Sciatica | Kube Medical in Swindon

Sciatica

Sciatica is pain in the region of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower spine into the legs. It can vary in severity and usually can be treated without surgery.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a general term that refers to pain experienced in the area of the sciatic nerve (i.e. the buttocks, pelvis and legs), but it can arise from a variety of causes. The name sciatica comes from Latin and Greek origins, relating to pain in the hips and loins. The sciatic nerve runs from the lumbar spine, through the pelvis and into the legs. It can occur in either leg.

Causes of sciatica can include issues with joints, discs and muscles. When diagnosing and treating sciatica, more information is needed. A Chiropractor, Osteopath or Physiotherapist is likely to ask more questions, such as:

Is the pain coming from the back?
Is the pain coming from the hip?
Is it coming from further down the leg, such as the hip?
Are there any areas of pins and needles?
Are there any areas of numbness?
Are there any areas of hyper-sensitivity?

They will also perform orthopedic tests to establish the cause of the pain, and neurological tests that look at deep tendon reflexes. This helps them to work out whether the disc is compressing the nerve and affecting the way that the muscles function in the leg.

A warning sign of a disc issue is numbness or pins and needles below the knee. However, the majority of cases we see are related to muscular or joint issues.

What causes sciatica?

Pain in the sciatic region can be a result of joint dysfunction, muscular issues or a problem with a disc compressing the sciatic nerve. With a wide variety of issues affecting sciatica, there can be very many underlying causes.

Sciatica is often caused by repeated use of the body in a way that places greater strain on one side of the body. Almost everyone does something that falls into this category, which goes some of the way to explain why sciatica is such a common condition. Frequently occurring examples that we see include:

Drivers: Spending extended periods in the car affects drivers in different ways, depending on the kind of driving they do. Drivers tend to twist their body to favour the foot they need to use most. Using the clutch pedal in a car or van involves moving the left pedal to the floor of the vehicle and will happen more frequently in urban driving. By contrast, the right foot typically moves less far, but is the busier foot on the motorway.
Desk users: While much of desk work is consistent across the midline of the body, using a mouse can contribute to an imbalanced body position. Desk users tend to rotate and place more weight through the side of the mouse.
Sportspeople: Poor biomechanics can affect any sportsperson, though sciatica is particularly common in sports that involve actions that favour a single side. Activities that involve throwing (e.g. cricket) or hitting (e.g. golf) mean that a specific motion is completed many times on one side, without a corresponding motion on the other side.
Delivery drivers: Exiting a vehicle involves a rotation of the body. Where this is done multiple times per day, it can lead to imbalances in the body.

Is sciatica related to other problems?

With such a diverse range of causes, sciatica can be related to other issues. This is either because the same root cause causes multiple problems, or the symptoms of sciatica leading to them.

Gastric problems

People suffering from sciatica may also suffer from constipation, bloating or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The psoas muscle runs from the lower back. It runs through the pelvis and joins the iliacus muscle in the inside of the pelvis, running onto the hip. It sits in a band of fascia as it runs around the intestines which can cause constriction. It can also refer pain in the lumbar spine area.

Plantar Fasciitis

When experiencing sciatic pain, people often adjust their gait. This gait adjustment may contribute to increased impact through one side. This may, in time, lead to plantar fasciitis.

Restless Leg Syndrome

While not the same as restless leg syndrome (RLS), sciatica may lead to a similar sensation. Sacroilliac joint dysfunction, associated with sciatica, may lead to discomfort in the legs. Sufferers may try to ease this with increased leg movement.

Can sciatica go away on its own?

As the body develops coping mechanisms, cases of sciatica will often improve on their own. However, if the underlying cause remains, it is likely that the pain will return. When it does, it is likely it will be worse and/or will last for longer.

How to prevent sciatica

The primary objective in preventing sciatica is to even out the imbalances that occur in the day to day life. This can be done by ensuring good posture while sitting at a desk or driving a car. For sporting activities, ensuring a good warm-down and stretching routine is part of your activity.

How to treat sciatica at home

When experiencing sciatica, there is plenty that can be done without treatment to reduce pain. Icing and stretching are the main methods:

Icing the site of the pain in the lower back and glutes will help ease inflammation and reduce the pain.
Stretching of the glutes, piriformis and hamstrings will reduce tension in the affected areas:

The figure of four stretch – while lying on your back, place the ankle of one leg on top of the other leg, just above the knee. This creates a figure of four. A deeper stretch can be achieved by gently pulling the straight leg up towards your chest.

The pigeon stretch – From a press up position, bring one foot forward and cross it in front of the body. Bring the hips to the floor and move the body into an upright position with one leg straight behind the body, and the other bent in front.
Hamstring stretch – Keeping the hips square and the legs straight, elevate one leg in front onto a table or shelf. The stretch should be felt in the back of the upper leg. To deepen the stretch, lean forwards.

Applying heat on the front of the waist may also help release the psoas muscle. This allows sciatica sufferers to resume a more upright position.