Sciatica it is not a disease; the term refers to the compression of the sciatic nerve. This compression causes numbness or weakness and originates from the lower part of the back, traveling through the buttocks and down the sciatic nerve. Some patients recover from sciatica with time by resorting to non-surgical forms of treatment. Finding the right knee or back brace helps with recovery.
Causes
Sciatica occurs in a number of different ways. Some include a herniated disc, the narrowing of the spinal cord with age, degeneration of one or more spinal discs or piriformis syndrome which occurs when one vertebrae slips in front of another vertebrae. Stephen Hochschuler of Spine-Health says that whatever the cause it is "important to know the underlying clinical diagnosis of the cause of sciatica, as treatments will often differ depending on the cause."
Types
There are two different forms of sciatica: true sciatica and pseudo sciatica. True sciatica results when there is actual compression of the lumbar spine nerve root by a herniated disc, it is the only diagnosis recognized by medical science. Pseudo sciatica is the pain that follows due to the compression of the shifted regions of the spinal nerve. The sciatic pain caused by pseudo sciatica is the same as the one caused by true sciatica. The pain ranges depending on the person; some find it excruciating while others find it irritating.
Considerations
Sciatic pain heals over time when the proper precautions are taken. These include proper exercise, adequate sleep with your back straight rather than in the fetal position, or knees bent supported by a pillow, and stress reduction on that region of the body. Prolonged sciatica could lead to long-term dietary disorders such as improper bowel movements leading to incontinence or a loss of sensation down the lower back and leg regions.
Benefits of Braces
Knee braces provide support to the lumbar region of the lower back by correcting the alignment of the knee and are most effective for people who maintain a comfortable weight. This regulation can improve posture and help ease some of the sciatic pain. However, braces should only be used on the leg where the pain is experienced most and poor posture must be avoided at all times. Lifting heavy objects should be avoided.
Treatments
Some non-surgical solutions include light exercise, massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure or the use of ice packs or mineral ice and hot packs every 20 minutes or every couple of hours. Advise your doctor if you feel no improvement; they may prescribe muscle relaxants for temporary relief of pain and inflammation, but some medications are addictive or may give a false sensation of feeling better. Surgery will remove the portion of the disc responsible for irritation and inflammation if no other method provides relief.
