Lower Back Pain And Sciatica

Back pain is one of the most common health problems. As per the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 8 out of 10 people suffer from some type of back pain. If you too are suffering from back pain, it could be a result of sciatica.

While many people believe that sciatica is a cause of back pain, the truth is that sciatica is a form of back and leg pain. Sciatica primarily refers to the inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This nerve goes through the spine and reaches the toes. Since a part of the sciatic nerve spread through the back too, its compression can lead to back pain.

Sciatic and lower back pain is primarily of three types:

* Acute pain - This type of back pain is usually the most common. Acute back pain develops suddenly and lasts for a couple of weeks.
* Subacute pain - This pain lasts for three months.
* Chronic pain - Chronic back pain may develop abruptly or gradually. As compared to other types of back pain, this one lasts the longest.

The severity of the pain and the symptoms vary depending upon the kind of pain you are dealing with. While some people deal with a mild form of numbness and pain, others may deal with extreme pain. Sciatica lower back pain may get worse at night or after long hours of standing. Sneezing, coughing or laughing could also aggravate the pain further.

What you can do?
Perhaps, the most important thing that you can do to deal with sciatic lower back pain is take rest. Sometimes, rest alone can help you deal with the problem. This is more so in case where sciatica is a result of some kind of physical trauma or injury. As you allow the injury to recede, the pain will gradually disappear.

Follow this up with some gentle exercises. If you are still dealing with a lot of pain, it is better to start off with gentle exercises. Do not push your body. It is important that you do not exert yourself and stop if your body does not allow a particular range of movement.

You may even try using one of the OTC pain relieving medications available in the market. There are several Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) that can help ease out the pain associated with the problem. However, make sure that you use these in moderation to avoid any kind of side effects.

A better way could be to try natural treatments like chiropractic treatment, reflexology, massage, and acupressure. These natural treatments can help you deal with the problem without causing any side effects. The only downside is that these natural treatments may take a little while before they deliver results.