Sciatica: Compressed nerve causes back, buttock, and leg pain

Sciatica, characterized by pain radiating from the lower spine through the buttocks and down one leg, significantly impacts daily activities like standing for extended periods. This pain stems from the sciatic nerve, the body's longest and largest nerve, becoming compressed or inflamed.

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Sciatica is not a disease but a symptom that occurs when the sciatic nerve is pressed or compressed, usually by a protruding spinal disc (slip disc) or narrowing of the nerve space (spinal stenosis).

Dr. Nor Faizal Ahmad Bahuri, a neurosurgery consultant at KPJ Tawakkal, explains that sciatica is a symptom, not a disease. It occurs when the sciatic nerve is pressed, often by a protruding spinal disc (slipped disc) or narrowing of the nerve space (spinal stenosis). This pressure causes inflammation, sending pain signals along the nerve's path, felt from the buttocks down to the leg.

Patients experience sensations described as burning, pricking, or electric shocks, often accompanied by numbness or weakness in the leg. Pain intensifies with sitting, coughing, or sneezing, and in severe cases, walking or lifting the leg becomes difficult. The most frequent cause is a slipped or herniated disc, where the inner part of the disc bulges and presses on the nerve. Other causes include spinal stenosis due to aging, spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage), and rarely, nerve-compressing masses or tumors.

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This pressure causes inflammation and sends pain signals along the path of the sciatic nerve. It is not only felt in the back but also far down the leg. The pain starts from the buttocks and radiates down the leg (only one side).

While sciatica is more prevalent in adults aged 30 to 50 due to spinal disc degeneration, it is not exclusive to this age group. Younger individuals, including teenagers and children, can also experience it, though less commonly. In younger people, sciatica is often linked to sports injuries, prolonged poor posture, or congenital spinal abnormalities. Dr. Nor Faizal emphasizes that any radiating leg pain in adolescents should be medically evaluated and not dismissed as mere "growing pains."

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Patients will feel like burning, pricking, or like being shocked by electricity. Patients will also feel numb or weak in the leg. The pain will worsen when sitting, coughing, or sneezing. In more severe cases, patients have difficulty walking or lifting their leg.

Sciatica can be associated with early signs of joint disease or arthritis, but it is not arthritis itself. It often results from osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative condition affecting joints like the knees, spine, hips, and hands. The protective cartilage cushioning the bones wears down with age and other factors, a process known as osteoarthritis. When osteoarthritis affects the spine, it can contribute to sciatica.

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If a teenager complains of pain radiating down the leg, it needs to be evaluated and not simply dismissed as 'growing pains.' Refer them to a doctor immediately to detect the actual illness.