It has a direct effect on your ability to control and feel your legs. Sciatica is a sensation that can manifest itself as a moderate to severe pain in your back, buttocks, and legs. You may also feel weakness or numbness in these areas. Sciatica is a symptom caused by an underlying injury to your sciatic nerve or an area that affects the nerve, such as your vertebrae, which are the bones in your neck and back.
As many as 40 percent of people will get it at some point during their lives. It becomes more frequent as you age. Sciatica is a very distinct type of symptom. Sciatica is the result of damage or injury to your sciatic nerve, so other symptoms of nerve damage are usually present with the pain.
Other symptoms may include the following:. Sciatica can be caused by several conditions that involve your spine and can affect the nerves running along your back. It can also be caused by an injury, for example from falling, or spinal or sciatic nerve tumors. Your vertebrae, or spinal bones, are separated by pieces of cartilage. Cartilage is filled with a thick, clear material to ensure flexibility and cushioning while you move around.
Herniated disks occur when the first layer of the cartilage rips. The substance inside can compress your sciatic nerve, resulting in lower limb pain and numbness. Spinal stenosis is also called lumbar spinal stenosis. This narrowing puts pressure on your spinal cord and your sciatic nerve roots. Spondylolisthesis is one of the associated conditions of degenerative disk disorder. When one spinal bone, or vertebra, extends forward over another, the extended spinal bone can pinch nerves that make up your sciatic nerve.
Piriformis syndrome is a rare neuromuscular disorder in which your piriformis muscle involuntarily contracts or tightens, causing sciatica.
Your piriformis muscle is the muscle that connects the lower portion of your spine to your thighbones. When it tightens, it can put pressure on your sciatic nerve, leading to sciatica. Piriformis syndrome can worsen if you sit for long periods, fall, or experience a car crash.
Certain behaviors or factors can raise your risk of developing sciatica. If the symptoms of sciatica are mild and do not last longer than weeks, it is probably acute sciatica, and medical attention is not usually necessary. A complete medical history may help speed up the diagnosis.
Doctors will also have the individual perform basic exercises that stretch the sciatic nerve. A shooting pain down the leg while performing these exercises usually indicates sciatica. If pain persists for more than weeks, imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI may be necessary to help identify what is compressing the sciatic nerve and causing the symptoms.
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Page last reviewed: 08 September Next review due: 08 September Check if you have sciatica If you have sciatica, your: bottom back of your leg foot and toes may feel: painful — the pain may be stabbing, burning or shooting tingling — like pins and needles numb weak Your symptoms may be worse when moving, sneezing or coughing. Information: You probably do not have sciatica if you only have back pain.
Do carry on with your normal activities as much as possible regular exercises for sciatica start gentle exercise as soon as you can — anything that gets you moving can help hold heat packs to the painful areas — you can buy these from pharmacies ask your pharmacist about painkillers — NSAIDs like ibuprofen are often recommended — paracetamol on its own is unlikely to relieve your pain put a small, firm cushion between your knees when sleeping on your side, or several firm pillows underneath your knees when lying on your back.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if the pain:. Your pain returns after successful treatment of your sciatica. Key points about sciatica Sciatica most commonly occurs in people between the ages of 30 and 50 years. It's pain that starts along your sciatic nerve and spreads down your buttock and the back of one thigh.
It's usually caused by a herniated or bulging disk in your spine that presses on your sciatic nerve. Sciatica usually heals on its own with some rest, appropriate exercise, and time. Next steps Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider: Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen. Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you. Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are. Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean. Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure. If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care.
Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Not what you're looking for?
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