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Posts Tagged ‘Spinal Column’

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.