Relieving Leg And Back Pain

Relieving Leg And Back Pain

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People who suffer with leg and back pain have just one thing in mind: pain relief. They don't always realize that the first step to relieving the pain can be an understanding of the pain itself.

Most types of leg and back pain fall under two basic categories: chronic and acute. Acute pain, also known as short-term pain, is the most common. At some point in their lives, approximately four out of every five American adults will suffer from acute leg and back pain. Symptoms can last from several days to a few weeks.

"Chronic" pain can last for more than two months, and may be a symptom of another, more serious, underlying condition. If you have been suffering with chronic leg and back pain, you should see your doctor to determine the cause.

People can suffer from leg and back pain for a number of reasons. Two of the most common causes are sciatica and lumbar spine stenosis.

Pain from Lumbar Spine Stenosis

This is a degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine that affects up to 90 percent of the U.S. population. Middle-aged and elderly people are most prone to suffer this disease. Lumbar spine stenosis causes loss of productivity, disability, and morbidity.

This devastating disease occurs when nerves found within the spine called cauda equina roots become entrapped within the dural sac. There is excruciating and incapacitating leg and back pain. The entrapment of the cauda equina roots is a result of the progressive hypertrophy of any of the osseocartilaginous and ligamentous elements, the soft tissues surrounding the spinal canal.

Complicating the problem further, these degenerative changes or possible trauma can cause the intervertebral disc to rupture or herniated. This disc is composed of a gelatinous substance with centrally located nucleus pulposes and a peripherally located annulus fibrosis.

Middle-aged to elderly men are most often affected by lumbar stenosis, although it can sometimes occur in women and younger patients. The earliest symptom of the disease is leg and back pain. Sadly, many patients use self-care methods rather than consulting with a doctor or specialist, and diagnosis is delayed.

Understanding Sciatica

When a herniated lumbar disc affects the sciatic nerve, it causes a condition known as sciatica. The sciatic nerve travels down from the lower back, through the buttocks and into the leg. Pain can occur in any of these affected areas. Those who suffer with sciatica report mild to severe leg and back pain.

The degeneration or herniation of the lumbar disc causes it to compress onto one of the contributing roots of the sciatic nerve. This causes sharp and 'shooting' leg and back pain. Pain felt in the leg, posterior, thigh or foot is often much worse than the accompanying lower back pain. Initially, the patient will often experience severe pain that originates in the buttocks and runs all the way down through the leg or foot. In some cases, there is no accompanying back pain whatsoever.

Effective treatment of either of these causes of leg and back pain begins with the ability to treat the disorders themselves. You'll find little to no relief from typical self-help remedies including over-the-counter pain medications. Your ability to detect the disorder in the early stages will help you to find effective pain relief, so be sure to consult with your health care professional if you suffer from chronic leg and back pain.

About the Author:
Contributor Myron Huett is a columnist for a variety of Internet magazines, on womens health and personal health care subjects. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.



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


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