Sciatica: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Sciatica is a symptom of a problem with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. The nerve controls muscles in the back of the knee and lower leg, and gives feeling to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot.

Symptoms

Pain, weakness, numbness or tingling that can start in the lower back and run down the leg to the calf, foot or even the toes — usually on only one side of the body.

Causes

• a ruptured disk between the vertebrae;
• spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that presses on the nerve;
• an injury such as a pelvic fracture.

In many cases no cause is found.

Treatment

Sciatica sometimes goes away on its own. If treatment is needed, it depends on the cause and may include exercises, medicines and surgery.

Sources

Based on "Sciatica," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.