Sciatica Defined
In case of sciatic nerve irritation the pain occurs in the lower extremity. Due to pinched sciatic nerve the sufferer feels pain that begins from the back region and it goes down the knee and then it reaches in back of the thigh. Sciatica pain is usually known as sciatic nerve pain. Sciatic nerve is the biggest nerve of the body that originates from nerve roots in the lumbar spine region which is located in the lower back and at this point it extends via the area of the butts from where it send the nerve endings to the lower limbs.

One of the major causes of sciatica is lumbar disc herniation in which the disc presses on the nerve. The pain and sciatic symptoms are the result of sciatic nerve inflammation or irritation. This nerve irritation is caused due to intervertebral disc abnormality that is sometimes called radiculopathy.
Some other causes include infection, injury, internal bleeding, muscle injury and tumors can be the reason of sciatica and it also causes nerve irritation from the bone that lies adjacent apart from a pinched nerve. In the expecting mothers the irritation of sciatic nerve can take place as there is stress on the spinal cord. When the nerve is pinched in the spinal column then the sufferer experiences different symptoms.
Some prominent symptoms include burning or tingling sensation, pain, numbness and these are caused by sciatica which will give off from the lumbar area. In some cases the sufferer experience that the symptoms radiate from the upper butts and downward to the back of the thigh and then radiate to the back side of the leg which causes pain in the leg. Some sufferers also feel pain in the hip as the discomfort can extend around the hips and butts.
Often the lower lumbar pain is linked to sciatica which is called lumbago although the sufferer may not feel the pain in the lower back. In case of pinched sciatic nerve the sufferer cannot walk easily or may face some difficulty while walking. There are cases of aggravated sciatica either due to bending at the waist or while walking but when the sufferer is lying down then it is relieved. Sometimes with the change of position the pain relief can be felt which is sometimes complete and sometimes partial.
In order to diagnose the problem of sciatica a health professional performs physical exam and he also takes the medical history of patients. During the exam the doctor will also perform some maneuvers which can be helpful in indicating the problem of sciatica and also some symptoms can help in diagnosing the problem correctly. In order to know the exacts cause some tests are also performed like x-rays, CT scan, MRI and electromyogram.
