Relief Of Sciatic Nerve Pain

Relief Of Sciatic Nerve Pain

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Pain from sciatic nerve irritation is often severe and disabling. There are various causes of sciatic nerve irritation, but the majority of cases are related to protrusion of one or more discs in the lower spine and/or excessive contraction in a muscle located in the lower buttock area known as the piriformis.

Disc protrusions, also called disc bulges or herniations, occur from major traumas such as falls and auto accidents, as well as from repeated "micro-trauma" over a long period of time, such as sitting in a slouched position, or bending and lifting with poor body mechanics. In extreme cases, disc protrusions can progress to extrusions - full disc ruptures, which often cause sciatica symptoms so severe that they can leave the person almost totally incapacitated. Disc protrusions and extrusions can cause direct pressure on one or more of the nerves that combine to form the large sciatic nerves which pass through the lower buttock area and down each leg. Depending on the site and severity of nerve compression, symptoms of sciatic nerve irritation can extend anywhere from the buttock to the foot. In addition to direct irritation caused by disc material pressing against the nerve, disc protrusions often cause inflammatory swelling, which can increase pressure around the effected nerve.

Sciatic nerve symptoms due to disc protrusion can often be relieved with simple exercises to help reposition bulging discs and with the use of anti-inflammatory medications and ice to reduce swelling from inflammation. Not all exercises promoted for the relief of sciatica are always safe to use in cases where there is disc protrusion though. For example, the yoga position, "downward facing dog" will sometimes help with sciatica due to muscle contraction, but can make symptoms related to disc protrusion much worse.

Sciatic nerve pain from the piriformis muscle is often brought on either from long periods of sitting, or from unusual exertion of the hip muscles, such as from a long distance running event. The location of the piriformis muscle relative to the sciatic nerve can vary from one person to the next. In some individuals, the piriformis runs across the top of the sciatic nerve, and in a few instances, the nerve actually passes through the center of the piriformis. In these cases, excessive contraction of the muscle can compress the sciatic nerve sufficiently to produce pain and other symptoms. Relief of sciatic nerve pain due to piriformis contraction can be achieved with stretching and massage in most cases.

Although sciatic nerve symptoms can be extremely painful, the vast majority of sufferers can get relief without resorting to surgery. By identifying the underlying cause of symptoms, the appropriate home treatments can be employed, and relief can be obtained within a few days to a week in most instances.

About the Author:
For additional information, visit Dr. Best's Sciatica Treatment website for a free ebook and instructional videos on relieving sciatica. Also be sure to check out his YouTube video, Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief .



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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