Deep heat against sciatica pain
Sciatica pain: Symptoms, cause and treatment
Anyone who has ever been confronted with sciatica pain in their life knows how much it can affect their quality of life. This is why back patients with sciatica pain are particularly keen to find the right treatment quickly and get to the bottom of the cause. It is particularly important to recognise the various symptoms of sciatica in good time so that the appropriate treatment can be started quickly. The cause of sciatica pain can be very different. Did you know, for example, that sciatica pain can also be caused by a vitamin D deficiency?
What is sciatica pain?
The term sciatica refers to various complaints that originate from the sciatic nerve. The region supplied by this nerve is the buttocks and legs. So if it hurts from the back to the leg, it is often due to sciatica. As soon as the sciatic nerve causes problems, this is referred to as sciatica. However, this is not always an inflammation. For example, compression or irritation of the nerve leads to sciatica or sciatica pain. This pain can be accompanied by numbness and paralysis.
Typical sciatica symptoms
Patients who suffer from sciatica pain have different sensations. The symptoms they experience range from pain to numbness and much more. Patients with sciatica pain often report the following symptoms:
Pain: the most common complaint of sciatica patients is an uncomfortable ache. Patients describe a constant burning sensation or a stabbing pain that starts in the lower back and then radiates down the leg or foot.
Tingling: Many patients experience a tingling sensation in one leg.
Weakness: Due to the constant pain and tingling, patients with sciatica pain may experience a feeling of weakness.
Numbness: Sciatica pain is often accompanied by numbness. Patients often experience numbness in the back of the leg. Patients can also explain the numbness with a feeling of crawling in the leg.
One-sided effect: sciatica pain usually affects one leg. In some cases, however, both legs can also be affected.
Feeling of heaviness: The leg affected by sciatica often feels heavier, which can put additional strain on the patient.
Episodic pain: In some cases, the pain is episodic. There are episodes of severe pain followed by relief.
What causes sciatica pain?
There are many factors that make a person susceptible to sciatica and the uncomfortable sciatic pain that comes with it. Some of the main causes are:
A narrowing of the spinal cord caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, resulting in sciatica.
A herniated disc and degeneration of the disc can also be the source of sciatica pain in back patients (Kumar et al., 2011). This excruciating, unbearable pain can also begin during pregnancy (Erici, Ingemar and Alf, 1963).
Postural changes also play a crucial role in the development of sciatica. A change in posture can cause or worsen the pain. Patients report worsening of sciatica pain with postural changes such as bending, standing up, etc.
Vitamin D deficiency can also cause chronic back pain (sciatica pain).
Scars can proliferate and also irritate the sciatica.
Tense muscles that are severely hardened and shortened can pinch and compress the sciatica.
Treating sciatica pain
The treatment options for sciatica include
Conservative treatments such as heat and cold therapy
Physiotherapy
Surgery (in severe cases)
With a conservative approach, treatment is mainly aimed at relieving pain. Whether cold or heat therapy is more suitable for relieving sciatica pain depends on the stage of the pain. In the initial phase, cold therapies are particularly suitable as they block the transmission of pain. However, if the pain lasts longer, heat therapy is recommended. In any case, patients with persistent sciatica pain should consult their doctor so that the right therapy for pain relief and the healing process can be defined.
Patients with sciatica pain are often referred for physiotherapy. Specific exercises are used to correct poor posture and strengthen the muscles. Steroid injections are another treatment option for relieving sciatica pain. This involves injecting corticosteroid injections into the area around the nerve.
Treating sciatica pain with Calopad heat therapy
Many patients find heat therapy to be one of the most effective methods of relieving back pain. This is because the heat stimulates blood circulation, allowing tense muscles to relax. Are you looking for the right heat therapy to combat unpleasant sciatica pain? There are 6 reasons why you can relieve sciatica pain faster with Calopad heat therapy and, ideally, get rid of it:
the reusable Calopad heat plaster generates deep medical heat, unlike conventional heat plasters.
the deep medical heat stimulates blood circulation and muscle detoxification.
thanks to the immediate heating of the Calopad heat plaster to 42°C, it works immediately and treats the pain selectively (at the trigger points).
thanks to the two different therapy modes "constant heat therapy" and "pulsating heat therapy", patients can treat their sciatica pain differently depending on the symptoms.
with its functions and immediate effect, Calopad heat therapy represents a revolution in the heat therapy market and can effectively promote the healing process of back pain.
if Calopad heat therapy is combined with the autonomous Physio app, sciatica pain relief can be achieved even faster.
Conclusion: treating sciatica pain
Sciatica is a highly debilitating condition. Patients should not neglect sciatica pain and should have it examined immediately after the first symptoms appear. There are numerous causes and risk factors for the condition. Therefore, those affected must keep an eye on the progression of the disease and the symptoms of sciatica. It is worthwhile for sciatica patients to look for the right form of therapy for them in good time and seek appropriate advice. Heat therapy is particularly popular for relieving sciatica pain.