08 Dec Spotlight on: Sciatica
‘Sciatica’ is not a diagnosis. ‘Sciatica’ is not a descriptor for what is wrong with your back.
Sciatica is a symptom only. This means, like a cough or sneeze it’s just a small part of the picture to diagnose what is the actual problem.
Sciatic symptoms are generally thought of as numbness, tingling, altered nerve sensations, or pain traveling distally, a distance from the back. It generally follows the same distribution depending on the diagnosis. The most common version of ‘sciatica’ often complained of involves symptoms down the back of the leg, mostly in the glutes.
However, sciatic symptoms can be anywhere in the leg, and often are felt as numbness in the ball of the foot or the side of the knee.
The nature of the sciatic symptoms give us clues as to what nerve is effected and what the diagnosis may be. They are, however, only part of the picture.
There are many diagnoses that may have sciatica listed as one of their symptoms. The most common are herniated discs, facet syndrome, degenerative disc disease and sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
So next time someone says they have ‘sciatica’, or if you should experience similar symptoms, see someone or encourage them to see someone who can investigate and get a real diagnosis so the pain can be treated effectively.