Is it just a back pain or a Sciatica?

Is it just a back pain or a Sciatica?

A number of us experience back pain symptoms quite frequently owing to our lifestyle and often due to sitting in wrong postures that could prove detrimental in the long run.

However how do you know if it is just another one of those regular back pains or something more serious?

Heard of Sciatica?

The longest nerve in our bodies runs from the back through the buttocks all the way to the legs and feet and is known as the sciatic nerve. Any pain that is caused due to an irritation or pressure on the sciatic nerve is known as the sciatic pain. A shooting pain around the lower back bone or the buttocks or legs occurs due to the pressure on this sciatic nerve.

For most people the symptoms subside on their own while for others it is a more long term thing.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body which comprises of various nerve roots that branch from the spine in the back and combine together to become the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica is a rare condition affecting people around 20 years of age which slowly becomes prominent around 40 to 50 years of age. Although sciatica is not a serious issue and is generally known to get resolved on its own, it is always advisable to see a doctor for better pain management and to rule out any possibility of a serious injury or any other underlying medical issue.

Can Sciatica Become Serious?

As we said earlier, sciatica is not a cause of concern in most cases however for some it requires immediate medical attention which sometimes reaches a point of surgical intervention also. A doctor mainly focuses on understanding the cause of sciatica which may be serious and may need treatment.

What Causes Sciatica?

There are a number of lower back disorders or the lumbar spine disorders that are commonly known to cause sciatica. Primarily the condition occurs when one or more of the nerve roots in the lower back which form the sciatica nerve get compressed wrongly.

The term Radiculopathy is often used to describe sciatica, which is nothing but a term used in medical science to describe intense pain, tingling, numbness and muscular fatigue in arms and legs primarily associated with a problem in the nerve roots. When the problem of the nerve occurs in the neck region it is known as cervical radiculopathy and the one that causes pain in the lower back region is referred to as lumbar radiculopathy.

There are a number of causes associated with spinal problems, the most common ones being: • A bulge in the lumbar disc: This condition is also known as herniated disc where in the nucleus pulpous which is a gel like cushioning in the center restricts itself with in the outer wall of the disc i.e in the annulus fibrosus. When this nucleus ruptures through the annulus fibrosus, it leads to the condition called herniated disc. It is known as a non contained disc condition. When the disc swells up it tends to press against the nearby nerve roots and compresses the delicate nerve tissues causing sciatica. • Lumbar spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is a condition that normally affects older adults wherein the nerve is compressed leading to a leg pain similar to sciatica. The pain is generally when one undertakes specific activities such as walking, standing and is relieved as one sits down.

• Spondylolisthesis: The most common cause of sciatica, where in the lumbar spine is affected. It is generally a condition wherein one vertebra slips over another vertebra.

This causes displacement of the vertebra and compression of the nerve root that causes sciatica pain.

• Trauma: Sciatica often occurs due to nerve compression that is caused by external factors such as an accident. Accidents like motor vehicle accidents and injuries due to a fall can impact the nerves and can even result in broken bones that could cause injury to the lumbar nerves.

• Piriformis Syndrome: Piriformis syndrome is a condition impacting the piriformis muscles wherein there is a shooting pain occurring due to the piriformis muscle irritating the sciatic nerve. This muscle is situated lower in the spine connecting the thighbone and facilitating hip movements. The sciatic nerve is below the piriformis muscle. Piriformis syndrome occurs in cases wherein muscular spasms shoot up in the piriformis muscle resulting in the compression of the sciatic nerve. Sometimes diagnosing this is a challenge as the X-ray or MRI images are unable to detect the same.

• Spinal Tumors: Spinal tumors result due to growths that are benign or cancerous in nature. Instances of spinal tumors are quite rare however when it occurs it leads to nerve compression resulting in sciatica.

Symptoms associated with Sciatica Most prominent symptoms of sciatica are: • • • • • •

Shooting pain around the lower back region close to the buttocks Discomfort in the leg around the calf region that is worsened when you sit Pain in the hips Numbness, tingling or burning sensation from the leg to the feet region Weakness of the legs causing difficulty in movement An unbearable pain that can make movements like getting up and walking difficult

Sciatica as a condition generally causes the pain and discomfort on one side of the body below the lower back unto the foot. The pain may start from the lower back just above the buttocks and go down all the way through the thighs. Sometime even the foot and toes get affected by the pain depending on the nerve that is compressed or affected.

In some cases sciatica can be intense. The pain can become a cause of concern as it causes discomfort continuously and worsens with time. If you feel other symptoms associated with sciatica like weakness and numbness or if it hinders your everyday activities, you need to visit a doctor immediately to start treatment for managing the pain and treat symptoms.

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