Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica Symptoms

The multiple causes of sciatica all create similar symptoms, though these will vary by which nerve root is being affected and causing the symptoms. Severe leg pain is the most common symptom and back pain is sometimes present as well. Patients with spinal stenosis, disc degeneration, and spondylolisthesis are more likely to have symptoms of low back pain.

Leg Pain

Leg pain is the most common symptom of sciatica and can range from mild to severe and debilitating. Pain is usually sharp, shooting, with numbness or tingling and radiates in the pattern that the sciatic nerve runs, starting in the buttock and moving down the back of the leg and into the foot. The pain generally worsens while sitting or standing in one area for too long and while changing positions from laying to sitting or sitting to standing though activity and laying down seem to help with improving pain. Pain also worsens while extending the lumbar spine, for example while leaning back at the waist, as more compression is placed on the already compressed nerve.

Leg Weakness

There may also be symptoms of weakness in the leg though specific symptoms will vary with the nerve root being compressed. These symptoms may or may not be present and can be present in combination if multiple nerve roots are affected.

L4: The L4 nerve root, which is the first to feed in to the sciatic nerve, supplies the quadriceps femoris muscles. These muscle help extend, or straighten, the knee. Compression at this level may cause weakness while straightening the knee, which may create the feeling of the knee buckling.

L5: The L5 nerve root supplies the tibialis anterior muscle which, pulls the foot up towards the face, and toe dorsiflexion, which brings the toes up toward the face. Compression of the L5 nerve root may cause weakness in bringing the foot up while walking, giving rise to a drop foot, a motion in which the foot ‘slaps’ the ground while walking.

S1: The S1 nerve root innervates the calf muscles, some of the hamstrings (muscles on the back of the thigh), and the gluteus maximus (buttock muscle). The calf muscles allow for plantar flexion, or pressing down of the foot, like pushing a gas pedal in a car. Compression of the S1 nerve root may cause difficulty standing on your toes.

Cauda Equina

Severe forms of sciatica, can lead to cauda equina syndrome, which is in the cauda equina, a series of nerves at the end of the spinal cord that resembles a horse’s tail. Cauda equina syndrome produces a large amount of inflammation around the cauda equina and distinct symptoms which include saddle anesthesia (numbness in the perineal regions, or the region that would make contact while sitting in a saddle), bowel and/or bladder incontinence, weakness in the legs, and unsteadiness while walking. This is a rare condition, but is serious and requires immediate attention to prevent irreversible damage to the nerves.

Speak To A Spine Expert. Reach Our Doctors Below:

Want to Learn More? Find Out If You Are a Candidate For Our
Minimally Invasive Procedures: