By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    July 31, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Effective Healthcare Requires a Social Approach
    June 15, 2015
    CCBHCs
    2016 Excellence in Behavioral Health Program Design
    February 23, 2016
    conducting Clinical Trial
    5 Tips for Conducting a Clinical Trial
    April 21, 2024
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Sciatica
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Orthopaedics > Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Sciatica
OrthopaedicsSpecialtiesWellness

Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Sciatica

Sean Mallon
Sean Mallon
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

What is sciatica and how to recognize it?

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body and provides motor control, stretching from the lower back, down both legs and all the way to the feet. Sciatica is a type of back pain which is caused by injuring the sciatic nerve. Even though most people tend to confuse it with regular back pain, it’s actually a specific condition which needs to be treated properly. You might be suffering from sciatica if you have these symptoms:

Contents
What is sciatica and how to recognize it?What causes sciatica?Who is most likely to suffer from sciatica?When to visit a doctorHow to treat sciaticaHow to avoid sciatica in the future
  • shooting lower back pain which extends to one leg
  • weakness or numbness in one leg
  • a tingling or burning sensation in one leg

It’s important to remember that not all back pain is a result of sciatica. But if you feel that the pain emanating from your back is going down one of your legs or to your feet, then it is probably sciatica. It is important to know that most people describe this pain as a leg cramp which lasts for a couple of days.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica is most often caused by a herniated lumbar disk. These disks are located between your spine’s vertebrae and act as cushions. As a person ages, the disks become weaker and more likely to sustain an injury. This condition could also occur as a consequence of spinal stenosis (the narrowing of the spinal canal) or pelvic fracture.

Who is most likely to suffer from sciatica?

The risk of getting sciatica is higher for people between 30 and 50 years of age. Another group of people who are at higher risk are overweight people and pregnant women. This is because people who carry extra weight put more pressure on their spine, and thus they are much more likely to injure it. However, even though these people are at higher risk, anyone could suffer from sciatica. For instance, people who sit for long periods of time are very likely to injure their spine which causes compression to the spinal discs. Not only that, but people who sleep in uncomfortable beds are also more prone to sciatica. Sleeping in a bed which is too soft or too hard can do a lot of harm to the sciatic nerve.

More Read

Should You Consider Using A Water Filter? Here’s What To Know
May is Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
New Blood Test Can Detect Developmental Delays in Babies Post-Pregnancy
New Series: Person-Centered HealthCare
When Should You Consider Getting Neurological Care At Home?

When to visit a doctor

If you believe your back pain is caused by sciatica, you should go to a medical professional. In order to determine if your sciatic nerve is irritated, a doctor will perform a series of muscle tests. They will probably ask you to walk on your heels or toes, squat, or raise your legs. After the examination, the doctor will be able to tell if and which part of the sciatic nerve you have injured. If these tests aren’t conclusive enough, your doctor will probably need to conduct further tests. These could include an MRI or a CT scan, the goal of which is to locate the irritated nerve and reveal what caused it. An X-ray is also an option, but it could only show problems caused to the bone, and not to the nerve.

How to treat sciatica

There are a number of various treatments that a person who suffers from sciatica could go through. They vary depending on the cause and seriousness of the condition. It is best to talk to your physician about the best treatment for you. Some common methods include:

  • Applying ice or heat to the injured area. This is a technique most people use when dealing with any type of back pain. You might need to experiment and see whether an ice or heat pack work better for you. Every two hours, apply the ice or heat to the injured area for 20 minutes until the pain subsides.
  • Bed rest. Lying in a comfortable bed with a supportive mattress is how most cases of sciatica are treated. This is the most appropriate treatment if the condition isn’t too serious, and it usually lasts for a few days.
  • A physical therapist could recommend treatment using a mixture of strengthening, stretching and low-back conditioning exercises. This could help speed up the treatment process and recovery.
  • If you’re looking for short-term relief from sciatica, you can take any over-the-counter pain relievers such as naproxen, aspirin, and ibuprofen. If there is a need for stronger medication, your doctor could prescribe anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants.
  • Surgery. This is most often the last resort in the case a patient doesn’t see results from any treatment methods mentioned above. The surgical intervention is usually performed if the sciatica was caused by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.

How to avoid sciatica in the future

If a person has had sciatica, the chances of suffering from it again are rather high. To avoid this, make sure you’re exercising regularly, maintaining good posture, and avoiding prolonged sitting. By taking these steps, you can help avoid any type of back injury in the future. Anatomy of Sciatica Source: Online Mattress Review  

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025

You Might also Like

cosmetic dentistry
Dental health

The Most Popular Cosmetic Dental Procedures

May 4, 2023
neuroscience
Specialties

Neuroscientists Discover Roots of Empathy: What Part of the Brain Helps Us Feel for Others?

October 12, 2013
weight loss
Wellness

The Holy Grail of Weight Loss

September 14, 2013
chronic insomnia
eBookNewsSpecialtiesWellness

Chronic Insomnia: Review of Six Steps to Better Sleep

June 8, 2017
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?