22/01/2022
Sciatica.
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body.
Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.
🔵 Causes.
🔹 Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes pinched, usually by a herniated disk in your spine or by an overgrowth of bone (bone spur) on your vertebrae.
🔹 More rarely, the nerve can be compressed by a tumor or damaged by a disease such as diabetes.
🔵 Common Sciatica.
Symptoms.
🔸 Pain
🔸 Altered sensation
🔸 Weakness
🔸 Change in posture may aggravate or relieve pain.
🔵 If sciatica is serious it may occurs
▫️ Progressive neurological symptoms, such as leg weakness
▫️ Symptoms in both legs
▫️ bladder dysfunction
▫️ Sexual dysfunction
🔵 Risk factors.
◼️ Age -related changes in the spine, such as herniated disks and bone spurs, are the most common causes of sciatica.
◼️ Obesity- By increasing the stress on your spine, excess body weight can contribute to the spinal changes that trigger sciatica.
◼️ Occupation- A job that requires you to twist your back, carry heavy loads or drive a motor vehicle for long periods might play a role in sciatica, but there's no conclusive evidence of this link.
◼️ Prolonged sitting-. People who sit for prolonged periods or have a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to develop sciatica than active people are.
◼️ Diabetes- This condition, which affects the way your body uses blood sugar, increases your risk of nerve damage.
🔵 Complications.
🔷 Although most people recover fully from sciatica, often without treatment, sciatica can potentially cause permanent nerve damage.
🔹 Loss of feeling in the affected leg
🔹 Weakness in the affected leg
🔹 Loss of bowel or bladder function.
🔵 Prevention.
🔶 It's not always possible to prevent sciatica, and the condition may recur.
🔸 Exercise regularly-. To keep your back strong, pay special attention to your core muscles — the muscles in your abdomen and lower back that are essential for proper posture and alignment.
🔸 Maintain proper posture when you sit-. Choose a seat with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. Consider placing a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level.
🔸 Use good body mechanics.- If you stand for long periods, rest one foot on a stool or small box from time to time. When you lift something heavy, let your lower extremities do the work. Move straight up and down. Keep your back straight and bend only at the knees.
🔵 Physiotherapy Management.
◻️ Exercise: exercises to increase core strength, gentle stretching of the lumbar spine and hamstrings, regular light exercise such as walking, swimming, or aquatherapy
◻️ Manual therapy: spinal manipulation, mobilization or soft tissue techniques such as massage - used alongside exercise and patient education
◻️ Promote self management
