How a Herniated Disc Causes Sciatica

A herniated disc causes sciatica when cartilage and fluid between the vertebrae in the spine presses on the nerves in the spinal canal. A bulging disc or herniated disc, will most likely result in lower back pain and or Sciatica

With aging, the discs weaken and are less able to cushion the bones of the spine and will start to bulge and over time the disc will bulge even more and at that point it is called a herniated disc.  This natural aging process causes the disc to tear and press on the Sciatic nerve around it and thus you will have a full blown case of Sciatica.

When part of a disk presses on a Sciatica nerve, it can cause pain in both the lower back and the legs. The location of the pain depends on which nerves in the spinal column are affected by the bulging disc.  Some people experience the pain of a herniated discs as Sciatica that spreads over the buttocks and goes down the back of one thigh and into the calf. Other people experience pain in both legs and numb and tingling sensations.

Herniated disks and the resulting lower back pain are most common in people in their thirties and forties, do to a life time of over use and abuse. As the muscle become over worked and over stressed they begin the process muscle imbalances. It is those imbalances that causes the herniated disc, not that fall or sneeze that you had.

The resulting Sciatica that you have is a direct result of disc involvement and in order to get relief from the symptoms you will need to approach it as a muscular problem. You will need to do Stretches and Exercises in order to get relief form the Sciatica.

The baggiest question that everyone asks is, can I have a herniated disc and have Sciatica pain? My only answer to that is yes you can have a herniated disc and not have Sciatic Pain...

Article courtesy of Steve Hefferon and Jesse Cannone of www.losethebackpain.com. Get the facts on Sciatica  and lower back pain that your not getting from your doctor... free access to back pain articles, information, and research.You can write them and ask for research for your biology science fair projects.

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