Sciatica is a type of nerve pain brought on by an irritation or injury to the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the body’s longest and thickest nerve, measuring almost a finger’s width. The sciatic nerve is composed of five nerve roots: three from the sacrum, the last segment of the spine, and two from the lumbar spine, which is located in the lower back. The right and left sciatic nerves are created when the five nerve roots combine. Each sciatic nerve on either side of your body travels through the hip, buttock, and leg, ending just below the knee. Subsequently, the sciatic nerve splits off into additional nerves that travel down your leg and into your feet and toes.
The term sciatica is frequently used to refer to any discomfort that starts in the lower back and radiates down the leg. The discomfort caused by an irritation, inflammation or compression of a nerve in your lower back is what it has in common with other nerve injuries.
How do you know if you have sciatica?
If you have sciatica, you will feel mild to severe pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve’s course, which runs from the lower back down the legs. Additionally, it may result in numbness and muscle weakness in the leg and foot, and an uncomfortable pins-and-needles feeling in the leg, foot, and toes.
A self check for sciatica can be done by undertaking the slump test. Below are the steps involved in a slump test:
- Sit straight in a chair without supporting your back
- Clutch your hands together behind your back
- Lean forward and bring your chin down to touch your chest
- Put one leg forward, directing your foot towards the shin bone
- Repeat the same exercise with the other leg
You might have sciatica if elevating your leg makes your symptoms worse or if the leg in which you experience pain would not move as high as the other.
Another classic test for sciatica is the straight leg raise test. Below are the steps involved in the test:
- Extend your legs and lie flat on your back
- While keeping your leg straight, flex your foot and lift your leg 30 to 70 degrees upward.
- Repeat the same with the other leg
This test is positive for sciatica if you have pain that radiates down your leg to your foot or if you find it difficult to lift your affected leg as much as the other. The test is deemed negative if there is no pain, and any discomfort you may be feeling could be brought on by another spinal problem.
What does sciatica feel like?
Sciatica pain is perceived differently by people suffering from it. Some individuals report the pain as being piercing, shooting, or jolting. The pain has also been described as burning,electric, or stabbing by others.
The discomfort could be ongoing or intermittent. Additionally, your leg typically experiences greater pain than your lower back does. Long periods of sitting or standing, getting up, and twisting your upper body may make the discomfort feel worse. In cases where they co-occur, sciatica and leg weakness can be worrying combo.
How is sciatica diagnosed?
As a part of the diagnosis, muscle strength and reflexes are often assessed by the doctor during a physical examination. For instance, you may be requested to stand up from a crouching position, walk on your toes or heels, or lift your legs one at a time while laying on your back. If you have sciatica symptoms, performing these will cause pain.
People who experience extreme pain or suffering that doesn’t subside in a few weeks may require the following:
An X-ray: An overgrowth of bone that might be pressing on a nerve can be seen on a spinal X-ray.
MRI: Strong magnetic and radio waves are used in this process to create cross-sectional images of the back. Herniated discs and pinched nerves can be seen on the scan because an MRI creates comprehensive images of bone and soft tissues.
CT scan: During a CT scan, the spinal canal may be injected with a dye (CT myelogram). The spinal cord and nerves are then easier to spot on the images as the dye flows around them.
Electromyography (EMG) (EMG). This examination monitors the nerves’ electrical impulses.
Does sciatica go away on its own?
The good news about sciatica is that, given enough time and some self-care measures, it usually goes away on its own. About half of those with sciatica recover totally from an episode within six weeks, and the majority of them (80% to 90%) do so without surgery.
Treatments of sciatica
Some of the following therapies may be helpful for pain that doesn’t go away with self-care techniques.
Sciatica pain can be treated with anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, antidepressants, anti-epileptic drugs, opioids and physical exercise. A healthcare professional can develop a plan to assist in preventing future injuries once the pain has subsided. Exercises to promote range of motion, strengthen the core, and correct posture are frequently advised.
A corticosteroid injection into the region surrounding the painful nerve root may be helpful in some circumstances. One injection has shown to frequently alleviate pain. In one year, up to three may be administered.
Surgery is only recommended if none of the above procedures work to provide pain relief.
