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Sciatica
Summary
Sciatica is a symptom of a problem with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. It controls muscles in the back of your knee and lower leg and provides feeling to the back of your thigh, part of your lower leg, and the sole of your foot. When you have sciatica, you have pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling. It can start in the lower back and extend down your leg to your calf, foot, or even your toes. It’s usually on only one side of your body.
Causes of sciatica include:
- A ruptured intervertebral disk
- Narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerve, called spinal stenosis
- An injury such as a pelvic fracture.
In many cases no cause can be found.
Sometimes sciatica goes away on its own. Treatment, if needed, depends on the cause of the problem. It may include exercises, medicines, and surgery.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Sciatica National Institutes of Health
Diagnosis and Tests
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Spine Radiological Society of North America
- Spine MRI Radiological Society of North America
Treatments and Therapies
- Epidural Injections Radiological Society of North America
Find an Expert
- Find a Physical Therapist American Physical Therapy Association
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Patient Handouts
- MRI and low back pain Medical Encyclopedia
- Piriformis syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Sciatica Medical Encyclopedia
Specifics
- Piriformis Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Piriformis Syndrome American Academy of Family Physicians
Journal Articles
Start Here
- Sciatica Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Related Issues
- Tarlov Cysts National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke