Sciatica Causes and Symptoms OVERVIEW Sciatica refers to the pain in sciatic nerve that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which starts from your lower back and branches through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Mainly, Sciatica only affects the one portion of your body. Sciatica mainly occurs when your herniated disk, spinal stenosis or bone spur compresses the part of your nerve. This results in inflammation, pain and sometimes numbness in the affected leg. In most of the cases, Sciatica can be cured with the help of non-surgical treatment in few weeks but there are rare cases which results in the surgery of your sciatic nerve.
SYMPTOMS The pain that radiates from your back to the hips following your legs is the hallmark of Sciatica. You could feel the discomfort anywhere in the sciatic nerve pathway. Mainly the pain follows the path from your lower back, branches to your buttocks and finally ends near your thighs and calves. You can feel a mild ache to a sharp burning sensation or excruciating pain. Sometimes you could feel some jolt or electric shock. The pain could increase if you sneeze or cough, also the prolonged sitting could increase your pain. Some people feel numbness, muscle weakness or tingling in the affected area of leg and hips. WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR Mild sciatica usually goes away without any treatment. But you need to call your doctor if the symptoms don’t stop. If your symptoms lasts more than a week, get immediate medical care. Get immediate healthcare if: • • •
You feel sudden, severe pain in your lower back or leg. You feel sudden weakness or numbness in your leg. You have trouble controlling your bladder or bowels.
You need to go and see the sciatica doctor specialist near you to avoid any further serious injuries. Although Sciatica can be easily cured with non-surgical treatment and your doctor would also cure your sciatica with the non-surgical treatments.