the vertebral canal. Manual | | | | pain is not relieved by analgesics or NSAIDs, your |
| workers are more prone to developing symptoms of | | | | doctor might prescribe narcotic analgesics (such as |
| spinal stenosis but it seldom affects people under 30 | | | | codeine) for a short time. Side effects of these |
| years of age - unless it is due to traumatic injury to | | | | include nausea, constipation, dizziness and drowsiness, |
| the vertebrae.The spine is made up of a series of | | | | and continued use may result in dependency.Sciatic |
| connected bones called "vertebrae." Spondylolisthesis | | | | pain is usually nerve related and responds well to |
| or isthmic spondylolisthesis occurs when a cracked | | | | treatment with low doses of tricyclic anti-depressant |
| vertebra slips over the vertebra below it. Poor | | | | drugs like amitriptyline, dothiepin, nortriptyline, |
| posture and curvature of the back or weak | | | | lofepramine, desipramine, clomipramine or imipramine |
| abdominal muscles can contribute to this slippage, | | | | combined with acupuncture or the use of TENs |
| which can press on the nerve. The presence of this | | | | machines. |