Sciatica Symptoms.

What are your main Sciatica Symptoms?

The symptoms will depend on the cause of your sciatica, as well as the structure that is pressing on your sciatic nerve." Discs, nerves, joints, muscles and ligaments are the main structures responsible for trapping your sciatic nerve - resulting in sciatica.

Before you decide on the appropriate treatment for sciatica, it is very important to first have the correct diagnosis and cause determined.

Sciatic symptoms can vary from a mild buttocks pain, to a raging severe pain in your back and leg - often radiating as far as your little toe!

Put quite simply, sciatica is always associated with PAIN!

From my experience of treating sciatica over the years, I have concluded that the following are the most common sciatic symptoms that I see on a daily basis in my physiotherapy practice. I hope you recognise your own symptoms in one of the following!

Right or left sided back pain radiating into your buttock.

Right or left sided back pain radiating into your buttock and down the back of your leg as far as your knee.

Right or left sided back pain radiating into your buttock, and back of your leg as far as your ankle.

Right or left sided back pain radiating into your buttock, and then a separate pain on the outside of your lower leg.

Pain radiating from your buttock into your leg with no back pain.

Pain in your lower leg without any symptoms in your back or upper leg.

Pain in your back or leg associated with numbness and pins and needles in your leg or foot.

Put simply the most common symptom of sciatica that I see is one of the above types of pain.

The most common causes of sciatica that I see are:-

Disc prolapses. Where a disc in your spine moves away from its correct position, often pressing on the sciatic nerve. Although there are various degrees of disc prolapses they are generally quite painful and require physiotherapy attention.

Spinal stenosis. Where the space in your spinal canal is compromised. It most commonly results from degeneration of your spinal joints, disc prolapses or it can be congenital in onset. In simple terms, it is where your spinal canal is compromised by abnormal movement of spinal structures, or by excess bony growth into your spinal canal. Seek immediate medical attention!

Piriformis syndrome. Where your sciatic nerve is compressed by a tight piriformis muscle. It often presents like sciatica and is a common cause of sciatic pain in my physiotherapy practice.

Spondylolisthesis. Is where one of your spinal vertebra slips forwards excessively relative to another. It usually occurs towards the base of your back. It may require both conservative and surgical intervention.

Arthritis. Is Inflammation of a joint and is usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness. It can result from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. It responds excellently to manual physiotherapy.

Understanding the symptoms of your sciatica will help you to resolve your sciatica quickly. Noting the symptoms that you experience and which positions and movements aggravate them, will greatly help your Physiotherapist in the treatment of your sciatica.

Also, it is important to note the type of symptoms that you experience with your sciatica. This knowledge will help your therapist to diagnose the cause of your sciatic pain. Diagnosis, after all, is the key to good treatment!

You may ask why your symptoms of your sciatica change so often?

Your symptoms can change from day to day and from hour to hour. This is due to the effect your bodys position has on sciatica. If you are sitting a lot you may have more leg pain than back pain. If you are lying down your buttock may hurt more than your leg. Seek medical advice on the appropriate positions and treatments for your sciatica.

sciatica symptoms

In summary, the cause of sciatica comes from the sciatic nerve being impinged or trapped. It also can arise from inflammation of the sciatic nerve due to trauma or stiffness in the structures around it. The treatment of choice for your pain depends on which structure is compressing your sciatic nerve.

Early intervention and a correct diagnosis is the key to the management of your lower back pain and sciatica. No two peoples sciatica is the same.

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The information on this web site does not replace specific medical advice. It should only be used to complement advice from your doctor. Always seek in-person advice from a doctor or other qualified health provider for your particular condition.