Coping with Sciatica: 101
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are many people living across the length and breadth of the United States who are living with sciatica, but who simply put the pain down to the normal aches and pains of getting older and therefore never have it professionally diagnosed.
Whether the inflammation and irritation in either one leg, both legs, or indeed, your lower back as well, is only minor at present and does not tend to overly bother you—or if you are often crippled over in pain—seeking professional medical attention is absolutely essential.
With that being said, here is an overview of sciatica and the associated pain that it causes; along with some tips on how to alleviate and deal with any discomfort.
What Exactly is Sciatica?
Essentially, the painful condition occurs when one or both of the sciatic nerves (which are both the thickest; and the longest nerves in the entire human body) becomes damaged, twisted, or otherwise negatively affected.
The symptoms of sciatica can vary hugely between one person and the next, and can even extend to the ends of the toes and feet, or the buttocks and lower back.
There are two different types of sciatica:
- Sciatica-esque conditions
- True sciatica
As you might expect, sciatica-esque conditions produce similar signs and symptoms; but are actually indicative of another problem or condition that is related to the sciatic nerves themselves.
Treatment for Sciatica
Book Yourself an Acupuncture Session
There are, as with any long-term medical condition that is neither life-threatening or easy to ignore; many different options when it comes to finding the right style of treatment for sciatica, but one of the most popular is acupuncture.
Acupuncture—the process of inserting small needles into different pressure points on the body;—has been shown to be a proven method of diminishing the pain caused by sciatica. Acupuncture for sciatica helps by regulating the balance of the nervous system, releasing neurotransmitters to reduce the levels of pain and discomfort, relaxing tighter muscles, and improving the circulation of blood around the body.
Make Yourself Aware of What Makes it Worse
There are several common risk factors associate; most of which tend to be the same issues that can make a particular bout of sciatica significantly worse.
Such risk factors include, but certainly not limited to, the following:
- Normal wear and tear from physical exercises and manual jobs
- A previous injury that you are not taking care of and once again flares up
- Carrying excess body weight
- Being too slim and light for your frame
- A general lack of core strength
Self-treatments at home can also help to stave off a bout of sciatica, including heat, ice, and over-the-counter medicines.
Have As Many Medical Tests as Possible
Finally, the best way to manage your sciatica (even if you have only been recently diagnosed with the condition); is to stay in close contact with your medical doctor and moreover; to push for as many tests as possible to ascertain the underlying cause or causes.
The five medical tests that are usually recommended include electromyography; CT (computed tomography) scans, nerve conduction velocity studies, myelograms, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans.
