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Sciatica is defined
as pain along the course of one, or occasionally, both of the two
sciatic nerves that stretch from the end of the spinal cord to the
feet. The discomfort may range from a minor pins-and-needles
sensation or a vague numbness to a crippling disability with violent
throbbing of the back and leg, making any movement excruciating. The
pain is aggravated by sneezing, coughing, or laughing, or by
standing or sitting for too long. Most victims are in their 40s and
50s. Sciatica is most often caused by a sciaticated disc that presses
on one of the nerve roots.
After reading so many
books and articles about sciatica, the above definition best
describes it. I generally describe the pain as being a bad leg cramp,
except it stays for a couple of weeks before the pain subsides. The
one fact in the definition that I would have to disagree with is the
sentence, "Most victims are in their 40s or 50s." From all the
reading material that I have sifted through over the years, this is
true. However, in my case, I was diagnosed with sciatica when I was
19, and have had it for over six years. (I guess I'm an exception to
the rule, or the oddball here!)
A person with
sciatica typically first has an attack of acute low-back pain
accompanied by leg pain. During the next few days or weeks, the back
pain subsides while the pain grows worse in the posterior thigh,
lower leg, or foot. The person probably does not have a sciaticated
disk if the back pain is greater than that in their legs, or if
there is little or no discomfort at or below the knee. Typically, a
person with sciatica will limp and will find sitting to be more
difficult than standing. When s/he does sit, s/he tends to slouch in
order to avoid flexing her/his hips. |
