Sciatic nerve pain is that shooting pain that travels from the lower back, through the rear and down to the leg. It is a symptom of other more serious medical condition. Despite being a symptom, many people cannot bear pain which can range from being a dull throbbing soreness or sharp shooting stings. This is caused when the sciatic nerve is pressed by a bone or ligament within the vertebrae. The inability of the bone or the ligament to stay in place is usually due to poor muscle tone of the back.
Sciatic nerve pain can affect people of both genders, usually in their late thirties or older. Although it has the ability to immobilize a person or make it through the day without experiencing pain, it goes away on its own without extreme therapies involved. Home remedies and alternative therapies help control recurring episodes of sciatic nerve pain. Herbs like turmeric or horseradish can be made into fresh poultices and applied on the back for relief. Daily consumption of juiced potato, carrots, celery or beetroot are said to be effective as well. Compresses and deep tissue massage help loosen knotted muscles and keep them from impinging on the nerve. Regular stretching exercises and other workouts that focus on gentle movement and proper form provide not only muscle tone but relief as well. It is very rare for any doctor to prescribe surgery or prescription medications like corticosteroids for sciatica. These are usually reserved for those with sciatica that is unresolved within six to twelve weeks or for those with structural abnormalities in their back that further aggravates the discomfort.
Diagnosing what type of sciatic nerve pain a patient experiences is important as any one of the two types of sciatica can affect a person. True sciatica is when the sciatic nerve is pressed in the lower back while false sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve endings are compressed. The tricky part is that both types will cause the same excruciating sciatic nerve pain. Imaging technologies such as X-rays or the more expensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help determine what type of sciatica is present.
No one knows when sciatica will attack but it can be prevented. Improper posture, lack of muscle tone in the back and extremely heavy loads can trigger sciatica. Applying the principles of ergonomics in your daily life will also prevent future episodes of sciatica.