The sciatic bone, the bone tissue that makes up the pelvis and composes both lower parts, is known as the longest single nerve in the body that starts at the lower back, passes through the pelvis, thigh, and back of the thigh to both toes. In addition to supporting the body weight when sitting, it is responsible for functions such as forming the hip joint and attaching various muscles that descend to the legs. Sciatica refers to pain that occurs along the thighs, thighs, calves, and feet, which are areas related to the frustrated nerve, due to inflammation, damage, or pressure caused by the sciatic nerve. It is similar to low back pain and is often confused, but unlike low back pain, which is localized in the lower back, the sciatic nerve starts in the lower back or buttocks and the pain extends to the legs.
The main cause of sciatica is a herniated disc, also called a herniated disc. It is known that pain occurs when the intervertebral disc presses on the nerve, and it occurs well between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae and between the 5th lumbar vertebrae or the 1st hip vertebrae. It can also be caused by various diseases such as spinal canal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, and myofascial pain syndrome, and in rare cases, it can also be caused by a tumor.
In addition, it is known that the incidence rate is high in occupations that involve a lot of sitting for a long time, such as driving or office work, as the ischial bone is the part that comes into contact with the floor or when sitting on a chair. In addition, repeated lifting of heavy objects, increased spinal load due to incorrect posture, smoking, stress, and other factors are also said to be risk factors. The incidence of sciatica is higher in women than in men, and it is known that the incidence rate is highest in the elderly. Now, let’s learn about the main symptoms that occur when sciatica occurs, and various information about treatment and prevention.
The main symptoms of sciatica
The main symptom of sciatica is pain that starts in the lower back and extends to the thighs, calves, and feet. These pains are accompanied by aching or tingling sensations, and they become more severe when the abdominal pressure is momentarily increased, such as when bending the back, coughing or sneezing, or going to the toilet. Also, symptoms such as weakness, numbness, or numbness in the legs may appear.
Sciatica has various causes, and since pain usually appears in the back of the thigh or buttocks, it is easy to induce muscle pain, arthritis, or pain caused by blood vessels. There are cases where the patient recovers spontaneously without treatment, but if the symptoms worsen without recovery naturally, symptoms such as nerve root disease or horsehair syndrome may occur due to the compressed nerve roots. In addition, if the leg loses strength, the sensation becomes dull, and in severe cases, there may be problems with normal urination, it is important to receive an appropriate examination and treatment through a visit if numbness and aching pain on the outside of the buttock or thigh continue to occur. I can do it.
Sciatica treatment and prevention
1. Accurate diagnosis and treatment
Symptoms of sciatica include X-rays, CT, and MRI to examine the sciatic and spinal nerves. After that, the treatment is divided into non-surgical conservative treatment and surgical treatment according to the diagnosis result. Non-surgical treatments include bed rest, traction therapy, and physical therapy to relieve the pressure on the nerve root, take medications to reduce pain itself, and administer drugs such as epidural steroid injections. If symptoms persist for more than 4 to 6 weeks despite these non-surgical treatments, surgical treatment such as spinal hydraulics or laminectomy may be considered. Horsehair syndrome with symptoms such as placebo in the lower extremities and difficulty urinating requires immediate surgical procedures.
2. Maintain correct posture
It is important to maintain good posture while sitting to prevent sciatica. In particular, when sitting for a long time is unavoidable, it is good to consciously correct a bent posture, and it is recommended to take a break in the middle of work to stretch. Also, repeated lifting of heavy objects is one of the causes of sciatica.
3. Regular exercise
Regular exercise on a regular basis is also an important management habit in preventing sciatica and alleviating symptoms.
Various exercises, such as strength training, stretching, and yoga, that are regularly performed, are known to be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of sciatica because they not only strengthen the spinal muscles, but also soften the thighs, hips, and knees, and enhance flexibility. .
