Back pain is a pain that almost all of us either will experience throughout our lives. It is a pain that starts with lifting a heavy things or with sitting in a wrong way, etc. and continues for days and sometimes even lasts for weeks. Back pain is sometimes relieved with medication, rest and sometimes has complications which may need surgery. What you will read next:
Types of back pain:
Low back pain has different causes, and therefore different patterns of pain can be expected. One of the common causes of the back pain is called sciatica, initiated because the pressure directly or indirectly placed on sciatic nerve. This pain commonly starts from the lower back and sometimes spreads to the buttocks, back of the thighs and legs. In this article, we are going to talk about one of the most effective ways to reduce back pain and sciatica, i.e. 'sciatic stretchers'.
What is the sciatic nerve?
This nerve is made up of five spinal nerve roots at the lower back. L4, L5, S1, S2 and S3 nerve roots together form the trunk of the sciatic nerve. This nerve is the thickest and longest nerve in the human body. The sciatic nerve on each side (right and left) starts inside the pelvis, passes through the buttocks, and descends from the back of the thigh. Behind the knee, the sciatic nerve divides into two smaller branches called the peroneal and tibial nerves, which extend further from the back of the leg to the heel and sole of the foot and finally to the soles of the toes.
The function of the sciatic nerve:
The sciatic nerve throughout its pathway covers all the nerves used for the sensation and the movement of organs. The feeling of heat and cold behind the thighs, legs, soles of our feet and toes, as well as the movements of our legs and foot fingers, mostly depend on the this nerve system and its branches.
Sciatica:
When any of the roots that make up the trunk of the sciatic nerve becomes stressed and inflamed, sciatic nerve pain occurs, which is informally called "sciatica" (although it is a nonacademic term).
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Causes of sciatica:
Sciatica occurs because of the pressure placed on or a damage made to the sciatic nerve, including:
Note that nerve roots S1, S2, S3 are rarely the cause of sciatica.
How is sciatica treated?
The main methods for treating sciatica are:
- Medicines
- Physiotherapy
- Surgery
In most cases, inflammation and pain are relieved within two to three days by resting in bed, warming up the back and taking prescribed medications through the acute phase.
Medicines:
- Anti-inflammation
- Muscle relaxants: methocarbamol٫baclofen
- Antiepileptic drugs, such as gabapentin, are sometimes used to relieve pain.
- Topical steroid injection
- Surgery in case of complications or failure to respond to the medical care mentioned above.
Physiotherapy:
After the acute phase of pain, to prevent further attacks, it is best to start and continue rehabilitation exercises according to your doctor's advises. These include some exercises that stretches the spasmodic muscles and some sitting and lying recommendation to correct your postures which will help aligning your spine.
What is Sciatica Stretcher?
Sciatica stretchers are tools that help you in the rehabilitation phase after the acute phase of sciatica has been healed to prevent the recurrence of sciatica. There are various types of sciatica stretchers on the market but you should first consult your doctor before purchasing them to make the right choice.
Which stretching exercises are right for me?
In general, stretching exercises after the end of the acute phase of pain are very effective for rehabilitation. The important point is that it is better that your doctor teaches you the standard stretching movement according to your physical and skeletal condition.
Complications of arbitrary use of sciatica stretchers:
Sometimes using sciatic stretchers blindly and without a standard program can damage your spine, so be sure to consult your doctor first. Doing standard stretching exercises twice a day for ten minutes each time will prevent back pain from returning and will relieve pain and discomfort in your back and legs.