A pinched sciatic nerve is a usual type of discomfort due to the fact that the sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. The nerve originates from the nerve roots of the 4th and fifth lumbar spine as well as 1st 3 sacral nerve roots. It coalesces to form the sciatic nerve inside the pelvic cavity and exits deep to the powerful muscles of the hip and buttocks. From there it runs deep within the muscular layers down the posterior of the upper leg to the knee where it divides into the common peroneal and tibial nerves . The sciatic nerve innervates the major muscles of the back of the thigh and lower leg.
There are numerous conditions that can cause or contribute to sciatic nerve pain such as :
-Lumbar disc herniations
-Arthritic degeneration
-Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
-Piriformis Syndrome and muscular compression syndromes
-Trauma
-Pregnancy
Most of these conditions requires diagnosis by a trained professional and the true cause will dictate the best treatment of a pinched sciatic nerve.
Arthritic degeneration of the lumbar spine and lumbar disc pathologies are relatively common and can be treated conservatively in typical cases but may eventually need surgery in severe cases. The nerve roots from the 4th and 5th lumbar contribute to the sciatic nerve and squeezing or irritation of these nerve roots can result in sciatic nerve pain. There have been some great discoveries in non-surgical treatments such as decompression therapy and inversion therapy.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can irritate the nerve roots as they practically lay directly on the interior surface of the joint inside the pelvic cavity . Stretching and chiropractic care are the most effective treatment for this type of condition.
Piriformis syndrome describes the condition where the sciatic nerve is compressed by the piriformis muscle as it exits the pelvic cavity. The nerve runs beneath the muscle in typical cases so any irritation or tightness of the muscle can irritate and compress the nerve. In about 15% of the population the nerve actually pierces the piriformis muscle making it even more prone to compression.
Trauma can cause sciatic pain since any hard impact, like a fall on a hard surface, can injure the muscles and tissues of the hip and buttock and result in pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Pregnancy is another typical cause of a pinched sciatic nerve as the growing uterus puts increasing pressure on the nerve roots and nerve inside the pelvis . There are techniques and conservative methods that can help relieve sciatica during pregnancy and ultimately most cases resolve following childbirth.
Conditions of the sciatic nerve are numerous in both the potential severity and cause but conservative treatments are available & new options for home care and self treatment are proving their value everyday. To find out more, visit pinchedsciaticnerve.net for a comprehensive look at sciatic nerve pain, it’s causes, & the treatment available.