If you are experiencing pain in your lower back, hips, or upper legs, you might be concerned that you have sciatica, the infamous lower back pain. But as there are many causes of lower back pain, it is vital to understand what the sciatica is, what causes sciatica pain, and how it feels before jumping to conclusions.
What Is the Sciatic Nerve?
The sciatic nerve runs down from your lower back, through your buttock’s region, and down to your knee. It is the longest and thickest nerve in your body, so damage to it can be excruciating.
The nerve is comprised of five nerve roots, two make up the lumbar spine, and the other three make up the sacrum. Your body has right and left sciatic nerves that run down each side of your lower body. Therefore, you could feel pain through either side of your body, or possibly both, although it's common to only experience symptoms on one side.
What Does Sciatica Feel Like?
Patients report different experiences with sciatica pain. Some describe it as an electrifying pain that shoots down from the lower back to the knee, and others portray it as a constant burning sensation.
Along with the agonizing pain comes numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.
Many patients report that their symptoms exacerbate when sitting down instead of standing up or lying down.
What Causes Sciatica?
More often than not, sciatica does not come on its own. It is usually a sign of something more serious, such as:
Other causes include:
What's the Difference Between Sciatica and Hip Pain?
As highlighted, sciatica has unique symptoms and causes that are not present in regular back stiffness and hip and lumbar pain. But the best way to differentiate between these symptoms is to consult with your doctor, and they'll be able to diagnose you and prescribe treatment options accurately.
Treatment for Sciatica
First and foremost, you should consult with your doctor and receive their professional opinion and diagnosis. Since sciatica rarely happens on its own, if you are diagnosed with sciatica, your doctor will likely first treat the root cause before addressing the pain.
The Beauty of ProHeal's Seat Cushions
However, the most affordable, long-lasting, and versatile form of treatment is changing how you sit. At ProHeal, we have an extensive line of seat cushions that work for a wheelchair, office chairs, and car seats. Our range of cushions varies with different features and sizes to ensure that you receive the care you deserve.
Buying a comfortable and supportive office chair could be costly and impractical. Our cost-effective cushions transform any sitting area into a supportive seat.
Some of the seat cushions we have:
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