Sciatica In Women Affecting Their Physical Activities

Sciatica:

“Lumber Radiculopathy commonly prevailing mostly in women and affecting their physical activities”. Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve travels from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg.”Sciatica In Women Affecting Their Physical Activities”. Common track of pain is posterior thigh, lateral border of leg and foot and little finger.

Sciatica most often occurs when a herniated disk or an overgrowth of bone puts pressure on part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.

Although the pain associated with sciatica can be severe but in most cases it can be relieved with treatment in a few weeks. People who have severe complications and serious leg weakness or bowel or bladder changes might need surgery.

Enlarge image-one-point-blogs — **Sciatic Nerve Enlarge image**

Symptoms:

Sciatica pain can be almost anywhere along the nerve pathway. It’s especially likely to follow a path from the low back to the buttock and the back of a thigh and calf.

“Sciatica In Women Affecting Their Physical Activities”. The pain can vary from a mild ache to a sharp shooting and burning pain. Sometimes it can feel like a jolt or electric shock. It can be worse when coughing or sneezing or sitting a long time. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body. But in obese patients it can be bilateral.

Some people also have numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in the leg or foot. One part of the leg can be in pain, while another part can feel numb. Cramps on prolonged standing- neural claudication. Ankle jerk is lost or diminished.

Get Immediate Medical Care If:

Sudden, severe pain in the low back or a leg and numbness or muscle weakness in a leg
Pain after a violent injury, such as a traffic accident
Trouble controlling bowels or bladder
Loss of bowel or bladder control

Causes:

Herniated-disk-enlarge-image-one-point-blogs — **Herniated Disk Enlarge image**

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated,pinched or compressed. The cause is usually a herniated disk in the spine or an overgrowth of bone, sometimes called bone spurs, form on the spinal bones. More rarely, a tumour can put pressure on the nerve. Or a disease such as diabetes can damage the nerve. May be in pregnancy. Degenerative disk disease and continuous stress and muscle mass of gluteal region and performs ( contraction occurs and impingement of sciatic nerve)

bone-spurs=on-spine-enlarge-image-one-point-blogs — **Bone Spurs On Spine Enlarge image**

Risk factors

Risk Factors For Sciatica Include:

1. Age

Age-related changes in the spine, such as herniated disks and bone spurs, are the most common causes of sciatica.

2. Obesity

Being overweight increases stress on the spine and in obese patients it may radiate in both legs.

3. Occupation

A job that requires twisting the back,prolonged sitting, carrying heavy loads or driving a motor vehicle for long periods might play a role in sciatica.

4. Prolonged Sitting

People who sit a lot or don’t move much are more likely to develop sciatica than active people are.

5. Diabetes

This condition, which affects the way the body uses blood sugar, increases the risk of nerve damage.

How to differentiate sciatica from lower back :

Slump Test:

Patient is asked to sit at the edge of table and asked the patient to bend without neck flexion, later on asked to extend the knee with dorsiflexion while therapist applies pressure over the neck and shoulders. Patient complaint the pain and stretch in meninges of the spinal cord .

Straight Leg Raise Test (SLR) Or Lasègue’s Test:

Patient is asked to raise the leg with extended knee.Then instructed to lower the leg in knee extension, thereby relieving the pain. Dorsiflexion of ankle provokes the pain. Pain is usually occur at 70° because nerve structure alignment occur at 70°.

Management of Sciatica:

Medical management includes administration of NSAIDs like ibrufen, epidural steroids, oral steroids, vitaminB6 injections.

Physiotherapy:

It includes neural mobilization, self-stretching exercises, back strengthening exercises and my official release.

Ultrasound therapy, TENS, SWD, LASER would reduce the pain and spasms.

Prevention

It’s not always possible to prevent sciatica, and the condition can come back. To protect your back:

Exercise Regularly

To keep the back strong, work the core muscles —the muscles in the abdomen and lower back needed for good posture and alignment. A health care provider can recommend activities.

Keep Good Posture When Sitting

Choose a seat with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. For better low back support, place a pillow or rolled towel in the small of the back to keep its normal curve. Keep knees and hips level.

Use Your Body Correctly

When standing for long periods, rest one foot on a stool or small box from time to time. When lifting something heavy, let your legs do the work. Hold the load close to your body. Don’t lift and twist at the same time. Find someone to help lift heavy or awkward things.