Five causes of sciatica
What is sciatica ?
Sciatica is the pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, that branches from the lower back through your hips and buttocks, and down to each leg. What you need to know is that sciatica affects only one side of your body.
Sciatica most is most likely to occur when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve. Most times sciatica is a result of problems that affect the L4, L5, or S1 nerve roots.Â
What are the symptoms of sciatica ?
You will feel the pain radiating from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock. And down the back of your leg, which is a hallmark of sciatica.
The pain varies widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating pain. Some cases it will feel like a jolt or electric shock.
 You will feel a lot of pain when you cough or sneeze, and when you sit for long, can aggravate symptoms. Always only one side of your body is affected.
There are special cases when people also have numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot.
What causes sciatica ?
1. Herniated disc
Herniated disc in the lower part of your spine is one of the most common causes of sciatica. It is also termed as a slipped disc, although there is no slipping going on.
Spinal discs are tucked between the vertebrae, as a result, they act as cushions to keep the bones from touching one another.Â
 The discs will absorb all of the forces placed on the spine when walking, running, sitting, twisting, lifting, and every other activity that you do. They will also absorb forces from the collisions, fallings, and other similar accidents.
A herniated disc can happen to anyone at any age. Although it is more common among individuals who are in the middle age and beyond.
2. Spinal stenosis
The spinal canal protects the spinal cord and the nerves that run to and from the spine. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal.Â
When this happens, nerves can be compressed, causing pain. The lumbar vertebrae always undergoes the most consistent stress and supports most of the weight, lumbar stenosis is the most common type of spinal stenosis.
Most of the spinal stenosis is caused by a combination of these age-related changes:
- degeneration of the disc
- osteoarthritis of the facet joint
- thickened ligaments.
Spinal stenosis can also be present from birth. This is as a result of rare conditions.
In most cases, the spinal canal may be somehow narrower than normal at birth, a condition termed as congenital stenosis. Due to the canal being not as wide as the average person’s, even mild age-related changes, such as mild disc bulging and facet arthritis, can lead to symptoms of stenosis.
In some cases people get these symptoms in their 40s or earlier. The Injuries, tumors, and thickened ligaments also can lead to the narrowing of the spinal canal.
3. Trauma
The sciatic nerve itself is most likely to damage from any injury or accident that affects the buttock or stretches a hamstring. One of three muscles at the back of your thigh. Â Falling, car accidents, and sports injuries can lead to sciatica.
4. Pregnancy
In the second and third trimesters, the shifting of weight and loosening of ligaments (not to mention the little person growing inside you!) can put indirect pressure on the sciatic nerve.
5. Spondylolisthesis
The bones of the spine are stacked on top of one another and separated by discs. Spondylolisthesis happens when one spinal bone slips forward in relation to the bone below it.
When the L4 vertebra moves over the L5 vertebra. This can lead to a kink in the spinal canal leading to pressure on a nerve root and sciatica.
Spondylolisthesis most common symptom is when teenagers experience persistent back pain. Â Among this group, it is usually caused by a traumatic injury or a congenital defect.
When to see a doctor
Mild sciatica always goes away over time. Contact your doctor when self-care measures have failed to ease your pain. Or if your pain lasts longer than a week, is severe or becomes progressively worse. Get immediate medical attention if:
- You have sudden, severe much pain in your low back or leg and numbness or muscle weakness in your leg
- The pain is following a violent injury, such as a traffic accident
- You have problems controlling your bowels or bladder
