Do I Have Sciatica or Back Pain ?

 

There are many people who confuse back pain with sciatica. The fact of the matter is, both of these are forms of pain that can be very troubling and annoying to deal with. However, it is important that you know the difference between I4 and I5 back pain and sciatica.

While back pain is pain of the back, sciatica originates from the sciatic nerve which is located in the lower back and also reaches down your legs. The sciatic nerve provides the back muscles of the knee and lower leg. The sciatic nerve also supplies sensation to the back of the upper leg, part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot. Partial harm to the nerve may show some weakness of knee flexion (bending), weakness of foot movements, difficulty bending the foot inward (inversion), or bending the foot down (plantar flexion).

There are quite a few common symptoms of sciatica. Such symptoms include a burning sensation of the legs along with pain in the back of the legs and leg weakness. People who suffer from this pain may also feel shooting pain up their legs and back which can be very frustrating. With sciatica, it typically eases itself unlike lower back pain left side which would need various forms of treatment to reduce and eliminate the pain. Just about 90% of people who suffer from sciatica will eventually get rid of it without needing to have surgery.

The fact of the matter is that more than 80% of people in the United States will have some sort of back pain throughout their lifetime. However, while more than 80% of people will suffer from some sort of pain, it is not always related to sciatica or the sciatic nerve. In many instances, back pain is related to certain strain of the muscles in the back. Strain can occur while exercising, working, lifting weights, and performing all sorts of other activities.

The people who suffer from sciatica are typically around the ages of 30 through 50. Many women tend to suffer from this form of pain while they are pregnant. The pregnancy can cause a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve which then results in sciatica. Most of the time, this pain goes away after the woman gives birth because there will no longer be any pressure on the nerve. A herniated disk can also cause sciatica. At least 1 person out of 50 people will suffer from a herniated disk at some point in time. This occurs when the disc moves out and pushes pressure onto the sciatic nerve. In this case, surgery is often required.

Some people may suffer from sciatica if they have a spinal tumor. However, this is quite rare. More common causes of sciatica may include infections and injury that would irritate the nerve and cause pain. A doctor will be able to determine whether or not you are, in fact, suffering from sciatica or if you are suffering from some sort of back pain on left side. The doctor will have you do certain things to figure out what is causing your pain. You may be asked to squat or walk on your heels or toes. Imaging can also be performed as a means of diagnosing the issue. Once you are diagnosed, the doctor can discuss treatment options with you. In less severe cases of sciatica, it is advised that the patient apply hot or cold compresses to the pain.