Sciatica, a disorder that involves a lot of back pain for the sufferer, is very common throughout the United States, with millions of people suffering from it. It is important to understand that historically, within medicine, sciatica has been described as the diagnosis for most pain originating from the lower back through the thighs and legs. This pain is usually classified as acute and sharp/stabbing. While this term, sciatica, still holds true today, it is used much more in a general manner as medical advancements have led us to find the more direct, localized causes of back pain that may contribute to the general sciatica.
Sciatica is a neurogenic pain which means that it involves the nervous system, and in this case the largest nerve in the body – the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve originates from underneath the spinal cord which is located down your back (within your spinal columns). This sciatic nerve then proceeds down the leg, from the thighs, and ends at the toe. The back pain usually begins from the lower back, and shoots down.
Obviously if there is pain in the region, and if sciatica is involved, then the pain has originated from problems with the sciatic nerve. There are several medical causes for this pain, the first of which is the fact that the patient may have a herniated disc which arises from the discs that act as absorbers of shock between your spinal columns. Sometimes these discs may be out of place and then hinder the effectiveness of the sciatic nerve, causing the pain. If the sciatic nerve is touched anywhere by nearby bone or discs, this is likely the root cause of the pain. One finds this in older women especially though older men could also be affected.
The next possible cause for general sciatica is the degeneration of your spinal column. This is usually the case if the herniated discs are not fixed and there is further break down within the joins of your vertebra. If the discs get even worse, and even more out of line, then they may constrict the sciatic nerve, applying too much pressure on the nerve leading to a much greater degree of pain. This type of “degeneration” usually leads to intense hospitalization and immediate emergency surgery in order to remove the inflamed discs and coax the sciatic nerve back into safety.
Spinal stenosis is also a very common cause of back pain and therefore sciatica. This involves the discs again and as discussed previously, they can get herniated, but in this case the discs which fit into their disc spaces are now smaller and more degenerated. This can create further inflammation and make the sciatic nerve more prone to damage and trauma. This can get severely worse if the patient is moving about or is exposed to any accidental jolts.
Therefore we can see various types of causes for sciatica. The important thing is to understand that the discs that are present in the lumbar or lower portion of the back play an important role in protecting the nerves and the spinal column and putting everything into place. If one does not take proper care to stay healthy, exercise and eat a diet rich in calcium, many of these back pain problems have an increased probability of actually occurring.