5 causes of sciatica

Sciatica is not actually a health condition in itself; it is a symptom, and a somewhat misnamed one. The term covers pain in the buttock, thigh, and leg, but that pain can arise from a variety of causes. It takes its name from the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. There is one on each side, each running through the buttock and down the leg into the foot and toes. Yet the most common causes of sciatica do not involve direct injury to the sciatic nerve itself - they involve the nerves higher up in the spine that join together to form it.

The right treatment depends on the cause, which might be a herniated disc, an injury, or a pinched sciatic nerve in the buttocks. Sciatica can also appear in late pregnancy, as ligaments loosen and the growing baby puts indirect pressure on the nerve.

For most people, home treatment may be all that is needed. Even without knowing the exact cause of your sciatica, you can take steps at home to ease the pain. For example:

Move. A few days of rest is fine, but ideally you should move as much as you can, as soon as you can. If moving clearly makes the pain worse, see a doctor and talk through what is happening.

Ice and heat. Ice helps during the first week; after that, applying heat can help.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used, but never take more than the recommended dose.

Most sciatica improves on its own, but it is sometimes wise to see a doctor to rule out a more serious cause. Make an appointment if:

You are under 20 or over 55 and having sciatica for the first time

Your symptoms are severe

You have weakness in a leg or foot

You have a fever along with the pain

You have a history of cancer