Sciatic nerve pain relief

Sciatic is taken from Latin for ‘Pain down the back of the leg’. Sciatica is a common back complaint when pain is suffered in the lower back and can often reach down to the foot. . Sufferers of this can be off their work for months with this ailment. It usually only affects one leg.

The pain itself usually worsens when you cough, sneeze or have a bowel movement. Sufferers can experience symptoms ranging from severe and debilitating pain to infrequent and sporadic pain.

The sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve runs all the way from the back right down to the lower leg. There are many causes of sciatica from a prolapsed or slipped disc, in elderly people it may be the result of osteoarthritis or it can come about as a result of bad posture or not sitting correctly.

Symptoms of Sciatic nerve pain

1. Pain that effects one side.
2. pain in the buttocks
3. weakness, numbness
4. burning or tingling down the leg
5. difficulty moving the leg
6. Shooting pain down the leg.

Treatment for sciatica

1. Some analgesic creams can help ease systems.
2. infrared light
3. Ice pack or water bottle
4. Medications such as anti-inflammatory pain relievers i.e. ibuprofen
5. Visit a chiropractor

As with all back problems there may be factors which you can assist with to help with your prognosis such as loosing weight if overweight, eating a healthy diet and wearing comfortable flat shoes. Make sure you sleep on an orthopaedic mattress and that the mattress itself is not too soft.

• Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• A constant pain on one side of the rear
• A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up