Conditions
Sciatica
This term is used whenever pain starts in the back and goes down into either or both legs. There are many spinal and non-spinal causes of sciatica but the most common cause is a disc herniation. If the nerve coming out of the spine is inflamed, patients will experience pain that shoots down their leg in the distribution of where that nerve goes.
Symptoms
I always explain that the nerve roots are like the tree roots, the sciatic nerve is like the trunk and the nerve branches that go to the skin and muscles are like the leaves on that tree. It is called sciatica because it follows the anatomical path of the sciatic nerve but rarely is the sciatic nerve itself involved since the sciatic nerve is more like a conduit of the nerves, like the trunk of the tree in the example.
Other common causes of sciatica are inflammation of the Sacroiliac Joint followed by inflammation of the Facet Joints. Muscular spasms and Myofascial pain can also give pain down the leg.
Causes
I always explain that the nerve roots are like the tree roots, the sciatic nerve is like the trunk and the nerve branches that go to the skin and muscles are like the leaves on that tree. It is called sciatica because it follows the anatomical path of the sciatic nerve but rarely is the sciatic nerve itself involved since the sciatic nerve is more like a conduit of the nerves, like the trunk of the tree in the example.
Other common causes of sciatica are inflammation of the Sacroiliac Joint followed by inflammation of the Facet Joints. Muscular spasms and Myofascial pain can also give pain down the leg.
Treatment
I always explain that the nerve roots are like the tree roots, the sciatic nerve is like the trunk and the nerve branches that go to the skin and muscles are like the leaves on that tree. It is called sciatica because it follows the anatomical path of the sciatic nerve but rarely is the sciatic nerve itself involved since the sciatic nerve is more like a conduit of the nerves, like the trunk of the tree in the example.
Other common causes of sciatica are inflammation of the Sacroiliac Joint followed by inflammation of the Facet Joints. Muscular spasms and Myofascial pain can also give pain down the leg.
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Reno, NV