Sciatic nerve pain is associated with a condition known as sciatica, or the irritation of the sciatic nerve. When asked, “What is sciatic nerve pain?” most sciatica sufferers would say that it’s a pain that starts in the lower back region, continues through the buttocks to behind the thighs and radiates below the knee, making walking difficult, if not impossible. In most cases, sciatic nerve pain occurs in one side of the body but it can occur in both legs.
Causes of Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, and is formed from nerve roots of spinal nerves L3, 4, 5, S1, 2 and 3. Neurons from each of these spinal nerves merge outside of vertebral column in the lower back to form this huge nerve trunk. From there, the sciatic nerve continues through the buttocks and branches down the back of each leg until terminating in the feet.
There are a variety of conditions that can contribute to compression of the sciatic nerve, including:
- Herniated discs
- Bulging discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spondylolisthesis
- Bone spurs
- Facet disease
Treatment Options
If you suffer from sciatica, consult with a physician about how to treat sciatica pain. Acute pain associated with this condition sometimes goes away on its own, but is typically relieved by conservative management such as pain medication or exercises to treat sciatica. However, if your sciatica pain becomes severe or lasts for more than six months, surgical treatment may be indicated.
Classical open spine surgery is no longer the only surgical treatment available. Laser Spine Institute (LSI) offers minimally invasive, outpatient surgical procedures that are performed using the latest advances in endoscopic technology. This newer technology offers the ability to avoid the negative aspects of traditional open spine surgery with lessoned risk and without sacrifice of quality. Contact us today for more information about how to treat low back pain, or for a complimentary review of your MRI or CT scan.
