The human nervous system is very sensitive, to the point that even a slight pinch or a mild inflammation on one nerve can result in chronic, debilitating pain for one side of the body. This is exactly the case in sciatica, an irritation of the sciatic nerve which results in a searing, sharp pain that radiates from the lower back to the buttocks and one leg.
The causes of sciatica aren’t exactly clear, although experts believe that a person suffering from diabetes and/or obesity is more likely than most to develop it. Sitting for prolonged periods of time can also result in sciatica, which also means that office workers are vulnerable to this condition.
One clear sign that a person has sciatica is if he or she experiences more pain standing still or sitting down than moving about. Another sign is if he or she experiences pain in one leg and numbness in the other. Despite these symptoms, most cases of sciatica are relatively minor and they tend to go away after a few days or weeks.
Should it progresses, sciatica needs to be treated immediately before it leads to serious complications, such as bowel incontinence and long-term nerve damage. Spinal decompression therapies can treat this condition early on, although lower back surgery can be used as a last resort. Surgery may even be necessary if the patient is already suffering from pain for more than six weeks, even without the complications.
Arkansas Pioneer Chiropractic and Injury Care 