Sciatica is the name for a set of symptoms related to compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Commonly pain and numbness are located at the calf, foot, or back of the thigh.
Causes:
A bulging or herniated disc
Probably the most common cause for sciatica. This is when the disc between two vertebra is pressing on the spinal column
Lumbar spinal stenosis
When the gap between the vertebra in the spine gets smaller, the sciatic nerve can be irriatated.
Spondylolisthesis
This is when one vertebra moves forward relative to another. Visually the hole the nerve emerges from between the two vertebra is reduced much like the action of a cigar cutter.
Trauma
If there is a significant blow to the spine there is the posability of irritating or injuring the nerve
Piriformis syndrome
The Piriformis muscle runs between the sacrum (the very last bone in the spine) and the outside hip. This muscle is very close (in some people the nerve actually passes through) to the sciatic nerve and has affects on it.
SIJ
The joint between the sacrum and the pelvis can lead to sciatica type symptoms.
Spinal tumours
A very rare but very important cause. A tumour/growth or infectious process may cause pressure on the nerve.
To determine what is the cause of sciatica there are a variety of tests that can be performed. These range from testing reflexes, skin sensitivity, muscle strength, orthopaedic tests examining muscles, joints and discs, a medical history and possibly imaging such as x-rays
English
Español
Sciatica is a non-specific term for pain that is referred down the back of the leg which is the dtburisition of the sciatic nerve. What is not specific about it is what is the CAUSE of the sciatic nerve irritation. It could have several causes including a bulging or herniated lumbar vertebral disc which may put pressure on the roots of the nerve (the most likely cause), disc degeneration or bone spurs causing the neuroforamen (the hole where the nerve comes out) to narrow and cause compression of a sciatic nerve root also called stenosis, muscular syndromes such as piriformis syndrome (spasms of a muscle through which the sciatic nerve travels) .as well as a variety of other musculoskeletal and medical conditions. I, too, am surprise you have not had further testing you also didn’t mention if you had any PT if not, I recommend one with MDT or manual therapy experience. People can also have arm pain due to the same types of mechanisms as mentioned above bulging or herniated disc of the CERVICAL spine, stenosis, muscular problems, etc. However, since the sciatic nerve is not in the arm, it would be a misnomer to call it that. Some of the main nerves in the arm include the median, ulnar, and radial nerve yet I cannot say I’ve ever heard of the term medianatica ! Collectively, both arm and leg pains that follow the dtburisition pattern of a nerve are called radiculopathy but yet again, this is not a specific diagnosis.