Sciatica

The term sciatica describes the symptoms of leg pain and possibly tingling, numbness or weakness that originates in the lower back and travels through the buttock and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of the leg.

Sciatica (pronounced sigh-at-ih-kah) is a symptom of an underlying medical condition – it is not a medical diagnosis in and of itself.

Sciatica is often characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:

• Constant pain in only one side of the buttock or leg (rarely can occur in both legs)
• Pain that is worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg (vs. a dull ache)
• Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• A constant pain on one side of the rear
• A sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand up or to walk

Sciatic pain can vary from infrequent and irritating to constant and incapacitating. Specific sciatica symptoms also vary widely in type, location and severity, depending upon the condition causing the sciatica. While symptoms can be very painful, it is rare that permanent sciatic nerve damage (tissue damage) will result.

Often, a particular event or injury does not cause sciatica, but rather the sciatic nerve pain tends to develop over time.

The vast majority of people who experience sciatica get better within a few weeks or months and find pain relief with non-surgical treatment. For others, however, sciatica pain from a pinched sciatic nerve can be severe and debilitating.