Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentDiagnosisWhen to See a Provider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

Diagnosis

When to See a Provider

Sciatic nerve pain is a burning and stabbing pain that can be felt in the back, buttock, hip, back of the leg, and foot on one side of the body. It is also known assciaticaorlumbar radiculopathy.

The sciatic nerveis the body’s longest nerve.It originates in your lower back and runs behind your legs. Compression or irritation of the nerve root in thelumbar spineor the nerve anywhere along its path can cause sciatic nerve pain and other symptoms in the lower body.

This may be due to a herniated disc (slipped disc) orspondylolisthesis(slipped vertebra), among other causes.

This article will detail the typical symptoms, common causes, and evidence-based treatments associated with sciatic nerve pain.

What Does Sciatica Pain Feel Like?

The hallmark symptom of sciatic nerve pain is pain that travels (radiates) from the low back down one side of the body.It might be described as aching, stabbing, shooting, sharp, shock-like, or burning pain.

The symptoms of sciatica can vary greatly from person to person. Depending on the degree of sciatic nerve compression, the location and intensity of these symptoms can differ.

Some of the most common complaints are:

In some individuals, sitting or standing too long irritates their condition. Others experience the most symptoms while trying to rest at night. Some people with sciatica complain of pain when straining or holding their breath.

Coughing or sneezing can also trigger sciatica pain. It is often worse when flexing the lower spine forward, twisting, or bending.

When to See Your Healthcare Provider

Sciatic Nerve Pain Location

Sciatic nerve pain and associated symptoms are typically felt on only one side of the body.Only one spinal nerve root or nerve is usually affected.

The pain radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve on that one side to the following:

A couple of significant indicators of sciatica are that the leg pain is worse than the back pain, and the leg pain is felt below the knee.

Saddle Anesthesia and Cauda Equina SyndromeCauda equina syndrome (CES)is a rare condition and medical emergency seen with more serious compression of the spinal nerve roots, often due to a massively herniated disc.You may feel numbness in a saddle anesthesia pattern (affecting the anus, genitals, and buttocks). You may also experience the following:Urinary or fecal incontinence (not being able to hold urine or stool)Urinary retention (unable to completely drain the bladder)Sciatica painWeakness or paralysisSeek immediate medical care for these symptoms. Treatment is needed to prevent irreversible nerve damage.

Saddle Anesthesia and Cauda Equina Syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome (CES)is a rare condition and medical emergency seen with more serious compression of the spinal nerve roots, often due to a massively herniated disc.You may feel numbness in a saddle anesthesia pattern (affecting the anus, genitals, and buttocks). You may also experience the following:Urinary or fecal incontinence (not being able to hold urine or stool)Urinary retention (unable to completely drain the bladder)Sciatica painWeakness or paralysisSeek immediate medical care for these symptoms. Treatment is needed to prevent irreversible nerve damage.

Cauda equina syndrome (CES)is a rare condition and medical emergency seen with more serious compression of the spinal nerve roots, often due to a massively herniated disc.

You may feel numbness in a saddle anesthesia pattern (affecting the anus, genitals, and buttocks). You may also experience the following:

Seek immediate medical care for these symptoms. Treatment is needed to prevent irreversible nerve damage.

What Causes the Sciatic Nerve to Flare Up?

Several different issues can cause sciatica to develop. Aherniated discin the low back commonly compresses the sciatic nerve and leads to symptoms.

The most common underlying causes of sciatica pain are:

While anyone can get sciatic nerve pain, the condition is most prevalent in men between 30 and 50 years old.

Epidural Corticosteroid Injections for Sciatica

1:03What Is Sciatica? Everything You Should Know

1:03

What Is Sciatica? Everything You Should Know

How to Treat Sciatic Nerve Pain

In most instances, sciatica is a self-resolving condition that improves gradually with conservative interventions. Your healthcare provider may recommend one of several treatments meant to help alleviate your symptoms. These commonly include:

In 80% to 90% of cases, sciatic symptoms diminish after a few weeks without the need for surgery.In rare instances, however, a surgical procedure may be necessary to treat your nerve pain. This typically involves undergoinga laminectomy or a discectomy procedure.

