Causes and symptoms of Sciatica and how an Epsom salt bath can help you relieve it?

Most of us have heard of the term sciatica but never really bothered to get into the details. The word sciatica brings the sciatic nerve into the picture. The sciatic nerve is the one that extends from the lower back to the exterior of each leg. It is a common disorder that causes pain in the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is one of the largest nerves of the human body which begins from the nerve roots of the spinal cord in the lower back extending throughout the buttocks. The pain is typically experienced from the lower back to the thighs and then radiates down to the knee.

What exactly is Sciatica?

Sciatica for most people can turn out to be very debilitating and severely painful. For a handful of people, sciatica occurs infrequently and leaves an irritating impact that has the potential of becoming worse. In such cases, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention if the lower extremity weakness progresses or your upper thighs become numb and you lose all control of your bowel movements.

What are the exact causes of Sciatica?

Primarily sciatica is mainly caused due to the irritation of the lower lumbar roots and the lumbosacral spine. It is majorly caused as a result of the lumbar disc herniation that presses directly on the nerve causing major inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve which brings about the symptoms of sciatica. This situation where an abnormality in the intervertebral disc causes nerve irritation is also referred to as Radiculopathy. In addition to that there are a few other aspects that might cause sciatica in a lot of patients.

• Degenerative disc disease where the disc which cushions the interior of the vertebrae breaks down and causes irritation of the nerves.
• Lumbar spinal stenosis where the spinal canal presents in the lower back narrows down significantly causing spinal nerve irritation.
• Spondylolisthesis which is a severe condition where ne vertebrae slips in the forward direction over another one.
• Multiple spasms occurring in the back or the buttocks region often cause sciatica in some victims.
• Pregnancy is often deemed to be a minor cause of sciatica in female patients.
• Being overweight is another reason which causes your back pain to get worse.
• Lack of regular exercise makes your back weak and prone to severe medical conditions such as sciatica.
• Regularly wearing heels might cause sciatica to develop in female patients.
• Sleeping on very soft mattresses can also lead to back pain that might develop into sciatica.
• Nerve irritation occulting from adjacent bones, muscle, and tumors or any internal bleeding often cause sciatica to develop in patients.

How can an Epsom salt bath ease your pain from Sciatica?

One of the ways to get relied from sciatica is by having an Epsom salt bath. Now for those who are unaware of the phrase Epsom salt let us state in brief what it actually is.

What exactly is Epsom salt?

Chemically speaking Epsom salt is actually nothing but Magnesium Sulfate. It is a pure mineral compound which has stood the test of time and has proved to be a mineral with lots of uses. Many expert doctors, gardening experts and researchers have described Epsom salt as a very beneficial mineral with several uses. It has benefits in the world of healthcare, beauty and fitness, gardening, crafts as well as therapy.

How does it cure sciatica?

This all important mineral magnesium is very crucial for the healthy functioning of nerves. It is chemically a combination of sulfate and magnesium which can be easily absorbed through our skin pores.

• Sciatica patients can try having a hot bath with two to three cups of Epsom salt combined with the hot water. It is bound to provide them surprising relief from the sciatica pain they are experiencing.
• Patients must ensure that their legs and lower back are submerged within the hot water combined with Epsom salt for a minimum of 20 minutes.
• This Epsom salt bath must be had at least 3 times a week by the sciatica patents for gaining optimum results.
• Having regular Epsom salt baths is one of the safest and surest ways to cure sciatica pain at home.

You may also have interest to read about the right home remedies that helps to cure sciatica pain.

Other home remedies of sciatica

1. Hot and cold-water compress: A compress using hot and cold water can be very effective in relieving sciatica pain. The hot water relaxes the otherwise tight muscles that had been pushing down on your sciatic nerve. The treatment with the cold water reduces any kid of swelling around the nerve.
2. Chair exercises: Therapists often regard chair exercising as one of the most effective methods of reducing sciatica pain. You simply need to sit on the chair while crossing your knees. Then clutch onto the top knee and pull it towards the opposite shoulder. Then repeat with the other knee on top.