WHAT IS SCIATICA?
The term sciatica can be confusing because it does not describe an actual condition but rather a set of symptoms.
- Sciatic nerve pain or “sciatica” is often associated with low back issues. It is nerve pain that radiates down the leg and can go as far down as the patient's toes. Your doctor may also use the term "radiculopathy."
- The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in your body. The sciatic nerve is made of 5 levels of nerves that exit the lumbar spine. These levels combine into one large nerve (about the thickness of your little finger) that runs down the leg eventually splitting into branches that run to the lower leg and feet.
DID YOU KNOW?
More than 50% of people who have never had back pain or sciatica a day in their lives have a pinched nerve on their MRI scan but have no pain.
Symptoms & Causes of Sciatica
Symptoms can vary but are often described as:- Burning, numbness and tingling
- A feeling of electricity shooting down the leg
- Weakness in the leg
- The term sciatica can be confusing because it does not describe an actual physical condition but rather a set of symptoms associated with low back problems.
- Nerve pain is not like other kinds of pain. It can be severely painful and unfortunately it often does not respond to basic conservative treatments.
- New scientific studies indicate that the old “pinched nerve” theory doesn’t hold much water. More than 50% of people who have never had back pain or sciatica a day in their life have a pinched nerve on their MRI scan but have no pain.
- Further scientific research has revealed that nerves can become very “sensitized” when exposed to different chemical that can “leak” out of the discs. These chemicals inflame the nerve and cause it to be extremely painful.
- Once the nerve is inflamed it takes very little to aggravate it and even simple daily tasks can become nearly impossible due to pain.
Possible Causes:
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Stenosis
- Trauma