What are the causes of sciatica pain?

Sciatica pain is a form of lower back and leg pain caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is one of the longest nerves in the body. The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated or slipped disc that puts pressure on the nerve root leading to the sciatic nerve. Other causes include narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis), irritations arising from skeletal irregularities (such as degenerative disc disease or scoliosis) and pregnancy. In some cases, no specific cause can be identified.

Sciatica pain typically begins in your lower back and radiates down to your buttocks and legs through one side or both sides depending on where exactly the irritated nerve root is located. Symptoms can also include numbness, weakness, tingling sensation, burning sensation as well as difficulty walking due to leg muscle weakness or spasm. Treatment usually involves physical therapy exercises along with anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen to reduce inflammation around irritated nerve roots; physical therapy modalities such as hot/cold packs may also be used for symptom relief. In severe cases, epidural steroid injections may be prescribed for long term relief from symptoms related to pinched nerves in your spine causing sciatica pain. Surgery may become necessary for particularly severe cases if other treatments are unsuccessful at relieving symptoms after several months; surgery typically involves removal of a portion of bone overlying compressed vertebrae allowing more space for spinal nerves thus easing pressure on them leading to lessening in sciatica symptoms .