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Article Reviewed & Updated  Medical Reviewer: Kari Haberman
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Sciatica nerve pain can be a real pain in the butt. Literally. But what is sciatica, exactly? And how do you know if you have it? Is it just another term for a pinched nerve? These are just some of the questions associated with sciatica.
In this article, we will discuss what sciatica is, how it differs from a pinched nerve, and some of the frequently asked questions people ask regarding sciatica and pinched nerve.
Can a Pinched Nerve Cause Sciatica?
A pinched nerve can cause sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the (biggest) widest and longest single nerve in your body.
It runs from your lower back, through your buttocks, and down both legs to your feet.
You have a sciatic nerve on each side of your body. Just because you have sciatic pain on one side doesn't mean you’d have it on the other side.
There are a number of different medical and non-medical conditions that can cause sciatica, but one of the most common is a herniated disc.
When a spinal disc in the spine becomes damaged or degenerates, it can bulge out and put pressure on the sciatic nerve. A pinched nerve occurs when this nerve is compressed or irritated.
It can be caused by a number of things, including a herniated disc, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), pregnancy, Piriformis Syndrome (when the muscle in your buttock irritates the sciatic nerve), bone spur, or muscle spasms in the lower back.
So, when someone asks you what is sciatica pain, remember that the term sciatic nerve pain refers to the pain that extends along the sciatic nerve, which extends from your lower back all the way down your legs.
What Are Sciatica Pinched Nerve Symptoms?
There are a few telltale signs that you may be experiencing sciatica pain:
- Burning or tingling sensation down the leg
- Sharp, shooting pain that radiates from the low back or buttock
- Constant pain on one side of the rear
- Difficulty moving the leg or foot
- A feeling of numbness, weakness, or heaviness in the leg
If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, it is crucial for you to see a medical professional as soon as possible. They can properly diagnose the reason behind the pain and recommend the best course of treatment.
How Is Sciatica Different from a Pinched Nerve?
While a pinched nerve can cause sciatica, sciatica is not just a simple case of a pinched nerve. In fact, sciatica is a symptom of another underlying condition, such as a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or anything that irritates the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated and results in pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve.
A pinched nerve, on the other hand, is a condition in and of itself. A pinched nerve occurs when there is pressure on a nerve, which can occur not just in the sciatic nerve but anywhere in the body. When there is a pressure on a nerve, it can cause tingling, numbness, or weakness in the affected area as well as mild to severe pain.
If the pinched nerve is your sciatic nerve, it can cause pinched nerve sciatica pain. However, if the pinched nerve is in your shoulder, for example, it would not be considered sciatica.
Treatment for Sciatica Pinched Nerve for Relief
Depending on the underlying cause of your pinched sciatic nerve, there are a number of different treatment options available. Some common treatments for sciatica include:
Pain medication:
Over-the-counter pain reliever medications, including ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help to relieve the pain associated with sciatica.
Steroid injections:
If over-the-counter medications do not alleviate the pain, your medical professional may recommend a steroid injection to help reduce inflammation and pain.
Physical therapy:
A physical therapist can help you and teach you exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles in your back and legs, which can help to relieve pain. They can also provide manual therapy for spinal realignment, myofascial release and teach you ways to prevent issues in the future.
Surgery:
In some cases, a surgery may be necessary to remove a herniated disc or correct spinal stenosis.
If you think you may be experiencing sciatica, it's important to see a doctor as soon as possible so you can receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. With the proper treatment, sciatica pain can be managed and even resolved.
How to Manage Sciatica?
Treatment for sciatica is different from management. Management is more of a long-term plan to help ease sciatic nerve pain, while treatment is designed to relieve the pain and underlying cause.
There are a few things you can do at home to help manage sciatica:
- Use of ice or heat packs on the affected area for 20 minutes at a time
- Stretching or exercising your hamstrings and lower back muscles
- Wearing comfortable, low-heeled shoes or non-ill fitting footwear
- Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees
- Using orthopedic seat cushions and lumbar supports
If home remedies aren't providing relief, there are several other options available. Your doctor may suggest physical therapy, steroid injections, acupuncture, or chiropractic care. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove a herniated disc or correct spinal stenosis.