This surgery usually reduces sciatica symptoms, particularly in the leg. That said, one systematic review found that most people never experience a full resolution of their pain or disability after the operation.

Turning to Acupuncture for Sciatica

Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Several different tests are typically used to diagnose sciatic nerve pain. Among the most common are:

Sciatica pain may be classified in four types, as follows:

When to See a Healthcare Provider

In addition, the following symptoms should be immediately evaluated forcauda equina syndrome:

How Long Does Sciatica Last?

Summary

Several issues can cause sciatic nerve pain, most commonly a herniated spinal disc. The condition can lead to pain, numbness, and tingling that originates in the low back and shoots down the back of one leg.

Sciatica usually resolves over the course of several weeks and is treated with medication, stretching, physical therapy, and aerobic exercise. In rare instances, a laminectomy or discectomy surgery may be needed to alleviate the pain.

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Giuffre BA, Black AC, Jeanmonod R.Anatomy, sciatic nerve. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sciatica.Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, Koes B.Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.BMJ.2019;367:l6273. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6273Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sciatica.Penn Medicine.Sciatica.Aguilar-Shea AL, Gallardo-Mayo C, Sanz-González R, Paredes I.Sciatica. Management for family physicians.J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(8):4174-4179. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21Fairag M, Kurdi R, Alkathiry A, Alghamdi N, et al.Risk factors, prevention, and primary and secondary management of sciatica: an updated overview.Cureus. 2022;14(11):e31405. doi:10.7759/cureus.31405Stynes S, Konstantinou K, Ogollah R, Hay EM, Dunn KM.Clinical diagnostic model for sciatica developed in primary care patients with low back-related leg pain.PLoS One. 2018;13(4):e0191852. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191852American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Cauda equina syndrome.Marco C, Miguel-Pérez M, Pérez-Bellmunt A, et al.Anatomical causes of compression of the sciatic nerve in the pelvis. Piriform syndrome.Rev Esp Cir Ortop Traumatol. 2019;63(6):424-430. doi:10.1016/j.recot.2019.06.002Penn Medicine.Sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy.Machado GC, WitzlebAJ, Fritsch C, Maher CG, Ferreira PH, Ferreira ML.Patients with sciatica still experience pain and disability 5 years after surgery: A systematic review with meta-analysis of cohort studies.Eur J Pain. 2016;20(10):1700-1709. doi:10.1002/ejp.893Dessouky R, Xi Y, Scott KM, et al.Magnetic resonance neurography in chronic lumbosacral and pelvic pain: diagnostic and management impact-institutional audit.World Neurosurg. 2018;114:e77-e113. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2018.02.072

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Giuffre BA, Black AC, Jeanmonod R.Anatomy, sciatic nerve. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sciatica.Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, Koes B.Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.BMJ.2019;367:l6273. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6273Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sciatica.Penn Medicine.Sciatica.Aguilar-Shea AL, Gallardo-Mayo C, Sanz-González R, Paredes I.Sciatica. Management for family physicians.J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(8):4174-4179. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21Fairag M, Kurdi R, Alkathiry A, Alghamdi N, et al.Risk factors, prevention, and primary and secondary management of sciatica: an updated overview.Cureus. 2022;14(11):e31405. doi:10.7759/cureus.31405Stynes S, Konstantinou K, Ogollah R, Hay EM, Dunn KM.Clinical diagnostic model for sciatica developed in primary care patients with low back-related leg pain.PLoS One. 2018;13(4):e0191852. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191852American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Cauda equina syndrome.Marco C, Miguel-Pérez M, Pérez-Bellmunt A, et al.Anatomical causes of compression of the sciatic nerve in the pelvis. Piriform syndrome.Rev Esp Cir Ortop Traumatol. 2019;63(6):424-430. doi:10.1016/j.recot.2019.06.002Penn Medicine.Sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy.Machado GC, WitzlebAJ, Fritsch C, Maher CG, Ferreira PH, Ferreira ML.Patients with sciatica still experience pain and disability 5 years after surgery: A systematic review with meta-analysis of cohort studies.Eur J Pain. 2016;20(10):1700-1709. doi:10.1002/ejp.893Dessouky R, Xi Y, Scott KM, et al.Magnetic resonance neurography in chronic lumbosacral and pelvic pain: diagnostic and management impact-institutional audit.World Neurosurg. 2018;114:e77-e113. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2018.02.072

