How to Find Out If You Have Sciatica

Your nerves play a vital role in your body’s signal network, sending information about a wide range of things to your brain to process responses. This communication system is broken down into two parts, the central nervous system composed of your brain and spinal cord, and your peripheral system that connects from it to the rest of your body.

Nerve damage can affect any part of your body, and the effect on your body depends on its severity. Sciatica is the term for pain and related symptoms that occur along your sciatic nerve, which can affect your lower back and everything below it. 

There are ways to determine if you have sciatica, and with offices in Norwood, Anderson, and Westside, Ohio, and Crestview Hills, Kentucky, the team of doctors at Riverhills Neuroscience can help.

Sciatica basics

The sciatic nerve is vital for lower body function and is the longest nest you have. It starts at the base of your spinal cord and moves down both legs through the hips and buttocks. Irritation or damage to the nerve is referred to as sciatica. 

Sciatica can be broken down into two types: true sciatica which happens in or along the nerve, or sciatica-like symptoms which feel like the condition but are caused by other reasons related to the nerve. Up to 40% of the population over age 40 deal with this condition, which is common in strenuous work that requires a lot of lifting or getting into positions that strain the back.

Signs and causes of sciatica

Pain is among the most common symptoms that people with sciatica experience (either a shooting, burning, or radiating pain), but other signs include a tingling pins and needles sensation called paresthesia, muscle weakness, and numbness. Incontinence (urinary or fecal) is also a sign in severe cases where nerve signals to those organs aren’t working properly.

Damage or irritation of the sciatic nerve can be caused by many conditions, such as:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• Spinal stenosis
• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Spondylolisthesis
• Back injuries

Being pregnant, or tumors, cysts, and other growths may also cause sciatica.

What we can do to help

At Riverhills Neuroscience we can diagnose your condition, which is the most effective way of determining whether you have sciatica or another back problem. Physical testing, medical imaging, and nerve conduction studies can help us understand what’s going on in your lumbar (lower spine) and reach a solid determination on your issues and the right way to manage them. 

How we treat sciatica varies depending on if it’s mild, moderate, or severe, and options include:

• Using ice and heat
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Muscle relaxers
• Physical therapy
• Spinal injections
• Surgical solutions

Sciatica can be a mild irritant or a long-term frustration, and regardless of which you’re dealing with, we can help. Make an appointment today to get relief from the back and lower body issues related to sciatica.