It is quite common to experience muscle fatigue after strenuous hours of work, but do you have severe pain in your legs, which runs from your lower back to your toes? Do you tend to feel weak in your knees, or have a prickling sensation in your feet? This type of intense pain or numbness can be an early sign of sciatica leg pain.
What is Sciatica Leg Pain?
Sciatica leg pain is a condition in which a person is prone to suffer mild to severe pain in the legs, and buttocks, originating from the lower back. It is caused due to the compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve located close to the pelvic joint, responsible for the lower body's sensory and motor functions. Hence, suppression of the sciatic nerve causes pain or tingling sensation in the lower body.
Reasons that Causes Sciatica Leg Pain
A few prominent reasons that cause sciatica leg pain are narrowing of the spine, also known as spinal stenosis, slipped or herniated disks, trauma, spinal tumors, bone spurs, piriformis syndrome, and spondylolisthesis.
How to Know If You Are Suffering From Sciatica
Studies reveal that around 40% of the people suffer from sciatica leg pain and one is likely to be more vulnerable as they age. Here are a few symptoms that may indicate you have sciatica.
- Experiencing severe pain in legs and buttocks branching from your lower back, which gets worse with movement.
- One side of the body feels numb after sitting in the same position for long hours.
- Tingling sensation in the feet or toes.
- In extreme situations, one might fail to control their bowels or bladder.
Still not sure? You might want to try the straight leg raise test!
Must Read: Chiropractic Treatment of Sciatica
Prevention Tips for Sciatica Leg Pain
Not all sources of sciatica leg pain can be prevented, such as sciatica caused due to pregnancy, minor jerks, or accidents, but a healthy lifestyle is a key. Regular exercising, stretching, saying no to smoking, maintaining correct body posture, and consuming a healthy diet can lower the risk of being exposed to sciatica.
Risk Factors & Complications
The following factors increase your chances to develop sciatica leg pain:
- Age
- Occupation
- Diabetes
- Obesity
Even though sciatica leg pain is quite common, it can lead to irreversible nerve damage, which can result in loss of sensory or motor activities in the lower body.
Sciatica Treatment
In most cases, it can be cured without surgery, but in certain conditions, such as in the case of Cauda Equina Syndrome (losing the ability to control bowels, you may need to consult a professional. If you're looking for reliable sciatica therapy, then look no more. Active Chiropractic & Laser Center helps you find the best solution for all your sciatica problems. To learn more about sciatica therapy, feel free to call us at (714) 639-4640.
