Slipped Herniated Disk

So that ache you were feeling has become full-blown sciatica at this point.  Problem is, how do you know what caused it and more importantly: how can you prevent that from happening again?  Two questions to contemplate as we dive into our 3rd blog entry.

At it's most basic level and a point I've been reiterating in this blog is that sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve is pinched or damaged.  First, let's review our anatomy real quick.

Here's a picture of one sciatic nerve running down the back of the right leg.  It's the thick yellow cord you see running from the hip down to the heel.  As it branches and gets thinner, it acquires multiple names but it all comes back to the root.

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So how does this nerve get pinched/damaged?  And at what point does that damage become sciatica?  Excellent questions my pupil.

Well, our fantastic researchers have found some common causes of sciatica.  They have their own etiologies that I'll give a brief overview.  If you suspect that one of these might be the causes of your own sciatica, I highly recommend going to see your provider and getting it looked out.  Most of these injuries will require an intervention by your healthcare professional and the sooner the better!

Slipped/Herniated Disk

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Your spine contains little cushion pads between the vertebrae.  Inside those cushions is a soft nougat-y (nucleus) center that can slip out of the tough, outer ring (annulus).  This can press on the sciatic nerve the further down the down you go.  Anyone can slip their disk especially if they are doing very strenuous tasks that increase the load on your back.  More here. 

Spinal Stenosis

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Spinal stenosis is a fancy name for the narrowing of the spinal column or one of its openings at a certain point.  This is common (but not normal) process that occurs with aging.  In sciatica, there would be a narrowing of the openings where the nerve branches off from the main spinal column.  More here.

Piriformis Syndrome

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Moving further from the spine, we the piriformis muscles squeezing the sciatic nerve as it passes through one of the pelvic (hip bone) openings.  The piriformis muscles are deep in the buttocks.  When they become tight or spasm, this can press and irritate the sciatic nerve.  Video here.

Pelvic Injury or Fracture & Tumors 

Obviously, injury or fracture to the pelvis will lead to a host of problems that won't be easily resolved.  Whether or not that injury results in sciatica will depend on the location of the fracture but it is less common among the general population.

Tumors may initially appear to be any of the above causes and it takes careful diagnosing by a professional to confirm it.  That's why it's so important to not ignore the pain or assume it will disappear.  If you have pain that reappears over and over again, do not hesitate to seek help and trust your gut.

Until next time!



References

"Causes." Sciatica: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (2014, September 8). Retrieved April 5, 2015, from [link]

"What causes sciatica?" Diseases & Conditions: What is Sciatica? (2014, September 8). Retrieved April 5, 2015, from [link]