Sciatica Discomfort

One of the most uncomfortable experiences that a person can undergo is back pain. Although some may think this makes it too common to pay close attention to, the truth is just the opposite: back pain is so common among adults and creates such great discomfort in a person's life that, after the common cold, back pain is the most common ailment afflicting us. One of the most common kinds of back pain is called sciatica. Sciatica refers to pain or discomfort associated with the sciatic nerve.


This nerve runs from the lower part of the spinal cord, down the back of the leg, to the foot. Injury to or pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause the characteristic pain of sciatica which is a sharp or burning pain that radiates from the lower back or hip, possibly following the path of the sciatic nerve to the foot. If a person thinks s/he might have sciatica, that person is diagnosed during a clinical exam by recounting the location and nature of the pain, how long it has continued, and any accidents or unusual activities prior to its onset. This information provides clues that may point to back strain or injury to a specific location.


Back pain from disc disease, piriformis syndrome, and back strain must be differentiated from more serious conditions such as cancer or infection. Often, a straight-leg-raising test is done, in which the person lays face upward and the health care provider raises the affected leg to various heights. This test pinpoints the location of the pain and may reveal whether it is caused by a disc problem. Other tests, such as having the individual rotate the hip joint, assess the hip muscles Additional tests can be done, depending on the results of the physical examination and initial pain treatment.


Such tests might include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography scans (CAT). Other tests examine the conduction of electricity through nerve tissues, and include studies of the electrical activity generated as muscles contract, nerve conduction velocity, and evoked potential testing. A more invasive test involves injecting a contrast substance into the space between the vertebrae and making x-ray images of the spinal cord, but this procedure is preformed only if surgery is being considered.


All of these tests can reveal problems with the vertebrae, the disc, or the nerve itself. One of the most commonly identified causes of the lower back pain is compression or pressure on the sciatic nerve. The extent of the pain varies between individuals. Some people describe pain that centers in the area of the hip, and others perceive discomfort all the way to the foot. The quality of the pain also varies; it is often described as tingling, burning, prickly, aching, or stabbing.


The onset of sciatica can be sudden, but it can also develop gradually. The pain may be intermittent or continuous, and certain activities, such as bending, coughing, sneezing, or sitting, may make the pain worse. Chronic pain may arise from more than just compression on the nerve. According to some pain researchers, physical damage to a nerve is only half of the equation. A developing theory proposes that some nerve injuries result in a release of neurotransmitters and immune system chemicals that enhance and sustain a pain message.

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