Nerves are a very integral part of our body. They carry messages to and From the brain. This means that they carry sensory input or physical feelings from the body to the brain allowing sensations to occur.

This also means that our nerves are very sensitive and need to be handled with care.

But, sometimes, there are situations that arise wherein the nerves get damaged or irritated leading to pain from within the body.

Sciatica in Bremerton is one such situation where the nerves in the lower back to leg area get irritated, compressed, or damaged due to a variety of reasons and cause sensations of pain.

Sciatica refers to the radiating pain which goes along the path of the sciatic nerve, from the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and down each leg.

The effects of sciatica can be stinging, tingling, numbness, sharp sensation, mild ache, or radiating pain and usually occurs in only one side of the body but can be present on both sides too.

The singular cause of sciatica is the pinching or irritation of the sciatic nerve and this usually occurs due to a variety of reasons, of which some are as follows:

1. Herniated or bulging disks or disc degeneration: spinal discs are the fluid filled sac like structure that provides cushion between each and every vertebrae which prevents bone damage The prevention of bone damage ensures the longevity of the bones and the prevention of pain. But sometimes, the fluid filled center of the disc end up sliding through and mving from their original positions and slip from between the outer layer and hang out and put pressure upon the nerves around it. It the herniation occurs near the sciatic nerve, the affected nerves would e the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica. Disc degeneration means that the lubricating and cushionig sac keeps degenerating and the cushion keeps reducing and leads to friction between the bones, nerves and cartilages, and causing immense pain
2. Spinal stenosis: This condition refers to the abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal through which the nerves pass. The reduction of the canal space can lead to the increase of pressure upon the nerves.
3. Spondylolisthesis: The condition wherein the bone of the spine slips out of place and Onto the bone vertebrae below it and adds pressure upon it. The added [pressure and the out of alignment position leads to the increased pressure upon the nerves around the area.
4. Piriformis syndrome: The rare neuromuscular disorder wherein the piriformis muscle in the buttock region spasms and causes irritation on the nerves surrounding the area and lead to pain.
5. Tumors within the spine: Spinal tumors are itself painful to the body but when the tumor occurs close to the sciatic nerve and adds pressure to the nerve, sciatica occurs.
6. Injuries: traumatic injuries cause direct pain to the sicatic nerve as the nerve gets immense force and pressure put upon it leading to the damage of the sciatic nerve.
7. Cauda Equina Syndrome: A very rare but serious condition where the bundle of nerves at the bottom of the spine are affected, this includes the sciatic nerve. The condition causes pain and numbness down the legs, around the anus and loss of bowel and bladder control.
8. Osteoarthritis: The bone spurs can press into and irritate the nerves of the surrounding area.

There are certain risk factors to sciatica, such as:

1. Age
2. Weight
3. Job occupation
4. Sedentary lifestyle
5. Diabetes

Treatments for sciatica can include:

1. Prescription medications
2. Physical therapy
3. Spinal injections
4. OTC pain meds
5. Anti-inflammatories
6. Muscle relaxants
7. Surgeries

The methods of treatment mentioned above are very effective. But, they aren’t suitable for people of certain ages, health conditions and of certain mental states.

An alternate option of treatment for sciatica suitable for people of all ages and most health conditions and can be highly helpful and

Cost effective is acupuncture.

Acupuncture for sciatica has a plethora of benefitss on the body and some of those include relaxation, improving blood circulation, etc.

But, for sciatica, it even helps with releasing neurotransmitters to reduce pain, reduces inflammations and infections, It increases the flow of good nutrients to the area with the increased blood flow and that helps with healing the nerves. Acupuncture even helps with the resetting of the central nervous system which leads to the reduction in pain, and improvement of muscle spasms and tightness.

The increased levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the body leads  to the increase in the speed and rate of nerve repair.

It reduces muscle stiffness and increase joint mobility and disperses the swelling faced in the body.

Promotes the regeneration of the sciatic nerve and increases the longetivity of the nerve and deterioration of pain in the body.