Sciatica is the term used to describe the pain in the sciatic nerve, branching from the lower back to the hips and down the leg. Typically, it only affects one side of the body. Still, this condition can be life-changing, especially in severe cases. The good news is that most sciatica cases are resolved with non-surgical treatments. But, what is sciatica? Aside from that, why does your body experience this pain?
Why Your Body Experiences This Pain?
Typically, sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched, resulting in pain, inflammation, and sometimes numbness in the leg. The common causes of a pinched sciatic nerve is a herniated disk, an overgrowth of bone in the spine, or a narrowing of the spine.
What Does Sciatica Pain Feel Like?
So, what does sciatica pain feel like? Most people describe the pain as a sharp stabbing pain. Other individuals, on the other hand, experience an electric shock or a burning sensation.
For some people, sciatic pain may come and go. For others, they experience constant pain. Aside from that, they also felt that the pain is more severe in the leg than in the lower back. Lastly, they also reported that sudden movement, like sneezing or coughing, can also result in greater pain.
Aside from pain, some people have also reported that they experienced numbness or muscle weakness in the leg. For some, they have felt numbness in one leg and pain in the other leg.
Preventive Measures
Sciatica is a life-changing condition. The good news is that there are several ways to prevent it, which includes the following:
1. Exercise
Because sciatica affects your lower back, the best way to prevent it is to strengthen your core muscles. Some exercises that can develop your core muscles are planks, crunches, and glute bridges.
2. Proper Posture
Keep in mind that maintaining a proper posture is essential to prevent sciatica. The reason is that when you stand or walk correctly, you are aligning your bones in an effective manner, which creates an excellent pathway for the course of the sciatic nerve.
Always remember, that having a strong core will ensure that you maintain proper posture. As such, you must include core strengthening exercises in your workout plan.
3. Use Proper Body Mechanics
By using the proper or correct body mechanics, you will not only work effectively. Remember, correct alignment can also minimize the strain or stress on your muscles and joints.
Some of the proper body mechanics you can follow are:
- Standing with your feet apart to create a sturdy foundation
- Keeping your neck, back, and hips aligned when moving
- When lifting an object, you should use your leg and arm muscles instead of your back muscles.
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