What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a common condition and can also be known as nerve root or radicular pain. Sciatica is a term used to describe pain felt in the leg, but it often comes from the lower back. The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back, buttock, and the back of the thigh all the way down the back of the leg into the foot. Symptoms can be experienced along any part of the nerve. They can have a sudden or slow onset, varying from mild to severe. The pain can vary from a mild ache to a sharp, burning pain. Sometimes it can feel like a jolt or electric shock. It can worsen when coughing, sneezing, or sitting long. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body but can be bilateral. It’s simply a matter of where the nerve is being pinched along the spinal column. Besides pain, sciatica may be accompanied by tingling like pins and needles, numbness, or weakness.
What causes sciatica?
- Slipped disc (most common)- when a cushion of tissue between the bones in the spines pushes out.
- Spinal stenosis-narrowing of the part of the spine where nerves pass through.
- Spondylolisthesis – when one of the bones in the spine slips out of position.
- Back injury
- Piriformis syndrome
- Tumours, diabetes, etc.
How is sciatica managed?
Sciatica is a common condition and can also be known as nerve root or radicular pain. Sciatica is a term used to describe pain felt in the leg, but it often comes from the lower back. The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back, buttock, and the back of the thigh all the way down the back of the leg into the foot. Symptoms can be experienced along any part of the nerve. They can have a sudden or slow onset, varying from mild to severe. The pain can vary from a mild ache to a sharp, burning pain. Sometimes it can feel like a jolt or electric shock. It can worsen when coughing, sneezing, or sitting long. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body but can be bilateral. It’s simply a matter of where the nerve is being pinched along the spinal column. Besides pain, sciatica may be accompanied by tingling like pins and needles, numbness, or weakness.
Get immediate care for sciatica if:
- Have sciatica on both sides.
- Have weakness or numbness in both legs that are severe and getting worse.
- Have numbness around or under your genitals or around your bottom (anus)
- It is hard to start peeing, cannot pee or control when you pee – and this is not normal for you.
- Sexual dysfunction
- Do not notice when you need to poo or cannot control when you poo – which is not normal for you.
These could be symptoms of a serious back problem that needs to be treated in the hospital as soon as possible.
Explore procedures for Leg Pain (Sciatica):
Nerve Root Injections (Transforaminal Epidural): Injections to deliver steroids directly to the affected nerve root to relieve pain and inflammation.
Explore more related spinal conditions:
Coccyx Pain: Delve deeper into the discomfort associated with tailbone injuries and its impact on daily life.
Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Explore the causes and management strategies for pain in the sacroiliac joint.
Neck Pain: Learn about common causes, symptoms, and management strategies for persistent neck pain.
Back Pain: The underlying factors contributing to chronic or acute back pain.