Sciatica: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Pain

Have you ever felt that nagging, burning pain that shoots from your lower back down your leg? Relatable right? This pain makes sitting, walking for long periods, sleeping, and standing very difficult and uncomfortable. You may also find out that bending, driving, gardening, sweeping, mopping, twisting, coughing, or even sneezing becomes unbearable or overwhelming. It’s important to know that sciatica is not a permanent condition, but rather it heals by using the correct treatment methods. Sciatica can be easily treated at home. 

In this blog, we will explore what sciatica is, the causes of sciatica, the symptoms of sciatica, the treatment of sciatica, and the pain of sciatica.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is pain, numbness, and fatigue. It occurs when a nerve called the sciatic nerve gets irritated or compressed. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body that is located in your lower back, travelling through your lower limb and even reaching to your heel. The compression and irritation run from your lower back down through your hip, buttock, and leg. This irritation or compression may cause pain that radiates along your nerve path, usually affecting just one side of your body.

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica can be caused by several reasons, and many of them are linked to our everyday habits and lifestyle activities. These causes include:

• Herniated disc: When discs between your vertebrae shift out of place, they can press on the sciatic nerve.
• Spinal stenosis: Spinal canal narrowing can compress your sciatic nerve, causing it to be irritated.
• Degenerative disc: As we age, bone wear and tear naturally can lead to sciatic nerve pressure.
• Poor posture: Sitting for long hours or prolonged bed rest while slouching strains your lower back. This slouching adds extra pressure to your sciatic nerve.
• Injury or trauma: Unexpected or sudden accidents or falls can irritate your sciatic nerve.
• Pregnancy: Sitting, sleeping, or standing posture changes when you're pregnant, and added weight may sometimes trigger sciatica.

Symptoms of Sciatica

To be aware that you have sciatica, you might experience:

• Sudden, sharp, burning pain that doesn’t improve with rest.
• Fatigue, dullness, or numbness spreading into both legs.
• Loss of bladder or bowel control: usually rare but urgent
• Worsening pain from extended sitting periods.
• Sudden shooting pain when sneezing or coughing.

Treatment of  Sciatica

Along with treatment practices and using devices like a coccyx seat, a few simple lifestyle shifts can help keep sciatica under control. There’s no need to worry when you can easily manage sciatica with different treatments, including using a coccyx seat. You can also use Leeford Ortho Coccyx Seat, designed with ergonomic cushioning and a cut-out shape, which reduces pressure on the tailbone and provides relief while sitting for long hours. The cushion on a coccyx seat focuses on reducing pain, relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve, and strengthening the body to prevent future flare-ups. Here’s how you can also treat sciatica:

Heat and Ice Remedy

Applying an ice pack for the first few days can reduce inflammation, followed by gentle heat to relax muscles.

Gentle Core Exercises

A sturdy core supports your spine and reduces pressure on the sciatic nerve. Add a few minutes of stretching to your routine to keep muscles flexible. You can do yoga and seated marches on a coccyx seat to minimize pressure and strengthen your sciatic nerve.

Maintain a Good Posture

Whether you’re sitting, standing, or lifting, be mindful of your back alignment. Place a coccyx seat where you sit to reduce stress, irritation, and lower back compression. It makes sitting for long periods comfortable; whether you’re working at a desk, driving, or relaxing, a coccyx cushion provides relief.

Use Supportive Seats

Consider ergonomic chairs and cushions to make your work and home setup back-friendly. Place a coccyx seat on your chair, car seat, or sofa to support your sciatic nerve. A cushion on the coccyx seat reduces compression and pressure, so your sciatic nerve will not be irritated.

Surgery

This is rarely needed and only considered if home remedies and other treatments become ineffective for your severe state. Consult your healthcare provider to know the severity of your condition.

Pain of Sciatica

Sciatica can be experienced differently. Mostly, it is identified as a sting-like, burning, or shooting discomfort. It starts in your lower back or buttocks and travels down the leg, sometimes reaching to your foot. To others, they might experience a constant dull ache, tingling, or even a pins-and-needles sensation. Sometimes sciatica pain is just mild irritation, while other times it can make simple activities like sitting, bending, or walking very painful and hard. Sciatica pain is temporary and can be managed by using a coccyx seat cushion to support your sciatic nerve.

Final Thought

Sciatica is pain caused by irritation or compression of your sciatic nerve. It can be caused by a slipped disc, spinal stenosis, injury, or trauma. It makes sitting, walking, sleeping, or doing household chores difficult. Sciatica symptoms are noticed from sudden pain in your leg that doesn’t fade with rest, fatigue, numbness, or worsening pain in your leg. You can also notice sciatica when you experience sudden rising or shooting pain from coughing or sneezing.

For healing sciatica, you can practice a home remedy of using ice to reduce swelling, do simple core exercises, and maintain a good posture by using a coccyx seat. You may experience pain of sciatica, varying from numbness, dullness, burning, or stinging pain. You can also consider a Leeford Ortho coccyx seat that is extra-padded to promote your comfort and relaxation. Always remember to consult your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and guidance, so you can recover safely and get back to living comfortably.