What You Should Know About Sciatica Pain

Contrary to some popular belief, the term “sciatica” does not refer to a diagnosis in and of itself. Sciatica actually only refers to a symptom, not the underlying cause of that symptom. Sciatica describes various types of leg pain including, chronic leg pain, leg tingling, leg numbness, leg weakness, and more. Typically sciatica pain originates in the bottom portion of your lower back and works its way across your hip and into the sciatic nerve which is located on the back of your leg.

Most Common Symptoms

These are the most common sciatica symptoms:

• Chronic leg pain on one side of leg
• Chronic foot pain
• Chronic buttock pain
• Pain worsens when you sit down
• Burnings, tingling, numbness, in your leg or foot
• Difficulty standing and walking

Depending on the underlying cause, chronic sciatica pain may vary in intensity from mild to severe. In some cases, it may even prevent individuals from performing normal daily activities. Fortunately, permanent damage to the actual sciatica nerve is rare.

Causes of Chronic Sciatica Pain

Back problems are typically the most common cause of sciatica, however, it may also be caused by a pregnancy, severe muscle strain, a spinal tumor, or, in very rare cases, an infection. These are the most common causes:

• Herniated Lumbar Disc – This is also sometimes called a “slipped disk.” It occurs when the inner core of the vertebral disks leak out through the outer core and press against the contiguous nerve root.
• Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction – This occurs when the sacroiliac joint in your lower back irritates the L5 nerve, which results in symptoms similar to sciatica pain.
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis – This condition can cause sciatica when the spinal canal becomes narrower. Because this condition may be a natural part of aging, it is most common in individuals over the age of 65.

If you suffer from chronic sciatica pain, contact Garden State Pain Control today for immediate help. Our New Jersey sciatica pain doctors have years of experience dealing with chronic sciatica pain and are ready to help you. Book an appointment today.