What You Need to Know About Sciatica

Published on: April 8, 2018

Many people have been told they have sciatica by a doctor or specialist and may believe this is a condition. However, it is more accurate to say that sciatica is a symptom, not the actual medical issue. Learning more about sciatica can help you determine what may be causing these symptoms and get the diagnosis you need for treatment.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to infringement on the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that runs from the lower back, through the hips and down through the legs. The sciatic nerve starts with many nerve roots around the spine and cumulate into the sciatic nerve in the lumber region. This is the largest single nerve in the body, which travels into the upper leg before it branches out into many smaller nerves in the thigh, calf and down through the foot.

Sciatica is a group of symptoms that can occur when there is pressure on the sciatic nerve. Some of the common symptoms include:

  • Pain or numbness on one side, affecting the hip or leg
  • A burning or tingling sensation in one leg
  • Intense pain in leg/hip that make it hard to walk
  • Worsening pain when sitting
  • Weakness or numbness in leg or hip
  • Radiating pain down the hip, leg and foot

Sciatica can be very painful and debilitating, yet often the symptoms come and go without warning. To treat the symptoms, you need to find the cause of the pressure on the sciatic nerve and get treatment. Common issues that can cause sciatica are herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis.

If you have been suffering from sciatica, it may be time to see a spine specialist to find the root of your problem. There are non-invasive treatments for many spine conditions that cause pressure on the sciatic nerve, offering relief for those with sciatica.

Posted on behalf of:
Ortho Sport and Spine Physicians
5730 Glenridge Drive Northeast #230
Atlanta, GA 30328
(678) 752-7246

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