What is sciatica?

Sciatica is the name given to any sort of pain that is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It runs from the back of your pelvis, through your buttocks, and all the way down both legs, ending at your feet.

When something compresses or irritates the sciatic nerve, it can cause a pain that radiates out from your lower back and travels down your leg to your calf . Sciatic pain can range from being mild to very painful.

A slipped disc is the most common identified cause of sciatica, but in some cases there is no obvious cause .

Functions

Though every single nerve in the body performs some function, the functions of the sciatic nerve cannot be ignored in particular.

• The sciatic nerve is responsible for all the communication between the lower part of the body and the brain. It sends signals to the brain via the spinal cord.
• This nerve controls all the movement in the lower half of the body.
• It is because of this nerve that we feel the sensations in the lower body.
• The sciatic nerve enables the flexing of our hips and knees.
• It also controls the movement of the feet.

Sciatic Nerve And Sciatica
Sciatica is a common medical condition that is characterized by pain in the lower back and the legs. This condition is caused as a result of the inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Owing to various factors, sometimes extra pressure is exerted on the sciatic nerve. This leads to the compression and eventually inflammation of the nerve. This condition is popularly known as sciatica.

Dealing with sciatica can be a little difficult primarily because of the pain it brings along. The pain can be quite severe and sometimes may even impair movement. It may be accompanied with needle like or a tingling sensation in the thighs. However, there are some sciatic patients who deal with a numb kind of pain.

The good part is that sciatica can be treated. There are several natural therapies such as acupressure, reflexology, yoga, hydrotherapy, chiropractic treatment and the like that can be used to treat sciatica. In extreme cases, a surgery may be required.

Sciatica is a symptom, not a disorder. The radiating pain of sciatica signals another problem involving the nerve, such as a herniated disk. Depending on the cause, the pain of acute sciatica — which may be quite uncomfortable — usually goes away on its own within a couple of months.