What is sciatica?

Sciatica is the medical term for a condition that causes inflammation and irritation of your sciatic nerve. Your sciatic nerve begins in your lower back and travels through both buttocks and the backs of your thighs and calves until it reaches your foot.

When you have sciatica, you can experience:

• Sharp, shooting pain
• Stabbing pain
• Shock-like pain
• Numbness and tingling
• Weakness in your foot or lower leg
• Pain that's worse when bending forward
• Pain that's worse when coughing, sneezing, or having a bowel movement

Sciatic pain can develop anywhere along the length of your sciatic nerve. It's usually only on one side of your body, though some cases can cause symptoms on both sides.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica is generally a symptom of other conditions, like:

• Piriformis syndrome
• Lumbar disc herniation
• Lumbar radiculopathy
• Bone spurs
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• Arthritis
• Spinal stenosis

Sciatica can occur along with lower back pain, though that's not always the case. Many people experience sciatica by itself and find that it can get worse over time if left untreated.

How is sciatica diagnosed?

To determine what's causing your sciatica symptoms, your provider at Elite Integrative Medical begins with a thorough consultation and physical exam. They ask about the location of your symptoms, when they occur, and if you experienced any trauma or injury that triggered your symptoms.

During the exam, your provider moves you through a series of positions to stretch your lower back and hamstrings, putting pressure on your sciatic nerve. If any movements increase your pain or discomfort, let your provider know.

In some cases, your provider refers you for X-rays or an MRI, especially if you have additional symptoms or a history of trauma. Once your exam is complete, they explain your diagnosis and treatment options.