Sciatica commonly exhibits itself as soreness down the leg. And if you’re reading this, you will find a good chance you understand everything regarding it. The sciatic nerve is what sciatica was derived from; has its roots with your lumbar area (lower) spine and runs down by your thigh, into the leg and then to your foot. The local pain dealt with down the whole leg in this condition is caused by the irritation or aggravation of the sciatic nerve.

You will find five nerve roots exiting the lumbar spine, in which the sciatic nerve originates. The fingers and forearm construction quite matches that of the nerve roots; the nerve roots that exits from the spine are like fingers and the nerves itself as the forearm is the roots being formed together. As the sciatic nerve makes its way down the thigh, lower-leg and into the foot, smaller nerves branch off, supplying messages to joints, muscles, ligaments and other soft tissue structures.

People with sciatica may experience an array of different signs and symptoms. Some may feel a local pain within the buttock or low back. Some have tingling and numbness down their buttock, back of the thigh and into their lower leg and foot while sensing sharp pain in the lower back. In the event the cause is a disk herniation (a bulge or rupture in any of the disks that supply cushioning between spinal bones), the location of the pain is going to be specific — down the buttock, the back of the thigh, in to the lower leg and then in the large toe. This pain is reffered to as “‘radiating” pain. Pain is much more diffuse and broadly familiar with the muscles and other tissues (for instance, the entire foot is experiencing discomfort rather than just the toe). This is whats called “referred” pain. Referred pain can manifest as pain down one or both legs and can even switch from one leg to the other all of the sudden or reason.

Aggravating factors in sciatica could be coughing or sneezing, sitting or straining on the toilet. The worst with this factors is the overall twisting and bending-forward movements of one’s body. That is why, activities like golf, tennis, hockey and running commonly exacerbate the signs of sciatica.

To determine the cause might be more challenging than to diagnose the condition. The primary reason is that you will find five structures that will irritate or aggravate the sciatic nerve. The structures that can induce Sciatica are 1) a disk herniation (neurogenic sciatica); 2) a tight muscle (myogenic sciatica); 3) an inflammed joint (scleretogenous sciatica); 4) a thinning of the space in which the nerve roots exit the spine (neurogenic claudication, also called intervertebral foraminal encroachment); and 5) a space-occupying lesion (any kind of growth, like a tumor) impinging on the sciatic nerve. Fortunately, healthcare practitioners come with an understanding differentiating between these different causes. 1. Disk herniations (neurogenic sciatica)

Bulging or herniated disks may cause pressure on the nerve roots or initiate an inflammatory response that irritates nerve roots. See Disk Herniation in our database of Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions for a complete discussion. 2. Muscles (myogenic sciatica)

Tight piriformis and gluteus muscles can squeeze or put tension on the sciatic nerve. See Piriformis Syndrome or Gluteus Medius/Maximus Muscle Syndrome in our Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions section. 3. Joints (scleretogenous sciatica)

The joints on the lower back or pelvis, like the sacroiliac joints, are common causes of referred pain from the buttock and thigh. See Low Back Facet Syndrome. 4. Neurogenic claudication

The nerve roots that exit the spinal cord and form the sciatic nerve exit through little holes in the spine called intervertebral foramen (literally, holes in between the vertebrae). Normally, the holes formed through the bony spine are adequately sized for the roots to exit through without difficulty. Sometimes, however, disease, trauma or arthritis causes the diameter these holes to diminish. This decrease in space may cause a tightening throughout the nerve root, which can aggravate or irritate the nerve and cause sciatica. In some cases the bony hole could have a spur or sharp bony structure that in some way touches the nerve root, further aggravating the problem. 5. Space-occupying lesion

A space-occupying lesion refers to any growth that may be impinging around the spinal cord, nerve roots or peripheral nerves. Some of the causes of sciatica previously cited fall into this category (especially disk herniation or foraminal encroachment). However, there are more space-occupying lesions which can cause sciatica, including tumor growth, organ enlargement (from an underlying disease) or perhaps severe scarring formation from previous surgeries. In addition, some women complain of Sciatica after they receive an epidural during labor.

Once there is inflammation or irritation involving one of these structures, a person may feel a “hot fire” from the low back. You should determine the main cause of the fire and, if safe, to put it out. Since it is feasible that the main cause may remain even after the pain sensation is alleviated, it is important to seek advice from your healthcare practitioner before returning to your daily activities. Even if you are feeling better, he or she may recommend you carry on and receive treatment.