Sciatica is a condition where pain spreads from your lower back to your leg. It can happen to men if they sit on a wallet. Your body has a big nerve called the sciatic nerve that starts in your pelvis and goes through your hips and buttocks, all the way down each leg. Along the way, it splits into smaller nerves that give feeling to your thighs, legs, and feet, and control many muscles in your lower legs. Sciatica is the word doctors use to describe the pain that happens along this nerve.

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica is typically identified by pain that travels from the lower back through the buttock and down the back of the leg. This discomfort may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected leg. Symptoms can vary in intensity, from a mild ache to a sharp or burning sensation or even excruciating pain. Some people may experience a sudden jolt or electric shock-like sensation. Sciatic pain may worsen when coughing, sneezing, or sitting.
Other symptoms of sciatica may include difficulty standing or walking, as well as weakness in the affected leg. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In order to diagnose sciatica, your doctor may perform a physical exam, review your medical history, and order imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other potential causes of your symptoms.

How do I know if I have Sciatica?

Sciatica is typically identified by pain that travels from the lower back through the buttock and down the back of the leg. This discomfort may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected leg. Symptoms can vary in intensity, from a mild ache to a sharp or burning sensation or even excruciating pain. Some people may experience a sudden jolt or electric shock-like sensation. Sciatic pain may worsen when coughing, sneezing, or sitting.

Other symptoms of sciatica may include difficulty standing or walking, as well as weakness in the affected leg. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In order to diagnose sciatica, your doctor may perform a physical exam, review your medical history, and order imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other potential causes of your symptoms.

How do you treat Sciatica?

Sciatic pain can often be relieved through a combination of stretches, deep tissue massage, and chiropractic care. However, in cases where chronic muscle spasm is causing the pain, a trigger point injection may be necessary. Nonetheless, medical intervention may not always be necessary for sciatica, and the condition may resolve on its own. If medical intervention is required, treatments can include pain medications, physical therapy, heat and cold therapy, epidural steroid injections, or surgery. It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan for sciatica.