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Giuffre BA, Black AC, Jeanmonod R.Anatomy, sciatic nerve. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sciatica.Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, Koes B.Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.BMJ.2019;367:l6273. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6273Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sciatica.Penn Medicine.Sciatica.Aguilar-Shea AL, Gallardo-Mayo C, Sanz-González R, Paredes I.Sciatica. Management for family physicians.J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(8):4174-4179. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21Fairag M, Kurdi R, Alkathiry A, Alghamdi N, et al.Risk factors, prevention, and primary and secondary management of sciatica: an updated overview.Cureus. 2022;14(11):e31405. doi:10.7759/cureus.31405Stynes S, Konstantinou K, Ogollah R, Hay EM, Dunn KM.Clinical diagnostic model for sciatica developed in primary care patients with low back-related leg pain.PLoS One. 2018;13(4):e0191852. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191852American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Cauda equina syndrome.Marco C, Miguel-Pérez M, Pérez-Bellmunt A, et al.Anatomical causes of compression of the sciatic nerve in the pelvis. Piriform syndrome.Rev Esp Cir Ortop Traumatol. 2019;63(6):424-430. doi:10.1016/j.recot.2019.06.002Penn Medicine.Sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy.Machado GC, WitzlebAJ, Fritsch C, Maher CG, Ferreira PH, Ferreira ML.Patients with sciatica still experience pain and disability 5 years after surgery: A systematic review with meta-analysis of cohort studies.Eur J Pain. 2016;20(10):1700-1709. doi:10.1002/ejp.893Dessouky R, Xi Y, Scott KM, et al.Magnetic resonance neurography in chronic lumbosacral and pelvic pain: diagnostic and management impact-institutional audit.World Neurosurg. 2018;114:e77-e113. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2018.02.072

Giuffre BA, Black AC, Jeanmonod R.Anatomy, sciatic nerve. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sciatica.

Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, Koes B.Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.BMJ.2019;367:l6273. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6273

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sciatica.

Penn Medicine.Sciatica.

Aguilar-Shea AL, Gallardo-Mayo C, Sanz-González R, Paredes I.Sciatica. Management for family physicians.J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(8):4174-4179. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21

Fairag M, Kurdi R, Alkathiry A, Alghamdi N, et al.Risk factors, prevention, and primary and secondary management of sciatica: an updated overview.Cureus. 2022;14(11):e31405. doi:10.7759/cureus.31405

Stynes S, Konstantinou K, Ogollah R, Hay EM, Dunn KM.Clinical diagnostic model for sciatica developed in primary care patients with low back-related leg pain.PLoS One. 2018;13(4):e0191852. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191852

American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Cauda equina syndrome.

Marco C, Miguel-Pérez M, Pérez-Bellmunt A, et al.Anatomical causes of compression of the sciatic nerve in the pelvis. Piriform syndrome.Rev Esp Cir Ortop Traumatol. 2019;63(6):424-430. doi:10.1016/j.recot.2019.06.002

Penn Medicine.Sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy.

Machado GC, WitzlebAJ, Fritsch C, Maher CG, Ferreira PH, Ferreira ML.Patients with sciatica still experience pain and disability 5 years after surgery: A systematic review with meta-analysis of cohort studies.Eur J Pain. 2016;20(10):1700-1709. doi:10.1002/ejp.893

Dessouky R, Xi Y, Scott KM, et al.Magnetic resonance neurography in chronic lumbosacral and pelvic pain: diagnostic and management impact-institutional audit.World Neurosurg. 2018;114:e77-e113. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2018.02.072

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