The symptoms of sciatica are easy to recognize. It starts with a pain in your lower back that travels down the back of your leg, sometimes as far down as your calf. It usually only goes down one leg, and it can vary from discomfort to a burning sensation to numbness to agony.
This pain follows your sciatic nerve, hence the name, and you’ll feel it when that nerve is pinched.
Mild sciatica can dissipate if you know how to take care of yourself. If you start with an ice pack a couple times per day and apply heating pads after a few days have passed, you should start to feel some relief. Careful stretching exercises can also make you feel better, and over-the-counter pain relievers will take the edge off. Sitting inactive for long periods of time will probably just make it worse, so rest alone won’t cut it.
If home remedies don’t work, you might be dealing with something more serious. At that point, it’s important to know when to see a doctor for sciatica.
Sciatica is a Symptom of a More Serious Condition
In serious cases, sciatica can cause you to feel extreme pain or muscle weakness, and it may even cause you to lose control of your bowels or bladder.
If this is the case, then your sciatica is likely a symptom of a more serious condition. Possible causes of sciatica include:
- Herniated disk in your spine
- Overgrowth of bone on your vertebrae
- Nerve compression by a tumor
- Nerve damage due to diabetes or another disease
Sciatica Doctors at Dynamic Health in Charlotte Provide a Quick Diagnosis
You should see a doctor for your sciatica if it persists for longer than a week, flares up suddenly, or results from a traumatic incident or injury. These are all signs that you may need to have another condition diagnosed and treated.
If you’re a patient with sciatica in Charlotte, North Carolina, schedule an appointment at Dynamic Health to find the path to relief. Our clinic is staffed by some of the brightest minds in our field, and we make use of advanced diagnostic technology to get to find out what’s causing your pain.
After some quick testing, we’ll be able to treat your sciatica as well as the underlying cause. The path to recovery doesn’t end there, though. We’ll also give you advice on beneficial stretches and exercises as well as ways to improve your lifestyle and stay free of this painful condition in the future.
There’s no reason for you to be living in pain. Call Dynamic Health or fill out our contact form to schedule your appointment. We’re looking forward to your visit.