Inflammation of the sciatic nerve: symptoms of sciatica and its treatment

Few know that sciatica nerve inflammation (or, scientifically, sciatica) is not an isolated disease. In very many cases, sciatica is actually a consequence of other various diseases. Therefore, it primarily treats the root cause - the disease that caused sciatica, and parallel to this symptomatic treatment of this inflammation. But first let's look at what this signal of the body is that is indicative of trouble.

In the human body, the sciatic nerve begins in the lumbar region and passes through the coccyx, buttocks and the surface of the legs from behind. In a fairly large number of people, this nerve is periodically inflamed or infringed. This in itself is not life-threatening, but since inflammation affects the nerve, then, as with any problem associated with nerves, a person feels a very strong pain syndrome. Of course, not every pain in the lumbar region and legs indicates inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Symptoms of the disease can be very different, but they are linked by a single sign that helps the doctor diagnose a sciatica in a patient: pain in one half of the body.

What should be the pain, and what causes it? Causes of pinching or inflammation of the nerve may be a complete or partial displacement of one of the vertebral discs, a pelvic trauma (or organs and even muscles in this area), tumors of various origin, pear-shaped muscle syndrome and other serious enough diseases. Therefore, if you suspect that you have an inflammation of the sciatic nerve, the doctor should confirm the symptoms of this ailment. People who suffer from sciatica can not say anything definite about the pains: some complain of dull pain in one hip, while the other thigh "numbs", others - on stitching or cutting pain in the thigh or lower leg. Someone is talking about tingling or sipping his legs, but someone is simply deprived of the opportunity to move. Such a different nature of pain depends on the degree of sciatica inflammation - after all, sciatica manifests itself first in a very weakened form and only with time increases, discomfort, numbness and slight tingling give way to pain. The degree of pain depends on the individual pain threshold of a person, and on the general state of the body.

However, inflammation of the sciatic nerve - symptoms and the course of the disease are easily guessed by a specialist. The localization of pain in one half of the body with simultaneous numbness of the muscles in the other half is not the only symptom. Weakness in both legs (and sometimes in the hands), increasing pain in certain physical activities - getting up, squatting (and even with laughter, coughing or sneezing), exacerbation of pain at night or in a lying position - all this indicates an inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Symptoms of sciatica are also expressed in the fact that the foot or knee joint can partially or completely lose mobility, as well as in weakened or abnormal neurological reflexes.

Is it possible to detect inflammation of the sciatic nerve at home? Try to pull the foot of the sick leg forward and rotate it. Try to smoothly lift your leg up with a muscle effort. Does not work? Experiencing pain? Then to you one way - to the doctor-neurologist. Better diagnosis will help blood test, x-ray of the pelvic area, other laboratory studies. And of course, the doctor will treat the underlying pathology, from which the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed. In your own power to remove the main symptom of the disease - a sharp pain.

It is possible to treat the pinch of the sciatic nerve at home. Required bed rest at least in the first three days. Avoid physical exertion on your legs. If the pain is very strong, resort to the help of anesthetics - ibuprofen. The doctor can prescribe and anti-inflammatory drugs. You can try to apply for 10 minutes ice compresses to the affected areas. Honey compresses from 3 tablespoons of honey mixed with one powdered tablet of analgin are easy to relieve pain.