Sciatic Pain - The Facts

When the sciatic nerve is irritated, the result is a painful condition known as sciatic pain. Sciatic pain usually starts in the lower back or buttock and extends down the back of the thigh down into the foot. Symptoms include tingling, burning, weakness, and tingling in these areas. When diagnosed properly, there are several ways to treat this condition. Most people find relief after only a few weeks or months. Some can also find more immediate relief from the pain.

Sciatic pain can be mild and bothersome or it can be severe and intolerable. It’s best to seek medical advice as soon as you experience symptoms to ensure a speedy recovery. Common causes of sciatic pain are spinal stenosis, a herniated disc, spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc diseases.

If a patient experiences growing weakness in his or her leg or a loss of bladder or bowel control, emergency intervention is usually needed. Less urgent types of treatment include:

* exercises for sciatic nerve pain
* Combining medication with exercise and stretching can bring relief from pain and symptoms.
* Physiotherapy, under the direction of a physiotherapist, can be an effective option.
* Applying ice or heat to the affected area can provide immediate, symptomatic relief.
* Alternative treatments such as massage therapy, chiropractic care and acupuncture can also bring some relief.
* Surgery is an option in the most serious and persistent cases. When surgery is performed, relief from the pain is provided and the root cause of the pain is usually corrected.