The Sciatic Nerve is the longest and one of the most important nerves in the body. It is responsible for directly managing the ability to control and feel your legs. If there is any problem with this nerve, it can cause Sciatica.
Sciatica is a sensation that results in moderate to unbearable pain in your back, lower back, and legs.
Sciatica is also considered as a symptom of an injury to the sciatic nerve or an area that affects the nerve like vertebrae, interlocking bones that form the spinal column.
Around 40 of people will develop Sciatica at some point in their lives. An individual is more likely to get Sciatica as he ages.
Signs of Sciatica
As mentioned above that Sciatica is the result of damage or injury to the sciatic nerve, so the problem has mainly the symptoms of nerve damage along with pain. Some other symptoms of Sciatica are as below:
- Pain in lower back and legs that worsens with movement.
- Numbness or weakness in legs or feet.
- Sensation in toes or feet.
- Problem in controlling bowel & bladder.
- You may experience many other symptoms when you develop Sciatica.
Causes of Sciatica
Sciatica can be caused by many underlying medical conditions which are
- Herniated or slipped disk– It puts pressure on your nerve root, and it is found to be one of the common causes of Sciatica. Disks are commonly the cushioning pads between each vertebrae of the spine. A pressure from vertebrae results in bulging of the gel-like center of the disk due to weakness in its outer wall. This problem eventually presses the sciatic nerve and thus may cause Sciatica.
- Degenerative disk disease– Degenerative disk disease is the wear down of the disks between vertebrae of the spine. This wear down of the disks shortens their height and makes nerve passageways narrower.
- Spinal stenosis– Spinal stenosis is the significant narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing reduces the natural space for the spinal cord and nerves.
- Spondylolisthesis– It is slippage of a vertebra, so it becomes out of line and narrowing the opening through which the nerve exists.
- Osteoarthritis– The jagged edges of bone, also called bone spurs, can form in aging spines that compress nerves of the lower back.
- Any trauma injury in the lumbar spine or sciatic nerve.
- The lumbar spine canal tumor compresses the sciatic nerve.
A few more factors can be responsible for the problem of Sciatica.
Risk factors for Sciatica
The presence of some factors may increase your chances of getting Sciatica. Those are
- Smoking
- Mental problems like depression
- Being obese or having excess weight
- Genetic
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Certain occupations i.e., truck drivers, carpenters, or machine operators
Tall height in old people –
Any of these factors are not solely responsible for Sciatica until they get combined with any underlying health problem or age of the people. Whenever you notice any kind of pain in your back, lower back, or legs, consult a physician immediately.
If your doctor finds you a suspect of Sciatica, primarily he checks your reflexes to see your muscle strength. When you experience severe pain in your lower body, the physicians may order some tests to determine bone spurs and herniated disks. He may order
X-Ray– It presents pictures of the internal section of your body to look for bone spurs.
CT Scan– It’s a kind of modern X-rays that uses some specific frequency to provide better pictures of your spinal cord and nerves.
MRI– It uses radio waves and magnets to form pictures of the internal body section to get a detailed look at your back or spine.
Electromyography (EMG)– It measures the movement of nerve signals traveling through your body to look for problems like herniated disk.
If your report confirms of Sciatica problem, opt for the best treatment as soon as possible.
How is Ayurveda the best cure for Sciatica?
Ayurveda is a holistic healing method that completely focuses on the internal abnormalities in the body, which are mainly Dosha and other vital energies imbalance. This natural treatment primarily looks into the core of the body and offers a customized treatment for the patient accordingly. Since this treatment targets the deep causes of a disease, therefore, it has a tendency to offer lasting relief. Herbal formulations, natural therapies, a customized diet, and some Yogic activities are the most commonly used elements of Ayurvedic treatment. As you can see, these practices or medications are completely natural and therefore effective. Above all, they do not cause any side effects to appear during or even after treatment. On the other hand, choosing modern ways can only provide you temporary relief, and you may get Sciatica pain after stopping treatment.
If you want lasting relief from the unbearable pain of Sciatica to live a normal life, contact us.