Sciatica Causes

The Sciatica Causes that Lead to Sciatic Nerve Problems

Sciatic nerve pain is caused by six common conditions. The conditions include a bulging or herniated disc, trauma, , lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal tumors, and piriformis syndrome. Bulging or herniated discs happen when the cushioning that helps protect the spine becomes thinner and the nucleus becomes exposed. The vertebra of the spine comes into contact with the bones. Pain, tingling extremities and muscle numbness are the most common symptoms of a herniated dis c in the back.

The second leading cause of sciatic nerve problems is a compressed spine, also called lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis is common in older people. A chiropractor can help ease the pain by doing adjustments. Painkillers can also help reduce the pain in extreme situations. Spondylolisthesis is another one of lower back pain causes. One vertebra slips over an adjacent vertebra. This condition is most often caused by a birth defect, although physical stress over time can cause it as well. Weightlifters are often known to suffer from this condition.

Trauma can result in many sciatica problems, including some of the conditions listed above. Accidents and injuries can cause a person to suffer many problems in the back. The trauma can also be caused by repetitive stress injuries that occur in certain professions. Although few people would want to acknowledge it, benign or malignant tumors can cause pain in the lower back as well. When a tumor, regardless of the type, settles into the wrong spot of the back, it can compress the nerves. Treatment for this condition is risky. If the tumor is malignant, a patient may receive radiation and chemotherapy to help deal with the problem. There is a risk of paralysis any time a patient goes under the knife for spinal surgery.

Piriformis Syndrome is not related to the nerve or cushioning, instead it happens when the muscle that assists in hip rotation impacts the lower nerve. Piriformis syndrome causes involve spasms in the muscle inflaming both the muscle in the nerve. A sure sign of this type of inflammation is a tingling sensation in the affected areas. The treatment usually causes getting the muscle to relax. The condition is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, except in carpal tunnel syndrome it is only the median nerve that suffers the inflammation. A patient who experiences any type of tingling or numbness in his legs is probably suffering from a lower back condition. He should see his doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. Severe pain in the lower back can be a sign of a kidney infection, and these infections are not sciatica causes.