Understanding the Causes of Sciatica

Before one could understand the causes of sciatica, it is important to know first what this condition actually is.

Sciatica is not actually a “disease” or a “diagnosis”, but a group of symptoms that develops when there is general compression of the spinal nerve roots — particularly lumbar nerves L4 or L5 or sacral nerves S1, S2 or S3 — from which each sciatic nerve arises. It may also develop when the left or right or both sciatic nerves are irritated or compressed.

This manifests manifests with severe lower back pain which radiates down to the hip or leg.

Causes of Sciatica

Enumerated below are the most common causes of sciatica nerve pain…

• Herniated disc: A herniated disc develops when the nucleus pulposus (or liquid center) of the disc bulges outward into the spinal canal and causes compression of a nerve root against the vertebral pedicle or lamina. In cases of bad posture while lifting heavy objects, a sudden disc herniation may cause acute sciatica (which is usually resolved after a few weeks even without surgical treatment).
• Spinal stenosis: The narrowing of the spinal canal by bony spurs, inflammation or spondylolisthesis causes irritation and compression of nerves coming from the spinal cord. These compressed nerves send pain signals to the sciatic nerves resulting in sciatica.
• Tumors: Tumors in the spine that impinge or compress the spinal cord or nerve roots is also a cause of sciatica pain.
• Piriformis Syndrome: In 15% of patients, it has been found that the sciatic nerve passes right through the piriformis muscle instead of underneath it. Contractions of the muscle cause compression or strangulation of the sciatic nerve resulting in sciatica pain.
• Cauda equina syndrome: Sciatica pain develops when the fine nerve filaments of the cauda equina are compressed. This condition also manifests with bowel and/or bladder incontinence, impotence, and progressive leg weakness, warranting emergency medical care.
• Sciatica in pregnancy: The causes of sciatica in pregnancy include pressure of the uterus upon the sciatic nerve, muscular tension and/or vertebral compression resulting from the extra weight of the fetus that is being carried, and postural changes that develop as a result of adapting to the pregnancy.

Finally, it is important to mention that many of the causes of sciatica pain is self-inflicted through bad posture, sitting on a wallet while working a desk job, or standing for prolonged periods of time at work.

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