Sciatica is a pain in one side of the body that runs from the lower back to the buttocks and the legs. It is caused by osteophyte – abnormal growths on the bone (commonly known as bone sour) or a slipped disc, also called (spinal disc herniation). These conditions exert pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing pains, also known as sciatica. [1]
Here are five symptoms of sciatica:
Sciatica Symptoms
Pain
Sciatica’s main symptom is the pain along the sciatic nerve – the longest nerve in the human body, which runs from the lower back, to the hips, leg, and down to the foot, usually on one side of the body. The pain level ranges from mild to extreme, and extreme cases of this condition make it difficult to walk, as each step is met with excruciating pain. Any form of pressure on the leg triggers the pain, including standing, and may cause the person to topple over.
Acute sciatica pain episodes usually last for a few days or up to a few weeks before subsiding, while chronic sciatic pain lasts up to several months. The condition may continue for as long as the patient lives if left untreated. This pain may be constant or recurring and is worse in some cases more than others.