What are the symptoms of Sciatica?
Sciatica produces symptoms that radiate down one leg all the way to foot. The pain can be intense and usually increases when you’re standing or walking due to increased pressure on compressed nerve roots. Other symptoms often include:
- Moderate to severe pain in lower back, buttock, or leg that is worse when sitting
- Numbness and tingling in the leg or foot
- Weakness of the leg or foot
- Feeling of pins and needles in the leg or foot
Common Causes of Sciatica
There are many potential causes of sciatica, including:
Herniated Disc
Puts pressure on the nerve root
Degenerative Disc Disease
Causes discs to bulge and puts pressure on roots
Spinal Stenosis
Occurs when the spinal canal narrows, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves
Osteoarthritis
Can cause the spine to narrow and compress nerves
Spondylolisthesis
Condition where one vertebra slips forward on the one below it, pinching the nerve root
Treatment for Spinal Stenosis
The goal of every treatment is to reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve. This can be done in a number of ways, including:
- Physical therapy and exercise
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Steroid injections
- Applying ice or hot packs
- Surgery will be the last resort if other methods fail to relieve the pain.