People with sciatica experience pain in the lower back. The condition affects the sciatic nerve, which runs from the back through the buttocks to each leg. If it is mild, you can treat it through heat and ice therapy. In case your sciatica causes you to have bowel issues and muscle weakness, you should go to the hospital. Las Vegas sciatica specialists may treat the condition through physical therapy, medication, and physical therapy.
To understand the condition better, we should highlight the factors that cause it. Without further ado, here are its causes.
Piriformis Syndrome
This condition occurs when the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve. When that happens, you will experience pain and numbness due to inflammation. People usually develop this problem after sitting for long hours, lifting something incorrectly, or not warming up before physical activity.
You can treat this condition by taking a few days of rest. If that does not work for you, consider alternatives like Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), massage, steroid injections, and physical therapy.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis causes the flexible tissue of the ends of your bones to wear down. As a result, you will experience pain in the lower back, neck, hands, and knees. Besides pain, you will experience swellings, bone spurs, and loss of flexibility. Most people get osteoarthritis due to their advancement in age, but it can occur due to repeated stress on the joints and obesity.
If this condition affects your lower back, your doctor will recommend special footwear. Other possible treatments include steroid injections, surgery, and manual therapy.
Tumors
They cause sciatica when they occur in your lumbar spine or form close to the sciatic nerve. The bigger they grow, the more pressure they exert on the nerve, further increasing your pain intensity. It doesn’t even matter whether or not they are cancerous.
Scientists are yet to understand how people get tumors. Some speculate that exposure to carcinogenic agents (e.g., nickel and asbestos) can cause them, so it would be best to avoid them. If the tumors cause walking difficulties, paralysis, and loss of bladder function, consult a physician immediately.
Spondylolisthesis
This spinal disorder causes your vertebrae to slip out of place, leading to lower back pain. That is because the slippage exerts a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve. This condition can occur at birth when the spine is not properly developed or due to injury.
Your doctor may treat this condition by providing braces, but only if you are a child. As for adults, doctors will consider medication, injections, or physical therapy.
Cauda Equina Syndrome
The condition compresses a collection of nerve roots (equina) at the bottom of the spinal cord. Though not life-threatening, it can cause permanent body damage. If that happens, you will have trouble having sex, leaking urine or stool, numbness in the back of your legs, and paralysis.
Doctors remedy this condition through a surgical procedure called a lumbar laminectomy. It involves the removal of things causing the compression of the equina.
Sciatica is a condition you can prevent. One way you can do that is by considering exercises that target your back, such as pull-ups, deadlifts, and planking. These workout routines provide good posture and alignment.
Another thing you should do is maintain good posture when you sit. Most people adopt poor posture because of the kind of seat they have. Before buying a chair, ensure it has good lower back support. You can further increase its support by placing a pillow near your back.