What is sciatica?

What is sciatica? How does it cause leg pain?

Ambrose (by SMS)

Sciatica is a condition that causes pain along the sciatic nerve, which is the longest and thickest nerve in your body. The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica pain can affect any part of this nerve pathway, but it usually affects only one side of your body.Sciatica pain can be caused by various factors that put pressure on or irritate the sciatic nerve, such as a herniated disk, an overgrowth of bone (bone spur), a spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), a tumor, an injury, or an infection. Sciatica pain can range from mild to severe, and it can be accompanied by other symptoms such as tingling, numbness, or weakness in the affected leg.Sciatica pain can be treated with self-care measures such as applying heat or ice, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, stretching, or doing gentle exercises. In some cases, sciatica pain may require more advanced treatments such as physical therapy, steroid injections, or surgery. Most people with sciatica recover within a few weeks, but some may experience chronic or recurrent pain.

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