Sciatica – 5 Warning Signals
Sciatica is a very common problem among people of all ages. However, unlike such ailments that are easily diagnosed, it is a condition whose symptoms can indicate many different diseases or injuries.
For example, leg pain may be a symptom of fatigue or overtraining. It may well be related to the pressure on the nerve roots. If it is not properly addressed, chronic sciatica can develop . So, in today’s article, we will present you 5 symptoms that may be a warning sign and should give you food for thought.
Pain in the back of the leg and thigh does not necessarily have to be a symptom of sciatica. It may as well be a normal contraction. However, it should be a cause for concern when severe, piercing pain is accompanied by numbness or tingling in the limb. This, in turn, can radiate down to the foot.
It is also worth paying attention to whether the pain in the leg worsens when sneezing or coughing. Still, it does not determine the diagnosis whether it is sciatica or another health problem, or maybe just a temporary weakness of the body. If you do not know what is bothering you, read the following warning signals, and if necessary, do not delay your visit to the doctor!
1. Sciatica may present as knee pain
If you suffer from severe weakness and pain in the knee that radiates all over your leg, it could be a symptom of sciatica. On the other hand, when the pain affects both knees, it is also worth going to the doctor immediately, as this may require immediate treatment.
Sometimes this type of ailment may even require surgical intervention.
If you only have pain in one knee, chances are it’s sciatica. If the symptoms tend to recur, it could be sciatica. This pain is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. It is the longest nerve in the human body, stretching from the spine to the foot.
When it comes to oppression, its operation changes, and this manifests itself in many different ways. Patients complain of, among others, pain, weakness, tremors or tingling in the limbs.
2. Limited range of motion
With people who regularly play sports, it is sometimes difficult to know where the source of the pain or weakness is. This is because sciatica has almost identical symptoms to piriformis syndrome. The latter, however, is much more common than rheumatism.
Tingling, pain and numbness in the leg are common symptoms of these two health problems. That is why it is worth going to a doctor who will assess which ailment you are dealing with. Ignoring your symptoms can lead to a deterioration of your health and further complications.
Sciatica is a very painful disease that is much better avoided. Try not to overload your body during training. Often, very active people tend to overtrain and ignore the signals sent to them by their own body.
Sometimes it is better to stop and rest than to go the other way and risk serious injuries and injuries!
3. Sciatica is primarily a severe pain
As we mentioned, pain is a basic warning sign for many different conditions. It is also the primary symptom of conditions such as chronic sciatica. When you go to the doctor, think about how to accurately describe the pain you are feeling. This will help you make an appropriate diagnosis.
Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum (author of works such as “The Real Cause, Real Cures: 9 Causes of the Most Common Health Problems and How to Deal With Them”) thus offers some points that will help you assess whether the pain you are experiencing is related to the sciatic nerve or not:
- Place your hands on your lower back with your thumb on your hip as shown in the photo above. Press your fingers against your back muscles.
- Try to locate the source of the pain by changing the position and pressure of the hand.
- If at some point the pressure causes a raging pain that radiates down to the toes, it is very likely a compression of the sciatic nerve.
4. Test exercise
A simple exercise will help you determine if you are suffering from excessive pressure on the sciatic nerve.
- Lie on your back and stretch your legs out in front of you, pinching your toes. You will need the help of a second person to support your raised legs and help you keep the angle between 30 and 70 degrees.
- Your “assistant” should also check that you are making this move correctly.
- If you feel pain all over your leg, the back of your knee, and the toes when you are doing this exercise, sciatica is the problem.
Therefore, it is worth making an appointment with a physiotherapist or doctor who will repeat the tests and order the appropriate treatment. Remember, however, that a test exercise performed incorrectly may even worsen your condition!
5. Other accompanying symptoms
In addition to the types of pain described above, such as back pain, knee pain and leg pain, there are several other symptoms associated with sciatica that should give us food for thought. They can even be symptoms related to the digestive system or the excretory system!
Alan Hilibrand, spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), emphasizes that this is quite a rare situation, but it is worth considering it.
If the vertebrae put too much pressure on a nerve, it can affect the functioning of the bladder and digestive system. This is why a visit to the doctor is always the first thing to do in such a situation. This will help you avoid damaging these organs.
The good news: sciatica is treatable!
In addition to all the unpleasant ailments described above, we also have one good news for you! in 80% of cases, sciatica is completely treatable! It has not been determined whether it is enough to return the disc to its place for complete healing, or whether some other factor reduces the pressure on the sciatic nerve.
If you suffer from sciatica, you may need to take anti-inflammatory and pain reliever medications. In combination with physical therapy and regular exercise, they should bring you relief and restore your mobility.
Remember that sciatica symptoms can last for more than 3 months. If the pain goes away, but then comes back, that is also a reason to go to a specialist doctor.
