Medical professionals use the term sciatica & leg pain to refer to discomfort caused by the sciatic nerve in the lower back. The pain can affect the lower back, buttocks, leg and foot. Patients often suffer pain in any one of these areas or in any combination. It is considered to be a symptom of some other underlying medical condition. Patients need to be treated for the underlying condition which is diagnosed based on the part of the nerve that is affected.

In general, symptoms only affect one side and can include all or only some of the lower back, buttock, leg and foot. Although in rare cases it has been known to occur on both sides. The discomfort can vary from mild to severe and cause numbness, muscle weakness, tingling or pins and needles and mobility problems with the leg.

Symptoms that require urgent medical intervention can include problems with the bowel/bladder and a progressive loss of power in the leg. A medical examination will usually determine the most appropriate course of treatment. That could mean surgery to release the nerve that has become trapped.

Treatments can vary, depending on the part of the sciatic nerve that is affected. It is important to obtain a professional medical diagnosis before commencing any type of treatment. Undertaking treatment or exercises without a confirmed diagnosis can do more damage than good. Particularly, if you are using the wrong type of treatment.

In many cases the sciatica may resolve itself without the need for interventions. It can and often does return with increasing frequency, until the patient is in almost constant pain. However, only in very severe and debilitating cases will surgery be recommended. Most cases will be treated conservatively with pain relief, physiotherapy and in some cases patients will be recommended to try acupuncture and massage therapy.

Patients who suffer from this condition will find that the discomfort levels increase when they are on their feet or when they are sitting for a lengthy period. Many report that the pain increases when they are sitting and they only find some relief when they are horizontal. Patients can develop problems with their ability to move around when the ailment becomes severe.

Sciatica is generally considered by the medical profession to be a mid-life problem. Sciatica & leg pain have been known to appear in individuals as young as twenty, but is rare. It is less likely to occur in elderly patients unless they have had a history of sciatica when they were younger.

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