Melva Mitchell Fort Worth Top 6 causes of sciatica pain Melva Mitchell Fort Worth There are several different disorders of the lumbar spine (lower back) that can cause sciatica. It is often described as moderate to severe pain in the left or right leg. Sciatica is caused by compression of one or more of the five sets of nerve roots in the lower back. Sciatica is caused by compression of one or more of the five sets of nerve roots in the lower back. - Dr Melva Mitchell
Doctors sometimes refer to radioculopathy as sciatica. Radioculopathy is a medical term used to describe pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms and legs caused by a nerve root problem. If the problem is in the neck, it is cervical radioculopathy. However, because sciatica affects the lower back, it is called lumbar radioculopathy.
Pathways to Sciatic Nerve Pain Five pairs of nerve roots combine in the lumbar spine to create the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve starts from the back of the pelvis (sacrum) and runs down the back, under the buttock, and down, through the hip area to each leg. Nerve roots are not "solitary" structures, but are part of the entire nervous system, capable of transmitting pain and sensations to other parts of the body. Radioculopathy occurs when a nerve root is compressed by a ruptured disc or bone spurs in the lumbar spine before it joins the sciatic nerve. Melva Mitchell Fort Worth Sciatic Nerve Compression Different types of spinal disorders can cause spinal nerve compression and sciatica or lumbar radioculopathy. The six most common are: (1) bulging or herniated disc, (2) lumbar spinal stenosis (3) spondylolisthesis (4) trauma (5) piriformis syndrome (6) vertebral tumors. Each condition is briefly explained below.
-Lumbar bulging or herniated disc The bulging disc is also known as a contained disc disorder. This means that the gelatinous center (nucleus pulposus) remains "contained" within the outer tire-like wall (fibrous annulus) of the disc. A herniated disc occurs when the nucleus breaks through the annulus and is called a "non-contained" disc disorder. Whether the disc bulges or
herniates, the material within it can press against an adjacent nerve root and compress the delicate nerve tissue causing sciatica. The consequences of a herniated disc are worse. The herniated nucleus not only directly compresses the nerve root against the interior of the bony spinal canal, but also the disc material itself contains an acidic chemical irritant (hyaluronic acid) that causes inflammation of the nerve. In both cases, compression and irritation of the nerve cause inflammation and pain, often leading to numbness in the limbs, tingling, and muscle weakness. -Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Spinal stenosis is a nerve compression disorder that generally affects older people. As a result, pain in the legs similar to sciatica can be suffered. The pain is usually positional: it is often caused by activities such as standing or walking and is relieved by taking a seat. The spinal nerve roots branch out from the spinal cord through passageways called neural foramines made up of bone and ligaments. There is a foramen between each group of vertebral bodies, located on the left and right. Nerve roots pass through these openings and extend outward beyond the spine to innervate other parts of the body. When these passages narrow or become blocked causing compression of the nerve, the term foraminal stenosis is used. - Spondylolisthesis Spondylolisthesis is a disorder that most often affects the lumbar spine. It is characterized by the sliding of one vertebra forward over the adjacent vertebra. When a vertebra slides and displaces, it causes compression of the spinal nerve root and often causes sciatic pain in the leg. Spondylolisthesis is classified as developmental (found at birth and develops during childhood) or acquired by spinal degeneration, trauma, or physical stress (ie, weight lifting). - Trauma Sciatica can be the result of direct compression of the nerve caused by forces external to the lumbar or sacral spinal nerve roots. Examples include car accidents, falls, football accidents, and other sports. The impact can injure the nerves and occasionally fragments of the fractured bone can compress the nerves.