Sciatica Symptoms

The most common symptom from sciatica is PAIN. Most people describe a deep, severe pain that starts low on one side of the back and then shoots down the buttock and the leg with certain movements.

The pain from sciatica is felt along the sciatic nerve and can be felt deep in the buttock, with pain that travels down the back of the leg, sometimes to the foot. The pain can be accompanied by tingling, ‘pins and needles’, or numbness, and sometimes by muscular weakness in the leg.

Sciatica is usually felt in only one leg at a time. Sometimes, a sensation like an electric shock can be felt along the nerve. The pain can range from a mild ache to incapacitating pain.

· The pain is usually worse with both prolonged sitting and standing. Some people describe the worst pain when trying to stand from a low sitting position, such as standing up after sitting on a toilet seat.

· In most people, the pain is made worse by sneezing, coughing, laughing, or a hard bowel movement. Bending backward can also make the pain worse.

· You may also notice a weakness in your leg or foot, along with the pain. The weakness may become so bad you can't move your foot.

Most sciatica gets better within a few weeks and doesn’t result in permanent damage. If your pain doesn’t go away after a couple of weeks, see your doctor. If you lose control of your bladder or bowels or you have severe pain, weakness of your muscles, or numbness, seek medical attention immediately.

Different Types of Sciatica Pain

· Sciatica from L4 nerve root (usually the L3-L4 level)
The patient may have reduced knee-jerk reflex. Symptoms of sciatica stemming from this level of the lower back may include: pain and/or numbness to the medial lower leg and foot; weakness may include the inability to bring the foot upwards (heel walk).

· Sciatica from L5 nerve root (usually the L4-L5 level)
The patient may have weakness in extension of the big toe and potentially in the ankle (called foot drop). Symptoms of sciatica originating at this level of the lower back may include: top of the foot pain and/or numbness, particularly in the web between the great toe (big toe) and the second toe.

· Sciatica from S1 nerve root (the L5-S1 level)
The patient may have reduced ankle-jerk reflex. Symptoms of sciatica originating at this level of the spine may include: pain and/or numbness to the lateral or outer foot; weakness that results in difficulty raising the heel off the ground or walking on the tiptoes.

· Pressure on the sacral nerve roots from sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Symptoms may include: a sciatica-like pain or numbness that is often described as a deep ache, inside the leg more so than a linear, well-defined geographic area of pain/numbness found in true sciatica.

· Pressure on the sciatic nerve from the piriformis muscle
The pressure on the sciatic nerve can tighten and irritate the sciatic nerve (called piriformis syndrome). Symptoms of piriformis syndrome may include: a sciatica-like pain and/or numbness in the leg that is usually more intense above the knee, usually starts in the rear rather than the low back, and often spares the low back of symptoms or signs.

Piriformis syndrome can mimic the signs and symptoms of sciatica pain from a disc herniation and is part of the different diagnosis of possible causes of sciatica.

VIDEO: http://www.spine-health.com/video/sciatica-interactive-video