What Is Sciatica
Have you been struggling with pain and a ‘tight’ sensation down the back of your leg, maybe into your hamstring (back of the thigh) or even the calf? If so have you done what we all do at times and ‘Googled’ it, only to find out that you have Sciatica? You’ve heard about this affliction which crippled your poor aunt for years and fear that you may be saddled with this pain for life, taking pain medication regularly and maybe even requiring surgery. It’s a scary thought. BUT WAIT!! Have you had it properly assessed? Do you ACTUALLY have sciatica? Come to think of it, what IS sciatica?!
Sciatica is a term used by medical professionals to describe the condition when the Sciatic nerve is being compressed which gives the sensation of pain, tingling and numbness into the back of the leg. The leg can also feel weak as the signals from the brain to the muscles do not travel effectively.
So in order to have a Sciatica, either a lumbar intervertebral disc is bulging, the nerve is being irritated by inflammation of a facet joint, a ‘tight’ muscle is compressing the nerve, or some other pathology is underling which is causing you this pain.