The Scary Truth About Sciatica

There are times that sciatica is used incorrectly to address leg pain, low back pain, and other sciatica-related symptoms.

This condition is so widespread that people believe they can treat it on their own or just follow the advice of other people on relieving the pain.

In this article by a top Vacaville chiropractor, you will learn some truth about sciatica and the real dangers that it can bring. Through this, people will understand more on what causes it, the warning signs, and the best treatment option available for it.

So if you are eager to know more about it and don't want to confuse it with something else, then read on the following information about sciatica.

Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis

This is what some people thought they knew. Sciatica is actually a set of symptoms instead of being a diagnosis that causes the pain. In some severe cases, the cause of leg pain and low back pain must be addressed properly to relieve the discomfort.

When a person has sciatica, the sciatic nerve is being compressed by another spinal structure which is why they experience low back pain, on a side of the rear and/or down the back of the leg. This nerve irritation commonly happens at the S1 or L5 level of the spine.

The clinic diagnosis should be addressed on the problem that causes the sciatic pain and nerve compression. These are the common low back problems that causes sciatica:

Common Low Back Problems That Cause Sciatica In Vacaville CA

• Lumbar subluxation - A term used to describe an altered position of the vertebra in the low back area and the loss of function that resulted from it.
• Lumbar spinal stenosis - This happens when the spinal canal in the low back becomes narrow which then pinches the nerves. It can sometimes happen as a result of a bone spur.
• Isthmic Spondylolisthesis - When a vertebral body slips over another then pinches a nerve root in the process.
• Lumbar degenerative disc disease - When discs in the low back become weakened which then causes excess motion in the spine and irritates the nerve roots.
• Lumbar disc herniation - The inner core of a spinal disc in the low back extrudes which then puts pressure on a nerve root.
• Other causes - There are cases that other conditions can fall into sciatica and may require medical attention. Spinal tumor or infection can also become a cause in which a medical professional should be called immediately.

SCIATICA MAY VARY IN EVERY PATIENT

Sciatica can commonly start from the low back, down the rear of each leg, and may sometimes end up in the feet and toes. There are other sensations associated with sciatica which may include a tingling, burning, and/or prickly feeling that can happen on one side of the body. The sciatic pains vary on the location of the nerve compression.

The duration and severity of the pain will also differ from patient to patient. There are people who finds sciatica to be debilitating and severe while others may take it as irritating and intermittent.

Majority of patients recover from sciatica within a few weeks but there's no fast and hard rule. Depending on the cause of the sciatica, the leg or low back pain may intensify over time and may even take some time before it can be totally relieved.

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS IF SCIATICA IS LEFT UNTREATED?

If you have sciatica and it remains untreated, it can lead to other issues. You may experience the following:

• Loss of feeling - There are extreme cases in which sciatica may leave you a loss of feeling in the affected limb. It may affect your mobility and add more problems on top of your pain.
• Loss of bladder control - There are rare cases in which the part of the spinal cord that's responsible for your bladder may be affected which could lead to loss of control. This is the reason why you need to seek medical attention right away so that you can avoid serious outcomes that can have some negative impacts on your life.
• Nerve damage - If you don't have your sciatica treated, there's a high risk that you will suffer from a permanent nerve damage. When that happens, the back and leg pain you're experiencing will only get worse up to the point where the pain medications you used to take will no longer be effective.

SEE A VACAVILLE CHIROPRACTOR

Once you notice that there's a pain on your hips, legs, lower back, or even toes, it's time to pick up the phone and contact your chiropractor immediately. You don't deserve to live the pain that sciatica brings, and you need to get some treatment for it. This is the kind of solution that ensures your current problem won't evolve into a serious one.

Call our team at Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine in Vacaville today!