Sciatica might not seem like something that you have to be too concerned about. But it’s actually a condition that affects more people than you might think.
Some studies have suggested that up to 40% of Americans might suffer from sciatica at some point in their lives. It’s a potentially crippling type of lower back pain that stems from problems with the sciatic nerve that runs from your lower back and down both of your legs.
You should keep a close eye out for any warning signs of sciatica. They’ll help you answer the question, “Do I have sciatica?”, once and for all if you ever suspect that it might be causing problems for you.
Here are some of the most common sciatica signs that you should look out for.
Pain in Your Lower Back, Buttocks, and/or Legs
If you have sciatica, one of the most common responses to it is going to be, “My back hurts!” More specifically, you’re going to experience pain in the lower part of your back.
That pain might also move down into your buttocks and even your legs when you have sciatica. And it might worsen over time and flare up more than usual when you’re moving around.
At first, you might be able to live with the moderate pain that comes along with sciatica. But the signs of sciatica will get to be more intense as time goes on. It won’t be too long before sciatica brings you to your knees and makes it hard for you to function normally.
Weakness in Your Lower Back, Buttocks, and/or Legs
In addition to experiencing pain in your lower back, buttocks, and/or legs when you have sciatica, you may also go through periods of weakness in these areas. You won’t be able to perform normal tasks because you’ll feel too weak to do them.
The weakness that you feel might come and go. But it’s never going to go too far. You’re going to struggle to live a normal existence as a result of sciatica.
“Pins and Needles” in Your Legs, Feet, and/or Toes
You know that “pins and needles” feeling that you get in your legs, feet, and/or toes when you spend a lot of time sitting in one position? That feeling is something that sciatica sufferers know all too well!
Even when people with sciatica are able to move around, that “pins and needles” feeling will persist. It’s another one of the most common sciatica symptoms and will adversely affect your life in many ways.
See here to find out how to get treatment from sciatica so that you’re able to restore the feeling in your legs, feet, and/or toes.
Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs of Sciatica!
When you first start to spot the signs of sciatica, you might be tempted to ignore them and hope that they go away on their own. But you’re often going to need to get treatment to stop sciatica from ruining your life.
Reach out to a doctor at the first sign of sciatica to stop it from wreaking havoc on you. It’ll help you eliminate back pain and restore your ability to move around like you normally do.
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