Sciatica

Sciatica usually occurs in people around 40 years old, and the disease usually develops slowly. The cause of the disease is often low back pain. Standing or sitting for a long time can easily cause sciatica. Some patients may suffer from lumbar disc herniation. Rheumatoid arthritis patients are also prone to sciatica.

So there are many causes of sciatica, but because many people don’t know much about the symptoms of sciatica, it is easy for them to not get effective treatment in the early stages, which will aggravate the condition. Next, let us tell you what are the common symptoms of sciatica pain?

General symptoms

(1) The pain is mainly limited to the sciatic nerve distribution area, the posterior thigh, the posterior and lateral calf, and the foot. Patients with severe pain may adopt a unique posture: bending their waist, bending their knees, and standing on their toes. If the lesion is located at the nerve root, the pain will worsen when the pressure in the spinal canal increases (coughing, exerting force).

(2) The degree of muscle weakness can vary greatly depending on the cause, location of the lesion, and the extent of the damage. The muscles innervated by the sciatic nerve may be completely or partially weak or paralyzed.

(3) There may or may not be tenderness over the sciatic nerve trunk at the sciatic notch.

(4) There is a sciatic nerve traction sign, positive Lasegue sign and its equivalent sign. The presence of this sign is often parallel to the severity of pain. This symptom may disappear after local anesthesia of the sciatic nerve root or nerve trunk.

(5) The Achilles tendon reflex decreases or disappears, and the knee reflex may increase due to stimulation.

(6) There may be a decrease or disappearance of various sensations in the area innervated by the sciatic nerve, including a decrease in vibration sensation at the lateral ankle, or there may be very mild sensory impairment.

Now that we understand the cause and symptoms of sciatica, what method should be used to treat sciatica? Patients with sciatica should pay attention to bed rest, and it is best to sleep on a hard bed. At the same time, they can also take some vitamin B drugs and painkillers to relieve the pain experienced by patients.