what are the symptoms of sciatica, i have sevier pain in my low back on the right side and it runs into my leg

Answer 1

My pain started in my right butt cheek and went down the back of my calf. It got progressively worse until I was literally paralyzed. I was on the 7th floor of a nice hotel and they ended up having to take me out on a luggage cart. (a first for me sober) The pain can go all the way to your heel. The pain can get so bad you will be willing to try witchcraft or drink gasoline if someone tells you it will make it feel better.

Answer 2

Hott2trot, Sciatica IS a pinched nerve!

Sciatica is a term for the condition you have when the Sciatic nerve is compressed at the L5-S1 vertebrae. Symptoms can include pain, burning, and numbness going from the low back down the back of the leg, usually on the outer side of the back of the leg.

Causes can be several things:

You can have subluxated vertebrae that are compressing the nerve.

You could have inflamed muscles in the hip/gluteal area (namely the piriformis muscle) that are putting pressure on the nerve.

Either way, seeing a chiropractor is a great option for you. They can do an exam including x-rays that will give you an accurate picture of what is going on with your sciatic nerve. Choose a chiropractor with a NeuroMuscular massage therapist on staff. That way, whether it is a structure issue or a soft tissue problem (or a combination of both) you can be treated in the same office most effectively for your problem.

Sciatica is not a pain sentence, it is just your body's way of telling you something isn't right and you need to get it fixed.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

2

Answer 5

that sounds more like a lumbar problem. Sciatica usually makes it painful to sit. It's the tissues around the sacrum that are affected in sciatica. The nerves from the lumbar region are the ones that run down the leg. Try laying down on your tummy with a pillow under your lower abdomen and pelvis and put an ice pack on your lower back for at least 20 minutes. Might help.

Answer 6

YUP that's it you've got it....sucks don't it? you should go see a chiro...or I sell a homeopathis remedy called Sciatica works instantly, I use it all the time...it's my No.1 [e-mail] if you're interested

Sciatic is a nerve that' being pinched it starts off in the low back next to the spine and can travel all the way down to your ankle sometimes

Answer 7

Sciatica is a pain in the leg caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerve. Generally, the pain travels from the back of the thigh to the back of the calf, and also may extend upwards, to the hip, and downwards to the foot. In addition to pain, there may be numbness and difficulty in moving or controlling the leg. Typically, the symptoms are only felt on one side of the body.

Although sciatica is a relatively common form of low back pain and leg pain, the true meaning of the term often is misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis for what is irritating the root of the nerve, causing the pain. This point is important, because treatment for sciatica or sciatic symptoms often will be different, depending upon the underlying cause of the symptoms.

Sciatica is generally caused by the compression of a lumbar spine nerve root, and, far less commonly, by compression of the sciatic nerve itself. "True" sciatica, therefore, is caused by compression at the nerve root when it is considered a lumbar radiculopathy (or radiculitis when accompanied with an inflammatory response) from a spinal disc herniation (a herniated intervertebral disc in the spine), consequently either roughening and enlarging and/or misaligning of the vertebrae (spondylolisthesis), or degenerated discs[1].

Sciatica may also be experienced in late pregnancy, primarily resulting from the uterus pressing on the sciatic nerve, and, secondarily, from the muscular tension and / or vertebral compression consequent to carrying the extra weight of the fetus, and the postural changes inherent to pregnancy.

"Pseudo-sciatica", which causes symptoms similar to spinal nerve root compression, is caused by the compression of peripheral sections of the nerve, usually from soft tissue tension in the piriformis or related muscles. The most predominant form of this condition is piriformis syndrome. In this condition, the piriformis muscle, located beneath the gluteal muscles, contracts spasmodically and strangles the sciatic nerve beneath the muscle. Another cause of sciatic symptoms is sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Unhealthy postural habits, such as excessive time sitting in chairs, and sleeping in the fetal position, along with insufficient stretching and exercise of the relevant myofascial areas, can lead to both the vertebral and soft tissue problems associated with sciatica.

Yet another source of sciatic symptoms is active trigger points of the lower back and the gluteus muscles. In this case, the referred pain is not, in fact, consequent to compression of the sciatic nerve, though the pain distribution down the buttocks and leg is similar. Trigger points occur when muscles become ischemic (low blood flow) due to injury or chronic muscular contraction. The most commonly associated muscles with trigger points triggering sciatic symptoms are: the quadratus lumborum, the gluteus medius, the gluteus minimus, and the deep hip rotators.

One major cause of sciatica is a spinal disc herniation, pressing on the sciatic nerve. The spinal discs are composed of a spongiform cartilage with a liquid center. The discs separate the vertebrae, thereby allowing room for the sciatic nerve to properly exit through the sacral portion of the pelvis down into the leg. The discs cushion the spine from compressive forces, but are weak to pressure applied during rotational movements. That is why a person who bends to one side, at a bad angle, to pick up a piece of paper may more likely herniate a spinal disc than a person falling from a ladder and landing on his or her back. Compression of the sciatic nerve from a herniated disc occurs when the liquid center of the disc bulges outwards, tearing the external ring of fibers, and ballooning onto the nerve root, thus causing sciatica.

Other compressive spinal causes include Spinal Canal Stenosis, a condition wherein the spinal canal (through which the spine runs) narrows and compresses the spinal cord. This narrowing can decrease available space for the sciatic nerve to properly exit, thus pinching the nerve and irritating it with friction. The sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle in the buttocks region. When the muscle shortens or spasms due to trauma, it can compress the sciatic nerve. This cause of sciatic symptoms is Piriformis Syndrome. The approach to treating Sciatica is to reduce the compressive forces causing the pressure upon the sciatic nerve. This can be accomplished through traction and realignment therapeutic procedures in the case where the sciatica is spinal-related. Manual muscle stretching, massage, and mobilization techniques should be used when the sciatica is piriformis muscle-related. General therapeutic goals include helping the muscles loosen, thereby lessening pain, and to minimize inflammation.


[edit] Diagnosis and Treatment
Because of the many conditions that can compress nerve roots and cause sciatica, treatment options often differ from patient to patient. Treatment of the underlying cause of the compression is often the most effective course. When the cause is due to a prolapsed or lumbar disc herniation, research has shown that, with supportive treatment to help relieve pain, 90% of disc prolapse will recover with no specific intervention. Genetics appear to influence the risk of developing disc herniation.

Imaging methods such as MRI neurography may help diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. MR neurography is a modified MRI technique using MRI software to provide better pictures of the spinal nerves and the effect of compression on these nerves. MR neurography may help diagnose piriformis syndrome which is another cause of sciatica that does not involve disc herniation. MR neurography is considered experimental and is not covered by insurances.

Most cases of sciatica can be effectively treated by physical therapy or massage therapy and appropriate changes in behavior and environment (for example cushioning, chair and desk height, exercise, stretching). Other conservative treatment options include anti-inflammatory medications (i.e. NSAIDs or oral steroids), pain medications, and epidural steroid injections (however the latter carries the risk of possible side effects and complications from the needle puncture and medications used).

"Alternative" and "complementary" treatments include chiropractic manipulation which may give short term relief. [2] Acupuncture has no effect beyond placebo in treating sciatica.

Answer 8

um that could be a symtom for something but it could also be something as simple as a pinched nerve. dont jump the gun