Your sciatic never originates in your lower back, travels down the back of your buttock, hamstring, calf and into your foot. When this nerve becomes irritated, it can cause pain from its origin, all the way to your toes. Because of its long path, pain can be triggered during your run--not only by movement from your back, but also from impact on your feet.
Significance
Sciatica can cause pain so severe that running becomes impossible. The, often long, recovery time leaves you susceptible to developing chronic back pain. The longer your back hurts, the better chance your body has to become sensitized to the pain, making the pain stick around even after the cause of your symptoms has been treated.
Symptoms
Shooting pain from your lower back to your feet is a classic sciatica symptom. Other symptoms include tingling and numbness along the path of your sciatic nerve. While running, you're likely to feel pain each time your foot hits the ground.
Causes
Sciatica can be caused by structural problems, such as a herniated disc, or muscular problems, such as piriformis syndrome. In both cases, the sciatic nerve can become pinched, irritated and inflamed.
Treatment
Treatment for sciatic includes rest, decreasing inflammation with anti-inflammatory medication and relaxing muscle spasms with stretches and hot compresses. You should not run until your pain completely subsides and seek medical attention if your symptoms do not improve. Doctors sometime give steroids and other muscle relaxants when at-home treatment does not work.
Prevention
Add piriformis stretches to your daily routine. Stretching your piriformis helps prevent the muscle tension that contributes to sciatica. If you spend your workday sitting down, take breaks to move your legs. A lunchtime run loosens your hips and back to take pressure off your sciatic nerve.
