An Overview of Sciatica

Sciatica in Vacaville is a pain that emits on the path of your sciatic nerve wherein it starts from your lower back then makes its way through your hips, buttocks, and finally on each leg. In most cases, sciatica only affects one side of your body.

This condition happens when you have experienced a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or spine narrowing which compresses some parts of the nerve. All this can cause some inflammation, pain, and can even make the affected leg become numb.

The pain that comes with sciatica can be severe, but it can be resolved using non-operative treatments such as spinal decompression. But if the condition becomes severe and it's associated with leg weakness or bladder or bowel changes, then a surgery might be done instead.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Sciatica can cause pain that radiates from the lower spine then making its way to your buttock and end up at the back of your leg. There will be some discomforts on almost all parts of your nerve pathway but most especially on the lower back, buttocks, and the back of the calf and thigh.

The pain can range from a mild ache to a sharp one, excruciating pain or a burning sensation. There are times that it will feel like a jolt or an electric shock. The pain feels even worse when you cough or sneeze, while sitting for too long can aggravate the symptoms. But the thing to know about sciatica is that it only affects one side of your body.

There are some people who reported that they feel numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the leg or foot that's affected. In some cases, one part of your leg will feel pain while the other becomes numb.

SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY?

Mild sciatica can go away on its own over time. If ever you did some self-care measures but none of it worked or the pain persists for more than a week, then its time call your doctor. You should also get immediate medical attention if the following happens:

• You've been in a violent injury that was caused by the pain
• You have lost control over your bladder or bowel movements
• You're experiencing a sudden, severe pain on your lower back or leg and muscle weakness in your leg

Causes of Sciatica in Vacaville CA

When the sciatic nerves become pinched due to a herniated disk on your spine or an overgrowth of a bone on your vertebrae, then you'll likely have sciatica. There are also times when the compressed nerve is caused by a tumor or has been damaged by a certain disease like diabetes.

RISK FACTORS

There are several factors to consider if one is a candidate of sciatica. This includes the following:

• Age - As we age, our spine goes through several changes wherein it could cause bone spurs and herniated disks. This is one of the most common causes of sciatica.
• Diabetes - This is a condition that affects your body's way of using blood sugar and if that happens, you become more susceptible to nerve damage.
• Obesity - Gaining weight can increase stress and pressure to your spine. This will then cause spinal changes that can trigger sciatica in the process.
• Job - If you're in a job that requires you to carry heavy loads, twisting your back, or driving motor vehicles for several hours, then there's a possibility that you will develop sciatica. However, there's no concrete evidence that this factor and sciatica are connected to each other.
• Prolonged sitting - People whose job has them sitting for long periods or just have a sedentary lifestyle can develop sciatica over time.

ARE THERE ANY COMPLICATIONS?

There are people who can fully recover from sciatica even without receiving proper treatment. But once you've experienced it, there's a potential that it will still cause you permanent nerve damage. So if this happens, you need to seek out medical attention immediately if you get any of these problems:

• Weakness in the affected leg
• Loss of feeling in the affected leg
• Loss of bladder or bowel function

Sciatica may be mild or severe yet it's important that you seek out your doctor or chiropractor right away if you want to fully recover from it. With their help, you can move forward with your life without having to worry about the complications along the way.