What Causes Sciatica To Flare Up? How To Stop?

Sciatica, also referred to as sciatic nerve pain, is a common condition that affects many people. The sciatic nerve in the body is compressed or irritated, resulting in pain that travels from the lower back to your feet. Sciatic nerve pain is typically quite severe, and while it can subside in about a month or two, for many people it can last much longer and even develop into a lifelong problem.

What is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated in the condition known as sciatica, also known as sciatic nerve pain. The longest nerve that travels from the back of your pelvis, through your buttocks, and down to your leg is called the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica may be the cause of a dull ache or a sharp pain that travels from your spine through your buttocks and down the back of your leg. Sciatica may be the primary cause of pain, despite the fact that it can vary greatly.

What Are the Four Types of Sciatica?

Acute Sciatica

The early stages of this kind of sciatica are typical. The pain lasts for a total of 4 to 8 weeks, and it is not severe. In this stage, patients might not require medical attention because they can control their pain.

Chronic Sciatica

You should see a doctor if your sciatica is severe, persistent, and has bothered you for more than eight weeks. Depending on the cause of the issue, doctors may advise either surgical or non-surgical treatment.

Alternating Sciatica

Both of your legs are affected by this type of sciatica, not just one. Usually brought on by sacroiliac joint degeneration, this form of sciatica is not very common.

Bilateral Sciatica

Both legs are simultaneously impacted by bilateral sciatica. It is a very uncommon form of sciatica that can be brought on by cauda equina syndrome or even vertebral disc degeneration.

What Causes Sciatica to Flare Up

Putting Stress on Yourself

The Institute for Chronic Pain claims that emotional stress or anxiety can make sciatica worse. The reason for the symptoms of sciatic nerve pain during stressful times is that the brain deprives the nerves, including sciatica, of oxygen.

Poor Posture

The lower back and sciatic nerve may experience additional stress due to poor posture and incorrect body alignment. Signs and symptoms of sciatica appear when the nerve becomes irritated.

Wearing Tight-fit Clothing

Numerous sciatica sufferers assert that tight clothing, such as blue jeans, and undergarments with uncomfortable elastic bands can cause flare-ups. Such clothing increases the pressure on the sciatic nerve just enough to cause a flare-up.

Sitting for Long Periods With Hard Objects in the Back Pocket

Long periods of sitting with hard objects in the back pocket, such as a phone, wallet, or keys, can irritate the piriformis muscle, which protects the sciatic nerve.

This nerve pressure may irritate the nerve, which will hurt.

Using Shoes With High Heels and Aren’t Adequately Cushioned

When you’re wearing high heels, your center of gravity and weight is shifted, causing you to hunch forward at the hips. Conversely, shoes without insoles that provide cushioning help to transfer the force of stepping to the hips or back.

These occurrences may cause the sciatic nerve to be stretched along with the hamstring muscles in the hip and knee, causing irritation and compression.

Excessive Weight

According to studies, back pain and obesity are related. The sciatic nerve is said to be more likely to experience additional pressure if you weigh more, according to the statement.

For this reason, maintaining a healthy weight can significantly reduce the risk of sciatic nerve pain.

Bending over When Lifting Heavy Objects

You put a lot of strain on your lumbar discs when you move flowerpots in your garden, pick up your child from bed, or carry groceries from your car to your kitchen.

There is a higher chance of developing herniated discs when your lumbar discs are overworked. The sciatic nerve may then become irritated or compressed as a result.

Sedentary Lifestyle

Sciatica is more common in people who lead sedentary lifestyles or who are confined to prolonged periods of inactivity than in people who regularly engage in physical activity, claims Mayoclinic.org.

Long-term sitting can harm intervertebral discs, which increases the risk of nerve irritation and compression.

Pregnancy

Sciatica can develop in females as a result of a condition known as piriformis syndrome. When the buttocks-area piriformis muscle contracts and squeezes the sciatic nerve, a condition known as piriformis syndrome results.

It frequently manifests during pregnancy as a result of changes that occur during pregnancy as well as irritation, pressure, and pressure on the nerve body. The piriformis muscle lengthens and compresses the sciatic nerve as a result of the pelvis beginning to shift forward as a result of the growing baby’s additional weight.

Depression and Negative Emotions

Any type of pain, including sciatica, can be triggered by stress. Body pain can be brought on by suppressed emotions and stress, according to Dr. John Sarno, a physician at the New York University Medical Center and professor of clinical rehabilitation medicine at the New York University School of Medicine.

