Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica Symptoms

The symptoms of sciatica may range from infrequent and irritating to severe and debilitating. The symptoms depend on the specific spinal nerve root that is irritated and/or compressed at the origin of the sciatic nerve. One or more nerve roots may be affected together.

5d2ad60f941d5a0001b14629

While some symptoms are specific to nerve roots, other symptoms are common and occur in all sciatica types.

Common Sciatica Symptoms

Usually, sciatica affects only one leg at a time and the symptoms radiate from the lower back or buttock to the thigh and down the leg. 

Sciatica may cause pain in the front, back, and/or sides of the thigh and leg. A few common symptoms seen in sciatica are:

Pain. Sciatica pain may be constant or intermittent. The pain is usually described as a burning sensation or a sharp, shooting pain. The pain is usually more severe in the leg compared to the back. Leg pain commonly occurs more in the calf region below the knee compared to other parts of the leg.

Altered sensation. Numbness, tingling, and/or a pins-and-needles sensation may be felt at the back of the leg.

Weakness. Weakness may be felt in the leg and foot. A feeling of heaviness in the affected leg may make it difficult to lift the foot off the floor.

hqdefault

Change in posture may aggravate or relieve pain. Certain postures may affect sciatica pain:

Sciatica pain may feel worse while sitting, trying to stand up, standing for a long time, bending the spine forward, twisting the spine, and/or while coughing.

Pain may increase or remain constant while lying down, causing disturbed sleep.1 Lying on the back with the knees slightly elevated and propped up with a pillow, or lying on the side with a pillow between the legs, may help relieve the pain in such cases.

The pain may be relieved while walking, applying a heat pack to the rear pelvic area, or doing pelvic exercises.

There may be other sciatica symptoms that are specific to the affected nerve root. The sciatic nerve is formed by the combination of 5 nerve roots: L4, L5, S1, S2, and S3.

Sciatica Symptoms for Each Nerve Root

Sciatica symptoms typically occur when L4, L5, and/or S1 nerve roots are affected.2 Sciatica symptoms arising from each of these nerve roots are discussed below.

Sciatica from the L4 nerve root may cause:

  • Pain, in the hip, thigh, and the inner (medial) areas of the knee and calf.
  • Loss of sensation over the inner calf.
  • Weakness in the thigh muscles and the hip muscles that help pull the legs together.
  • Loss of tendon reflex in the knee (reduced knee-jerk reflex).
  • Sciatica from the L5 nerve root may cause:
  • Pain in the buttock and the outer (lateral) part of the thigh and leg.
  • Loss of sensation in the area of skin in between and over the great toe and the second toe.
  • Weakness in the buttock and leg muscles.
  • Difficulty in moving the ankle and in lifting the great toe upward.
  • Sciatica from the S1 nerve root, also called classic sciatica, may cause:
  • Pain in the buttock, back of the calf, and side of the foot.
  • Loss of sensation in the outer side of the foot, including the third, fourth, and fifth toes.
  • Difficulty while raising the heel off the ground or walking on tiptoes.
  • Weakness in the buttock and foot muscles.
  • Loss of tendon reflex in the ankle (reduced ankle-jerk reflex).

Sciatica pain mostly occurs when the nerve roots are irritated due to an inflammatory condition such as a herniated disc or pelvic muscle spasm. If a nerve is compressed, the symptoms are usually severe, resulting in marked weakness and loss of function in the leg.

Types of Sciatica

Depending on the duration of symptoms and if one or both legs are affected, sciatica can be of different types:

Acute sciatica. Acute sciatica is a recent onset, 4 to 8-week duration of sciatic nerve pain. The pain may be self-managed and may not typically require medical treatment.1

See Sciatica First Aid

Chronic sciatica. Chronic sciatica is persistent sciatic nerve pain that lasts for more than 8 weeks and usually does not subside with self-management. Depending on the cause, chronic sciatica may require nonsurgical or surgical treatment.1

Alternating sciatica. Alternating sciatica is sciatic nerve pain that affects both legs alternately. This type of sciatica is rare and may result from degenerative problems in the sacroiliac joint.

Learn More:

Scoliosis Symptoms You Should Know
Scoliosis Back Brace For Child
Foot Pain Can Be Caused By a Problem In Your Spine.
Sciatica Treatment

See Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)

Causes

Bilateral sciatica. Bilateral sciatica occurs in both legs together. This type of sciatica is rare and may occur due to degenerative changes in the vertebrae and/or the disc at several spinal levels, or from serious conditions such as cauda equina syndrome.

Informally, the term wallet sciatica may be used to describe sciatic pain that occurs while sitting on a wallet (or any object in the back pocket of a trouser).

The treatment of sciatica is focused on addressing the cause of symptoms. It’s important to consult with a doctor for a correct diagnosis, to check for the possibility of a serious medical problem, and for effective treatment.

If you are looking for Sciatica Treatments. You can check With Dr. Vipin Garg.

Dr Vipin the managing director of KLM Group. He is a well-known  gold-medalist Orthopedic Surgeon, strongly reputed for his trusted and focused attitude. With a successful history of serving patients by diagnosing, surgically, and medically treating, he also brilliantly manages their illness and diseases very well.  He is known for the compassionate and easygoing nature; he gets along with other healthcare professionals with ease. He is extremely experienced in performing all types of routine and emergency trauma surgeries, Arthroplasty, Arthroscopy, and open/minimal invasive / endoscopic spine surgeries. Also has experience of teaching at medical schools.

Book Your Consultation 

Website: www. klmgroup.org 

 Link: https://tinyurl.com/yyzvwmck

Email: info@klmgroup.org

Ph: 0751-4000721,Mob: 7804826825 

 Address: 12, Saraswati Nagar, University Road, Near Silver Estate, Thatipur, 

Dr. Vipin Garg.

MS(Ortho) Gold Medalist.   

Orthopedic & Minimal Invasive/

Microendoscopic Spine Surgeon

Assistant Professor Dept. of Orthopedic GRMC & J.A. Hospital Gwalior.

KLM Group’s mission is to provide personalized, high-quality spine care. We have created a practice that we believe in and choose for our own family members. Our Spine Surgeons perform Spinal Surgery on the neck and lower back.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *