Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg.
Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body.
Sciatica is usually caused when a herniated disk or bone spur in the spine presses on the nerve.
Pain originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg.
Sciatica typically affects only one side of the body.
Medication for pain and physical therapy are common treatments for sciatica.
Sciatica usually resolves on its own without treatment within a month or two.
However, that doesn't mean it's gone for good.
If you don't resolve the underlying condition that caused sciatica, it may recur and even develop into a chronic pain condition.
Sitting too much, being overweight, wearing ill-fitting clothing or shoes and other factors may trigger sciatica, that is, nerve pain that radiates from the lower back into the legs resulting from sciatic nerve compression.
For people with sciatica, there is little or no difference between advice to rest in bed and advice to stay active.
There is little or no difference in the effect of bed rest compared to exercises or physiotherapy, or seven days of bed rest compared with two to three.
Walking is a surprisingly effective approach for relieving sciatic pain because regular walking spurs the release of pain-fighting endorphins and reduces inflammation.
On the other hand, a poor walking posture may aggravate your sciatica symptoms.
If the sciatica pain is only acute sciatica pain then the sciatica pain should last no longer than 8 weeks but if it's more severe then it may last for 3 to 4 months or longer.
If the sciatica pain lasts longer than 8 weeks then medical attention is advised.