Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment Options For Sciatica

Sciatica is a medical condition where the patient experiences chronic pain, tingling or numbness throughout the butt and down the back of the legs. It has been known to extend all the way down into the ankle and foot, and may cause weakness in the joints. This condition has many causes, and once the exact cause is determined, then the appropriate treatment can be started.

The symptoms of sciatica will usually manifest in your lower back, also known as the lumbar region. Beyond the numbness, tingling, pain or weakness, most patients will also report that certain activities either relieve the pain or aggravate it. Sitting or standing for long lengths of time, or movements that cause the spinal area to flex, like climbing stairs and some exercises, will aggravate the condition, causing more pain. Walking, lying down and movements that extend the spine such as shoulder rolls, may actually relive the back pain.

Sciatica Causes

The most common reported cause of lower back pain is a herniated disc. The disc bulges out of its protective coating, and begins to exact pressure against the nerve roots that lead to the sciatic nerve. Other causes are actually symptoms of other conditions that can affect the spine, such as spinal stenosis, which narrows the spinal canal or arthritis, which causes bone spurs to grow along the joints in the spine.

Injuries which result in the nerve root being compressed, otherwise known as a pinched nerve, will also cause symptoms. In rare cases, it can also be caused by conditions that normally would not affect the spine. The two most prevalent of these are tumors along the nerve itself, or a pregnancy where the fetus is actually placing pressure on the spinal nerve.

How is Sciatica Diagnosed?

Sciatica is usually diagnosed with a physical exam, preceded by a detailed medical history. The doctor should ask questions about your symptoms, how often they occur, if they are more painful in the morning or night, and a host of others. All of the questions are designed to narrow down the causes of your pain, and what condition might be causing them.

The physical exam and medical history are by certain other exams. X-rays may be taken to determine if there is something pressing upon the nerve or if there may be something else that can be detected as a cause. If the X-rays do not clear up the mystery, then another examination, like an MRI may be done.

Treatment Options

More often than not, the pain goes away over time. Any initial treatments will focus on medicine and exercise to relieve your pain. Very often, you can relieve your pain by using heat or ice, walking, and avoiding painful positions, like sitting, for long lengths of time.

Additional treatment options include physical therapy, steroid injections, or surgery. Physical therapy for lower back pain may include the use of traction, stretching exercises, or soft tissue mobilization. Options like nerve blocks or surgery will only be done for sciatica in cases where medications or therapy is not working.