- Home
- /
- Speciality
- /
- Sciatica: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments & Prevention
You have probably heard about or seen the intricate electrical wiring in homes/buildings. Similarly, the body's wiring is made of nerves, which are its primary communication network. Our bodies are made up of billions of neurons or nerve cells and hundreds of nerves each of which is crucial to the body's overall operation. One such significant nerve in the body is the sciatic nerve, measuring up to 2 centimeters wide.
The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the human body. Our bodies have 2 sciatic nerves running from the lower back through the buttocks and down the back of each leg. The sciatic nerves play a crucial role in connecting the spinal cord to the legs, feet, and toes.
Sciatica is a condition brought on by injury or irritation to the sciatic nerve causing pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in various parts of the body where the sciatic nerves travel, i.e. from the buttocks to down the legs. Overgrowth of bone, slipped disks, and other similar conditions that put pressure on the sciatic nerve are the factors that lead to sciatica pain. Sciatica is more common in individuals between the ages of 25 and 35 and is linked to a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, prior spinal surgery, and underlying medical conditions.
In most cases, sciatica pain resolves with adequate rest and can be self-treated if the symptoms are mild. However, if the pain or any other problem persists, early diagnosis and treatment can help with any further complications, prevent permanent nerve damage, speed up recovery, avoid surgery/invasive treatments, and improve overall quality of life.
What are the Common Causes of Sciatica
The sciatic nerve can be affected, irritated, inflamed, pinched, or compressed, by several factors leading to sciatica pain including, a spinal injury, slipped disk, spinal stenosis, and other spinal deformities. Some of the common causes of sciatica include,
- Herniated disk: Herniated disk/slipped disk is a condition when the disk that functions as a cushion between the spinal bones becomes less effective, gets displaced or leaks out and starts to compress/push the nerves.
- Spinal Stenosis: Sciatica pain may occur due to a condition when the spinal canal (the route through which the nerves travel through the spine to other parts of the body) gets narrower and starts to compress the nerves.
- Spinal Injury: Any injury, fracture or dislocation in the spine can compress, irritate, and inflame the sciatic nerve leading to sciatica pain.
- Spinal Tumour: Any abnormal tissue growth or tumours can also cause compression, irritation, and inflammation of the sciatic nerve, however, tumours compressing sciatic nerves are rare.
- Degenerative Spine Diseases: A common factor leading to sciatic pain is caused by wear and tear of the spine with age, leading to abnormal spinal motion or bone spur formation.
- Pregnancy: A temporary sciatica pain can be expected during pregnancy due to the weight and position of the baby, it may put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
What are the Symptoms of Sciatica
Sciatica is a relatively common disorder, according to recent research around 9.4 % of people worldwide suffer from lower back pain. Some of the common symptoms include,
Pain: Compression/inflammation/pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause mild to sharp pain, or even burning or shooting pain in the buttocks, legs, foot, and toes. Pain can worsen while standing, walking, during movements, etc. Numbness: Numbness or loss of sensation in the back or legs is a clear sign of sciatica and indicates that the nerves that transmit signals from the back or legs to the brain are affected. Muscle Weakness: Weakness in the muscles, especially felt around the thigh, calf, and foot is a severe symptom of sciatica. Difficulty During Movements: Pain, weakness, and numbness can make it hard to walk, stand for long, bend, or climb stairs, etc. Burning Sensation: A feeling of heat or burning along with sharp or shooting pain can be experienced along the path of the sciatic nerve. Tingling: Sciatica commonly causes tingling or prickling sensation usually in the buttocks, legs or feet.
Diagnosis of Sciatica
A specialist can diagnose sciatica by performing a physical examination. Finding the painful area, and assessing the surrounding muscle strength, sensations, reflexes etc. can be aided by this physical examination. A physical examination by the examiner or spine specialist may involve the following:
Walking Test: To determine changes in the way you walk. Leg Raise Test: Aids in identifying the location and cause of sciatica. Flexibility & Strength Check: To assess the strength of the muscles & the causes of sciatica.
Post performing a physical examination the specialist may suggest certain imaging tests to determine the location, nature and severity of the issue. In order to diagnose sciatica, some imaging tests are frequently used including,
Spine X-ray: Provides a basic view of the spine to help identify bone spurs, fractures, etc. MRI: Gives a detailed image of the soft tissues, disk, ligaments, nerves, etc.CT Scan: Helps create 2D images of the spine & provides a detailed view.
Treatment Options for Sciatica
The treatment of sciatica depends on the severity of the condition and the underlying symptoms. Usually, sciatica with mild symptoms can heal on its own with proper rest, pain-relieving medicines, and applying ice/heat to the affected area. While effective treatment of advanced-level sciatica involves,
Non-Surgical Treatments: Non-surgical treatments are suggested for patients with mild symptoms. These include, Medications: Prescribed medicines and muscle relaxants can help reduce pain and discomfort. Physical Therapy: These involve exercises to help release strain on the sciatic nerve. Alternative Therapy: Therapies like chiropractic or acupuncture can be used to manage pain and release stress around the nerve & surrounding muscles. Surgical Treatments: The necessity of surgery is determined by the severity of the symptoms. When non-surgical treatments are not enough to treat issues & relieve pain and other severe conditions, surgical procedures are the preferred course of action. Among the surgical techniques used to treat disk herniation are discectomy, laminectomy, etc.
Recovery after Sciatica
The duration of recovery depends on several factors including the cause, the severity of the symptom and the type of treatment (non-surgical or surgical). Sciatica in many cases usually gets better in four to six weeks with proper rest, self-care treatments, and the prescribed medicines. The recovery period for sciatica with more severe symptoms can range from a few weeks to months and it even depends on the type of surgery (invasive or minimally invasive). Treatment and early detection help stop the illness from getting worse. Adhering to the specialist's advice, avoiding high-risk activities, etc. could speed up the recovery process.
How to Prevent Sciatica
Adopting habits that safeguard the spine, reduce nerve irritation, and preserve general musculoskeletal health are necessary to prevent sciatica. Some of the practical preventive measures include,
| Category | Preventive Measures |
| Posture | Follow a good posture while standing, sitting, lifting objects |
| Weight Management | Maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on the spine |
| Exercise | Strengthen core muscles, stretch regularly |
| Lifestyle | Quit smoking to improve spinal health & manage stress to reduce muscle tension |
| Prolonged Positions | Avoid sitting or standing for too long; take regular breaks |
Meet Our Surgeons
Be a super-mom, stay informed about pregnancy health updates with our weekly newsletter
[contact-form-7 id=”16292″ title=”Subscribe”]
FAQ's Around Sciatica
What sciatica pain?
Sciatica is a condition brought on by injury or irritation to the sciatic nerve causing pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in various parts of the body where the sciatic nerves travel, i.e. from the buttocks to down the legs.
Is sciatica curable?
Yes, sciatica is fully curable with early detection and the right treatment.
Why does sciatica pain occur?
Sciatica pain can occur due to overgrowth of bone, slipped disks, and other similar conditions that put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
How is sciatica diagnosed?
A specialist can diagnose sciatica by performing a physical examination and utilizing imaging tests including, an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, etc.
Will sciatica heal on its own?
Yes, in most cases sciatica with mild symptoms heals on its own.
Is sciatica permanent?
No, usually sciatica is not permanent and can be cured with appropriate care and treatment.
