Sciatica
Sciatica is a common condition causing pain along the sciatic nerve pathway. Apteum Spine provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment options to address the root cause of your sciatic pain.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve — the longest and thickest nerve in your body. It typically affects only one side of your body. Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disc, bone spur, or spinal stenosis compresses part of the nerve, causing inflammation, pain, and often some numbness in the affected leg.
What Causes Sciatica?
The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Other causes include spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), spondylolisthesis (a vertebra slipping forward), piriformis syndrome, and in rare cases, tumors or infections. Risk factors include age, obesity, prolonged sitting, diabetes, and occupations that require heavy lifting or twisting.
When Should You See a Doctor?
While mild sciatica usually goes away over time, you should seek medical attention if the pain is severe, doesn’t improve with self-care, or if you experience sudden, severe pain in your lower back or leg, numbness or muscle weakness in your leg, or difficulty controlling your bowels or bladder, which could indicate a serious condition called cauda equina syndrome.
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