Of the many and varied sources of buttock pain, one of the most distressing is undoubtedly sciatic pain. When you have this type of pain, it’s referred to as sciatica.
Sciatica is actually a variety of nerve pain and it occurs due to damage or trauma to the sciatic nerve. This nerve begins in the spinal column, continues through the buttocks and down to the feet. It is approximately equal to your thumb in diameter, and is the longest and largest individual nerve in the body. So when it’s damaged, the resulting discomfort can be severe and unrelenting.
It’s also not unusual for sciatic nerve irritation to cause tingling and numbing along the nerve pathway.
More often than not, sciatic nerve pain begins in the spine, when discs or vertebrae are worn or damaged. This results in inflammation along the nerve pathway. Pain can be felt anywhere along the path of the nerve: back, buttocks, legs or feet.
Besides normal wear and tear, there are a number of other ways the sciatic nerve can become injured or damaged. Some of the most common include the following.
Very often sciatica is caused by a herniated disc in the spinal column. A herniated disc is a disc that is no longer in it’s usual place, and is thus pressing on nerves roots in the back.
A typical cause of sciatica is incorrect posture. When your teachers told you not to slouch at your desk, there was a good reason. Incorrect posture can put pressure on the sciatic nerve in many ways.
Several medical disorders and conditions have can cause sciatica symptoms, including:
spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal canal. Typically this happens with age.
bone spurs, which often occur as a result of arthritis, or
when a nerve becomes pinched
There can be different levels of pain, varying from mild to excruciating. Those who have had sciatica have reported that it can even feel like a jolt of electricity. Movement in the affected area can aggravate the discomfort. You could experience a sharp pain when you cough or sneeze. Prolonged sitting can aggravate symptoms.
Usually just one lower extremity is affected..
Sciatica generally is aggravated when you sit or stand for a long time. However, walking, lying down and motions that stretch or extend the spinal column may relieve the discomfort.
Depending on the cause, the pain of acute sciatica usually goes away on its own without treatment within a couple of months. In the meantime, there are few options for getting relief..
There is no scientific evidence at this point that ice packs or heating pads will bring any real pain relief.
However, pain relievers that are available over the counter and several kinds of steroid injections may help.
If buttock pain caused by sciatica continues for more than a few days, it’s a good idea to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. He or she may recommend physical therapy. There are a number of exercises that may also help. Surgery for sciatic pain is usually done only in the most severe cases.
To read additional articles on subjects related to buttock pain, click on buttocks pain and explaining piriformis syndrome. Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and television reporter. To read more of his articles, visit Causes Of Buttock Pain at http://www.buttockpain.info.
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You could experience a sharp pain when you cough or sneeze. Prolonged sitting can aggravate symptoms. Thanks for your post.
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