What can i do to relief sciatica?!

What can i do to relief sciatica?

i've had problems with my lower back for 3 months,ichanged my materss then my job and things got relatively better for a while then they got worse the pain location changed and intesified.The doc reckons it's sciatica and from the diagnosis i came across on line it seems i have the Piriformis syndrom.I'd be grateful if any doc out there can give some practical advices to recover quick.Many thanks indeed.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain experienced along the path of the sciatic nerve - the longest nerve in the body, which runs from the lower back through the pelvis and buttock area, right down to the back of the lower leg. Sciatica is a fairly common form of lower back and leg pain and is due to the sciatic nerve being irritated or compressed. The pain of sciatica varies from an infrequent discomfort to a continuous, excruciating and debilitating pain.

Sciatica is usually experienced as pain that radiates from your lower back to your buttock and down the back of your leg. This pain may be mild or severe and is sometimes felt as a burning sensation or a sharp jolt. Sciatica may be sudden or insidious in onset and worsen over time.

In some people who suffer from sciatic pain it may be accompanied by a numbness or weakness in the leg or foot as well as a feeling of tingling or pins-and-needles in the toes.

What causes Sciatica?

The most common cause of sciatica is pressure on the sciatic nerve from a herniated or slipped vertebral disc (“Pinched nerve”). Between each of the vertebrae in your spine lies a disc of cartilage to act as a cushioning shock-absorber and allow flexibility of the spine. With age and wear-and-tear, these discs may become brittle and compressed - allowing part of the disc to protrude from its normal position within the spinal column and press on the nerve root. This generally happens in people between the ages of 30 and 50.

Other less common causes of sciatica include narrowing of the spinal canal (known as stenosis), spinal tumors, injury and trauma. Various other problems affecting the bones, joints and muscles of the back and pelvis can also cause sciatica though these may not always be easily diagnosed, sometimes leaving the cause of the sciatic pain unknown.

People in their 30’s and 40’s are most likely to develop sciatica, which is uncommon in younger people. Physically demanding occupations which require heavy lifting, driving long hours or twisting the back are all risk factors for developing sciatica.

Depending on the cause, sciatic pain often resolves on its own in approximately six weeks.

Complications of sciatica

Depending on the cause of sciatica, numbness or lameness in the affected limb may occur as well as loss of bladder and bowel control in some cases. In severe cases of sciatica, permanent nerve damage may occur.

How is sciatica usually treated?

Most people with sciatica are prescribed pain-killers or anti-inflammatory medications to relieve the pain. These generally provide some relief but have the potential to cause serious adverse side-effects. Medications are usually used in combination with physical therapy and stretching/strengthening exercises as well as hot and cold packs.

In severe cases of sciatic pain that does not respond to the usual treatments, conventional health practitioners may advise injections of anti-inflammatory steroids into the affected area. These injections are not always very effective and can also cause serious side-effects. Because of the dangers, there is a limit on how many of these injections an individual can receive - not usually more than three per year.

Surgery to remove the herniated part of a disc is sometimes performed on people with severe symptoms like weakness or incontinence or if the pain is worsening despite treatment