Sciatica pain indicates a nerve problem. According to Mayo Clinic, sciatica is a symptom, not a disorder. The sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, runs from the spinal cord to the buttocks and hips and down each leg. A complication such as a herniated disk pressing against the sciatic nerve can cause the radiating pain associated with sciatica. Other names for sciatica include neuropathy and sciatic nerve dysfunction.
Symptoms
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, radiating pain from the lower back to the buttock and down the back of the leg may indicate sciatica. The pain can differ between patients. Some people complain of a jolt or an electric shock-type feeling that worsens with coughing, sneezing or extended periods of sitting. Typically only one leg experiences the discomfort. Other symptoms include numbness or muscle weakness in one extremity, tingling in toes or foot and inability to control bowel or bladder functions.
Causes
Sciatica results from pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve. The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disk but other causes may be: lumbar spinal stenosis or narrowing of the bony area the nerve passes through; spondylolisthesis, a condition caused by displacement of the vertebrae; piriformis syndrome, where the muscle surrounding the sciatic nerve tightens or spasms; tumors; trauma or injury.
Complications
Permanent nerve damage can result if sciatica goes untreated. The Mayo Clinic says most patients completely recover from sciatica but the cause of nerve damage will determine the final outcome. Common complications include loss of feeling or movement in the affected extremity and loss of bowel and bladder control.
Risk Factors
Patients over the age of 40 have an increased chance of suffering from sciatica due to age-related disk deterioration. Other risk factors for acquiring sciatica involve occupational choices such as jobs requiring twisting, carrying heavy items or driving for long amounts of time; sedentary lifestyle; and diabetes.
Diagnosis
Health care providers will initially perform basic physical and neurological exams. These tests help determine the cause of sciatica and the need for further testing. Additional diagnostic tests may involve blood tests, X-rays and MRI's.
Treatment
Mayo Clinic says that self-care measures such as alternating hot and cold packs to the back, stretching, exercise and non-prescription medication work well in treating sciatica. Health care providers may also recommend physical therapy, prescription medication, injections of steroid medication into the affected area and surgery to remove the injured disk.
