What is Sciatica?
Because your sciatic nerve runs along your lower spine to just above your knee, sciatica pain usually occurs in your lower back, buttocks, and reaches throughout your leg.
Sciatica symptoms include:
- Numbness or weakness in the affected leg and back
- Burning sensation
- Sharp pain
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Loss of movement
In more severe cases, you may experience difficulty controlling bowel and bladder function due to loss of sensation in the legs and bladder.
What Causes Sciatica?
If you have a herniated or slipped disk, degenerative disk disease, spinal stenosis, or osteoarthritis, causing bone spurs, you’re at risk of developing sciatica. Most of these conditions diminish the cushion between your vertebrae and spine, causing pressure on your nerve root and leading to the development of sciatica pain.
Additional risk factors include:
- Having a lower back injury
- Being overweight
- Participating in frequent heavy lifting
- Having diabetes
- Smoking
You can also increase your risk of sciatica by leading an inactive lifestyle. You should avoid sitting for long periods of time and not exercising. It’s important to keep your muscles moving and flexible to prevent developing nerve and tissue decay.
