Touching A Nerve: Sciatica Causes

There are many painful conditions that can be experienced by the body. Generally these painful episodes are symptoms of something more serious happening within one particular part or various parts of the human anatomy. For example, if an individual has upper right quadrant pain they may be experiencing gallstones formed by improper diet, too much cholesterol in the bloodstream, etc.

Another part of the anatomy that can cause excruciating pain is associated with the nervous system. Specifically, there are two large nerves that extended down from the nervous system through both the left and the right leg. Subsequently, pain associated with these nerves can be due to a condition called sciatica. Therefore, if wishing to know more about this condition, it is important to know what sciatica is and what some of the causes of sciatica are.

First of all, when talking about sciatica it is important to know that sciatica is not a disease or a malady that affects the individual, but is more of a symptom of something else. Specifically, the pain associated with sciatica generally begins in the lower back area. Often, this pain is due to pressure that is placed on one or both of the sciatic nerves. This pain then radiates down the nerve resulting in discomfort down one or both of the legs.

The symptoms of sciatica vary from individual to individual and are contingent upon the pressure that is being placed on the sciatic nerve. Therefore, the pain can range anywhere from a mild prickly type of sensation to excruciating pain and even may range up to complete immobility for the individual. Additionally, this pain can be experienced in various parts of the leg. Those leg locations can range from the hip to the knee to the back of the leg. Also, numbness is an associated symptom of sciatica.

When answering the question of what causes sciatica is important to know that there are many sciatica causes. The most common sciatica cause is due to a herniated disc within the spinal column. A herniated disc occurs when an individual improperly lifts an object or strains their back. This results in a bulging disc which then can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Another common sciatic cause is due simply to the aging process. Specifically, a nerve disorder associated with an individual who is growing older is a condition called spinal stenosis. Simply put it is a narrowing of the openings found within the spinal column due to aging. When this occurs, the nerves that pass through these openings are compressed or pinched.