Sciatica means nerve pain or dysfunction in the legs, originating from the sciatic nerve.

It is a common condition experienced by almost half of the population at some point in their lives. Understanding the symptoms, underlying causes, and available treatment options can bring you closer to finding relief for your pain.

What is sciatica?

The sciatic nerve extends throughout the entire length of our legs, starting from the lower back. Its primary function is to control movement and transmit sensations in certain leg muscles. When the sciatic nerve suffers from irritation, compression, or impingement, it might cause pain or nerve dysfunction. This condition is called sciatica.

While sometimes referred to as one, sciatica is not a disease. It’s only a symptom of some other underlying issue. Technically, the term ‘sciatica’ describes nerve pain, tingling, and numbness that stems from the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica symptoms

The symptoms of sciatica are unique because they typically affect only one side of the body.

The hallmark symptom of sciatica is pain that radiates from the lower back, through the buttocks, and often, down the entire leg. This pain might feel like a series of electric shocks or a burning sensation.

Other common symptoms might include:

• Sharp or shooting pain along the leg
• Tingling or numbness of the muscles
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty in moving the leg or foot
• Worsening pain when raising the legs upwards when lying on your back
• Difficulty controlling bladder or bowel movements

The intensity of these symptoms may vary from case to case.

Sciatica causes

Since sciatica is not a standalone disease but rather a symptom, there is always an underlying cause.

Often, it stems from pressure, irritation, or damage to the sciatic nerve.

Damage or deformation to the spinal disks can compress these nerves, leading to nerve pain and loss of function. Degenerative disk diseases and herniated or slipped disks can often lead to sciatica.

Spinal stenosis and foraminal stenosis are both conditions that constrict the available space around the nerves, potentially leading to the compression of the sciatic nerve.

Structural abnormalities can also contribute to sciatica. Spondylolisthesis, for example, occurs when a vertebra slips out of its normal position and might exert pressure on the nerves. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, can lead to the formation of bone spurs that impinge on the sciatic nerve.

Conditions such as conus medullaris syndrome, involving damage or compression of the lower spinal cord, and cauda equina syndrome, characterized by compression of nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord, can also result in sciatic nerve impingement.

Additionally, tumors, cysts, and other growths might also cause sciatica.

Risk factors for sciatica

Some conditions and lifestyle factors might increase your risk of developing sciatica. Some common risk factors include:

• Pregnancy
• Injury
• Age-related wear and tear
• Poor posture or weak core muscles
• Type 2 diabetes
• Smoking
• Obesity

Diagnosing sciatica

Since sciatica is merely a symptom, it is crucial to pinpoint and address the root cause. So, your healthcare provider will prioritize identifying the underlying issue while, at the same time, providing relief for the associated symptoms as well.

During diagnosis, doctors will assess your medical history and perform a physical examination, evaluating the range of motion, pain symptoms, muscle strength, and reflexes.

Imaging tests, such as X-rays and MRI or CT scans, can help identify the source of the sciatic nerve dysfunction and rule out other conditions.

Sciatica can be categorized into two different types. True sciatica is when a condition directly affects the sciatic nerve. And sciatica-like conditions are ones that might feel like sciatica, but they don’t actually involve irritation, compression, or other impingement of the sciatic nerve itself. While the symptoms are usually the same, distinguishing between the two types is essential for accurate diagnosis and determining the appropriate course of treatment.

Sciatica treatments

The treatment approach for sciatica depends on the severity of symptoms and the underlying cause.

Doctors will try to fix the source of dysfunction whenever possible. Depending on the underlying cause of sciatica, this might mean resting, physical therapy, a course of medications, or in some cases, surgery.

However, it’s not always possible to eliminate the cause of sciatica. When you have chronic sciatica, treating the symptoms becomes crucial to restore your quality of life and range of movement. Even in cases where sciatica is only temporary, treating the symptoms can make the recovery process more comfortable.

A vital part of this treatment process is restoring the range of motion and muscle function. Depending on the severity of sciatica, this might be achieved with certain medications, gentle physical activity, like stretches and special exercises, or in some cases, assistive devices.

Sciatica most often causes nerve pain in the lower back, the buttocks, or the legs. Pain management methods, like painkillers, steroid injections, natural remedies, and alternative therapies, can ease these symptoms. If you’d like to learn more about your available pain relief options, make sure to read our article on sciatica pain relief as well!