Sciatica Causes

Sciatica is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. Most of the time you will not remember doing anything to hurt yourself. Occasionally, you will suddenly get the pains after lifting something heavy or moving quickly.

• The sciatic nerve can be pinched or stretched.
  
  
• A herniated disc (sometimes called a slipped disc) is the most common cause of sciatica.
  
  
  • Discs are the cushions between the bones in the back. They act like "shock absorbers" when we move, bend, and lift. They look like checkers in size and shape.
    
    
  • There is a tough ring around the outside and a thick jellylike center inside (called a nucleus pulposus). If the outer edge of the disc ruptures, the center can push through and put pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to the pain of sciatica (referred to as a herniated nucleus pulposus as the syndrome).
    
    
• Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the canal that contains the spinal cord. As we age, the bone can overgrow and put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Many people with spinal stenosis have sciatica on both sides of the back.
  
  
• Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one backbone has slipped forward over another backbone, resulting in pressure on the sciatic nerve.
  
  
• Piriformis syndrome causes the sciatic nerve to become trapped deep in the buttock by the piriformis muscle. The symptoms are the same as those of sciatica.
  
  
• Sciatica can also be caused by other effects of aging, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
  
  
• Rarely, sciatica is a symptom of a far more serious problem, such as tumor, blood clot, or abscess (boil). Other causes of sciatic pain include Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, pelvic infections, Reiter syndrome, and various infectious causes of arthritis (which could be caused by bacteria, a virus, or a fungus).

Viewer Comments & Reviews

Sciatica - Describe Your Experience

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

Please describe your experience with sciatica.

Anonymously share your comment to help others.
See 19 Viewer Comments & Reviews

Submit Your Review