Sciatica—Back Pain

Also called: Backache, Lumbago

If you’ve ever groaned, “Oh, my aching back!”, you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.

Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse.

If your back pain is severe or doesn’t improve after three days, you should call your health care provider. You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury.

Treatment for back pain depends on what kind of pain you have, and what is causing it. It may include hot or cold packs, exercise, medicines, injections, complementary treatments, and sometimes surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

• Back pain – returning to work (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Back pain – when you see the doctor (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Back pain and sports (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Chiropractic care for back pain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cognitive behavioral therapy for back pain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Low back pain – acute (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Low back pain – chronic (Medical Encyclopedia)
• MRI and low back pain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Sacroiliac joint pain – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Taking care of your back at home (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Taking narcotics for back pain (Medical Encyclopedia)

Sciatica is a symptom of a problem with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. It controls muscles in the back of your knee and lower leg and provides feeling to the back of your thigh, part of your lower leg, and the sole of your foot. When you have sciatica, you have pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling. It can start in the lower back and extend down your leg to your calf, foot, or even your toes. It’s usually on only one side of your body.

Causes of sciatica include

• A ruptured intervertebral disk
• Narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerve, called spinal stenosis
• An injury such as a pelvic fracture.

In many cases no cause can be found.

Sometimes sciatica goes away on its own. Treatment, if needed, depends on the cause of the problem. It may include exercises, medicines, and surgery.

• MRI and low back pain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Piriformis syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Sciatica (Medical Encyclopedia)