The pain radiating from your lower back to the legs and extremities is one of the most discomfort experiences you can ever have. With this condition, you will have difficulty conducting everyday activities, such as walking and standing, due to leg weakness and tingling. In most cases, sciatic pain occurs when the herniated disk or outgrown bone pinches the sciatic nerve. If you experience Las Vegas sciatica, you should not worry since there are effective treatments to alleviate these distressing symptoms. While anticipating treatments, here are 7 facts you should understand about sciatica.
Sciatica Is the Collection of Symptoms
Many people think that sciatica is a condition affecting the sciatic nerve, which is not the case. Essentially, sciatica refers to the symptoms that imply that you have underlying issues in the sciatic nerve. Numbness and sharp pain in either of your legs are some indicators of underlying complications in the sciatic nerve.
The Spinal Nerve Level Involved Matters
Sciatic pain usually differs based on the pinched nerve. For instance, you will experience pain in the back of your leg if the S1 nerve root is affected. On the other hand, straining the L5 nerve root will trigger weakness in your foot.
Weight Is a Risk Factor
Overweight individuals are more likely to develop sciatica. Excessive weight in the upper body exposes the spinal disc to injuries that worsen sciatica symptoms. Therefore, you should eat a balanced diet to maintain health and reduce the risk of these symptoms.
The Cause of the Sciatic Pain Dictates the Treatment Option
You will get sciatica symptoms when you encounter lower back complications such as spinal stenosis, disc degeneration or herniated discs. For effective treatment, the specialists will diagnose the unique cause of your symptoms. Each sciatica cause has a different treatment method.
Exercise Can Help
You may think that the best way to relieve sciatic pain is by sleeping, but you are mistaken since taking a rest will only worsen the symptoms. It is, therefore, necessary to engage in moderate exercises, which help to boost the strength and flexibility of the sciatic nerve, easing sciatic pain. If you are getting started with your exercises, you should consult your healthcare provider to know the correct postures while conducting the activities.
Some Conditions Imitate Sciatica
Certain health complications such as hip osteoarthritis and piriformis syndrome trigger the pain that usually feels like sciatic pain. Therefore, you should seek an effective diagnosis to know the actual cause of pain for better treatment options.
It Is Possible to Seek the Emergency Care
Although it is rare for individuals to seek immediate medical intervention, certain sciatica symptoms may necessitate emergency services. For example, if you experience numbness around the groin, you should never wait any further since you could suffer from life-threatening spinal nerve damage.
Are you a victim of sciatica? A significant proportion of the population has had sharp pain and numbness from the lower back spine to their legs. If you are one of them, it is time to get long-term relief. With his vast experience in treating spinal complications, Patrick S. McNulty, MD, FABSS, FABOS, of McNulty Spine, offers various treatments to patients with sciatica symptoms. Make an online booking or call their office today to get started.
