Is it Sciatica or Something Else?

A lot of people suffer from sciatica pain which is pain along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back, down the buttock and down the back of your legs. I have suffered from it for some years. After my first spinal surgery it went altogether but over the last twelve months it has come back and is a lot more painful than last time. However, it could also be a number of other problems that also cause pain down the leg. As well as the pain in sciatica you could also have numbness, tingling and burning/prickling. You can have a shooting pain or a constant pain with the worst pain in the leg and which gets worse when you are sitting. Other problems that can cause pain down you leg are joint problems, such as arthritis or sacroiliac joint dysfunction. It could also be a lumber herniated disc, lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease or isthmic spondylolisthesis. Treatments are specific to the individual and the cause of the sciatic pain. Treatments can vary from rest, ice/heat therapy, medications, epidural steroids, manipulation, physical therapy, exercise and as a last resort surgery. They say that although sciatica can be extremely painful and even debilitating, it rarely ends in permanent damage. What ever your type of back/leg pain you are experiencing it is important to get a proper diagnosis from your GP or spine specialist.