WHAT IS SCIATICA

Over 165 million people worldwide are suffering with Sciatica and it’s a problem that many know little about. Exactly what causes it and how to achieve sciatic pain relief is a mystery to most.

Sciatica is the name given to when pressure, compression or irritation affects the sciatic nerve which is the longest nerve in the body. It runs from the back of the pelvis area, through the buttocks, and then travels down either leg until it reaches the ankles and feet.

When compression occurs pain is registered in the lower back and radiates out along the nerve and down the legs. There are 2 types of Sciatica; Acute and Persistent or Chronic. Acute Sciatica normally lasts only up to six weeks, whereas the more serious Chronic type can last months or even years.

Causes of Sciatica.

The most common cause of Sciatica is a "slipped disc" or as may be quoted in medical terms a prolapsed or herniated disc. The discs are the cushions which separate the bones of the spine. Sciatica occurs when the herniated disc presses against the nerves which go to make up the sciatic nerve. This compression of the nerve if it’s between the disc and an adjacent bone is more likely to cause problems.

Other causes are degenerative diseases such as Osteoarthritis, which is usually connected to the aging process, but can also be caused by normal ‘wear and tear’ from activities such as a very heavy lifting job or a previous back injury. Again another age-related condition that can cause Sciatica is Spinal Stenosis, which causes the spinal canal to narrow.

Sometimes however, there’s no obvious cause and all the patient can do is to ponder which sciatic pain relief to opt for.

Diagnosis of Sciatica.

In order to correctly diagnose Sciatica and determine what form of sciatic pain relief is most appropriate certain information has to be ascertained initially. The location and nature of the pain must be established along with any accidents or unusual activities prior to the condition becoming apparent.

A simple straight-leg-raising test can pinpoint the area of the pain and may show if it is caused by a disc problem. Other tests, such as rotating the hip joint can assess involvement of the Piriformis muscle. Depending on the severity of the condition and result from earlier examinations, further tests may be done, such as a MRI and CT scan.

X-rays Help Diagnosis.

A more invasive examination can be conducted by injecting a dye substance into the space between the vertebrae. This substance creates a contrast image which can be seen and recorded by x-ray, this is known as Myelography. Often a CT scan will be done after the x-ray while the dye is still present to further evaluate the best form of sciatic pain relief.