Sciatica
Overview
Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, is irritated or compressed. It usually gets better in a few weeks to a few months but can last longer.
Symptoms
The symptoms of sciatica usually affect your bottom and the back of one leg, often including your foot and toes. You may feel: a sharp, burning pain down the back of the legtingling – likepins and needlesnumbnessweakness Your symptoms may come on suddenly but they can also start slowly. The pain may be worse when moving, sneezing or coughing. You may also have back pain, but it's not usually as bad as the pain in your leg. You probably do not have sciatica if you only haveback pain.
Causes
Sciatica happens when something presses or rubs on the sciatic nerve. Causes include: aslipped disc, when a soft cushion of tissue between the bones in your spine pushes out – this is the most common cause of sciatica and is more likely to happen as you get olderspinal stenosis – narrowing of the part of your spine where nerves pass throughspondylolisthesis – when one of the bones in your spine slips out of positiona back injury
Treatment
If you have sciatica, a GP may: suggest exercises and stretchesprescribe painkillers They might also refer you for: physiotherapy– including exercise advice and techniques like massage (manual therapy)psychological support – to help you cope with the pain Physiotherapy is free of charge on the NHS throughout the UK, but waiting times can be long. You can also get it privately. If your pain is severe and treatments from a GP have not helped, they may refer you to a hospital specialist for: a procedure to seal off some of the nerves in your back so they stop sending pain signals (radiofrequency denervation)a painkilling injection such as an epidural to stop you feeling painsurgery – an operation calleddecompression surgerycan sometimes help relieve sciatica
Prevention
Good posture; Regular exercise; Safe lifting.
When to see a doctor
See GP if: severe pain; weakness; bowel/bladder control issues (emergency).