What Causes Sciatica Pain in My Legs and Lower Back?
Many individuals think that sciatica alone is a condition but it’s actually a symptom of nerve compression. This nerve compression is typically a result of another condition or medical issue causing your sciatic nerve to become constricted. Your sciatic nerve runs from your tailbone region all the way down to your feet. The term ‘sciatica’ refers to the pain that you feel, commonly in your legs, because of this compression in your spine.
Wondering if you’re experiencing pain from sciatica? Some of the symptoms include:
- Constant chronic pain running down the back of one side of the buttocks or calf
- The type of pain that worsens when seated
- Pain also may be more severe when you cough or sneeze
- Leg pain described as tingling, numbness, or a burning sensation
- Sharp pain making it difficult to stand up or walk
As mentioned above, your nerves can become pinched as a result of a medical back condition. These conditions typically involve damage to the discs in your spine such as a bulge, spinal canals closing improperly, or inflammation of the joints. Conditions include:
- Lumbar Herniated Disk
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Bulging Disc
- Trauma such as a fracture in your spine
- Arthritis
- Diabetes (rare cases)
In addition to the conditions listed, pregnant women also tend to experience pain from their sciatic nerve. During pregnancy, it’s a possibility your baby may press on the sciatic nerve since it runs under your uterus. Many women experience some sort of back pain during their pregnancy; learn more about the common causes and conditions that pregnant women are more prone to. Wearing a lower back band during pregnancy can help alleviate some of these issues stemming from lumbar back conditions. Check out our large variety of pregnancy back supports to find the perfect brace for you!
How Does a Back Brace for Sciatica or Pinched Nerve Help My Pain?
Wearing a lumbosacral back brace for sciatica can help alleviate your painful symptoms! Lower back belts work to place pressure and dual compression on the aggravated spinal region. These pain relief braces also help those who have to sit for a long period of time or have jobs that require lifting as they help keep your spine aligned, preventing it from going out.
Applying compression to many injuries has been proven cure and speed up the recovery process. Wearing a pain reliever device for sciatica in the lower spine also reduces the work that is placed on your spine. When individuals are suffering from spinal conditions such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis, extra stress and weight is placed on your back in order to help make up for the injured region.
Since sciatica can occur in any individual especially an adult, we have a wide selection of sciatica products that are great for both a man and woman. Our sciatic nerve pain braces are very affordable while also being of high quality compared to those you can buy at the big box stores such as Wal-Mart, CVS, and Walgreens.
Sciatica Treatment at Home/Pinched Nerve in Back Treatment Remedies
Aside from wearing a lumbar spinal support corset, there are numerous ways to say goodbye to your sciatica pain and get immediate relief! Wearing a brace while combining it with some of the suggestions below is the best way to lower your discomfort tremendously.
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Heat and Ice Therapy:
Applying hot or cold packs to the affected area helps lower problems and symptoms such as that uncomfortable leg pain you’re experiencing. The heat is used to help stimulate blood flow as well as relax your back muscles. Applying ice helps reduce swelling and muscle spasms. An easy and quick way to apply heat/ice to your lower back is by wearing our lower back muscle pain wrap that comes with a pocket specifically for inserts.
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Anti-Inflammatory Medications:
Such medications work to reduce the swelling and inflammation in your spine.
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Epidural Steroid Injections (Severe Pain):
For those individuals experiencing the severe kind of sciatica pain, steroid injections may be what you’re looking for. Such injections work to reduce the inflammation by going directly into the infected sciatic nerve area. You will see immediate contentment from these steroid injections. The one downfall of these steroid injections is that they don’t completely treat the injury, you will have to get another injection in about a year.
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Chiropractor/Physical Therapist:
Working with such professionals can help design a plan specifically for you to relieve your sciatica nerve pain. They can review your conditions hands-on with you to help you understand what the cause of your sciatic pain is. Additionally, they have the right equipment and devices for you to get a full recovery.
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Correcting Your Posture:
There are endless amounts of benefits from having good posture, one being reducing your sciatic nerve pain. Having poor posture makes your spine work hard to pull your shoulders up, this extra work more specifically places tension on your lower back region. One way to easily correct your posture is by wearing a posture brace to lift up your shoulders and train your muscles. If you’re considered a larger individual, we have a plus size posture brace to fit all sizes of men and women!
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Exercises/Stretching:
Stretches and exercises that focus on movement in your hips and abdomen are ideal to help your condition. It’s advised to try yoga or Pilates to help strengthen your spine and increase your flexibility.
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Surgery:
If your pinched nerve pain continues for a long period of time or worsens, surgery is an option. There are two common surgical procedures for pain in the sciatic nerve: microdiscectomy and lumbar laminectomy. Wearing a compression brace after surgery is a great tool to help aid in the soreness from the procedure.