Sciatica is a symptom of a problem with the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. It controls muscles in the back of your knee and lower leg and provides feeling to the back of your thigh, part of your lower leg and the sole of your foot. When you have sciatica, you have pain, weakness, numbness or tingling. It can start in the lower back and extend down your leg to your calf, foot, or even your toes. It's usually on only one side of your body.
Sciatica may be due to a ruptured intervertebral disk, narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerve called spinal stenosis, or an injury such as a pelvic fracture. In many cases no cause can be found.
Sometimes sciatica goes away on its own. Treatment, if needed, depends on the cause of the problem. It may include exercises, medicines and surgery.
- Sciatica(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00351
- Sciatica(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/sciatica/DS00516/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
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Chronic Back Pain(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/chronic-back-pain/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
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MRI of the Spine(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=spinemr
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=spinemr
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Piriformis Syndrome
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/piriformis_syndrome/piriformis_syndrome.htm
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Tarlov Cysts(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tarlov_cysts/tarlov_cysts.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Sciatica(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Sciatica%22
- Article: Associations of back and leg pain with health status and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18759261&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Catamenial sciatica. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18644169&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Thioctic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of sciatic pain... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18598095&tool=MedlinePlus
- Sciatica -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=sciatica[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
- Spine Care Provider Search(North American Spine Society) - http://www.spine.org/Pages/ConsumerHealth/SpineCareProviderSearch/Default.aspx
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - http://www.aaos.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- Back Pain - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/backpain.html
- Herniated Disk - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/herniateddisk.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
- Symptoms - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/symptoms.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Sciatica is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/