Sciatica is a painful condition that affects each person in a different way. It is important to get the cause of sciatica diagnosed. Different treatments are used if your symptoms are due to muscular pressure on the nerves or if the pressure is due to inflammation or bone changes. Treatments can involve medications, stretching and surgery. The first step is learning to recognize the signs and symptoms of this condition, so that you can get the right care as soon as possible.
Considerations
Sciatica signs and symptoms vary from person to person. In some cases, it is localized to the hip and lower back. In other cases, the symptoms can radiate into the buttocks, legs and feet. The symptoms may be worse when sitting or standing for long periods. Depending on the situation, there may be certain movements that set the symptoms off and certain ones that make a person feel better. No two patients experience sciatica the same way. Before seeing a physician, people who suspect they have sciatica should make sure that they make a journal of their symptoms, including when they are at their worst and what helps to relieve them.
Common Symptoms
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, if a person has sciatica, he may experience pain that is dull and achy or it can be sharp and stabbing. He may also feel a burning sensation. In some cases, numbness, tingling or weakness in the back, hips or legs will occur. These symptoms can come on quickly and last for days, weeks or be chronic.
Location
The National Institutes of Health states that sciatica pain usually occurs on just one side of the body. In addition, while the entire leg may be affected, a person may find that she has pain in one area of the leg and at the same time experience numbness in a different area of the same leg. Sneezing, coughing and laughing can also make symptoms worse. Since this condition is caused by pressure on a nerve, the reflexes may not properly function.
Other Symptoms
If sciatica is more severe or continues untreated, complications may develop. This includes loss of function or sensation in the legs and or feet, and an inability to control bowel movements and urination. A person may develop a burning sensation or the presence of blood when urinating. Other signs can include an unexplained fever or redness and swelling in the back.
Diagnosis
A doctor will need to do a complete medical exam as well as order tests to help diagnose what is causing the symptoms. X-rays, MRIs and CT scans can show where pressure is on the nerve and what is causing the pressure. These tests can also show how severely the nerves are compressed, which will help your doctor determine the best course of treatment.
Treatment
Since sciatica affects each person differently, someone suffering with the condition will need to work with a health care team to find the right treatment program. Physical therapy, ice, heat, bracing, medication, injections and leaning proper body mechanics are all techniques that can help to calm the symptoms. If conservative treatment does not help, a doctor may explore surgical techniques to take pressure off the nerves. A lifetime plan of using good ergonomics and regular exercise to keep symptoms under control may also be required.
