Low back pain and sciatica
Low back pain is the most common spine complaint. When the pain runs down the leg, it is usually sciatica — a symptom that something is irritating the nerve.
Low back pain can have several origins — muscular, joint-related or from compression of a nerve. Sciatica happens when a root of the sciatic nerve is compressed or inflamed, and the pain radiates from the lower back or buttock down the leg.
The starting point is always understanding the cause: treating blindly tends to prolong the problem.
Pain control in the acute phase, specialized physical therapy as soon as possible and movement re-education. The right movement, at the right time, is part of the treatment — prolonged complete bed rest tends to make things worse.
Severe, persistent pain, loss of strength or neurological signs call for an evaluation with a specialist. Imaging, read together with your history, defines the approach — which is rarely surgical.
Read also: Sciatica: why the pain runs down the leg →
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