leg numbness sciatica
Sciatica or sciatic nerve pain is a term often used to describe all types of back pain. In fact, less than 5% of people suffering from back pain low will sciatica.
Sciatica is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. This is most commonly caused by a bulging disc in the lower back.
What is the sciatic nerve?
To understand this you need to have a bit of an idea about the anatomy human spine.
- The spine is composed of long bones called vertebrae.
- These bones are separated one another by discs of the spine.
- Each vertebra overlaps the next in the back to form a joint called a facet joint.
- Running through the center of the column is a channel called the spinal canal, its here that the spinal cord sits.
- The spinal cord is the main structure that passes the messages from our brains to our bodies.
- Each vertebra in the spinal cord branches to form a nerve root, These nerve roots exit the spine through a gap between each vertebra and then bundle to form much larger nerves.
In the legs there are two main, large nerves, the femoral nerve in the front and the sciatic nerve in his back. The sciatic nerve runs through the area buttock in the back of the thigh and leg.
What causes sciatic nerve pain?
The most common cause of sciatica is a disc bulge. The disc is a poorly understood structure, which has been blamed for back pain since it was discovered. Over the years we have begun to believe that the disk is very structure weak and vulnerable.
The term herniated disc does sound like it can slide inside. Indeed, the disc can not slip anywhere, that is firmly fixed on the top and bottom of the vertebrae above and below.
The disc can not cause problems though. Sometimes the central area of the disc bulging, usually back and sides. This can cause irritation of the nerve root as it leaves the spine. Occasionally the lump is serious enough to really squash or nerve entrapment, but this is quite rare.
When the nerve is irritated by the disc bulge which may ignite. Remember what it feels like to hit your thumb with a hammer or catch it in the door for a moment. After the acute pain what is unpleasant is a dull ache. The finger can become red and swollen, there may be some heat or warmth there. After a while the symptoms subside and everything returns to normal. It is very similar with the sciatic nerve. It gets very sore and can get very painful, but in reality it is trapped or crushed.
An important thing to know is that many people have disc bulging and have no symptoms at all.
There are some other conditions that can cause sciatic nerve pain, but are much less common. These include degenerative disc disease, severe osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis. Fractures, tumors and infection can also cause sciatica.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
If anyone has the true sciatica then they often have pain in the legs, usually in the buttock, posterior thigh or calf. You can also have tingling and numbness in some parts of the leg.
In severe cases, the leg may feel weak and strength can be reduced. Often, the disc bulges cause no back pain at all, symptoms are felt only in the legs.
Why are there so many people given the diagnosis of sciatica?
Very often, as soon as anyone has any low back or leg Symptoms are said to have sciatica. However, there are other things that can cause leg pain, a facet joint strain, for example, can cause pain in the buttock and thigh. But if the sciatic nerve, is not provoked, then there is sciatica.
The best way to know if sciatica is subjected to a series of tests your physiotherapist or doctor can perform. These simple clinical trials sufficient to determine if the problem is an irritated sciatic nerve.
Paula Fitzpatrick is a British trained physiotherapist specialising in the treatment of back pain. Visit http://www.lower-back-pain-toolkit.com for more up to date, reliable information about the causes and treatment of lower back pain.
Read much more about sciatica including treatment suggestions at http://www.lower-back-pain-toolkit.com/lower-back-pain-sciatica.html
Chiropractor in Alexandria VA treats Sciatica
