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Sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It
runs from your pelvis through your buttock and hip area and down the
back of each leg. That is why it can be a cause for back and leg pain
and also of lower left back pain. Another important thing about this
nerve is that it controls many of the muscles in your lower legs and
provides sensation to your thighs, legs and feet. It can cause lower
back pain and leg numbing.
"Sciatica" refers to
pain that radiates along the path of this nerve- from your back into
your buttocks and leg. Sciatica exercise includes exercises for lower
back pain, heat and cold applications, over-the-counter pain relievers,
and exercise or physical therapy that ease the discomfort of sciatica.
Surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve may be an option when symptoms
of sciatica don't respond to conservative treatment and chronic lower
back pain persists.
Exercise is another back pain remedy. It
prompts your body to release endorphins- chemicals that prevent pain
signals from reaching your brain. Endorphins also help alleviate anxiety
and depression, conditions that can make your pain even more difficult
to control. If you're new to sciatica exercise, start out slowly and
increase your exercise time to 30 minutes a day. To prevent injury,
consider learning proper weightlifting techniques from a certified
physical therapist.
Pay special attention to your core back pain
muscles- the muscles in your abdomen and lower back that are essential
for proper posture and alignment. Pilates- an exercise technique for
total body conditioning and rehabilitation may be particularly helpful
in keeping these muscles strong.
Sciatica isn't a disorder in itself. Instead, it's a symptom of other problems involving the nerve.
Depending on the cause of lower back pain, the pain of acute sciatica
can increase or decrease.
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