What Causes Sciatica Back Pain

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What Causes Sciatica Back Pain?

Sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain is felt when something in your lower back compresses your sciatic nerve. The reason that sciatica is distinguished from other kinds of back pain is that sciatica is nerve pain, not muscle pain, and sometimes it isn’t even in your back. The sciatic nerve runs from the base of your spinal cord through your lower spine and pelvic area. From there the nerve extends down the back of either leg, to the foot. Sciatica usually begins in your lower back or pelvic region, where the nerve is most likely to be pinched. A damaged disc or vertebra in your back could compress the nerve as well, causing the sciatica. An injury to the pelvic bones could also damage the nerve. Sometimes sciatica happens during pregnancy, when the uterus presses against the sciatic nerve. Many different problems may cause sciatica, so you should get a correct diagnosis from a health professional. The diagnosis is required because the sciatica will not go away unless the cause is identified and then fixed.

What Eases Sciatica Back Pain?

What Eases Sciatica Back Pain? Helping to ease sciatica, just as with any nerve pain, is more complicated than curing an injured back muscle. Nerve pain does not respond effectively to heat or cold therapy or massage, and sciatic nerve pain is not even cooperative enough to remain in your back. Sciatica, which is a very intense nerve pain, sometimes responds to difficult to handle with anything weaker than prescription drugs. These drugs, of course, may provide immediate and nearly complete relief of back pain caused by sciatica. The problems arise when your sciatica is the result of a chronic back condition. In these cases, using prescription drugs could cause side effects or put you at risk for addiction. So what, really, are your other options? Herbal remedies like St. John’s Wart and Varvain may provide some relief from your sciatica and may also heal nerve damage. Aromatherapy using essential oils of lavender, chamomile, and marjoram are reported to help ease sciatica. Acupressure is also an effective back pain treatment, in some cases. The option you use to ease your sciatica will depend both the condition of your back and the intensity of the nerve pain.

What Cures Sciatica Back Pain?

The only cure for sciatica is to heal your back and free the sciatic nerve from whatever is compressing it. If your sciatica is a result of pregnancy, then childbirth should clear that right up. Most causes of sciatic nerve pain are not as simple, though. If your sciatic nerve is compressed or pinched in your lower back, sometimes the muscles in your back will fix that problem by themselves. In other cases, a chiropractor is needed to adjust your back and to cure the sciatica. A chiropractic adjustment could also cure nerve pain brought on by a misalignment of the hips or pelvic bones. Sometimes the sciatica may be caused by a more severe injury, such as a damaged vertebra or disc in your back. In these cases, several adjustments may be required to stop the nerve pain, and in some rare cases, back surgery may be needed. Ultimately, the only way to stop sciatica is to be able to correct whatever is bugging your sciatic nerve.