Any pain, numbness, or tingling along the sciatic nerve is referred to as sciatica. The sciatic nerve being the largest and longest nerve in the body that runs from the lower back to the back of the leg through the buttocks is more prone to injuries compared to other nerves. It is so sensitive that a small pressure on the nerve is enough to cause pain affecting one leg. However, the pain can outspread as far as the ankle and foot. The good news is that Ron Ben-Meir, DO, FAAPMR, treats acute and chronic sciatica in Red Bank through state-of-the-art treatment options. But how can you tell that you are suffering from sciatica? Here are nine warning signs of the condition.
1. Pain in the Buttocks
The sciatic nerve passes through the buttocks and once affected, the pain can spread anywhere the nerve gets through. This can cause difficulties to simple actions such as standing, sitting, or squatting.
2. A Burning Feeling
Like any other nerve in your body, the sciatic nerve carry’s all kinds of information to and from the brain. This means that it not only sends pain signals but also other critical information including how other parts of the body are faring. Therefore, if the sending of signals becomes distorted, you may experience some burning sensations to the parts associated with the nerve. In this case, when the sciatic nerve is affected in a way that the sending of signals is affected, you can experience burning sensations on your legs.
3. Hip Pain
This is one of the prevalent symptoms of Sciatica although this type of pain is not always associated with sciatica. But because the hip is between your lower back and your legs, experiencing pain can be related to the pain of sciatica and should be examined.
4. Lower Back Pain
It is at the lower back where the sciatica nerve begins. Therefore, sciatica pain begins in this area and although lower back pain can be caused by other conditions, it is a clear identification that your sciatica nerve is injured or affected.
5. Weakness
When your sciatic nerve is injured or affected, your legs can feel weak and hard to move, causing them not to cooperate when you are walking or moving. However, the total loss of movement is rarely experienced.
6. Swelling
Swelling can occur with sciatic nerve pain simultaneously. Although sciatica may not actually cause the swelling, it can occur when the sciatic nerve is under pressure as a result of a trauma, fracture, or a sprained muscle.
7. Difficulty Standing
Sciatica can cause your muscles to become weak. When this goes in line with the pain the condition causes to areas where the sciatica nerve passes through, particularly your lower body, you can experience a stabbing pain or a dull ache upon trying to stand.
8. Tingling and Numbness
Sciatica can be behind the extreme numbness you experience on your legs. It occurs when there is a deficiency of circulation in your nerves. If this happens to the sciatic nerve, you can also experience other pins and needles sensations.
Numbness can be a more bizarre sensation as a result of the information being blocked from reaching the brain, it can be as a result of a pinched nerve.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, the only way to confirm you have sciatica is by seeking expert care from sciatica specialists. This is because sciatica is not a condition on its own but a symptom of other underlying problems.
