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Back pain can affect anyone of any age and any background. With more and more people reporting back bain as one of their main reasons for not being able to do a certain activity it is important to look into what can be done to improve the pain being experienced. As we all know, back pain has many different symptoms; the main one being the reduction in mobility. This article today will give a bit more information into the different types of back pain out there, specifically sciatica and the range of treatment methods and techniques that are out there. 

Currently, suffering from back pain? Why not reach out in the comments below and help our community share experiences and potential treatments for the physical and mental pain experienced 

What exactly is Back Pain & Sciatica?

Ranging from acute pain to slipped disks and right the way to down the lower back, the pain experienced from back-related issues can really affect peoples lives. Amongst all of these different types of back pain, there is one that you will come across on multiple occasions –  Sciatica. Sciatica is when the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back right the way down through the buttocks to the feet becomes irritated. For those who want to know the specifics, Sciatica is usually found between the L4 and S1 vertebrae where excessive amounts of pressure are put on to the lumbar nerve.

Sciatica can usually fall into 4 main groups, the first of which being Pain. Sciatica can sometimes feel like a burning/shooting sensation in the lower back preventing many suffers from performing basic physical activity. Numbness, this is not limited to the back and numbness can often be found in the buttocks legs and right the way down to the feet. One-sided symptoms, this is when one specific leg begins to show signs of pain and discomfort and rarely moves on to both legs. Lastly and most importantly is posture induced symptoms. People often assume that back pain is due to excessive physical activity or an injury, however, back pain is most commonly caused by poor posture, especially amongst office workers. This type of pain may begin to feel worse when sitting down, coughing or twisting a certain direction and is definitely something to be wary of. 

How can Sciatica be treated?

Like most forms of back pain, there are a variety of ways that Sciatica can be treated. If you have money in abundance we highly recommend seeking the help and advice of an osteopath or physiotherapist. These professionals will be able to diagnose the problem, understand your lifestyle and become an extended version of yourself. Taking in to account the patient as a whole means that they can get very granular in what’s causing the pain in the first place and ensure that it does not come back. 

We know that not everyone will have money that they can put into the improvement of their back pain and in addition to seeking osteopathic help from professionals, you can perform a range of Sciatica Pain Relief treatments at home. Stretches, exercises and dedicated treatment plans will all help towards keeping the pain experienced with sciatica at bay and allow you to continue a fully functioning and active lifestyle. 

What other effects can back pain have?

Contrary to many peoples thoughts, back pain doesnt just affect people from a physical point of view. Those going through back pain experience a lot of mental health challenges and difficulty too. In a study conducted by the General Hospital of Psychiatry, they found a direct link between the physical pain experienced with back pain and mental health issues, sometimes this leads to increased stress, anxiety depression and psychosis.