It is believed that the sciatic nerve is the longest and broadest nerve that is found in the body of a human. It begins in the lumbar spine, and extends to every buttock, hip, calf, thigh, and foot. The sciatic nerve is responsible for the innervation of many muscles as well as skin cells in the lower extremities.
Overview
When the sciatic nerve becomes squeezed, injured, or inflamed it can trigger the development of symptoms and nerve pain that are referred to as “sciatica.” Sciatica is an often-reported side effect of various diseases that affect the spinal column of the lumbar.
Read on to learn about 5 medical conditions that typically cause sciatic nerve pain.
Sciatica is the term used to describe the discomfort that occurs when something, usually an injured disc, although there are other reasons too that can cause pain. It compresses or irritates the sciatic nerve or any of its nerve roots which eventually develops into it. The sciatic nerve.
Signs and Symptoms
The most common indication of sciatica is shooting pain on the sciatic nerve. starting from the lower back down to the buttock and into the back of the leg.
Other symptoms that are common to sciatica are:
- The leg is numb on the nerve
- The sensation of tingling (pins or needles) in the toes and feet
This discomfort can vary in intensity and can get worse if you sit for prolonged periods.
The Causes of Sciatica
Sciatica results from irritation to your root(s) of the lower lumbar and the lumbosacral spinal spine. At the Rose Wellness, you can get information about causes of Sciatica.
The most typical causes of sciatica that cause sciatica are:
1. Herniated Disc
The discs that line the spine perform a variety of functions and give the spine flexibility and elasticity, serving as cushions for vertebrae and evenly shifting the weight of the spine from one disc to the next. Herniation and bulging of the discs are more frequent in the lumbar spine because this part of the spine is able to support all the weight of the upper body, as well as the objects you’ll have to lift.
2. Bone Spur
Bone spurs are the most common result of back pain. In the case of spinal osteoarthritis, it causes the degeneration of cartilage within the facet joints that connect vertebrae. If cartilage loss occurs the body’s immune system tries to repair the damage creating new bone growth in the region.
Bone spurs are bony growths that develop on the spine’s bones. They can cause discomfort to the sciatic nerve when they press or press on the sciatic nerve’s root in the lumbar spine.
3. Spinal Stenosis
The canal of the spinal cord is the pathway that the spinal cord traverses when it moves down the spinal column. When there is spinal stenosis, the spinal canal has narrowed and the confined space within the canal may cause stress on the spinal cord which can cause sciatica.
There are many factors that cause spinal stenosis, including the degeneration of the spinal column, injuries to the joints of the spine between vertebrae and tumors, cysts or cysts that grow in the canal of the spinal cord.
4. Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis, a condition, can have an effect on vertebrae inside the spine’s lumbar region. It is a condition that occurs when a vertebra slides forward on the vertebrae below it. The vertebra that is displaced can pressurize the sciatica nerve, (or nerve root), and cause symptoms of sciatica.
- Trauma injuries to the lumbar spinal nerve or sciatic nerve.
- Tumors of the cervical spinal canal cause compression of the sciatic nerve.
- Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle, an incredibly small muscle, located deep within the buttocks, gets tight and/or spasms. This may put pressure on and even irritate the sciatic nerve.
The complications of Sciatica
Sciatica chronic, with or without surgery previously can cause several complications, which include:
- Chronic pain
- The ailment in the affected leg
- Nerve damage that is permanent, and could cause loss of sensation in the leg affected
- Inability to bowel or bladder control
In the event that the nerve has been severely damaged, it can result in dropping foot or foot where you’re unable to raise the front of your foot. The drop in your foot makes walking difficult and accidents more likely.
Is it possible to prevent sciatica?
Maintaining your back, controlling your weight, and improving your overall physical health can all aid in preventing sciatica. Making home-based physical therapy including exercises for muscle strength will help prevent sciatica from recurring.