Sciatica (Radiculopathy)

Symptoms

Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, branching out from the spine and running down the backs of your legs. Your symptoms arise when compression occurs near the sciatic nerve’s origin. Typical symptoms may include:

• Constant pain in one side of the buttock or leg

• Pain that worsens when sitting

• Persistent burning or tingling leg pain

• Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg, foot or toes

• Difficulty standing up or walking due to sharp pains

• Pain that radiates down the leg and possibly into the foot and toes

Sciatic pain may be infrequent or chronic, and mild or severe, depending on the cause of sciatic nerve compression. Sciatica is only a symptom of other spinal or nerve conditions. It’s important to consult a doctor when experiencing sciatic pain to quickly determine the root cause.