Other common causes may include lumbar spinal stenosis , facet joint osteoarthritis , lumbar degenerative disc disease , or spondylolisthesis. See Sciatica Causes. The term sciatica is often misused, and people may be tempted to self-diagnose and self-treat the wrong cause of their sciatica. Knowing the underlying cause of your sciatica symptoms is important in order to get the right treatment. See Diagnosing the Cause of Sciatica. A number of conditions can mimic the radiating pain, numbness, and tingling of sciatica.
Many people refer to any type of leg pain as sciatica, but in fact, there are many causes of leg pain that are not medically classified as sciatica and need to be treated differently. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can cause symptoms similar to sciatica. To learn more, watch Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Video. Piriformis syndrome also causes symptoms similar to sciatica.
It occurs when the piriformis muscle in the buttocks irritates the sciatic nerve, which can cause pain to radiate along the path of the nerve into your leg. This type of pain is technically not sciatica, because the nerve irritation does not originate in the lower back.
Treatment for piriformis syndrome usually includes anti-inflammatory medication and specific physical therapy. Conditions Treated A-Z. Definition Sciatica refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg. Alternative Names Neuropathy - sciatic nerve; Sciatic nerve dysfunction; Low back pain - sciatica; LBP - sciatica; Lumbar radiculopathy - sciatica Causes Sciatica occurs when there is pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve.
Common causes of sciatica include: Slipped herniated disk Spinal stenosis Piriformis syndrome a pain disorder involving the narrow muscle in the buttocks Pelvic injury or fracture Tumors Men between 30 and 50 years of age are more likely to have sciatica.
Symptoms Sciatica pain can vary widely. The pain may start slowly. It may get worse: After standing or sitting During certain times of the day, such as at night When sneezing, coughing, or laughing When bending backward or walking more than a few yards or meters, especially if caused by spinal stenosis When straining or holding your breath, such as during a bowel movement Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam.
This may show: Weakness when bending the knee Difficulty bending the foot inward or down Difficulty walking on your toes Difficulty bending forward or backward Abnormal or weak reflexes Loss of sensation or numbness Pain when lifting the leg straight up when you're lying on the exam table Tests are often not needed unless pain is severe or long-lasting. If tests are ordered, they may include: X-ray, MRI, or other imaging tests Blood tests Treatment As sciatica is a symptom of another medical condition, the underlying cause should be identified and treated.
In some cases, no treatment is required and recovery occurs on its own. Your provider may recommend the following steps to calm your symptoms and reduce inflammation: Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen Advil, Motrin IB or acetaminophen Tylenol. Apply heat or ice to the painful area. Try ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then use heat. Measures to take care of your back at home may include: Bed rest is not recommended. Back exercises are recommended early on to strengthen your back.
Start exercising again after 2 to 3 weeks. Include exercises to strengthen your abdominal core muscles and improve the flexibility of your spine. Reduce your activity for the first couple of days. Then, slowly start your usual activities. Do not do heavy lifting or twisting of your back for the first 6 weeks after the pain begins. Outlook Prognosis Often, sciatica gets better on its own. Page last reviewed: 08 September Next review due: 08 September Check if you have sciatica If you have sciatica, your: bottom back of your leg foot and toes may feel: painful — the pain may be stabbing, burning or shooting tingling — like pins and needles numb weak Your symptoms may be worse when moving, sneezing or coughing.
Information: You probably do not have sciatica if you only have back pain. Do carry on with your normal activities as much as possible regular exercises for sciatica start gentle exercise as soon as you can — anything that gets you moving can help hold heat packs to the painful areas — you can buy these from pharmacies ask your pharmacist about painkillers — NSAIDs like ibuprofen are often recommended — paracetamol on its own is unlikely to relieve your pain put a small, firm cushion between your knees when sleeping on your side, or several firm pillows underneath your knees when lying on your back.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if the pain:. The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the body and is formed by the union of 5 nerve roots in the lumbar and sacral spine. There are 2 sciatic nerves in the body—the right and left nerves, supplying the corresponding lower limb. See Lumbar Spine Anatomy and Pain. Watch Sciatic Nerve Anatomy Video. Rarely, the sciatic nerve may split into 2 nerves near the sciatic foramen, which merge again into a single nerve.
See Sciatic Nerve Anatomy. The specific sciatica symptoms largely depend on the nerve root that is pinched. Often, a particular event or injury does not cause sciatica—rather it tends to develop over time. Specifically, people who often bend their spine forward or sideways or raise their arms frequently above the shoulder level may be at risk of sciatica. The vast majority of people who experience sciatica typically get better within 4 to 6 weeks with nonsurgical sciatica treatments.
Certain symptoms of sciatica may indicate a serious medical condition, such as cauda equina syndrome, infection, or spinal tumors.
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