If you’re unaware of what sciatica pain is, I consider you lucky, because that likely means you have never had any issues with your own sciatica nerve. If you are savvy with the condition, however, I empathize with you, and I entirely acknowledge how miserable the pain can be.
I’m a little reluctant to admit this, but a few weeks ago, I went bowling. I do not partake in bowling on a regular basis and it had been quite a while since I last did; I ended up tweaking my sciatica, and it’s been a real twat ever since.
To be fair, it is quite possible I irritated it playing rugby and bowling, of all things, was what spurred it into overdrive. But, regardless of the origin of the pain, I can say for certain it sucks.
For anyone unfamiliar with the term, “Sciatica happens when irritation, inflammation, pinching or compression affect one or more nerves that run down your lower back and into your legs. It’s usually not a serious or dangerous condition, and most people with sciatica get better on their own with time and self-care treatments. But severe cases may need surgery,” according to my.clevelandclinic.org.
“Sciatica is nerve pain from an injury or irritation to your sciatic nerve. In addition to pain, it can involve tingling or numbness in your back or butt that may also radiate down your leg. More severe symptoms are also possible.
“Your sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in your body. It’s up to 2 centimeters wide (a U.S. penny or a United Kingdom 1 pence coin are about the same width). Despite its name, it’s not just one nerve. It’s actually a bundle of nerves that come from five nerve roots branching off from your spinal cord.
“You have two sciatic nerves, one on each side of your body. Each sciatic nerve runs through your hip and buttock on one side. They each go down the leg on their side of your body until they reach just below your knee. Once there, they split into other nerves that connect to parts farther down, including your lower leg, foot and toes.
“Having sciatica means you can experience mild to severe pain anywhere with nerves that connect to the sciatic nerve. The symptoms can affect your lower back, hips, buttocks or legs. Some symptoms may extend as far down as your feet and toes, depending on the specific nerve(s) affected,” the web page states.
Check back tomorrow for some more information about sciatica.
Photo by Joyce Hankins on Unsplash
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