Sciatica Nerve Pain

Sciatica nerve pain is caused from irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. Sciatica pain is typically felt from the low back to behind the thigh and radiating down below the knee. It can cause weakness, numbness, and tingling down the leg or foot. It usually occurs on one side of the body, not both. The pain might be worse when you sit, sneeze, or cough. Sciatica can occur suddenly or it can develop gradually.

The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated or slipped disc that causes pressure on a nerve root. Another very common condition that causes sciatica is spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal. Spondylolisthesis can also cause sciatica; this is a slippage of one vertebra so that it is out of line with the one above it, narrowing the opening through which the nerve exits. The last common condition causing sciatica is Piriformis syndrome. This develops when the piriformis muscle, a small muscle that lies deep in the buttocks, becomes tight or spasms, which can put pressure on and irritate the sciatic nerve.

Other common causes for making back pain worse are pregnancy, being overweight, not exercising regularly, wearing high heals, or sleeping on a mattress that is too soft.

Experiencing Back Pain? 

Contact the office of back and spine surgeon Dr. Branko Prpa for an evaluation – (414) 939-5447.