What causes the sciatic nerve pain

Sciatic nerve pain is a symptom of a compression of the sciatic nerve somewhere along its path, most probably at the root of the nerve, near the base of the spine.  The pain radiates from there and you can feel it anywhere from your lower back to your foot.  You will only feel the pain on one side of your body, meaning that the sciatic nerve on that side of your body is either irritated or inflamed.

Sciatica, the name given to sciatic nerve pain, has a number of possible causes, some more likely than others.  Sciatica caused by a bad movement is very common;  you turned or twisted suddenly, or you lifted a heavy object more with one side of your body than in a balanced way, and instantly you feel something like an electric shock, where the sciatic nerve is pinched.  The irritation of the nerve will take a number of days to recover.  There will likely be swelling and inflammation at the point where the pinching took place.

Spinal problems often cause of sciatica.  A spinal disc hernia or degenerative disc disease, will progressively pressure against the sciatic nerve.  The milder pain symptoms include tingling and numbness.  The more severe pain can make it impossible to walk.  If the sciatica is caused by a hernia,  it will begin as a mild discomfort, but as the hernia grows or as the damage to the vertebrae increases, so will the pain.  In very few cases, the pain may be cause by a tumor in the spine, which, similarly, will hurt more as it grows.

What helps against the sciatic nerve pain

To lessen the pain of sciatica, you need to eliminate the pressure under which the nerve is straining and reduce the swelling and inflammation this compression has generated.  All the methods which help reduce swelling, such as ice or anti-inflammatory medication, will help.  So will pain killers.   Unfortunately, this will only be temporary relief if the cause of the pressure remains.  In the case of sciatica caused by a spinal disk hernia or a tumor, surgery to remove the protrusion or foreign body may be the solution.   If the sciatic nerve has been traumatized, time will heal it and you can help the healing process by lessening the constriction and by gently stretching, temporarily eliminating all the other postures and activities which increase the pain.  Other ways to alleviate the pain include the use of an ice pack or a heat pad, and hot baths or showers, several times a day.  Let your body recover, by reducing your physical activity, but do not stop all physical activity.