Sciatica can be a debilitating condition that can be a source of pain in one of your legs; it occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated or pinched.
But what are the top causes of sciatic nerve leg pain? Cause 1: Herniated Disc: One of the discs between the bones in your spine bulges, and disc material presses against a nearby part of the nerve and causes sciatica.
The problems in this case can be two-fold: not only is there compression of the sciatic nerve, but material leaking from the disc is an irritant and can cause inflammation.
Cause 2: Spondylolisthesis: If one of the vertebrae (the bones in your spine) has slipped forwards relative to the next one, this can compress the sciatic nerve and cause leg pain.
Spondylolisthesis is usually found at birth, but it can also develop during childhood or as a result of specific stress on the backbone (for example lifting a heavy weight).
Cause 3: Trauma: Any sudden impact or strain on your body can cause damage to your spine and hence lead to compression on the sciatic nerve, and then produce the normal sciatica symptoms.
Cause 4: Spinal Stenosis: Sometimes the small holes in your pelvis and other bones in that area can become restricted -- either become narrow or clogged -- then the resulting compression on the sciatic nerve can cause the expected leg pain.
Cause 5: Piriformis Syndrome: In the lower part of your spine there is a muscle called the Piriformis Muscle that joins your pelvis to your thigh bone.
This muscle can in some circumstances go into spasm and irritate the sciatic nerve and lead to the symptoms of sciatica.
Cause 6: Tumours: Cancerous growths on your spine are rare, but they can grow in such a way as to compress and irritate the sciatic nerve.
Any of these can cause sciatic pain and all the other symptoms of sciatica, including muscular weakness, numbness, or tingling.
If you think you may have sciatica, the most important point is that you should see a healthcare professional for a correct diagnosis.