Are you going through your day with pain running down your leg?
Chances are you may be showing classic symptoms of sciatica.
There are multiple sciatica causes which can be described as a sharp shooting pain running along the sciatic nerve which is located in your buttock and runs down the back of your leg.
When you aggravate your sciatic nerve it can cause discomfort which can range from dull lower back pain symptoms to the feeling of excruciating pain which can prevent you from moving.
5 Symptoms Of Sciatica That You Need To Be Aware Of
Pain running down the back of your leg
The most obvious sign of sciatica is pain which runs down the back of the leg.
Many people confuse sciatica symptoms with other disorders.
If you have pain which runs into your leg but goes into the groin, side, or front of the leg, chances are there is nerve irritation but not from the sciatic nerve.
The most important way to diagnose sciatica is through a comprehensive examination by a doctor, physiotherapist or chiropractor.
Sharp shooting pain in your leg
If the symptom your feeling is electric or shooting pain which is running down the leg this is an all too common sign of sciatica. Sciatica can cause a sharp pain to be felt when the sciatic nerve is irritated.
While many people consider sciatica to be a specific problem, it’s rather a symptom which is caused by a range of other mechanical changes in the body.
Numbness, weakness or difficulty moving your foot
Since the sciatica symptoms you experience affect the nerve, they can also affect the surrounding muscles in the area. This commonly occurs with bulging discs in the lower back where you can feel numbness or loss of sensation on:
– The inside of your knee,
– Your Calf
– The webbing of your first two toes
– The outside or the sole of your foot
You may also experience other bulging disc symptoms such as weakness or have trouble moving your foot especially when:
– Straightening your leg or trying to point your toes up
– Pointing your toes to the ground or walking on your toes may also not be possible due to weakness in the area
– Turning your foot inwards can also be difficult due to irritation of the nerve
Pain after extended periods of sitting
Sciatica is very commonly aggravated by extended periods of sitting and there are many lower back pain causes which can bring on your sciatica.
If you find that the pain or weakness in your lower back, buttock and leg is brought on after sitting on the couch at home or when standing up after being on your office chair this is another common sign of sciatic pain.
After standing from a seated position it is often too painful to fully straighten the leg and rather uncomfortable when it is forced into a straight position.
Pain aggravated by coughing, sneezing or straining
When you cough, sneeze or strain down the pressure around your spine increases.
This pressure causes the space surrounding the sciatic nerve root to decrease therefore causing irritation on the nerve. If your pain is aggravated by these things it is possible that the sciatic nerve is being compressed.
While this might be the case in some people each case is different and must be examined to find the true cause of the problem.
When Sciatica Symptoms Are A Medical Emergency
In some cases there are serious conditions which come on along with your sciatica symptoms.
If you have pain going down both of your legs, as well as loss of sensation around the inner thighs, buttock or back of the legs or an inability to control your bowel or bladder this is a medical emergency.
If you present with these symptoms it is vital you go to a hospital to have them checked out as the condition, known as cauda equina syndrome usually requires immediate surgical intervention.
Your Sciatica Pain Symptoms Can Be Relieved
Sciatica pain symptoms can be very uncomfortable and should be treated before they escalate to a more chronic condition.
If you feel as though you are suffering from any of the symptoms described above a proper examination can confirm the cause of your sciatica pain. For a sciatica assessment call one of our Sydney CBD chiropractors today or book online to see if sciatica treatment can help you.
