Is My Back Pain Really Just Back Pain...or Is It Sciatica?

​Sciatica is just one of the many reasons for Back Pain, but if you ask anyone who has or has had Sciatica, they will probably tell you it is one of the most intense painful experiences they’ve ever had.  

​I hear things like:

• “It hurts all the way from my butt to my foot!”
• “I can’t get comfortable no matter what I try!”
• “I can’t sit.  I can’t stand.  I can’t sleep.”
• “I don’t understand what I did or why this is happening.”

So, what is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a term that is “loosely” used to describe symptoms of pain, numbness or tingling that often starts in your lower back, goes into the buttock and then down your leg.  Symptoms radiating into your buttock and your leg is a telltale sign of Sciatica. 

Simply put, if your pain is isolated to your lower back it’s probably not Sciatica but depending on the cause of your Back Pain it could progress into Sciatica if it’s not properly cared for.

I bet you’re wondering what causes the pain, numbness or tingling to radiate into your buttock and leg? 

Well, it’s caused by irritation or inflammation of your sciatic nerve, which can happen for a variety of reasons including:  

• Disc injuries, disc bulges or herniations.
• Arthritis, disc degeneration or bone spurs.
• Piriformis syndrome (spasm of the piriformis muscle deep in your buttock)
• Your pelvis being out of alignment.
• Tight muscles or fascia in your lower back, hips, pelvis or legs.
• Other rare causes can be fractures, infections or tumors. 

The good news is most cases of Sciatica resolve within a few days or weeks without any long-term harm.

Here are few tips you can try to get some relief in the early stages of Sciatica:

• Ice, ice, ice…to help decrease inflammation of the nerve.   
• Change positions frequently…staying in any position for too long can aggravate your symptoms.
• Stay as active as you can…walk around as much as you can WITHOUT aggravating your symptoms.  If you can only tolerate walking a few feet, start there.  Light activity is better for healing than TOTAL REST.

And here are a few things you should AVOID:

• Moving into painful positions (as much as possible).
• “Testing” a movement (over and over) to see if it still hurts.
• Doing too much too soon (just don’t).
• Stretching or straining the painful side (give it some time to rest).

​If your Sciatica doesn’t resolve quickly, the best advice I can give you is this…
BE PROACTIVE and get professional help right away. 

Why is this so important?  Sciatica involves a problem with a nerve.  The longer you wait, the more you risk causing PERMANENT nerve damage, which can lead to chronic pain, weakness, numbness or tingling.   

Ultimately the key to a quick recovery and successful healing is understanding the underlying cause of YOUR Sciatica.  Once you understand the cause, you can work to correct it so your nerve can FINALLY heal. 

If you’d like some help with your Back Pain or Sciatica, PLEASE take advantage of one of our FREE Discovery Visits.  Find out what you can do to get the relief YOU need and deserve, so you can get back to the activities you need, want and love to do!

CALL NOW at 503-744-0046...or...CLICK HERE to Request Your FREE Discovery Visit Today!