Sciatica. You’ve heard other people talk about this weird leg pain — and now, joy, you’ve got mystery leg pain of your own. Is it sciatica? Spine expert Santhosh Thomas, DO, MBA explains what it is, how to tell if you have it — and how to get relief.
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Sciatica is leg pain caused by a pinched nerve. And not just any nerve: Sciatica affects the sciatic nerve, the longest, widest nerve in your body. (In other words, it’s important — and when it’s hurting, it’s hard to miss.)
Nerves come out from your spine and sacrum (your tailbone) and supply strength, sensation and contribute to reflexes that are checked in the doctor’s office. These small nerves exit the spine and form the sciatic nerve, which branches out from each side of your tailbone. They come together, then split again into two large segments that run through your backside and down each leg. They bring movement and sensation to your hips, buttocks and legs.
Sciatica rears its ugly head when something compresses the nerve. That pinch results in pain (and sometimes weakness) up and down the leg, usually just on one side.
“People describe it in all sorts of ways — burning, tingling, numbness, radiating pain or electric shock sensations,” Dr. Thomas says. “Those sensations can come right out of the blue.”
The pain can be severe and might even make it hard to walk or stand.
A variety of problems can put the squeeze on your sciatic nerve. Some of the more common culprits include:
Sciatica isn’t the only reason for pain in the legs, of course. Other conditions can mimic sciatica:
How can you tell if you’re dealing with sciatica or something else? Sciatica tends to affect the length of the leg, not just the foot. And most often, that pain radiates downward from top to bottom, Dr. Thomas says.
Another clue: Sciatica usually strikes just one side. “If you have pain in both legs, it is less likely a disc herniation, but more likely due to degenerative changes like spinal stenosis,” he says.
If you suspect you have sciatica, should you drop everything and run (er, limp) to the doctor’s office? It’s usually not an emergency, Dr. Thomas says. But it’s a good idea to get a physical exam to find out what’s going on.
If you have weakness in the leg, or bowel and bladder problems, get checked out soon, he adds. Those symptoms could indicate a more serious problem that could lead to permanent nerve damage if you don’t get prompt treatment.
Sciatica usually goes away in time and without serious complications — though it might take a few weeks or months, Dr. Thomas says. While you wait (impatiently), there are several ways to manage the pain:
Now sciatica isn’t such a mystery. It’s still no fun, but at least you know what you’re dealing with — and relief is in sight.
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