We often suffer from body pain; some are severe, and some are not. Today let’s discuss one such pain known as Sciatica pain and What Causes Sciatica To Flare-Up?
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What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a medical condition where the pain goes down the leg from the lower back. The pain may sometimes go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. The onset of Sciatica pain is often sudden following the activities like heavy weight lifting. The gradual onset of pain may also occur. It is often described as a shooting, and the typical symptom is on one of the sides of the body. In some of cases, however, it may result in pain on both sides. In various parts of the affected leg or foot, weakness or numbness may occur. The associated with Sciatica pain may be severe, but most cases are solved with non-operative treatments.
Symptoms of Sciatica
The hallmark of sciatica pain is when the pain radiates from the lower spine to your buttocks and moves down the back of your leg. This pain can extend up to the foot or the toes. It depends on where the sciatica nerve is affected.
Sciatica pain differs from person to person. For some, sciatica pain may be severe, and for some, the pain might be infrequent and irritating but can also get worst.
Common symptoms are
- The pain in the leg is worse, especially while sitting.
- The pain in the hips
- Tingling or burning of the leg.
- Pain on one of the sides
- The pain makes it hard to get up
- Difficulty in moving a leg or feet.
- Experiencing pain in the lower back.
Symptoms also include pain, which can be worse when you cough or sneeze. And, also sitting for long can aggravate the symptoms.
What causes sciatica to flare up?
It is the largest nerve in the human body, and when irritated, it can cause tremendous pain. As we learned above, sciatica pain is usually described as the radiating pain in the back, the hips, and also to the glutes, which may also extend toward your leg.
Knowing about what causes sciatica to flare up and also how you can treat it.
Sciatica is usually a hidden problem. Sometimes, it can be easily treated with painkillers and can also be through lifestyle changes.
The below include Sciatica pain
- Sitting for a very long period.
- Carrying heavy objects or lifting them in improper form.
- A soft mattress or an awkward sleeping position.
- Improper form while exercising or lifting weights.
- Wearing heels for a long time
- A sedentary lifestyle.
- Unhealthy habits like smoking
- Diabetic patients
- Overweight
Now let us know about the causes of sciatica pain.
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Lumbar stenosis occurs in the lower back, where the sciatica nerve is. Some have the spinal defect right from birth, while some develop it over time. The tingling, feeling of weak, body pain, and numbness, which is associated with Sciatica, is due to the narrowing of the spinal bone.
Bone spurs
A bone spur is an overgrowth of the bone which causes Sciatica pain, occurring on the vertebrae. It develops due to injury or from the wear and tear of the spine due to age. It can cause by irritating sciatica nerves. Lower back pain from a bone spur is common among people in or around the age of 60 and can be hereditary due to poor nutrition and injury, causing them to develop at an early stage.
Herniated disc
It is also known as the protruding disc. When cushioning disc between vertebrae exerts force through a crack in the outer casing, it irritates the sciatic nerve leading to sciatica pain.
Degenerative disc disease
We go through various bodily changes over time. The disc between vertebrae loses its cushion effect, and the loss of flexibility in our spines is due to the hustle of everyday life. The degenerative disc disease is more prone to the spinal area, where the movement is the most, and also endures more stress. Incorporating the lumbar, where deterioration often causes sciatic nerve irritation.
Spondylolisthesis
It is a common problem that occurs when a vertebra slips onward onto the bone below it. Athletes stressing their bones in the lower back are prone to such conditions.
Tumors
It is a rare scenario, the tumor is the cause of sciatica pain, where the tumor affects the sciatica nerve. Also, there are different kinds of spinal tumors.
Sciatica pain either goes away or stays for a long time. The flare-ups can last up to 6-8 weeks and are characterized by acute cases. Seeking medical consultation on time can save you from a lot of pain.
