Sciatica is a medical condition whereby you feel pain in the lower areas of the back right down to the lower limbs
. The pain is restricted to numbness; tingling sensations and a weakened back and limbs. For those of us who haven't experienced sciatica you can be rest-assured that there is nothing to worry about, it is a fairly subtle and treatable pain.
The word sciatica stems from the sciatic nerve which is by far the longest nerve in the human body. And as nerves are the strands of flesh that transmit impulses of pain and pleasure it is understandable that sciatic nerve pain has certain distinct features. When someone experiences sciatic pain they experience numbness in the lower back to lower limbs; a weakening of the limbs and a tingling sensation in the same areas.
There are a few known causes of sciatic pain. But the basic understanding of the causes is derived from the fact that when pressure is applied against the sciatic nerve it gets inflamed. So the moment the sciatic nerve is swollen only one thing can happen, the alteration of sensations. This would normally occur if you were sitting in an improper fashion for too long.
On top of this the bone structures in the spinal column can be a direct cause of sciatica. When vertebrae in the column slip over each other when you fall awkwardly they exert pressure against the sciatic nerve. And again the impulses of sensation will become distorted and numbness can ensue.
Sciatic pain is a very normal form of pain, it's the name that makes it seem like it is a complicated condition. Owing to this the treatments are very much simple. One remedy is the ice pack. Fill a plastic with ice and tie it close. After this take the ice-pack and rub it gently over the places you feel the most pain. Do this three times a day and you'll be feeling a lot better by the morning of the next day.
An alternative is the heat pack. The heat pack is usually a plastic tube that you fill with hot water, more like a bed warmer for cold winter nights but slightly hotter. Fill it up with hot water and then rub it against the areas where you feel pain just like the ice pack. Pain relief can begin within hours if administered properly.
Another form of treatment is massage therapy. With massage therapy the irregularities in the lower back causing swelling will be greatly readjusted. The good thing about a massage is that it triggers the release of 'feel good' hormones as well as relaxing muscles in the lower back. In addition to this you could also try acupuncture.