Sciatica Support Group

You may be surprised to learn that sciatica is not a spinal condition, but instead a symptom of a low back problem! Many different low back problems can cause sciatica. Sciatica is a term meaning pain that originates from compression of the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body. The nerve begins in the low back and then branches through the buttocks, into the thighs, behind the knees, and into the calves, ankles, and feet.

If the sciatic nerve is pinched or compressed (perhaps by a bulging disc in the low back) a patient may experience leg pain--the classic symptom of sciatica. Sciatica usually affects the lower left or lower right side of the body, with pain sometimes radiating into the foot. Low back pain may accompany sciatica.

Patients with sciatica describe the pain as mild to sharp; it also can be ongoing or sudden. Some patients report leg weakness and sensations such as tingling, pins and needles, burning, or numbness anywhere from the buttocks to the feet.

Patients experiencing sciatica symptoms should visit their physician for an examination. Non-operative treatment can often speed recovery.