Sciatica and Back Pain - An Explanation of Pain, Its Origins and Consequences in Daily Living

By John Zajaros

The purpose of this article is to delve into the phenomenon of back pain, particularly as it relates to sciatica - or sciatic nerve pain. We will attempt to examine pain, in its various guises and manifestations, followed by a discussion of the more common consequences associated with it. Back pain, and with it sciatica, is one of the most common forms of pain affecting our society today, it particularly impacts men after the age of thirty and women during pregnancy and after menopause.
While etiology, or cause, differs significantly between men and women, symptoms may be, and often are, remarkably similar. When we speak of back pain and sciatic nerve pain, the latter known as sciatica, we describe it in various ways depending on the level and duration of the event. Pain, particularly back and leg pain (i.e, sciatica) is, very often, situational; and, is dependent on the time of day, level of activity, underlying pathology, whether disease or trauma, and even the weather. In fact, there are a myriad of reasons for pain, in all its manifestations.
Pain can be short-term and sharp, meaning acute; or, it may be dull, throbbing and last a long time, as in chronic pain. Back pain and sciatic nerve pain may also be a combination of sensations, as in acute/chronic back pain or dull/chronic sciatic nerve pain. Everyone who has experienced back pain and sciatica knows there are as many forms and levels of pain as there are days in the year, probably more!How many sciatica sufferers first described their pain as a "muscle pull?" Or back pain as "stabbing?"Pain is usually defined as any unpleasant emotional, sensory, and physiological experience associated with real (i. e. actual) or potential tissue damage. Pain is caused by an activation of a pain receptor, best described as a weed-like nerve ending with overlapping branches from the receptors below it and above it.
These overlapping branches are like bunches of wires, all triggering or firing electrical impulses, messages, that are then carried and conveyed to and along the central nervous system to its terminal, the brain. Once the impulse reaches the brain, we sense pain, whether a throbbing sensation in the side, above the iliac crest or hip bone. . . or an aching, pulling sensation down the back of the leg, as in sciatica. The pathway to the brain is often what practitioners, from various disciplines, will focus on as they attempt to "interrupt" the pain "message" flow, stopping the pain and thus providing temporary relief. There are two types of fibers conducting pain impulses and two kinds of pain resulting from the initiation of these fibers. The manifestation of pain is along a continuum, depending on the type of fibers activated, how many fibers are stimulated, and how many of each kind of fibers continue firing. Basically, A fibers are rapid conducting (sharp or acute) and C, delta fibers, are slow conducting (dull or throbbing). Epicritc pain is pain originating from a specific area of the skin, usually referred to as a dermatome. Protopathic pain is deep, visceral and somatic pain, usually conducted through more diffuse pathways in the body, thus causing a generalized, poorly localized pain, like an aching back or a throbbing lower leg (sciatica).
The pain, once again, is deeper and harder to pinpoint but there is no doubt about it being there. Additionally, there are two pathways we are interested in as they pertain to back pain and sciatica. The first are spinothalamic tracts and these are the main pain conducting pathways in the spinal cord. The other type of pathway is of a more diffuse nature but still passes through various segments of the sympathetic ganglia (e. g. , branches or bundles of nerves in part of the sympathetic nervous system) to the thalamus and cerebral cortex, this is called reticulospinal tract. The two tracts in concert provide the necessary infrastructure for pain impulses to reach the brain, and for us to react to that pain. Pain stimuli, whether for back pain or sciatica, may indicate an obvious, specific injury or event. Or, the injury or underlying pathology may be unknown. The stimuli itself, or themselves in the case of multiple stimuli or events, cause a specific pain sensation. In the case of back pain, the sensations can be anything from a dull ache to an acute, stabbing pain; and, the same is true of sciatica. Once again, all is dependent on where on the pain continuum the stimuli falls and what fibers are being activated. Of course, everything is dependent on how the central nervous system responds to a given set of stimuli, and stimuli vary in their effectiveness and responsiveness according to the changes in the response of the central nervous system.
Ultimately, back pain and sciatica may lead to impairment, functional limitations, and even disability. The impairment may mean an abnormality or loss of a given function whether it is psychological or physiological. It may also mean the loss of an anatomical function or structural failure, such as foot drop or numbness. A functional limitation due to back pain and/or sciatica may involve the inability to partially or completely perform an activity once thought of as second nature, like bending over and tying your shoes, taking the dog for a walk around the block or picking up your children or grandchildren. The inability to perform certain functions may have a carryover effect, causing real psychological pain due to the failure to integrate activity in one's life when back and leg pain becomes a limiting factor. Finally, disability becomes reality.
The limitations in the life of the back pain or sciatica sufferer become so pervasive due to the pain it limits, and in fact prevents, the fulfillment of normal life functions. Back pain and sciatic nerve pain or sciatica is a psychological, physiological, and anatomical phenomenon causing anything from mild, temporary discomfort to acute and chronic pain leading to an entire collapse of the normal, day-to-day activities of the individual suffering from it. Back pain and sciatica can progress from minor impairment to total disability and loss of identity if not diagnosed and treated properly. The long-term effects can be life altering if the pain is not dealt with quickly and intelligently. Whether the individual is in the beginning stages of the pain continuum or has progressed to a full blown disability, there is help available. The question becomes, "How to stop the sciatica and back pain" and, more importantly, "How long are you going to let it go before you do something about it?" The decision is up to the individual, the time to act it always now.
For further information and an intelligent program of treatment and exercise, one that works for back pain and sciatica, 100% guaranteed, go to: [http://www.HowToStopSciatica.com]
For additional information and links to excellent sources for back products, including New Balance shoes...in my opinion, the best on the market for back pain and sciatica sufferers: http://www.ultimatebadbackstrategies.com
John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., author
216-712-6526
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_Zajaros/289212
http://EzineArticles.com/?Sciatica-and-Back-Pain---An-Explanation-of-Pain,-Its-Origins-and-Consequences-in-Daily-Living&id=2066117