SciaticaIllustration copyright 2000 by
Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
http://www.nucleusinc.com The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, formed by nerve roots coming out of the spinal cord in the lower back. The nerve goes down through the buttock, then its branches extend down the back of the leg to the ankle and foot. A herniated disc may
compress one or more of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve. Pressure
on one of these nerve roots will often produce distinctive symptoms of
sciatica, such as pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling
in the affected leg. Although a herniated disc is the most common
cause of sciatica, sciatica can also be a symptom of other problems, such as
narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis), nerve root compression
resulting from injury, and certain rare tumors. ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerWilliam H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerKenneth J. Koval, MD - Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Trauma Current as ofMarch 21, 2017 Current as of:
March 21, 2017 Author:
Healthwise Staff Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Kenneth J. Koval, MD - Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Trauma |
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