The sciatic nerve is the longest
nerve in our body. It runs from the spinal cord to the buttock and hip area
and down the back of each leg.
Sciatica is low back pain combined with a pain through the buttock and down one leg, along the course
of the sciatic nerve. The pain usually goes past the knee and may go farther - upto the
foot. Sometimes, weakness in the leg muscles occurs with sciatica. In addition to pain, which is
sometimes severe, there may be numbness, muscular weakness, pins and needles or
tingling and difficulty in moving or controlling the leg. Typically, the
symptoms are only felt on one side of the body.
Cause-
Sciatica is
caused by inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve or nerve roots in the
lower spine. It may also be caused by damage to nerve roots. Sciatica is not a
disease in itself and its causes are various.
Pressure on the sciatic nerve
can result from poor posture, muscle strain, pregnancy, wearing high heels, or
being overweight. A herniated disc in the lumbar spine is the most common cause
of sciatica.
Another common cause of sciatica is lumbar spinal stenosis, or
narrowing of the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the roots making up the
sciatic nerve.
Although isthmic spondylolisthesis is relatively common in
adults, it only occasionally causes sciatica. This occurs when a vertebra
develops a stress fracture and slips, slightly impinging on the sciatic nerve as
it exits the spine. Piriformis syndrome causes sciatica when the sciatic muscle
is irritated as it runs under the piriformis muscle in the buttocks. Finally,
sacroiliac joint dysfunction can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to
sciatica.
Symptoms-
Pain that radiates from lower (lumbar) spine to
buttock and down the back of leg is the hallmark of sciatica. Patient may feel
the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially
likely to follow a path from low back to buttock and the back of thigh and calf.
The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or
excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. It
may be worse during coughing and sneezing, and prolonged sitting also can
aggravate symptoms. Usually only one lower extremity is affected.
Sciatica
symptoms include-
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