Sciatica
Sciatica is a pain in the leg due to irritation of the
sciatic nerve. The pain generally goes from the front of the thigh to the
back of the calf, and may also extend upward to the hip and down to the foot.
In addition to pain, there may be numbness and difficulty moving or
controlling the leg.
Causes of sciatica
The most common cause of sciatica is a "slipped disc" (a
herniated disc in the spine). Other conditions that can cause or aggravate
sciatica include roughening and enlarging of the vertebrae, tension in the
piriformis muscle, infections, and tumors.
Treatment
Most cases of sciatica can be effectively treated by physical therapy and
appropriate changes in environment (for example cushioning, or chair and desk
height). Chiropractic manipulation often helps. In approximately 10-20% of
cases, surgery is required to correct the problem.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the
Wikipedia article
"Sciatica"
and from Pain Busters Clinic
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