What is sciatica?

What is sciatica can be understood and explained when looking at the sciatica causes.  Sciatica is most commonly a symptom of a pinched nerve.  This symptom normally affects one or more of the nerves in the lower spine. As the nerve passes through the leg, it can be pinched either inside or outside of the spinal canal.

The causes of sciatica or in other words what sciatica is can generally be explained by the following conditions:

-         A herniated or a slipped disc, which results in additional pressure on the nerve root. This is the most typical sciatica cause.

-         Piriformis syndrome. Such a syndrome appears when the piriformis muscle, which is a small muscle in the buttocks, gets spasms, or becomes tight. This condition may put pressure and irritate the sciatic nerve.

-         Spinal stenosis that may result from the spinal canal narrowing, which also puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.

-         Spondylolisthesis, or in other words a slippage of one of the vertebra is what causes sciatica as well. In this case the slipped vertebra is out of line with the one above and it narrows the nerve exit opening.

The question “what is sciatica” is not difficult for scientists to answer today. Sciatica is a symptom that includes pain in the leg that might have a similar feeling as that of a leg cramp. It can also be extremely painful and excruciating, making standing or sitting virtually impossible.

Sciatica can be diagnosed by the doctor after looking into the complete medical history, concentrating on the symptoms that might indicate the condition. A physical examination is also required to identify sciatica and understand the cause.  There is also a possibility that the doctor might insist on performing other tests, such as: an X-ray to make sure there are no fractures in the spine; magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI; computer tomography, or CT scan will help create an image of the back structure.

Nerve conduction velocity studies or electromyography are used to examine if the electrical impulses travel through the sciatic nerve in a proper way. In order to determine whether the vertebra or the disc is what causing the pain a myelogram using dye may be injected.

When mentioning treatment for sciatica, there are two main aims that need to be achieved: decreasing pain and increasing mobility. Limited rest, physical therapy, and pain relieving and anti-inflammatory medications are most often used as a part of the treatment.

Medication that helps to get rid of pain and inflammation allows for the mobility and exercise to increase. There are a number of over-the-counter drugs available, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. If the patient is suffering from muscle spasm, muscle relaxants, for example, cyclobenzaprine can be prescribed to relief the discomfort that it causes.

An important role in treating sciatica is played by physical therapy. It helps to reduce pressure on the nerve and therefore decreases the sciatic pain. A physical exercise program should include the movements that best suit every individual.

Depending in the severity of the condition other treatments, as spinal injections, surgery, microdiscectomy, and laminectomy are available. 

Sciatica pregnancy

Women who deal with sciatica pregnancy know how painful and discomforting it can be. Sciatica in pregnancy requires more than simple exercises and pain medication.

The symptoms like debilitating numbness and shooting pains that are commonly experienced during this condition can very well be treated and the period of pregnancy can stay what it should be like – the most wonderful time of your life.

If you have sciatica pregnancy it doesn’t mean that you have to spend all your time at home and be caught off from the rest of the world.
The first thing in fighting the condition is underlining and dealing with the cause. Despite the common belief, pregnant women are not any more likely to get sciatica than any other group of people.
Sciatica pregnancy does not occur because the baby is pressing on the nerve, contrary to the popular belief. It is often the result of the damaged disc that causes the swelling around the nerve. Slipped or prolapsed disc can also be responsible for the condition.
There is normally no connection between sciatica and pregnancy. Sciatica is as common among those who are pregnant as among those who aren’t. There are some sciatica triggers, however, that may be induced by pregnancy:

•  The body of a pregnant woman releases a certain hormone called Relaxin. This hormone is needed to relax the pelvic muscles and joints to help to prepare the body for the future childbirth. This process may also shift the muscles and joints. 
•  When the uterus expands the abdominis and rectal muscles can separate along the center seam. This may be a reason why sciatica during pregnancy gets worse. 
•  Because of the extra weight at the front of the body, the change of posture may be evident as well as the stress on the back. 
•  The conception that is the most common and only partially true is that pregnancy sciatica can be induced by the baby weight. The extra weight may cause the muscle imbalance and it may lead to the development of the condition. 

The typical symptoms of the sciatica pregnancy are: shooting and burning sudden pain on one side of the body, pain in the lower back, pain at the back of the thigh and down the back of your leg or foot, burning or tingling sensation in the leg, numbness or pins and needles sensation in the leg or the foot. The pain may appear in certain spots or may be widespread.
In order to treat sciatica pregnancy a musculoskeletal physiotherapist should be consulted. The therapist will tell you about the strengthening exercises for your pelvic floor, belly and back muscles. You may also need to wear a pregnancy support belt that relieves the pressure off the spine.
If the function of the sciatic nerve is damaged, an MRI scan might be needed, but this is used in rare cases.

Normally people with the sciatica recover during six weeks and nearly all of them – within 12 weeks. Such medications as diclofenac or ibuprofen will help to relieve pain once the baby is born, but during pregnancy drugs are rarely advised.
There are also other types of therapy available, such as osteopathy and chiropractic. It is important to make sure to see a therapist who is highly experience in treating pregnant women.