Facts About Sciatica Pain
Sciatica pain affects many people, yet it is often confused with other conditions. What causes sciatica and what are the symptoms? These are questions that have made sciatica pain a bit of a troublemaker and misdiagnosed condition. It’s important to start with the sciatic nerve and that is one key reason why it is difficult to determine the actual location where the pain is radiating from. The pain medicine doctors at Innovative Pain & Spine Specialists in Lincoln, Nebraska and in Omaha, Nebraska understand this confusion when patients present with pain in their lower back or legs. Through comprehensive evaluation, they are able to pinpoint the origin of the pain and accurately diagnose whether your pain is sciatica, or something else.
Facts about Sciatica
Lumbar radicular pain, commonly called sciatica, causes pain or numbness along the sciatic nerve that may extend from the lower spine all the way down to the foot. Diagnosing sciatica requires a thorough exam so that it is correctly diagnosed the first time. No one wants to be treated for a condition they don't actually have. So let’s start with what the sciatic nerve is.
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It begins at the base of the spine where nerve roots and vertebrae come together into one large nerve that extends through the pelvis and then branches out into each leg.
The sciatic nerve has both movement and sensory fibers. It makes it possible for you to:
Stand
Walk or run
Bend knees
Flex and extend ankles and toes
In addition, sensation to the legs, ankles, and bottom of the feet come from the sciatic nerve.Sciatica pain is commonly caused when the sciatic nerve is pinched or compressed. This may be the result of a herniated disc or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal).
An authentic sciatic nerve symptom runs from the mid-buttock down the back of the leg, past the knee, and down through the calf.
Sciatica pain can vary greatly, from mild to debilitating.
Risk Factors for Sciatica Pain
Some of the risk factors that can lead to sciatica pain include the following:
- As the body ages, changes occur with the spine such as herniated discs and bone spurs, which can lead to sciatica pain.
- Being overweight can impact the spine leading to sciatica pain.
- The type of work a person does that involves strenuous physical activity such as lifting, bending, twisting, or heavy lifting of objects can trigger sciatica pain.
- Someone who sits for long periods of time due to driving or a sedentary lifestyle.
- While there is no one reason that impacts the sciatic nerve, any one of these or a combination can lead to sciatica pain.
Other Conditions that Mimic Sciatica
There are some conditions that can mimic sciatica pain and that is why it is often confusing for providers to diagnose it correctly. Those conditions can include:
Piriformis Syndrome causing pain in the buttocks
Leg pain caused by vascular or muscle problems
Hip pain
Arthritis in the spine
Sacroiliac Joint Pain
When to See a Doctor
As stated above, sciatica pain can range from mild to severe pain and can last from a few days or much longer. If your symptoms are severe and you have been experiencing them for months, it is probably time to get a medical evaluation. The pain medicine specialists at Innovative Pain & Spine have years of experience in diagnosing and treating sciatica pain and can help you find relief. There’s no reason to live with sciatica pain. Don’t wait another day from being unable to do the things you enjoy.The Innovative Pain & Spine Specialists offices are conveniently located at 7121 Stephanie Lane, Suite 102, in Lincoln, Nebraska and at 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Building 2, Suite 202, in Omaha. You don’t need a referral from your primary care provider to make an appointment. Call 402-413-5010.