Is my leg pain coming from my back?
Sciatica means the nerve running from the back to the leg is irritated. That is why you feel pain in the leg while its source is higher up.
A patient says: “My back is fine, it’s my leg that hurts.” This is one of the signs of sciatica.
What is sciatica?
The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back to the feet. When something presses on it or irritates it, pain, tingling, numbness or weakness is usually felt in the buttock and the back of one leg, sometimes reaching the foot and toes. The pain may be sharp or burning, and movement, sneezing and coughing can make it worse. There may also be back pain, but it is usually milder than the leg pain.
Why does it happen?
- Slipped disc: the most common cause of sciatica
- Spinal stenosis: narrowing of the passages nerves travel through
- Spondylolisthesis: a spinal bone shifting out of line
- A back injury
How long does it last?
Sciatica often improves within a few weeks to a few months, but it can last longer and can come back.
What helps?
Keep up your daily activities as far as you can, avoid long periods of sitting or lying, and start gentle exercise early. A heat pack can help too.
If you have not improved after a few weeks, the pain is getting worse or it is stopping your daily activities, book an appointment. An MRI, a nerve root injection or a surgeon’s opinion is sometimes needed, and most people do not reach surgery.
When is it urgent?
Sciatica in both legs, severe or worsening weakness or numbness in both legs, numbness around the genitals or anus, and new trouble with urine or stool are emergencies. Read the full list.