Sciatica refers to pain caused by a compression, and often and irritation, of one of five nerve roots of the sciatic nerve. Sometimes the sciatic nerve itself is compressed or irritated.
Patients with this condition typically find that the pain is referred to the lower back, buttocks, and sometimes down the leg. The pain of sciatica can be intense. Patients may also experience numbness and weakness of the muscles as the compression of the nerve inhibits effective control. In a typical presentation, the symptoms are only felt on one side of the body.
Common Causes
- Sciatic nerves run down the spine from the backside, behind the thigh, the lower leg and into the foot and toes. Pressure on the nerve from a bulging disc can cause pain all the way along the nerve pathway or just part of the way along it
- Sciatica can come on gradually or develop suddenly following a particular event
Treatments
- Doctors typically recommend some or all of bed-rest, pain-killer, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs. In extreme case surgery may be necessary if the bulging disc does not naturally subside
- The benefits of Osteopathy in promoting the body’s self-healing capabilities are particularly useful – especially in encouraging exercise as a means of managing the presence and/or intensity of sciatic pain
The content of this page is informed by feedback from osteopaths in the London area and also a practitioner in Birmingham. Further input was received from practices in Sheffield and osteopathic practitioners in Cardiff. Finally a contribution was made by clinics in Nottingham