With the proper treatment, sciatic nerve pain can be managed and even resolved. If you think you may be experiencing a pinched nerve or sciatica, it is important to see a doctor.
Can Surgery Fix a Pinched Sciatica Nerve?
For some people, surgical intervention may be the best option to relieve their sciatica pain. If you have a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, surgery may be necessary to remove the pressure on your sciatic nerve.
Surgery is usually only recommended by physicians as a last resort after other treatment options have failed.
If you think you may need surgery for your sciatica, it's important to consult with a spine specialist to discuss your options. They will be able to provide you with more information and help you make the best decision for your needs.
Can a Pinched Sciatic Nerve Cause Hip Pain?
Yes, a pinched sciatic nerve may cause hip pain. Since our sciatic nerve runs from our lower back through the buttocks and down the legs, it may cause discomfort or pain in the buttocks or hip area. In fact, some patients with sciatica complain of a lot of hip pain while others do not.
The pain from sciatica can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, shooting pain. Some people report only minor discomfort while others find it debilitating. Sciatica pain may also be worse when sitting or standing for long periods of time.
If you are experiencing hip pain along with other symptoms of sciatica, such as low back pain, leg pain, or tingling and numbness in your legs or feet, it's important to see a doctor. They will be able to determine the exact cause of your pain and recommend the best treatment options.
Quick Exercises for Pinched Sciatica Nerve
Stretching and exercise can help to relieve pain from a pinched sciatic nerve. Some simple exercises that may help include:
- Hamstring stretches: Lie on your back with your legs extended. Keeping your leg straight, gently pull your leg up towards your chest, holding for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
- Hip abductor stretch: Lie on your side with both legs straight. Gently lift your top leg away from your body and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
- Gluteal stretch: Lie on your back with one leg bent and the other leg extended straight out in front of you.
Gently pull the Straight leg towards your chest until you feel a stretch in your glutes and hip area. Hold for up to 30 seconds (if you can tolerate without discomfort) and repeat on the other side.
For more exercises and management plans for sciatica or piriformis syndrome, please be sure to subscribe to our blog to receive updates.
And if you are experiencing pain from a pinched sciatic nerve, it is important to see a doctor first before trying any of the exercises or other management plans you read on our site.
Your primary healthcare provider will be able to recommend the best exercises for your specific condition and help you get on the road to recovery.
Top FAQs
Now that you have read about the basics of sciatica, here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get about this condition:
1.) Can a Pinched Sciatic Nerve Cause Numbness?
Yes, a pinched sciatic nerve can cause numbness. The sciatic nerve is the longest (and widest) nerve in your body that runs from your lower back, through the buttocks and down your legs.
When this nerve is irritated or pinched, it can cause pain, tingling, and numbness in affected areas.
Sciatica can cause numbness in some cases. When the sciatic nerve is pinched or irritated, it can cause numbness that radiates down the leg and into the foot.
This pain can make it difficult to walk or stand for long periods of time. In some cases, the pain may be so severe that it leads to numbness in the affected area.
If you are experiencing numbness along with other symptoms of sciatica, such as low back pain, leg pain, or tingling and weakness in your legs or feet, it's important to see a doctor.
2.) Can a Pinched Sciatic Nerve Cause Ankle Swelling?
Yes, a pinched sciatic nerve may cause ankle swelling. When this nerve is affected, it can initiate a normal body response which may include swelling in the affected or surrounding areas.
Swelling is typically a result of inflammation but you might or might not experience it depending on the severity of your condition.
3.) Can a Pinched Sciatic Nerve Cause Knee Pain?
Since the sciatic nerve runs down to your leg, a pinched sciatic nerve can cause knee pain. When this nerve is pinched, it can cause pain, tingling, and numbness in affected areas including the knees.
4.) Can a Pinched Sciatica Nerve Cause Constipation?
