Posts Tagged ‘Burning Sensation’

Of the many and varied sources of buttock pain, one of the most frustrating and distressing is undoubtedly sciatic pain. When sciatic pain strikes, it’s referred to as sciatica.

Sciatica is actually a type of nerve pain and it occurs due to damage or injury to the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts out in the spinal column, extends through the buttocks and down to the feet. It is also the largest and longest single nerve in your body (approximately the diameter of your thumb in some places). So when it’s injured, the resulting discomfort can be severe and unrelenting.

It’s also not unusual for this condition to trigger numbness and tingling along the nerve pathway.

Generally speaking, sciatic nerve pain begins in the spinal column, when discs or vertebrae are worn or injured. This results in inflammation. Sciatic pain can be felt anywhere along the pathway of the nerve: in your back, in your buttocks, in your legs or feet.

Besides normal wear and tear, there are a number of other ways the sciatic nerve can become injured or damaged. Here are several that are typical.

Very often sciatica is caused by a herniated disc in the spinal column. A herniated disc is a disc that is out of it’s usual place, and is thus pressing on nerves in the back.

One of the most common causes of sciatica is incorrect physical posture. Your teachers knew what they were doing when they kept nagging you to sit up straight. Poor posture can put pressure on the sciatic nerve in many ways.

A number of other medical conditions, diseases and disorders may cause sciatic pain, including:

spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal canal. Typically this happens as you get older.

bone spurs caused by arthritis, or

when a nerve becomes pinched

The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. People who have had sciatica report that it sometimes feels like a shock or an electric jolt. Movement in the affected area makes it worse. You could experience a sharp pain during a sneeze or cough. Sitting in the same place or position for an extended period of time can also intensify your pain.

Typically just one lower extremity is affected..

Sciatica frequently grows worse when you sit or stand for a long time. However, walking, lying down and movements that extend the spine may bring some relief.

Depending on the reason for the problem, the pain of acute sciatica usually passes without treatment within a couple of months. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to relieve the pain in the meantime.

There is no scientific evidence at this point that ice packs or heating pads will bring any real pain relief.

However, pain relievers that are available over the counter and certain types of steroid injections may help.

If buttock pain caused by sciatica continues for more than a couple of days, it’s a good idea to call your doctor. He or she may recommend physical therapy. There are a number of exercises that may also help. Surgery for sciatic pain is usually done only in the most severe cases.

To read additional articles on subjects related to buttock pain, click on hip buttock pain causes. Neal Kennedy is a former TV and radio journalist. To read more of his articles, visit What Causes Buttock Pain? at http://www.buttockpain.info.

Acid reflux symptoms characterize the condition called acid reflux or GERD, which occurs because of the weakening of the tube that transports the food taken in to the stomach, making it unable to handle the acid. The acid the stomach produces and stores is used to digest the food consumed. The stomach walls should have enough strength to store the acid it produces without damaging anything in the system. However, different symptoms may be experienced when the acid is pushed up the esophagus from the stomach. If you want to know more about acid reflux symptoms, read on.

Acid Refux Symptoms:

1. Heartburn - this is the main symptom of acid reflux or GERD. Heartburn is a burning sensation that runs up to the chest and the throat from the stomach. According to a certain study, almost 3 quarters of patients frequently experiencing acid reflux symptoms experience heartburn at night. This condition most likely occurs in connection with some activities such as:

· After eating a heavy meal;
· Lifting;
· Bending over;
· Lying down on the back

2. Dyspepsia – Half of those diagnosed with GERD can experience dyspepsia through the following conditions:

· Pain and discomfort particularly in the upper part of the abdomen;
· Nausea after eating;
· Feeling of fullness

However, it is important to remember that it is possible to have dyspepsia without having acid reflux.

3. Regurgitation - this is the condition when the acid backs up in the throat. In some cases, the acid regurgitates up to the mouth and comes out as a “wet burp”. In rare cases, the acid may forcefully come out as a vomit.

Less Common Acid Reflux Symptoms:

Many patients with acid reflux do not experience the main acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation. The symptoms may instead appear or experienced in other locations. Here are some of the less common acid reflux symptoms:

1. Burning Sensation or Pain in the Chest – while this condition can also be a symptom of other medical conditions such as angina and heart attack, this condition characterized by the feeling of having food behind the breastbone can also manifest when the patient has acid reflux.

2. Acid Reflux Symptoms in the Throat such as:

· Acid laryngitis - this condition is characterized by dry cough, hoarseness, feeling of lump in the throat, and the need to clear the throat repeatedly
· Dysphagia (trouble swallowing) - in some cases, acid reflux may cause the patient to choke or have difficulty in swallowing the food, thereby causing severe chest pain.
· Persistent hiccups
· Chronic sore throat

3. Respiratory Symptoms and Coughing - Wheezing and coughing may also occur. In one medical study, acid reflux alone accounted for around 40% of chronic cough cases in non-smoking patients.

4. Chronic Nausea and Throwing Up – constant occurrence of nausea that often leads to vomiting or throwing up may also be one of the acid reflux symptoms. However, this isn’t always the cause as nausea and vomiting may also signal other medical conditions like gallbladder and pancreatic disorders, ulcers, and stomach cancers. Thus, it is necessary to always consult with your doctor whenever this symptom is experienced.

Understanding and Treating Heart Burn

Before moving on to treatment options for heart burn, it is important to understand exactly what happens in your body to create this painful sensation after a meal. At the base of your esophagus, there is a ring-like muscle that is called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. Usually, this muscle relaxes to allow food to move from your esophagus into your stomach, where it is digested by your stomach acids. The LES then closes, so that the food and acid inside your stomach cannot creep back up the digestive tract into your esophagus. If this muscle does not work properly for one reason or another, substances in the stomach can indeed come back up, resulting in burning as the stomach acids reach the esophageal lining and a bitter taste as they make their way to your throat and mouth.

Common Heart Burn Treatments

Most people who occasionally suffer from heart burn will benefit from an over the counter medicine when the heartburn strikes strikes. This might include an antacid, like Rolaids that will neutralize the stomach acids quickly, giving you relief from the painful burning. Another good over the counter treatment for heart burn is an H-2-receptor blocker, such as Tagamet HB or Pepcid AC. These medicines work differently from the antacids, because they actually reduce the production of acid rather than neutralizing it. And while they are not as speedy as their antacid counterparts, they do tend to bring relief for a longer period of time. Some heart burn sufferers will find that a 1-2 punch will work the best on this condition, with an antacid bringing immediate help while the H-2-receptor blocker will offer relief over the long term.

If you find yourself continuously suffering with more frequent bouts of heart burn, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about additional remedies available. Frequent occurrences of this condition can lead to damage to the esophageal lining, making treatment more imperative at this stage. Your doctor can help you find the most effective heart burn remedies, whether you opt for an over the counter medication or a stronger prescription to treat your condition.