Sciatica

Sciatic neuritis, sciatic neuralgia, or lumbar radiculopathy are a group of symptoms that result from irritation, injury, or impingement of any of the spinal nerve roots of the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and starts from the nerve roots in the lumbar area of the spinal cord and through the buttocks region to send nerve endings to the lower limb. Sciatica is characterized by pain that generally originates from the lumbar area or low back radiating through the back of thigh and below the knee. It is also commonly referred to as sciatic nerve pain.

Any kind of injury or swelling of tissue that can irritate the sciatic nerve may trigger the pain of sciatica, however, the most common cause is a lumbar disc herniation which can directly impinge or compress the nerve. Radiculopathy, also a common cause of nerve irritation, is brought about by an abnormal intervertebral disc. There are other numerous causes of sciatica, such as irritation of sciatic nerve during pregnancy, compression of the nerve by abnormal growths, bones, infections, internal hemorrhage, and other injury.

For a lot of patients, the sciatica pain may be serious and devastating. For some individuals, the pain could only occur sporadically and annoying, yet can become a whole lot worse.

If you are experiencing progressive weakness on the lower extremity especially with inability to control bladder or bowel movement, consult the emergency at once. Other symptoms of sciatica aside from muscle weakness include pins and needles sensation, numbness, and tingling on the lower extremity. The long term nerve impingement may harm the nerve permanently as well as its sensory and motor functions, hence it is crucial to seek medical advice at the first signs of sciatica.

Massage therapy does help a lot in the management of low back pain associated with sciatica. It is usually applied along with other important medical interventions to increase blood circulation and relieve muscle tightness.

Massage therapy helps and expedite the body's natural healing process because it can enhance blood flow to the affected area, relieves pain, and relaxes muscles to minimize tension. It can also stimulate mobility and flexibility. Stretching exercises may loosen the compression on nerve roots and when combined with massage, it also manages sciatic pain.

When the cause is situated in the lower back area, massage might help reduce the pain by helping the muscles over the nerve to loosen up and relieve any stress from the affected area. Even though this does not directly help any problems that are impacting the hard structures of the bone, it can certainly give a significant amount of comfort.

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