Sciatica

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's weight loss doctor NYC
Philadelphia GLP-1 weight loss and GLP-1 clinic NYC

Sciatica
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Lower back pain, buttock pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling
Complications	Chronic pain, muscle weakness
Onset	Sudden or gradual
Duration	Days to weeks
Types	N/A
Causes	Herniated disc, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, pregnancy
Risks	Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, age, diabetes
Diagnosis	Physical examination, medical imaging
Differential diagnosis	Peripheral neuropathy, hip arthritis, spinal tumor
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Pain management, physical therapy, surgery
Medication	NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, steroids
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	Common
Deaths	N/A

3D still showing Sciatica nerve

Sciatica is a symptom of a problem with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. Sciatic nerve controls muscles in the back of your knee and lower leg and provides feeling to the back of your thigh, part of your lower leg, and the sole of your foot.

Sciatic pain distribution

Sciatic pain distribution

What is sciatica pain?

• Sciatica is pain along the sciatic nerve, which runs down the length of the leg to the foot
• Usually caused by pressure on the nerve due to disk prolapse or a tumor, abscess, or blood clot.

Symptoms

• When you have sciatica, you have pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling.
• It can start in the lower back and extend down your leg to your calf, foot, or even your toes.
• It's usually on only one side of your body.

Causes

• A ruptured intervertebral disk
• Narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerve, called spinal stenosis
• An injury such as a pelvic fracture.
• In many cases no cause can be found.
• Sometimes sciatica goes away on its own.