Beware of Dulling Pain: 9 Sciatic Nerve Facts Everyone Should Know

Did you know that 40% of adults will experience sciatica pain at some point?

If you’re part of that 40%, you know that the dulling pain in your back can be annoying and debilitating. Before you seek treatment though, it’s important to understand a few facts about sciatica.

1. It’s Your Longest Nerve

You have two sciatic nerves. There’s one on each side of your body and they’re the longest nerves in the human body. They begin in the base of the spine, from where it runs along the back of each leg, extending all the way into the foot.

This nerve isn’t single structure. It’s a bundle of nerves from five nerve roots branching off the spinal cord.

Beyond being the longest nerve, the sciatic nerve is also the largest nerve in the human body. It is approximately 2 cm wide, making it the thickest nerve.

This size enables it to have a significant impact on our ability to move and feel sensations in the lower part of the body.

2. It Influences Movement and Sensation

The sciatic nerve plays a crucial role in the movement and sensation of the legs. A compromised sciatic nerve can lead to symptoms like weakness, numbness, or tingling in the affected leg.

Movement

The sciatic nerve helps control the muscles in the back of your thigh, knee, and foot. It enables movements like bending the knee and moving the foot.

Sensations

The sciatic nerve also carries signals from the skin of your foot and most of your lower leg back to your brain. This lets you feel sensations in these areas.

If the sciatic nerve is damaged, it can cause weakness in your leg or foot movements. Long-term sciatic nerve inflammation can also lead to muscle weakness in your legs.

3. It Affects the Lower Back and Legs

Lower back pain is one of the most common initial complaints of individuals with sciatica. This is due to the location of the sciatic nerve, which originates in the lower back and travels through the lower limb.

Sciatica pain is basically a pinched nerve in the lower back. When this nerve is pinched or compressed, it can cause pain in the lower back, which may radiate down the leg.

The sciatica pain pathway runs from the lower back, through the back of the leg, and down to the toes. This route corresponds with the path of the sciatic nerve, emphasizing the nerve’s role in this condition.

4. It’s a Symptom

Sciatica is not a medical condition. It’s a symptom of another underlying issue. Here are some of the leading symptoms of a pinched nerve in the lower back.

• Herniated Disk: can cause inflammation, pain, and sometimes numbness in the affected leg
• Bone Overgrowth: overgrown bones that exert pressure on the sciatic nerve
• Obesity: Extra body weight can contribute to spinal changes that trigger sciatica
• Poor Posture: puts undue pressure on your spine and sciatic nerve
• Tumors: can press against the sciatic nerve
• Other Disorders: diseases like diabetes or any nerve disorders
• Aging: degenerative spine issues occurring in senior years
• Injury: any injury to the spine or around the sciatic nerve 
• Nerve Entrapment: also known as nerve compression or a pinched nerve

5. It’s More Common in Men

Sciatica, characterized by pain affecting the sciatic nerve, exhibits a higher incidence rate among men aged 30 – 50.

The reasons behind this gender difference are still under investigation. Still, it provides a crucial insight into understanding the demographics of those most affected by sciatica.

6. It Can Get Better On Its Own

Sciatica often resolves itself within a few weeks to a few months. Here are a few things you can do on your own to help relieve sciatica pain.

• Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and muscle relaxants
• Gentle Stretching: Gentle stretching exercises loosen tight muscles that might be putting pressure on the sciatic nerve
• Proper Posture: Maintaining proper posture, especially while sitting for long periods
• Alternating Heat and Cold Therapy: Ice helps reduce inflammation, while heat encourages blood flow to the painful area

If you don’t see any signs of your sciatica improving, then it’s time to see a medical professional for more advanced treatments. If your sciatica is caused by an underlying medical condition, then it will need to be addressed.

7. Bed Rest Can Worsen Sciatica Pain

While it may seem like a good idea to rest when you’re in pain, prolonged bed rest can actually make sciatica pain worse.

Too much time spent lying down can cause your muscles to become stagnant and stiff, increasing pressure on the sciatic nerve. This added pressure intensifies the existing pain in your lower back and leg area.

What’s more, staying inactive for too long can lead to muscle atrophy, which decreases support for the spine and worsens sciatica symptoms.

That’s why it’s typically recommended to stay as active as you can. Gentle movements and stretching exercises can keep your muscles strong and flexible.

8. Chronic Sciatica Pain is Treatable

Sciatica treatment ranges from self-care measures to (rarely) sciatica surgery. Here are some other options for severe or chronic sciatica pain relief:

• Physical Therapy
• Epidural Steroid Injections
• Nerve Blocks

The goal of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation while improving mobility.

9. It Can Be Preventable

It’s possible to reduce your risk of developing sciatica by following simple steps.

Physical activity can keep your spine and muscles strong and healthy. Make a habit of stretching your back muscles and hamstrings. It can help keep your spine flexible and reduce tension on the sciatic nerve.

Extra body weight can also contribute to spinal changes that trigger sciatica. So it’s important to maintain a healthy weight.

Treating Dulling Pain From Sciatica

Don’t let that dulling pain in your lower back catch you off guard. Be aware of the signs and consult a healthcare professional when necessary.

Regular massage therapy can also help soothe sciatic nerve pain, so consider visiting Face Spa in Omaha, NE, and book an appointment online or give us a call at (402) 384-8400 to benefit from some of these amazing results.

Dan