For those who experience pain in their lower back, buttocks, legs, and feet, sciatica and Dr. Sarno’s research on mind-body pain became hot topics.

He has long argued for a different method of diagnosing and treating back pain that relies on MRI scans or diagnostic injections, one that focuses on how emotions are involved rather than those that are discovered through these more traditional methods.

It goes without saying that not all medical professionals have backed his straightforward but patient-focused approach to identifying and treating back pain.

Most Common Signs and Symptoms of Sciatica

Pain

Pain in the sciatic nerve can be mild or extremely painful. Some people also experience a slight lower backache, while others feel a burning sensation or a sharp pain on one side of the lower extremity. Depending on how severely a nerve is impinged or irritated, patients may occasionally suffer from excruciating pain.

Tingling, Weakness, and Numbness

The sciatic nerves are subjected to pressure as a result of nerve compression, which causes these symptoms. The affected part may experience tingling, weakness, or numbness as a result of the pinched or compressed nerve, which interferes with normal nerve function.

Discomfort

Some patients describe feeling a jolt or electric shock in their legs or lower back. When you sneeze, cough, or sit still for a long time, it frequently gets worse and is aggravated.

Difficulty Or Impaired Leg Mobility

Due to the pain and additional neurological symptoms of sciatica, such as lower extremity weakness or numbness, sufferers may find it challenging to walk, stand, or sit in certain positions.

The aforementioned signs and symptoms may appear for a few weeks or they may persist for many years. It is important to remember that because different people may experience different causes of sciatica, not everyone will have the same symptoms.

Sciatica Risk Factors

• Aging– The most frequent causes of sciatica are changing in the spine brought on by aging, including herniated disks and bone spurs.
• Poor body mechanics – You are very likely to put a lot of pressure on your nerves if you don’t move correctly when you do things, which can lead to sciatic pain.
• Poor posture– You must be mindful of your posture because it can lead to injuries. If you frequently hold yourself in an uncomfortable position, your spine could suffer long-lasting harm.
• Being overweight– Your lower back is put under more strain as you carry more weight. Obesity may aggravate sciatica pain and harm your lower back.
• Trauma or injury on the lower back
• Wear and tear related to sports or hobbies– Sports or other activities that require a lot of physical exertion can actually make your sciatica pain worse. If you are experiencing sciatica pain, it is best to limit high and moderate-impact exercise.
• Smoking during Pregnancy or childbirth– Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of giving birth to a child with abnormal spine development.
• Inherited Spine Abnormalities
• Other conditions such as a tumor in the spine, spinal injury (herniated or slipped disc), infection, as well as disorders affecting the spine.

How to Stop Sciatica Flare-Ups

Take Medicines

You should consider using muscle relaxants, steroids, or NSAIDs if your sciatica is causing you a lot of pain and you want to take medication to manage it.

These drugs can reduce pain by reducing inflammation. Before taking any over-the-counter medications, always consult your doctor.

Keep Moving

While excessive sitting is bad for sciatica, most sufferers try to avoid moving around because it might hurt. Your nerves will only experience extreme pressure, which may result in more pain. Keep moving if you want to stay clear of the flares.

Fix Your Posture

Your posture has a big impact on how painful your sciatica is because it puts too much pressure on the already-compressed nerve.

It is best to correct your posture and maintain a straight back when you sit or stand if you want to relieve the pressure on your pinched nerve.

Focus on Healthy Eating

Obesity may be a factor in your sciatica flare-ups. Your sciatica nerve is under more pressure as a result of the excess weight. Try to maintain a balanced diet so that you can lose weight in order to lessen the pressure.

Stretch

To manage pain levels, it is crucial to loosen tight muscles because they exacerbate sciatic pain. To keep your muscles as flexible as possible, you can stretch them occasionally.

Avoid Stress

Your pain may be greatly impacted by stress. Stress causes your brain to not give your nerves enough oxygen, which can cause pain levels to increase.

Close Note

Plans and techniques for treating sciatica can differ from patient to patient. Exercise may have greater advantages for some people than for others. Only if you are aware of the underlying cause of your sciatica will treatment be effective.

In order to fully comprehend the causes, symptoms, complications, and effective treatment modalities for your sciatica if you are unsure of what is causing it, talk with a doctor about potential diagnostic or assessment procedures.

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