Sciatica also known as sciatic neuritis is a symptom which may be caused due to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica nerve is the largest nerve in the body beginning from nerve roots in the spinal cord and extends to the buttocks area to send nerves to the limb. The symptoms also include pain which can be felt from the lower back to the thigh and radiates down below the knees. The symptoms are felt only on one side of the body. There might be numbness, muscular weakness, difficult in moving the leg, etc in addition to pain.

Causes

     Any irritation or pressing of the disc herniation nerve causes the symptom of sciatica. Irritation of the nerve from tumors, infection, injury, adjacent bone, internal bleeding, etc is the cause of sciatica.

Symptoms

  Symptoms of sciatica include pain, numbness, muscular weakness, burning sensation or tingling radiation from the lower back of the thigh to the back of the leg. The severe symptoms results in difficulty in walking. Sciatica can be easily diagnosed by medical history and physical examination of the patient. Sometimes CT scan, X-rays, MRI scan are required to determine the cause of sciatica.

Treatment

  When the cause of sciatica is due to disc herniation, 90% of cases can be treated without specific intervention. Treatment is needed only when the causes are due to epidural tumors, cauda equina syndrome and epidural abscess.