What is Back Pain and Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that begins in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the lower limb till the foot. This nerve is derived from the lower spinal discs ranging from L4 to S3.

Sciatica refers to the pain that is caused when one of the L4-S3 discs is herniated or prolapsed thereby impinging (compressing) the sciatic nerve. Such a pain radiates from the lower back through the hips, buttocks and down to the leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body or one leg.

Always consult a doctor in case of Sciatica to understand the severity of the issue. There are a number of exercises & stretches that can help in relieving the pain, and even prevent the reoccurrence of sciatica to a great extent. Core strengthening exercises are always helpful, as it will strengthen the abdominal and back muscles to provide more support for the back. However, it is EXTREMELY important to perform these exercises only based on the advice of a good physiotherapist or sports athlete coach. Else these exercises can backfire

Most patients with sciatica also respond very well to nonsurgical treatments such as medication, epidural spinal injection, so spine surgery is not always needed to treat sciatica. However, certain cases might require spine surgery for the cure

When patients engage regularly in gentle strengthening and stretching exercises, they can recover faster from a flare-up of sciatica and are less likely to experience future episodes of back pain. Reducing some body fat and gaining some muscle mass is tremendously helpful.