Sciatica

Sciatica is the term given to pain down the leg, which is caused by irritation of the main nerve into the leg. Pain usually travels below the knee, and may involve the foot. There may be numbness and there may be weakness of the lower leg muscles.
These symptoms may come on their own, but are often combined with low back pain. The order in which the symptoms appear may vary. Sometimes the back pain comes before the sciatica, and sometimes will follow.

The most common cause of true sciatica is a “slipped” intervertebral disc (they never actually ‘slip’ but can burst or rupture) which can cause irritation and pressure on a nerve root and cause both back pain and sciatica.


 




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