Sciatica Sucks

Sciatica is pain resulting from irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica pain is typically felt from the low back to behind the thigh and radiating down below the knee. Sometimes the pain continues on down through the calf and goes all the way to the toes. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body.


It begins from nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord in the low back and extends through the buttock area to send nerve endings down the lower limbs. While sciatica is most commonly a result of a herniated disc directly pressing on the nerve, any cause of irritation or inflammation of this nerve can reproduce the symptoms of sciatica. These causes may include irritation of the nerve from adjacent bone, tumors, muscle, internal bleeding, infections, injury, and other causes.

Sciatica can be diagnosed with a physical exam and medical history. The typical symptoms and certain examination maneuvers help the healthcare practitioner to diagnose sciatica. Sometimes, x-rays, films, and other tests, such as CAT scan or an MRI scan, are used to further define the causes of sciatica. Other treatments for sciatica include addressing the underlying cause, medications to relieve pain and inflammation and relax muscles, and physical therapy. Surgical procedures can sometimes be required for persisting sciatica that is caused by nerve compression at the lower spine. Sciatica is a common disorder that approximately forty percent of the population experience at some point.

However, only about one percent have coexisting sensory or motor deficits. Sciatic pain has several root causes and treatment may hinge upon the underlying problem. Of the identifiable causes of sciatic pain, lumbosacral radiculopathy and back strain are the most frequently suspected. The term lumbosacral refers to the lower part of the spine, and radiculopathy describes a problem with the spinal nerve roots that pass between the vertebrae and give rise to the sciatic nerve.

This area between the vertebrae is cushioned with a disc of shock- absorbing tissue. If this disc shifts or is damaged through injury or disease, the spinal nerve root may be compressed by the shifted tissue or the vertebrae. This compression of the nerve roots sends a pain signal to the brain. Although the actual injury is to the nerve roots, the pain may be perceived as coming from anywhere along the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve can be compressed in additional ways. Back strain may cause muscle spasms in the lower back, placing pressure on the sciatic nerve. In rare cases, infection, cancer, bone inflammation, or other diseases may be causing the pressure. More likely, but often overlooked, is the piriformis syndrome. As the sciatic nerve passes through the hip joint, it shares the space with several muscles. One of these muscles, the piriformis muscle, is closely associated with the sciatic nerve. In some people, the nerve actually runs through the muscle. If this muscle is injured or has a spasm, it places pressure on the sciatic nerve, in effect, compressing it.

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