The sciatic nerve consists of five nerve roots, which combine to form a sciatic nerve running on either side of your body from your hips to your toes. Can you imagine what it would feel like if such a nerve was injured? How will such pain feel? Depending on what will cause it, your sciatic pain may feel sharp, burning, and even stabbing. Thankfully, Dr. Patrick S. McNulty is an orthopedic surgeon who can address such injury and pain. He will help you through your symptoms before confirming it is sciatica and then recommending treatment. Meanwhile, here are a few insights to help you understand sciatica.
How Do You Get Sciatica?
You have a sciatic nerve running through the hips, buttocks, and legs, ending below your knee, then continuing to your foot and toes from another branch. Therefore, an injury and irritation to this nerve will cause pain in your lower back, radiating down your leg. The injury may be inflammation, irritation, compression, and pinching of a nerve in your lower back.
What Medical Conditions May Lead To Sciatica?
First, a herniated disk will pressure the nerves, and if the hernia happens to a joint in your lower back, it may pressure your sciatic nerves. Secondly, your spinal canal may narrow abnormally, thus reducing space for nerves which causes pinching to your sciatic nerves. Also, having degenerative disk disease, which causes a natural wearing out of your disks, may lead to narrow passageways for your nerves. As a result of all these conditions, your sciatic nerves will be under pressure till they start showing symptoms.
What Will You Feel With Sciatica?
You will feel mild to severe pain along the path where the sciatic nerve travels. You may also experience muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling and pricking sensations in your foot, leg, and toes. The pain can be sharp and shooting and may feel like a stabbing and burning sensation. Also, it may come and go and, at other times, remain constant. You will likely feel worse when you stand or sit for long hours. Additionally, sudden body movements like coughing and sneezing are likely to worsen your pain.
Can You Get Sciatica On Both Legs?
You have the sciatic nerve on both sides of your body, so it could be possible to get sciatica on both legs. However, the condition mostly affects a leg at a time but will depend on where the pinch is happening along your spine. You can develop the condition suddenly, or it may come on gradually, depending on the cause.
What Increases Your Risk For Sciatica?
Several factors will increase your risk, including previous injuries to your lower back. Aging may also be a risk factor because your bones and disks are wearing out. Performing active jobs that require lifting heavy weights may bring back problems that worsen sciatica. Even if you stay active but carry weight the wrong way, you can develop sciatica.
Sciatica can resolve on its own over time, but at other times it may come and go, needing medical attention. Considering that your sciatic nerve is the thickest and longest nerve, the pain may cause unpleasant sensations and weakness in your legs, making it hard to move. Therefore, it is important to understand what could cause your pain and what increases your risk for the condition.
