Living With Sciatica

 Sciatica is a pain that starts in the lower back. It travels through the hips and buttocks and down the legs. It occurs when nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve become pinched or compressed. Sciatica usually affects only one side of the body. Sciatica can be acute or chronic. Acute sciatica may eventually turn into chronic sciatica. This means the pain exists pretty regularly. Chronic sciatica is a life-long condition. It doesn't currently respond well to treatment, but the pain from chronic sciatica is often less severe than the acute form.





How long does sciatica pain go away?


Most sciatic pain lasts 4–6 weeks. Acute pain can feel like a stabbing, shooting, or burning sensation, which may subside into a dull ache. Sciatica becomes chronic if it lasts longer than 6 weeks and does not improve. Doctors usually recommend waiting for the issue to resolve without medical treatment unless the pain is excruciating or lasts for more than 12 months.



Signs of sciatica

Sciatica is a very distinct type of symptom. If you're experiencing pain that flows from your lower back through your buttock area and into your lower limbs, it's typically sciatica.



Sciatica is the result of damage or injury to your sciatic nerve, so other symptoms of nerve damage are usually present with the pain. Other symptoms may include the following:



You may have pain that gets worse with movement.

You may have numbness or weakness in your legs or feet, which is usually felt along your sciatic nerve pathway. In severe cases, you may experience a loss of feeling or movement.

You may feel the sensation of pins and needles, which involves a painful tingling in your toes or feet.

You may experience incontinence, which is the inability to control your bladder or bowels. This is a rare symptom of cauda equina syndrome (CES), which is described below, and it calls for immediate emergency attention.



Treatment

To relieve sciatic pain, try to avoid sitting or lying down for long periods. Take short walks and stay active. If a person has to sit down for work or school, they should make sure they have a decent chair and good posture. People should also try to avoid driving long distances. If the pain is severe, lying down with a heat or ice pack for a few minutes may help. Over-the-counter or prescription pain relief medication can also temporarily ease discomfort.


The best treatment for sciatica is time, good posture, and exercise. While the pain may be intense, sciatica usually goes away on its own in 3 out of 4 people. People should make sure they have good posture when they plan to sit for a long period of time. Exercise, such as walking, yoga, pilates, and light stretching, will help reduce pain and keep sciatica from returning.



Risk factors for developing sciatica

Certain behaviors or factors can raise your risk of developing sciatica. The most common factors for developing sciatica include the following:


As your body ages, it becomes more likely that parts will wear out or break down.

Certain careers place a lot of strain on your back, especially those that involve lifting heavy objects, sitting for extended periods, or twisting movements.

Having diabetes can increase your risk of nerve damage.

Smoking can cause the outer layer of your spinal disks to break down.



Sciatica pain usually self-resolves. However, it helps to adopt a good sitting posture, as well as performing regular light stretching and exercise.

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