3 Common Things That Could Be Causing Your Sciatica

If you’re reading this, then I’m guessing you probably already know what sciatica is. Heck, I’d even be willing to wager that you probably even have it yourself. If you do, I’m sorry. I know how painful sciatica can be. Not only does the pain keep you from doing simple daily activities like walking, but it can even interfere with your life as well keeping you from going to work, playing with your children, or other things you enjoy doing.

Sciatica can be painful, and I know that when you’re in pain the most important thing is to get rid of it. But first you need to understand that sciatica isn’t a condition, it is a symptoms of something else. In order to find lasting relief, you need to understand the what exactly is causing the sciatica and resolve that.

Here are 3 common things that cause most cases of sciatica. Chances are good that you are suffering from one of these:

Herniated or Bulging Disc - Between the vertebrae in your spine, there are small discs that help your spine move and absorb pressure. If your spine is out of alignment from muscle imbalances, poor posture, being overweight, or some other reason, then this puts even more stress on the discs.

If a disc has an uneven amount of stress on it, it will begin to bulge outward. Sometimes this can cause the disc to press against the sciatic nerve, resulting in sciatica pain.

To fix this you need to take pressure of your spine. Depending on what is causing the pressure, you may need to lose weight or correct muscle imbalances with stretching exercises.

Piriformis Syndrome - There is a small muscle in your hips that connects your upper leg to your pelvis. This muscle is called the piriformis.

When this muscle becomes too tense from things like overuse (such as over-training for sports) or poor habits (such as sitting at a desk all day with your wallet in your back pocket), it can contract and crush the sciatic nerve, which runs right under the piriformis.

When this happens, the best way to fix it is to, like above, do stretching exercises to loosen up this part of the body and relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Inflammation - Inflammation is your body’s natural response to prevent injury or as a reaction to toxins. If you’re experiencing sciatica, chances are good that you’re also experiencing inflammation in the affected area.

But did you know you can also experience inflammation without any sort of “injury?” In fact, this might be the cause of your sciatica.

There are certain foods that are common that cause inflammation and can cause sciatica. These are things high in saturated and trans fats such as fast food, cakes, and red meat.

There are also foods you can eat to decrease inflammation and relieve back pain. These foods are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants like salmon, berries, and other fruits.

So, remember that to relieve your sciatica, you need to resolve the underlying cause, not just treat the pain. Since most cases of sciatica pain are caused by muscle imbalances and inflammation, it is important to correct these problems with dietary changes and stretching exercises.