Learn To Recognize Sciatica Symptoms

Are you one of the estimated 30% of the population that suffers from sciatica? Learning how to recognize the symptoms of sciatica is the first step in understanding this troubling disease and knowing how to treat it.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a collection of symptoms that are thought to be caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which originates in the lower back, extends through the buttock, wraps around the thigh and continues down the leg into the foot.

Sciatica Symptoms

The sciatica symptom most commonly complained of is pain. Sciatica sufferers complain of a deep, unrelenting pain that originates, like the sciatic nerve, in the lower back and shoots down the buttock and leg. Patients usually report that the sciatica symptoms may come and go depending on how the patient's legs are positioned or what activities they are performing.

Sciatica pain seems to worsen when patients stand or sit for longed periods of time. The most severe sciatica symptoms are reported when patients rise from a seated position, such as on a toilet seat. Other activities involving exertion also exacerbate sciatica symptoms; patients report pain when they laugh, sneeze, cough, or bend backward.

Sciatica sufferers may also experience weakness in their lower leg or foot, sometimes to the point of not being able to walk.

When To Get Help

Sciatica symptoms often subside on their own within a few days, especially if the patient restricts activities and rests. However, there are certain times when sciatica sufferers should see their doctors about their symptoms, and there are even times when patients experiencing sciatica symptoms should get emergency treatment.

If you are suffering from the symptoms of sciatica, you should see your doctor if the symptoms persist after a few days, or if they seem to be getting worse. Also consult your doctor if you are younger than 20 or older than 55, if you have unexplained chills and fever, if you have cancer or a history of cancer, if you are HIV positive, if your trouble bending forward persists after two weeks, or if your weakness is increasing over time.

If you feel sciatica symptoms, you should get emergency treatment if you have a temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, if you cannot move your legs or feet, if the pain is utterly unbearable, if the pain follows a traumatic injury, if the pain is centered in the back of your chest, and if you lose control of your bowels or bladder or experience sensations of numbness in the genital area.