Generally There Are Six Major Sciatica Causes

spinal stenosis

Sciatica applies to a group of symptoms that are generally caused by an ache in the lower back called a radiculopathy which occurs when a nerve root that is adjacent to the sciatic nerve is irritated or pressed together. A few different low back disorders can lead to sciatica. There are six major sciatica causes that you may come across such as lumbar herniated disc. A lumbar herniated disc takes place when the nucleus breaks through the fibrous outer core of the herniated disc and annoys the contiguous nerve root as it goes out of the spine. Normally, people would think that a sudden twisting motion can lead to disc herniation or sciatica but most discs weaken in due time because of the repetitive stress. Herniated disc is also known as slipped disc, bulging disk, or pinched nerve, and sciatica is the most common symptom of lumbar herniated disc.

Most sciatica causes are easily eradicated. One other common cause of sciatica is lumbar spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is a nerve compression disorder which habitually affects mature people over the age of 60. Pain in the leg area similar to sciatica may happen as a result of lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis is associated with natural ageing in the spine which more often than not results from a mixture of one or more of the following medical conditions - overgrowth of soft issue, enlarged facet joints and bulging disc which annoys the nerve roots as they flow out of the spine causing sciatic nerve pain.

Spondylolisthesis is one of the sciatica causes that most often happen in the lumbar spine. It is distinguished by one vertebra slipping forward over adjoining vertebra. When the vertebra slips and is dislocated, spinal nerve root compactness happens and often causes the sciatic nerve leg pain. Spondylolisthesis is classified as a case that is found at birth and develops during childhood, trauma or physical stress.

Despite the fact that disc degeneration is a normal procedure that happens throughout ageing, for some people one or more degenerated discs in the lower back can annoy a nerve root and produce sciatica. Such a disc is identified when a weakened disc effects in excessive micro-motion at the spinal level and the inflammation from inside the disc become bare and annoys the nerve roots.

Many sciatica causes are through past motor vehicle accidents, rugby or any other sports, a fall down the stairs can trigger sciatica pain as direct nerve compression causes exterior forces to the sacral spinal nerve roots. The impact from the accident or sports injury may injure the nerves or fragments of broken bone may apply pressure to the nerves.

Other sciatica causes such as piriformis syndrome can cause the sciatic nerve to be irritated as it is situated under the piriformis muscle. If the muscle pinches or annoys a nerve root that consists of the sciatic nerve, it can lead to a pain akin to sciatica causes. However, this may not be a true sciatica symptom but the pain felt in the leg is the same as caused by the nerve irritation.

Spinal tumours may also be one of the sciatica causes which are less common. Even though spinal tumours are rare, when the tumour develops in the lumbar region, there is a threat of sciatica occurring as a result of nerve compression. If you feel that you have one or two of these sciatica symptoms then it is best to make a doctor's appointment to get the underlying problem checked.