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What is Sciatica?
* Chronic Sciatica What is Sciatica? / DefinitionSciatica is defined as nerve pain which radiates into the buttocks, legs, ankles or feet. It is most commonly experienced in conjunction with lower back pain, but is sometimes present in the lower extremities alone. Every patient will demonstrate a unique symptomology and rarely are 2 cases exactly alike. It is quite impossible to describe an “AVERAGE” case of sciatica due the wide range of possible pain patterns and locations.What is Sciatica? / SymptomsSciatica symptoms vary from one individual to the next. There might be lower back and buttocks pain and this discomfort might be severe. Muscular spasms sometimes accompany the pain and are surely one of the most agonizing conditions a person could ever be forced to endure. The patient might also experience tingling, numbness and/or weakness in the lower limbs. Theses symptoms might follow a distinct and predictable pattern or might move around often. Patients might experience these symptoms in the groin, thighs, knees, backs of the legs, calves, ankles or feet. The pain might be acute and debilitating or dull and achy. Pain may be linked to a particular position or activity or might come and go seemingly without cause.The most common sciatica condition is described as chronic dull pain which rarely goes away. This pain is often worsened by some positions or activities. Most patients also suffer recurrent bouts of acute pain and often endure muscular spasms which cripple the poor soul for days at a time. Once the acute attack is over, the chronic pain and fear return to haunt the patient until the next agonizing episode… What is Sciatica? / CausesThere are a wide range of sciatica causes spanning the full gamut of the human experience. Physical injury, such as a herniated disc, is the most common diagnosis; but these types of injuries usually heal well on their own or with appropriate medical interventions. Normal spinal degeneration is also blamed for many cases of sciatic nerve pain, although these diagnoses are often incorrect. Degenerative disc disease, facet joint syndrome and osteoarthritis are completely expected parts of the aging process and are not normally to blame for any serious or ongoing symptoms. The most common actual cause of ongoing chronic or recurrent acute sciatica is simple cellular ischemia. This condition affects millions, but is rarely correctly identified as the actual source of pain. As you learn more about sciatica on this site, you will discover the huge incidence of misdiagnosis which occurs daily in the back pain industry and why sciatica has such a bad reputation as a chronic and disabling condition…What is Sciatica? / The AnswerThe answer to this question is a simple statement which I can pronounce with absolute certainty, having suffered with sciatica pain for 18 long and difficult years…SCIATICA IS A NIGHTMARE. SCIATICA TAKES THE JOY OUT OF LIFE… Does this answer your question? It is my goal on this site to teach you all about sciatica and why it has become such a burden on patients and our healthcare system, in general. To defeat your enemy, you must understand your enemy… Once you comprehend what makes sciatica so difficult to accurately diagnose, you will also clearly see why most medical, complementary and alternative treatment approaches show such poor results for curing the pain… Sciatica Forum The Sciatica Pain Newsletter. What is Sciatica to Sciatica Home 6/27/08 Revised 1/5/10
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