SCIATICA

Overview:

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Sciatica is a condition that refers to pain that radiates down the leg.  When present, sciatica generally will only cause pain on one side of the body. 

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Causes:

The pain associated with sciatica is caused by compression, pinching, inflammation, or irritation to the nerve.  Common causes of sciatica include:

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• Herniated or Bulging Disc 

• Degenerative Disc Disease 

• Spondylolisthesis

• Spinal Stenosis 

• Pregnancy

• Muscle Spasms 

• Aging (bone spurs)

• Lifestyle: wearing high heels, being overweight, smoking, sleeping on a poor mattress, and/or little to no exercise  

Symptoms:

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• Lower back or hip pain 

• Weakness, numbness

• Having a hard time moving around

• Shooting pain down one leg with both sitting and standing

• Tingling or burning sensations down the leg

Diagnosing: 

To diagnose, your doctor will perform a clinical exam and ask you a number of questions regarding your symptoms.  Your doctor may look for abnormalities via a physical examination, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Treatment: 

Sciatica is often self-limiting and may go away on its own over time.  Non-surgical treatment is the first choice and includes:

1. Medications (anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, steroids)

2. Physical Therapy (core strengthening, stretching, soft tissue release)

3. Steroid Injections (epidural, facet blocks)

If non-surgical treatment fails, surgical intervention may be recommended to treat the structural cause of the condition.