Sciatica: Causes, Symptoms, Pain, Treatment & More

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain that occurs along the sciatic nerve of the lower back. This pain can be due to swelling, irritation or pinching of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve branches from the lumbar region of the spine through the hips and buttocks, ending just below the knee. It further branches out into your calves and feet. Branches of the nerve are present on both sides of the body.

What Parts of the Body Are Affected by Sciatic Pain?

Sciatic pain occurs along the sciatic nerve which runs from your lower spine down to your buttock and ends just below the knee. This is why sciatic pain occurs only in these regions. In most cases, sciatic pain occurs on only one side of your body. In some cases, sciatica can also cause a tingling sensation in the calves and feet.

Sciatica Causes

There are a number of different causes for sciatic pain. The most common of these are:

• Herniated or slipped disk: Pressure on the intervertebral disc from the vertebrae above and below it can cause the fluid within it to leak out. This fluid buildup applies pressure against the sciatic nerve, resulting in pain.
• Bone spur on the spine: Bone spurs or osteophytes are small, jagged outgrowths of bone that usually form at bone joints. Occurrence of these bone spurs on the vertebral column can cause the spinal canal to narrow, resulting in its nerves being pinched. If this pinching occurs along the path of the sciatic nerve, it can lead to inflammation and sciatic pain.

Other causes of sciatica include:

• Damage, injury or trauma to the spine or sciatic nerve.
• Tumors in the spinal canal which may compress the sciatic nerve.
• Slipping of a vertebra so that it is no longer correctly aligned with the one above it. This may cause narrowing of the spinal canal and pinching of the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatic pain most commonly occurs in the region from your lower spine to your calf. However, the intensity of sciatic pain may vary from dull and bearable pain to a very strong burning sensation. Some cases of sciatica may be excruciatingly painful while others may be mild.

Other symptoms of sciatica include:

• Lower back pain that worsens with sudden movements like sneezing or coughing.
• Sudden judder or “electric shock” sensations.
• Sensations of “pins and needles” in legs and feet.
• Weakness of the lower back, leg, buttock or feet.
• Numbness of the lower back, leg, buttock or feet.

When to see a doctor for sciatica

Living with chronic pain makes it harder to identify times when immediate medical attention is required. You should see a doctor when, in addition to the baseline pain, you experience the following symptoms:

• You feel severe pain in the back, leg, abdomen, or side of the body while at rest or while lying down, walking, or bending over
• You notice swelling in the lower back, thigh, and/or leg
• You feel severely weak or lose sensation in the groin, genitals, and/or legs
• You feel pulsation in the lower limb
• You experience fever, chills, or night sweats
• You experience pruritus
• Your feet or toes feel cold
• The skin on your legs or feet changes color
• You have a leg infection that does not heal
• You experience sexual dysfunction
• You lose control of bowel or bladder movement
• You experience a loss of appetite and your weight drops
• You notice changes in the appearance of skin, muscles, and hair on the peripheral areas of the body