What Causes Acute Sciatica?
Acute sciatica is usually sudden and can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Approximately 90% of instances are the result of a spinal disc herniation pressing on one of the roots of the lumbar or sacral nerve. Sciatica generally manifests as a shooting pain, but other symptoms may include lower back pain as well as weakness or numbness in the affected leg or foot. Other potential causes of sciatic pain include the following:
• Spondylolisthesis: A stress fracture in the facet joints that allow a vertebra to slip out of place and pinch nerves
• Piriformis Syndrome: A tightening or spasm of the piriformis muscle that compresses the sciatic nerve
• Osteoarthritis: Drying out and shrinkage of discs that lead to formation of bone spurs
• Stenosis: Narrowing of the canals in the spine leading to compression
Acute sciatica tends to resolve itself in less than six weeks for most people. Pain medications are often prescribed as an initial treatment, but there is not sufficient evidence proving that these drugs are effective. Chronic pain may require surgery, especially to correct an underlying condition.
How Can CBD Help?
Many people take CBD for pain management. Sciatic pain is neuropathic, caused by inflammation or nerve tissue compression. It is also nociceptive, meaning that it’s caused by a physical response to painful stimuli. There’s promising research that CBD is effective for both types of pain. More studies are needed to examine the effectiveness of CBD as a treatment of symptoms; however, it is not a cure for acute or chronic sciatica. Consult your physician to discuss taking CBD for nerve system issues and the recommended dosage of CBD oil for sciatica.
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