Sciatica is a pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. Sciatic nerve fibers start at L4 to L5 and few segments of the sacrum. The sciatic nerve goes through the sciatic foramen under the Piriformis muscle and down to the back extension of the hip and to the lower part of Gluteus Maximus then runs vertically down to the back of the thigh and all the way down to the feet.
Symptoms of Sciatica
Generally, sciatica affects one part of the body only. Pain may be burning, sharp dull or irregular shooting pain that starts in the buttocks and spreads down in to the side of back of the thigh or leg. It may even extend below the knee and may also be experience down in the feet. In some instances symptoms like numbness and tingling may be experience. Standing up and sitting may be difficult and painful. Sneezing and coughing may worsen the pain.
Pain really varies from one individual to another depending on its severity. For some, pain can be disabling and too severe and for others, symptoms might be irregular and irritating though it has possibilities to get worst in time. It depends on where the sciatic nerve is affected so that sciatica symptoms are wide range. Below are typical symptoms of sciatica. An individual affected with sciatica may experience one or more of the following symptoms;
• Shooting pain that makes walking and standing up difficult.
• Numbness, weakness or have a hard time moving the foot or leg.
• Tingling and burning in the leg.
• Pain in the leg or buttock that is worst when sitting.
Low back pain may be experience with sciatica but the pain is less severe than the leg pain one feels.
Treatment for sciatica varies and most of the time conservative form of treatment brings relief to individuals suffering from sciatica although there are cases when sciatica is disabling and severe that surgery might be necessary.