The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your
body. It runs from your pelvis, through your hip area and buttocks
and down each leg. The sciatic nerve branches into smaller nerves as
it travels down the legs providing feeling to your thighs, legs, and
feet as well as controlling many of the muscles in your lower legs.
The term sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of
this nerve.
What causes Sciatica?
Sciatica is actually a sign that you have an
underlying problem putting pressure on a nerve in your lower back.
The most common cause of this nerve compression is a bulging or
herniated lumbar disc. Piriformis syndrome is another common cause
of sciatica. The piriformis is a muscle that lies directly over the
sciatic nerve. If this muscle becomes tight or if you have a spasm
in this muscle, it puts pressure directly on the sciatic nerve.
Occasionally, sciatic pain in men is caused by sitting on a wallet.
How do I know if I have sciatica?
Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine
to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of
sciatica. Sciatica may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and
muscle weakness in the affected leg. This pain can vary widely, from
a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating
discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock.
Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It's
likely to be worse when you sit, cough or sneeze.
How is Sciatica Treated?
The vast majority of the time, sciatic pain can be
relieved through a combination of stretches, deep tissue massage of
the piriformis muscle and chiropractic care. Occasionally, in cases
where chronic spasm of the low back or piriformis muscles is causing
the sciatic pain, it may be necessary to do a procedure called a
trigger point injection, where a medical pain specialist injects a
small amount of anesthetic directly into a spasmed muscle to break
the spasm cycle. But this is typically not necessary.