What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is usually a sudden, shooting pain through your leg and sometimes to your toes. The pain often time feels like a crossover of a cramp, burning sensation and weakness. It is the symptom of an irritated sciatic nerve. As a result, this pain is usually felt across the lower back, knees and thighs. Since it is caused by an irritated sciatic nerve, it can happen at any given time. Or it can develop over a period of time. Since it is usually felt after the nerve is irritated, it is hard to determine the cause of the irritation.
What are the causes?
Since Sciatica is caused by a nerve getting irritated, it is usually caused by spinal issues.
- Slipped discs –
Slipped disc is by far the most common reason behind Sciatica. This is mainly because a slipped disc causes pressure on the root of the nerves. As a result it causes two fold pain. - Piriformis syndrome –
This is happens when the buttock muscles become too tight. As a result they tend to spasm and put more pressure sciatic nerve. Which then makes it irritated and causes sciatica. - Spondylolisthesis –
Spondylolisthesis happens because of a slipped vertebrae. When the vertebra slips, it goes out of shape with the other vertebrae. This results in the passage getting more narrow. This in turn exposes the sciatic nerve endings. Which then makes it easier for it to get irritated. - Age –
Age is the most predominant factor in all such neurological diseases. As senescence sets in, bones tend to become perforated and nerve endings frayed. Making this disease extremely common place. - Lifestyle –
A large portion of the population suffers from sciatica because of their lifestyle. As technology has advanced, more and more jobs require prolonged periods of sitting. Or those who have to carry heavy loads for long period of time, like labourers. So if you are someone who leads a sedentary lifestyle or someone who does heavy lifing, chances that you will develop sciatica are very high. - Diabetes –
Since diabetes affects your sugar intake, it indirectly affects your nerves as well. This is so because if blood sugar levels go too high, then the nerves might start to suffer from damage.
Prevention –
Since Sciatica happens because of damage or irritation of the sciatic nerve, there are no specific ways to prevent it. Because a lot of the time, you never know what might set it off. SO, with that being said, here are some preventive measures that you can utilise and hope for the best.
- Exercise – I hate to be captain obvious, but exercise is the best way to combat such issues. So exercise regularly and hopefully, ageing will be kind to you. And if it is not, at least you won’t be afflicted by this in your youth.
- Proper Posture – Stating the obvious once again. Maintain a proper posture and all will be good for you. So take a proper chair and maintain a good posture. There is nothing more that you can do.
