What is sciatica? What are the symptoms and treatment methods?

The sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body, starts from the lower part of the spine and extends to the leg. The sciatica, which provides the regulation of the sensory and motor functions of the leg, exits the 4th and 5th vertebrae, which are the last vertebrae of the waist, and passes through the hip and extends from the back of the knee to the bottom of the foot. Squeezing this nerve, also known as the S1 nerve, is called sciatica or sciatica pain. Sciatica pain usually begins with mild intensity and increases with intensity over time. The pain typically spreads to the leg area. It can be felt from the hip area to the calf, under the knee, to the side and front of the leg, and finally to the heel. Generally unilateral pain is more common in young adults, heavy workers, and people who are not exercising. Sciatica is a treatable disease, characterized by pain sensations in the leg, loss of strength and sensation. "What is sciatica?" It is necessary to answer the question.
What is sciatica?
The longest and thickest nerve in the body, sciatica or medical terminology, nervus ischiadicus, comes out of the last vertebrae of the waist and ends just below the knee. In other words, the sciatic nerve, which is formed by the joining of the L4, L5, S1, S2 and S3 nerve roots in the lower region of the waist, passes through the perforated area in the pelvis, which is located in the hip and defined as coxa, and extends to the back of the leg. It forms motor and sensory functions in this region by dividing into branches and reaching to the foot in the knee joint. Sciatica is actually the name given to the pain caused by pinching the nerve. "What does sciatica mean?" The answer to the question can be given in this way. Tightening or stretching of the roots of the sciatic nerve in the lumbar region causes pain in the leg. In some cases, causes such as vertebrae, inflammation, tumor and cyst can also cause sciatic nerve pain. Sciatica pain, which starts with low back pain radiating to the hip, spreads along the nerve from the groin to the back of the leg and from here to the foot. In severe cases of sciatica, the leg becomes weak, knee and wrist reflexes decrease. The more the person raises his leg, the more severe the pain.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Sciatica pain, characterized by pain extending from waist to foot, makes the person feel that he is pulled from his hip to the heel. Pain, which is exacerbated by movement, causes loss of sensation and strength along the area where the sciatic nerve passes in the leg and foot area. The severity of pain can sometimes limit a person's movements. It is difficult to bend the upper part of the body, or the movement of rotation can be limited. Often the person cannot stand upright and bends to one side. The problem of dragging feet can be seen on the side where pain is felt during walking. In addition to pain, numbness and tingling in the lower part of the feet and toes, a feeling like a needle sting can also be felt. In severe cases, loss of motion may occur. In addition, due to the inability to control the bladder and intestines, complaints that require urgent intervention such as urinary incontinence are among the symptoms of sciatica. If the disease is not treated, thinning and shortening may occur in the muscles of the painful leg.
Why does sciatica happen?
Sciatica pain can occur for many different reasons, although it is mostly caused by a herniated disc. Sciatica pains examined in three different groups can be seen as a result of compression in the lumbar region, compression of the sciatic nerve in the hip muscles, traumatic injuries in the back of the knee joint or in the foot region. The factors causing sciatica pain are listed below:
Inactivity: Being inactive and sitting for a long time can lead to sciatic nerve pain. Sciatica is more common in occupational groups that require a long sitting and driving vehicle.
Lifting Heavy: The sciatic nerve complaint is more common, especially in people who work in some occupational groups and who need to constantly lift heavy loads.
Obesity: Being overweight or obese causes body weight to cause stress in the spine. Therefore, this situation can trigger the formation of sciatica.
Diabetes: Diabetes, also known as diabetes among the people, can cause damage to the nervous system.
Advanced Age: Due to aging, sciatic nerve pain may occur due to weakening of the muscles, bones and tissues around the bone.
Trauma: Sciatic nerve pain may occur due to damage to the sciatic nerve and surrounding tissue after accidents and injuries.
Pregnancy: The sciatic nerve may be suppressed due to the increased weight and widening uterus during pregnancy. In addition, enlargement of the abdomen and breasts during this period may also cause the center of gravity to change and thus pressure on the sciatic nerve.
How to protect from sciatica?
It may be recommended to keep the back and waist muscles strong to prevent politics, which greatly reduces one's quality of life. A good posture is effective in preventing sciatica formation. In addition, it is among the measures to be taken in order to avoid sitting incorrectly, to support the back, waist and arms while sitting and to protect against sciatica. Avoiding standing for a long time, standing still and lifting heavy can also prevent sciatica.
When should a doctor visit for sciatica?
Slight severe sciatic pain that occurs during the initial period may disappear spontaneously over time. However, if the severity of pain increases or the pain persists for more than a week, the physician should be consulted. In addition, if there is a sudden, severe pain in the back, hip, leg or foot area, numbness in the legs, weakness, difficulty in control of the intestine and bladder, the physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment. The complaint of sciatica pain that starts after traumas such as falling from a height or a traffic accident must be examined by the physician.
How is sciatica diagnosed?
When a person applies to a physician for sciatica pain, the physician first takes the patient's anamnesis. Therefore, pain description and history are very important. The presence of numbness, pain or tingling sensation, mostly from hip to heel, is important in the diagnosis of sciatica. The physician checks whether there is weakness in the muscles and the current state of reflexes by physical examination. He asks the person to lift his leg up while lying in a flat position. It measures the intensity of pain by performing some movements such as stretching. Likewise, it investigates the severity of complaints such as lethargy and loss of sensation. When necessary, the physician checks whether there is an abnormality in the sciatic nerve with nerve stimulation tests. In some cases, the physician may want to view in which area the sciatic nerve is suppressed by radiological imaging methods such as CT and MR. After understanding what caused sciatica pain, diagnosis is made and sciatica treatment is started.
How is sciatica treated?
Different types of treatment are applied depending on the patient's complaints, general condition, severity of sciatica, and why the sciatic nerve is suppressed. In some cases, analgesic drugs such as pain relievers and muscle relaxants are used, while in others, methods such as epidural steroid injection can be used. In addition to physical therapy methods such as spinal manipulation, traction therapy, applied by the physical therapy and rehabilitation department, surgical intervention may also be necessary for sciatica treatment. Sciatic pain can be treated with lumbar laminectomy by reducing pressure on the nerve, removing hernia formation, or partial or complete removal of the disc, known as discectomy.
If you think you have complaints related to the sciatic nerve, do not forget to have your checks done by applying to the nearest health institution. We wish you healthy days.

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