The sciatic nerve is the thickest and longest nerve in the body. It’s actually made up of five nerve roots: three from the final section of the spine called the sacrum & two from the lower back region called the lumbar spine. These five nerve roots together form a right and left sciatic nerve. One sciatic nerve runs through your hips on each side of your body, buttocks and down a leg, ending just below the knee.
The symptoms of sciatic nerve pain include:
Everyone has their own tolerance & level of pain in lower back. The cause of the pain can be different, type of pain can be different & the intensity of pain is different. A more aggressive treatment may be tried first in some patients. It’s time to meet a healthcare professional and try other treatment options if a six-week trial of conservative, self-care treatments – like ice, heat, stretching, over-the-counter medicines – has not provided relief.
Initial treatments include some combination of medications, physical therapy, alternative therapies & therapeutic injections.
Within 4 to 6 weeks of nonsurgical treatment, acute sciatica usually gets better. Pain lasting over 8 weeks may require treatment which may take longer and may depend upon the underlying cause.
