Within our bodies, there are many nerves that run through an extensive network both away from and into the brain. This is the way our brain communicates, and therefore is able to feel sensations. Therefore it is not without cause that many people complain of pain in the lower back and legs. In the old days, when someone were to refer to pains that originated in the back and would spread down the body to the thighs, ankles and legs, the patient would be diagnosed with “sciatica.” It is important to note that since the coinage of this term in 1948, there have been major advancements in medicine to the point that we are now able to localize the back pain into specific areas and neurological pathways. These back pains were thought to be connected to the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body that runs through the thigh/leg, which would get inflamed. So, all-in-all, the term sciatica while still used in the general sense, is very often made more specific with other terms depending on the exact location of the pain.
People who suffer from sciatica must understand that the basis of this problem arises from the inflammation, or troubles with the sciatic nerve which extends downwards from the bottom of the spine. This type of complication is usually referred to as a neurogenic pain, or pain that originates from the nervous system.
Patients that complain of a neurogenic pain usually complain that this back pain originates from only one side, or either leg, as there are two sciatic nerves on each side of the human body. The pain may be observed as being acute, which means that it moves quickly down the length of the leg/back, and is repetitious. Many describe the pain as being similar to that of pin and needles.
One may wonder how exactly this back pain originates, and why the sciatica has anything to do with it. The sciatic nerve is affected when there is a trauma of some sort, and the pain comes on when this nerve is hindered in some way with pressure. Most people who suffer from “sciatica” in fact have a more specific problem that is termed as a “herniated disc.” This complication is fairly prevalent as it occurs frequently in men who attempt to lift heavy items. Lifting heavy items will then cause a complication with the disks which act to absorb the shock that the body goes through when straining to perform any task. Other situations may include spinal stenosis, or the inflammation or overbearing growth of one of the bones that may end up pinching a nerve – therefore causing pain. Spondylolisthesis also involves the displacement of bone structures creating a hindrance for the sciatic nerve. Finally, sciatica is more evident in those who are older and have calcium deficiencies. These deficiencies may lead to osteoarthritis or osteoporosis (especially in women) to cause the localized pain that is classified under sciatica.
Often, conditions involving sciatica are treatable and curable with medication, pain relief, and sometimes surgery. Thankfully new medical advancements are making headlines every day, and new, less invasive procedures are paving the path for a more pain free future.