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Pain Conditions

Sciatica

Sciatica is nerve pain radiating from your lower back down the path of your sciatic nerve (buttocks, back of the thigh, and leg), caused by irritation, inflammation, or pressure on the nerve, often from a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. In addition to pain, it can involve tingling or numbness in your back or butt that may also radiate down your leg. More severe symptoms are also possible.

Having sciatica means you can experience mild to severe pain anywhere with nerves that connect to the sciatic nerve. The symptoms can affect your lower back, hips, buttocks or legs. Some symptoms may extend as far down as your feet and toes, depending on the specific nerve(s) affected.

Symptoms:


  • Pain:
    Sciatica occurs when pressure is placed on one or more affected nerves. The pain is commonly described as a burning sensation or an electric shock–like feeling. It often radiates or shoots down the leg on the affected side and may worsen with coughing, sneezing, bending, or lifting the legs while lying on your back.

  • Tingling or “pins and needles” (paresthesia):
    This sensation is similar to the feeling of a limb “falling asleep,” often occurring in the leg or foot.

  • Numbness:
    Reduced or absent sensation in areas of the back or leg may occur when nerve signals have difficulty traveling to the brain.

  • Muscle weakness:
    In more serious cases, weakness can develop when nerve signals that control muscle movement are impaired.

  • Urinary or bowel incontinence:
    This is a rare but severe symptom indicating that nerve signals controlling the bladder or bowels are not functioning properly and requires immediate medical attention.

Causes:

  • Herniated Disc (Slipped Disc): The most frequent cause, where a disc bulges and presses on the nerve root.
  • Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal, putting pressure on nerves.
  • Spondylolisthesis: When one vertebra slips forward onto another.
  • Injuries: Trauma to the spine or buttock.
  • Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis muscle in the buttock spasms, irritating the nerve.