If you’ve ever experienced a shooting, burning, or tingling sensation in the back of your leg, your doctor may diagnose sciatica. But what is sciatica, and how do you treat sciatic nerve pain? After all, sometimes sciatica symptoms can be extremely painful and even debilitating, leaving you searching for relief.
A Symptom, Not a Condition
While you might receive a sciatica diagnosis, the condition is actually a symptom of a different problem within your musculoskeletal system. Sciatica refers to the inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerves that run from your lower back down your legs. The most common sciatica causes are conditions like a herniated disc, osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease, as well as short-term conditions like pregnancy, which compress or pinch the nerve.
Regardless of the cause, sciatica results in various symptoms that can range from mildly annoying to excruciatingly painful. Burning pain, which some people compare to an electric shock that radiates down the leg, is the most common sign of sciatica. While some people might experience it while walking or standing, certain actions (like coughing, standing, or bending) are more likely to trigger the discomfort.
Other common signs that something’s affecting the sciatic nerve include muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling in the leg. In severe cases, sciatica can cause incontinence.
Reducing Pain with Sciatica Treatments
Although it may be tempting to rest when you have a sciatica flare-up, that’s not the best treatment and can actually make things worse. Most people find sciatica nerve pain relief with self-care, including over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, stretching, and applying ice and heat to the affected area.
However, if you have severe pain, numbness, or weakness, see a doctor. A medical professional will answer your questions about ”What is sciatica?” and “How do you treat sciatic nerve pain?” and develop a customized plan to address the underlying cause of the pain.
In addition to prescription medications and spinal injections, sciatica treatments may include physical therapy, massage, and chiropractic care for spinal adjustments that alleviate pressure on the nerve and reduce inflammation. Combined with proven sciatica exercises like hamstring, glute, and spinal stretches, these treatments can significantly reduce pain.
The vast majority of people with sciatica recover with self-care and conservative treatments. Only the most extreme cases require surgery. If the pain disrupts your normal activities or keeps you from work, your doctor suspects permanent nerve damage is imminent, or you don’t improve after several months of conservative treatment, surgery to relieve spinal compression may be necessary.
Get Help with Sciatic Nerve Pain From OAK Chiro and Wellness
Sciatica is common, affecting almost 50% of adults at some point in their lives. However, if you’re dealing with recurring symptoms or have ongoing pain, getting help from the team at OAK Chiro and Wellness, Oakville’s leading chiropractic care center, can help provide relief. Whether you’re wondering, “What is sciatica and how do you treat sciatic nerve pain?” or living with the symptoms, we can help you feel better and provide sciatic nerve pain relief with customized treatment.