Sciatica is a pretty painful condition. There are many people who suffer from lower back pain which can be traced to the pressure on the sciatic nerve. Any one suffering from a first incidence of sciatica would find that the symptoms abate slowly over a period of ix weeks or o. meanwhile they are given medications to help manage the pain.

However, there are people who suffer from frequent bout of sciatica pain. This can make it difficult for them to go about their daily tasks. There are several way in which the pain can be managed and life returns to normal.

The sciatic nerves carries messages from the brain through the lower back and all the way into the back of the knees before branching out to other nerves. One of the main cause of this pain is attributed to a protruded disc in the spinal cord. The protrusion in the disc puts pressure on the sciatic nerve and thus causes pain. It’s one of the most common reason of lower back pain in people aged thirty to fifty.

 

Diagnosing sciatica pain

In order to diagnose sciatica, doctors first write down a detailed history. Once that is done, they do a series of focused exam which can help rule out any other condition which might be causing the pain. However, it should be kept in mind that image testing is not one of the best methods for diagnosing an initial bout of sciatica. It’s better to carry out the observation over a period of time.

However, a few common ways of detecting it is to observe the different sensations which lead or cause the pain:

  • Sciatica often gets worse during involuntary actions like coughing or sneezing
  • This pain is also accompanied by a tingling sensation felt in the lower back or the legs
  • Physical exams can help determine sciatica. Doctors normally look for weakness or numbness in the specific area
  • Diminished reflexes in the legs could also point towards sciatica

Treatment of sciatica pain

There is a common misconception that the more pain there is the worse would be the case. However this is not so. The bulging disc material which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve can be reabsorbed back into the spinal column. This holds true for even the worst symptoms of sciatica. All that is required is the proper mode of treatment.

The treatment is generally aimed at pain management and helping people stay active. Normally people believe that bed rest could help them manage the pain. This though is not the case with pain associated with sciatica.

Patients are usually advised to avoid movements which increases their pain. However, once the pain starts tolessen doctors advise them on getting on with an activelife style.

Normally pain killers are suggested to help control the pain. These are usually over the counter medications like NSAID’s or acetaminophen. Severe cases might require more specific or specialized medications. Steroid injections are used to alleviate the pain a well. All these are combined with proper physical therapy.

For more tips on how to manage sciatica pain, make sure you talk to your physician.                                  .