The nerves that control the bowel and bladder are located near the sciatic nerve. So when the sciatic nerve is pinched, it can cause constipation or difficulty in bowel movements.
However, this depends on the severity and nature of the pinched sciatic nerve so it is best to consult with your doctor.
If you are experiencing difficulty in bowel movement or constipation along with other symptoms of sciatica, such as low back pain, leg pain, or tingling and numbness in your legs or feet, it's important to see a doctor.
5.) Can a Pinched Sciatica Nerve erectile dysfunction in males?
Erectile dysfunction is a condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, including nerve damage.
The sciatic nerve regulates a variety of muscles and organs throughout the body, including the reproductive organs. For an erection to occur, there should be enough blood flow to the penis and that muscles are able to contract and relax properly.
If the sciatic nerve is not functioning properly because of sciatica or if sciatica is caused by spinal stenosis or herniated disc, then the process may not work correctly, and an erection may not occur.
Other types of nerve damage have also been known to lead to Erectile dysfunction.
If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction and think it may be related to a pinched sciatic nerve, it's important to see a doctor so they can properly diagnose and treat the underlying cause of your Erectile dysfunction.
6.) Can a Pinched Sciatica Nerve Cause Dizziness?
Yes, a pinched sciatic nerve may cause dizziness. When this nerve is pinched, it can cause pain, tingling, and numbness in affected areas. Additionally, some patients may experience dizziness or lightheadedness as a result of their condition.
Research says that dizziness may be linked to the pain the body experiences since patients with sciatica often have chronic pain. The pain can lead to dizziness when the brain receives the pain signals and interprets them.
If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor so they can properly diagnose and treat your condition.
7.) Can a Pinched Sciatic Nerve Cause Weakness?
Yes, a pinched sciatic nerve can cause weakness. Remember that the sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body and runs from your lower back through your buttocks and down your legs.
When this nerve is pinched, it can cause pain, tingling, and numbness in affected areas. It can also cause weakness in the muscles that it innervates.
8.) Can Sciatica Cause Urinary Problems?
Sciatica can cause urinary problems in some cases. When the sciatic nerve is pinched, it can cause pain that radiates down the leg and into the foot.
This pain can make it difficult to walk or stand for long periods of time. In some cases, the pain may be so severe that it interferes with urination.
If you are experiencing urinary problems along with other symptoms of sciatica, such as low back pain, leg pain, or tingling and numbness in your legs or feet, it's important to see a doctor.
9.) How Long Does a Pinched Sciatic Nerve Take to Heal?
The healing process for a pinched sciatic nerve depends on the cause and severity of the condition. For example, if you have a herniated or slipped disc, it may take several weeks or months for the disc to heal.
However, if your pain or discomfort is caused by muscle tension, it may only take a few days of rest and relaxation for the pain to subside. In any case, it is always best to consult with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Summary
The terms sciatica and pinched nerve may be confusing at times and may be used interchangeably. However, they are two different conditions. In summary, we have learned that:
Sciatica or sciatic nerve impingement is a condition that results from compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. This long, wide nerve runs from the lower back, hips, through the buttocks, and down the legs.
When it is impinged or irritated, it can cause pain in any of the involved and surrounding areas. Sciatica is not a diagnosis in and/or of itself; rather, it is a symptom of another underlying condition.
A pinched nerve can be a cause of sciatica but may also refer to other conditions that compress nerves. It may occur anywhere in the body and affect any nerve.
When a nerve is compressed or pinched, it can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness. If a pinched nerve happens to be the sciatic nerve, then it is called sciatica.
Both sciatica and a pinched nerve can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness. If you are having any of these symptoms, it is vital to see a doctor so he or she can properly assess, diagnose, and treat your condition.
If you or someone you know is experiencing sciatica, it is important to see a doctor. Your primary healthcare provider will be able to recommend the best practices for your specific condition and help you get on the road to recovery.
Disclaimer (Please read)
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. We strongly suggest seeking the advice and care of a healthcare professional before starting any treatment.
