Have you ever felt a burning, tingling sensation that starts in your lower back and runs down your buttocks and down your legs? Does this pain seem to get worse when you sit? Does this pain get so bad that you can barely stand? Then you may have a common, but very annoying, condition. In medical terms, we call this sciatica. Don't worry, we'll talk about it all in simple terms today.
What exactly is Sciatica?
Simply put, sciatica is pain associated with your sciatic nerve . The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in our body. It starts in our lower back, runs through our buttocks, down the back of our legs, and extends all the way down to our feet and toes. So, if this nerve is pinched, compressed, or otherwise compressed anywhere along its path, we commonly call it "sciatica." It is a collection of symptoms that can include pain, numbness, and tingling.
It's important to note that sciatica is not a disease in itself. It is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. In other words, the pain is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong with your sciatic nerve.
Most of the time, this pain is felt on only one side of the body. That is, the right leg or the left leg. For some people, this pain can be so severe that it is unbearable. For others, it may be a mild, but annoying pain that occurs frequently.
What does this pain feel like? Common symptoms
The symptoms of sciatica can vary from person to person. It depends on where the nerve is compressed and what is causing it. Let's take a look at the most common symptoms.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Lower back pain | Mild or severe pain. |
| Buttock and leg pain | This pain can be especially severe when sitting. |
| Hip pain | A constant ache in the hip area. |
| Inflammation and numbness | A burning sensation or tingling sensation down the leg. |
| Weakness or numbness | Difficulty moving the painful leg or foot, feeling lifeless. |
| The pain is like electricity. | When I try to stand, I suddenly feel a sharp pain going down my leg. |
Why does sciatica occur? What are the causes?
As we mentioned before, the main cause of this is the compression of the sciatic nerve. So there are several ways to relieve this nerve.
| Main reason | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Herniated disk | A jelly-like cushion (disc) between the vertebrae (bones) in our spine bulges out and presses on a nerve. This is the most common cause of sciatica. |
| Bone spur | Nerve compression by small bone spurs (like spines) that form in the spine. |
| Lumbar spinal stenosis | Nerve compression occurs as the canal through which the spinal cord passes in the lower back narrows with age. |
| Degenerative disk disease | With age, the spinal discs wear down, their height decreases, and the space for nerves to travel decreases. |
| Slipping of a vertebra (Spondylolisthesis) | A nerve is pinched by one vertebra sliding forward over the vertebra below it. |
| Pregnancy | Pressure on the sciatic nerve due to the enlarging uterus and weight gain. |
Other factors that increase risk
In addition to these main causes, there are other things that can make your back pain worse, meaning your sciatica condition may worsen.
- Obesity: As body weight increases, the pressure on the spine increases.
- Lack of exercise: Weakening of the back and abdominal muscles reduces the strength of the spine.
- Wearing high heels: Regularly wearing high heels changes the way the body's weight is distributed, putting unnecessary pressure on the back.
- Sleeping on a mattress that is too soft: Your back may not get the proper support it needs.
- Bad posture: Maintaining bad posture while lifting weights or sitting.
When should we see a doctor?
Most of the time, this pain will subside with a little rest and simple measures. However, there are some cases where we definitely need to seek medical advice .
If your pain doesn't go away after a few weeks , if it gets worse , or if it's affecting your daily activities to the point where you can't do anything , be sure to see your doctor. Your doctor will examine you and decide what treatment is best for you. This may include physical therapy, pain medication, and possibly surgery if necessary.
Situations when you should seek urgent medical advice
If you have any of the symptoms below, go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately, without delay. These could be signs of a serious condition.
| Warning: If you have these symptoms, go to the ETU immediately! | |
|---|---|
| Severe leg numbness | Sudden, severe weakness in one or both legs. |
| Numbness in the leg | Numbness in the leg, groin, or buttocks. |
| Loss of urinary or bowel control | Involuntary loss of urine or stool. This is a very serious emergency. |
| Unbearable pain | A sudden, severe, unbearable pain in the back or leg. |
Take-Home Message
- Sciatica is not a disease, but a symptom caused by compression of our sciatic nerve.
- Often the pain travels from the back through the buttocks and down one leg.
- The most common cause is a herniated disc that compresses the nerve.
- While most cases resolve with rest and simple treatments, it is important to see a doctor if the pain persists or is severe.
- If you have symptoms such as loss of sensation in your legs, numbness, or loss of bladder/bowel control, it is an emergency. Go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
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