|
Flurry Chiropractic can
relieve your leg pain
|
Leg Pain / Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that starts in the lower back. It forms near the spine and is made up from branches of the roots of the lumbar spinal nerves. It travels through the pelvis and then deep into each buttock. It then travels down each leg. It is the longest and widest single nerve in the body.
Sciatica is not a diagnosis but a description of symptoms. Anything that places pressure on one or more of the lumbar nerve roots can cause pain in parts or all of the sciatic nerve. A herniated disk, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, or other abnormalities of vertebrae can all cause pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Some cases of sciatica pain may occur when a muscle located deep in the buttocks pinches the sciatic nerve. This muscle is called the piriformis. The resulting condition is called piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome usually develops after an injury. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose.
Pain or numbness due to sciatica can vary widely. It may feel like a mild tingling, dull ache, or a burning sensation. In some cases, the pain is severe enough to cause immobility.
The pain most often occurs on one side and may radiate to the buttocks, legs, and feet. Some people have sharp pain in one part of the leg or hip and numbness in other parts. The affected leg may feel weak.
The pain often starts slowly. Sciatica pain may get worse:
- At night
- After standing or sitting for long periods of time
- When sneezing, coughing, or laughing
- After bending backwards or walking more than 50 - 100 yards (particularly if it is caused by spinal stenosis)
|
