“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle.
I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.” – Mother Teresa
SCIATICA – A Real Pain in the Aspect of Your Bottom
Sciatica is when the nerve roots exiting the spine are compromised and cause pain down one or both legs. This is also known as a radiculopathy. The sciatic nerve is made up of two lumbar nerves and three nerves from the triangular-shaped sacrum, which is below the lumbar spine, all at your waist. As they combine, they become the largest nerve in the body and travel down both legs, also referred to as, the lower extremities.
So the nerves supply the necessary information to your legs so you can go about your daily life. When the slightest pressure disrupts the sciatic nerve it can cause an increase or decrease in information relayed to your body. You might feel less on one side, have weakness in some of the muscles or have a change in your reflexes. In an effort to reduce the pressure on the nerves, a person will lean away from the side of pain, known as antalgia.
When there is a lot of pressure against the spinal cord and its lower portion, you could lose control of your bowel and bladder. This is called Cauda Equina Syndrome and usually requires a surgical repair.
Sciatic pain does not have to involve a disc injury. Degenerative changes, arthritic changes to the spine, pregnancy, weight, posture, alignment and even tight muscles can also contribute to cause it. I am going to discuss two lesser known causes but these are just as guilty.
PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME
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