Sciatica

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is pain along the sciatic nerve, which is the longest and widest nerve in your body. The sciatic nerve branches from your lumbar spine and travels through your pelvis and down each leg. Most of the time, sciatica affects one side of your body.

How do I know if I have sciatica?

The primary symptom of sciatica is shooting pain anywhere along the nerve pathway, which runs between your low back and foot. Sciatica pain most commonly occurs between the buttock and lower leg.

Pain may worsen when you sit, sneeze, or cough and can vary from a dull ache to a sharp jolt like an electric shock. Other symptoms of sciatica include numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica is a symptom of nerve compression, also called a pinched nerve. The team at Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Center treats many conditions that cause sciatica, including:

A herniated disc, which is the most common cause
Piriformis syndrome, which is a spasm in a small muscle in your buttocks
Spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal
Spondylolisthesis, which happens when one vertebra moves out of place

Less commonly, sciatica is due to nerve compression from a tumor or nerve damage from a disease like diabetes.

How is sciatica diagnosed?

First, your doctor at Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Center thoroughly reviews your symptoms and medical history. They perform a physical exam and check your muscle strength and reflexes. They may also take tests, such as:

X-ray
Computerized tomography (CT) scan
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
Nerve conduction studies

These tests help them confirm a diagnosis of sciatica and rule out other conditions that may be causing your pain.

How is sciatica treated?

The team at Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Center takes a conservative approach to treatment. Depending on the type and severity of your symptoms, treatment for sciatica may include: