How to know when you are having Sciatica

When you have back pain, you most likely immediately reach for pain medication. Before doing so, you should make sure this is only back pain and not a condition called sciatica. Sciatica is not a major concern but it should be treated differently from usual back pain so it is important to make that distinction.

Lower back problems which last for days may be the sign that a person is experiencing symptoms of sciatica.

Leg Pains

One of the common symptoms of sciatica is numbness or loss of feeling in the leg. This may extend to the foot also. Generally, this is accompanied by cramps in your leg. Both the numbness and cramping pain is the result of Sciatic nerve damage. There are several exercises you could do, which could give you relief from pain. The exercises may even help you get rid of the pain completely. However, there is very little that can be done to relieve the numbness in the feet. Cramps in the leg are very often taken for a Charlie horse or due to lack of potassium. This is wrong. If cramps in your leg is occurs every day it is best to consult your doctor. He would be able to tell you if your cramps are due to Sciatica. You must understand that symptoms of Sciatica can come and go and that it is possible to alleviate the pain or get rid of it entirely.

Hip and buttock aches

In the early days when you suspect you have Sciatica, one symptom you may find is an ache in your leg. As time progresses this pain may gravitate either towards the top of your frame, or even towards the bottom of your body into the calves or the feet. A further symptom of Sciatica is shooting pains, which may vary in severity. You should consult a doctor to get medication for this and have a general chat about the condition. You may also notice an aching of the hips irrespective of your posture which is also linked to the illness. Sharp pains which shoot up and down your body are a classic symptom of Sciatica. If you have any suspicion that you have the illness, you should speak to your doctor to have it confirmed or cleared.

To cure the symptoms of sciatica, you must see your physician to confirm that you have Sciatica nerve problems. Your doctor is likely to prescribe medication, but also be aware that there are natural remedies available.