What Is Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Sciatic nerve pain is more commonly referred to as sciatica. It’s a type of pain that is due to an irritation in the sciatic nerve. Usually, the pain starts on the lower back or lumbar area and then spreads down the thigh, until the knee. The reason behind this is that the sciatic nerve is located from the spinal cord in the lumbar area and extends down the buttocks. It is the largest nerve in the body.

The pain can also radiate to the hips. It can make walking extremely difficult or even impossible. Aside from the pain, sciatica also has other symptoms. A person may also feel numbness and tingling or burning sensations from the lower back area, upper buttocks, thigh or the back of his legs. Sometimes, these symptoms are worsened by bending the waist or by walking. It may be partially or completely relieved by lying down.

There are several causes for lower back pain. Usually it is caused by a lumbar disc hernia that presses directly on the nerve. This could either cause an inflammation or irritation in the sciatic nerve. Other causes can include tumor growths, infection, internal bleeding, trauma, and different injuries. The nerve can also be irritated by any adjacent muscle or bone. On some cases, it could also be caused by pregnancy.

The three common causes of sciatica are spinal disc herniation, spinal stenosis and piriformis syndrome. In a spinal disc herniation occurs when a person suddenly bends or twists their waist. When the spinal disc is herniated, it can press on a nerve and cause swelling on the surrounding tissues, which further progresses on the nerve. With lumbar spinal stenosis, the space for the spinal cord is narrowed. It pinches and irritates the nerves including the sciatic nerve. Piriformis syndrome is a condition wherein the sciatic nerve goes through the piriformis muscle instead of underneath it. When this muscle is overused or injured in people with this syndrome, it compresses or strangles the sciatic nerve, causing lower back pain.

In order for lower back pain to be treated, it needs to be diagnosed first. Checking for the symptoms, along with a physical exam and medical history will help with the diagnosis. Diagnostic tests such as electromyogram, X-rays, MRI and CT scans are helpful for determining what the exact cause is.

There are several treatment options for sciatica. Aside from treating the underlying cause, medications and physical therapy are also helpful. The main goal of medications is the relief of pain and inflammation. On the other hand, physical therapy focuses on strengthening the back. Lower back stretching and conditioning exercises greatly help people with their recovery. Although bed rest is not an absolute essential for recovery, it still helps relieve symptoms and it is still being encouraged. On some cases, surgery is needed to treat sciatic nerve pain. It is indicated for persisting and chronic sciatica that is due to a compression of a nerve in the lower back area. Other times, specialists on pain management are consulted to help people treat with chronic sciatic nerve pain.