Severe lower back pain on the side of the back that radiates downward through the buttock and down the back of the leg, is normally caused by a problem with sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body it begins in the lower back and runs downward all the way to the toes.
Severe lower back pain is referred to as sciatica because it is generally caused by pressure being placed on the sciatic nerve. If the pressure is excessive enough, the pain can be so severe it can become debilitating. The pain can be on either side of the back and can also be centered in the low back, and is common for the pain to continue down the back of the legs.
sciatica, is the term used to describe lower back pain due to problems with the sciatic nerve, and the most common problems with the nerve are, Piriformis muscle damage, and damaged discs in the lower part of the spinal column. The Piriformis muscle is the muscle that attaches the thigh bone to the lower back, the sciatic nerve is located under this muscle as it runs from the lower back to the feet, when the muscle becomes inflamed and swells, it places pressure on the nerve, this is what is causing the pain.
It is common to try different position when standing, sitting, or lying down to ease the pain, however, if you have ever suffered from sciatica, you know that no matter what position you try, you cannot completely eliminate the pain. Many also believe that lying on a heating pad will ease the pain, and the are correct, because the heat deadens the nerve pain receptors thus stopping them from sending signals to the brain. What most are unaware of is that after removing the heat the pain is worse, because the heat worsens inflammation, which is what causes swelling, more swelling, more pressure, more pain.
If a problem with the discs in the lower back is causing the sciatica then, sitting will only make the problem worse as this place’s pressure on the sciatic nerve, because sitting compresses the spine. Instead of sitting, take short walks to help keep the spine from compressing. It does not matter if the pain is due to Piriformis muscle damage or damage to discs in the lower back, the pain can be severe and debilitating as either condition causes inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Inflammation in turn causes swelling, the more swelling there is the worse the pain is.
There are things you can do to get relief from lower back pain that you can do at home that will not only rid you of sciatca but, will also keep it from returning. Click here to find some of the things that worked for me
