Sciatica

sciatica; Sciatica occurs due to irritation of the sciatic nerve and pressure on its roots in the lower back. Sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, is lower back pain combined with pain in one of the buttocks on one side of the body, and down the leg on the same side. Leg pain usually extends beyond the knee, and may also extend below the knee to reach the foot and toes, and sometimes weakness in the leg muscles occurs along with the pain.

Overview

Statistics on sciatica

Reasons

Symptoms and signs

When to seek medical help

Diagnosis

Treatment

Follow up

Prevention

The fate of the disease

Sciatica pain differs from pain in the lower back. When sciatica pain begins in the back, it travels down to one of the lower extremities. The pain is also shooting pain, which resembles lightning or electricity.

5 to 10% of people with low back pain experience sciatica pain.

About 90% of cases of sciatica pain are caused by a bulging herniated disc pressing on a nerve root.

When the pain continues for several weeks, the patient needs to have a CT scan or an MRI of the vertebrae.