Sciatica manifests as pain originating in the spinal column and spreading down the back of the leg, typically affecting just one side of the body. For some individuals, sciatic pain can be intense and debilitating, while for others, it might be sporadic and annoying, with a potential for worsening over time.
Generally, sciatica impacts only one side of the lower body, with pain often radiating from the lower back down the back of the thigh and through the leg. Lower back pain may accompany leg pain, but the leg pain is usually significantly more severe than any back pain.
Common Symptoms of Sciatica
- Lower back pain, when present, is not as severe as leg pain.
- Persistent pain in one buttock or leg, but rarely in both right and left sides.
- Pain originates in the lower back or buttock and continues along the path of the sciatic nerve – down the back of the thigh and to the lower leg and foot.
- Pain that eases when lying down or walking, but worsens when standing or sitting.
- Sciatic pain is often described as a sharp or searing pain, rather than a dull ache.
- Some may experience tingling, numbness, or weakness, or a tingling sensation down the leg.
- Weakness or numbness when moving the leg or foot.
- Severe or sharp pain in one leg that may make standing or walking difficult.
- Depending on which part of the sciatic nerve is affected, pain and other symptoms may also include foot pain or toe pain.
Sciatica Symptoms for Each Sciatic Nerve Root
There are two nerve roots from the sciatic nerve that emerge from the lumbar region of the spine (L4 and L5) and three from the sacral segment (S1, S2, and S3).
These five nerves combine to form the larger sciatic nerve and then branch again within the leg to provide motor and sensory functions to specific regions of the leg and foot.
Symptoms of sciatica vary depending on the location of the compressed nerve root. For example:
- Symptoms from the L4 nerve root often affect the thigh, with patients possibly experiencing weakness in straightening the leg and a reduced knee reflex.
- Symptoms from the L5 nerve root may extend to the big toe and ankle (known as foot drop), with pain or numbness on the top of the foot, especially between the big toe and the second toe.
- Sciatica from the S1 nerve root affects the outer part of the foot and may radiate to the little toe or toes. Patients may experience weakness when lifting the heel off the ground or trying to stand on tiptoes, along with a reduced Achilles reflex.
Patients may experience a combination of the aforementioned symptoms due to more than one nerve root being compressed.
Immediate Attention for Sciatica Symptoms
Occasionally, symptoms of sciatica that suddenly worsen may require immediate surgery. The following symptoms necessitate immediate medical attention:
- Sciatica symptoms continue to worsen instead of improving, which could indicate possible nerve damage, especially if progressive symptoms are neurological (such as weakness).
- Symptoms occurring in both legs (bilateral sciatica), cause bowel or bladder dysfunction, which could indicate cauda equina syndrome. Cauda equina syndrome is a relatively rare acute compression of one or more nerve roots, occurring in 2% of cases of lumbar disc herniation.
Patients should seek immediate medical attention if they experience any of the symptoms mentioned above.
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