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 Sciatica: Causes and Treatments






Sciatica is pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve—a big nerve stretching from your lower back, through your hips and buttocks, and down each leg. This pain usually pops up when something irritates or presses on the nerve roots in your lower spine. Common triggers include a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or other spine issues. People often describe sciatica pain as sharp, burning, or shooting, sometimes paired with numbness or muscle weakness in the leg it affects.

Doctors typically begin sciatica treatment with simple, non-surgical approaches. These often involve physical therapy, over-the-counter pain meds like NSAIDs, and advice to keep moving rather than lying down too much. No single treatment has proven to be the clear winner, but the good news is that most folks start feeling better within a few weeks without needing surgery.

Adding targeted exercises and stretches helps ease sciatica symptoms. Gentle stretches like the piriformis stretch, knee-to-chest stretch, and hamstring stretch work to relieve tension around the nerve. Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, or yoga can also improve flexibility and reduce pain. Strengthening your core and lower back muscles through exercises like pelvic tilts or bridges supports your spine and helps prevent future flare-ups.

Surgery is usually a last resort, saved for severe cases where weakness or numbness is significant or when non-surgical treatments don’t cut it after a few months. When surgery is necessary, the goal is to clear whatever’s squeezing the nerve, often a herniated disc. Surgery can sometimes speed up relief, though long-term results usually match what non-surgical options achieve.

In short, sciatica is nerve pain from pressure or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Most people find relief through non-surgical treatments, including stretches and exercises designed to loosen tight muscles and strengthen supporting areas. Surgery is typically reserved for challenging cases that don’t respond to other care.

For help with improving your health and relieving sciatica, ProTime-Fitness offers programs designed to support your needs.

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