The term sciatica is often used when referring to back, buttocks, or leg pain. It is however, not a disease or a condition but a symptom of an underlying problem. Known as the largest nerve in human body, the sciatic nerve is formed by the union of 5 nerve roots from the lower spine. When an individual experiences a sharp, burning, or searing pain along the back and outer part of the thigh and/ or leg, it indicates that the sciatic nerve is either irritated or inflamed.
Symptoms
The pain occurs anywhere along the sciatic nerve with varied severity (from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating pain) along the lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of either leg. Other symptoms may include:
- Numbness or weakness on legs and feet. On severe cases, you may experience a loss of feeling or movement
- Pins and needles especially in toes or feet
- Feeling of heaviness at the affected leg (in rare cases, both legs can be affected)
Causes
Research has shown that 90% of the cases sciatica is caused by a herniated disc involving nerve root compression (Jacobs et al., 2011). Sciatica can be caused by several conditions that involve the spine which can then affect the nerves connected to it. The six most common causes of sciatica are the following:
- Herniated Disc
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Trauma that can result in spinal cord injuries
- Piriformis syndrome
- Spinal tumor
