Pain character can range from a mild ache to a sharp stab.The Sciatic Pain may often be confused with other back pains, however, since it is a highly specific pain, it can be easily distinguished from the others by these characteristics: Spondolithisasis may be diagnosed by the doctor with the help of a simple X-ray after the required history and physical examination are done.
This change in the size of the spinal canal may cause compression or irritation to the structures within it, including the Sciatic nerve, which may present itself with a number of painful symptoms. When the vertebra from above, moves into the one below it, it may situate itself in a slightly forwards position, in turn, making the spinal canal smaller.
Spondylolisthesis: Spondylolisthesis is an unstable condition involving a sudden shift of one of the bones of the spine, known as the vertebra, to shift out of their space and move onto the vertebra below them. The sciatic nerve can have slightly different orientation per individual and some individuals the sciatic nerve actually pierces right through the piriformis muscle. The spasms of this muscle may, in turn, lead to irritation of the Sciatic Nerve which is in close proximity to the muscle and cause intense pain of the Sciatica. The syndrome involves an intense spasm or tightening of this muscle, which may be caused by a number of reasons like prolonged sitting, or constant pressure to the buttock region. Piriformis Syndrome: Piriformis Syndrome involves the Piriformis muscle which is a small-sized muscle located deeply into the buttock region, starting by the sacrum and ending at the femur, or hip bone. Lumbar Stenosis commonly arises due to prior arthritis issues. However, this may not always present with symptoms immediately, and may only be detected on an MRI or CT scan initially. Due to the nerve compression, Lumbar Stenosis presents itself with pain, tingling, and weakness of the lower back and legs. This can occur centrally in the spinal canal, or for aminal stenosis indicating reduced space laterally where the nerves exit the spin, which could lead to compression of the Sciatic Nerve. This is because this condition involves a narrowing of the spaces between the spine. Lumbar Stenosis: Lumbar Stenosis, which is a form of Spinal Stenosis, is another condition that may cause the development of Sciatica. The herniated material can compress the nerves around the disc and create pain that can radiate through the back and sometimes down the and legs. When a disc has “herniated” it indicates that the outer portion of the vertebral disc is torn, enabling the nucleus, or inner portion to herniate or extrude through the fibers. A disc protrusion or bulging disc is the least severe pathology where someone may not experience any pain or symptoms. There are a few different terms used to describe a disc herniation and severity of the pathology including: a bulging disc, disc protrusion, slipped disc, disc rupture, or herniated disc. When one of these disks starts to herniate or bulge – either due to an accident or accumulation of stress over time- it may start to compress the Sciatic nerve. The purpose of these disks is to provide cushioning to the vertebrae, which are the bone making up the spine. Herniated Disk: The most common cause of sciatica is the herniation of a disk in the lower region of our spine. The sciatic nerve originates from the lower back (L4-S2) and travels down the back of the hip and all the way down the back of the leg. Sciatica is a unique pain that is only caused by a pathology of the Sciatic nerve. The Sciatic pain is often mixed up with the normal back or hip pain that one may experience, however they are not the same. Sciatica is a condition characterized by crippling pain and paresthesia in the general region of the distribution of the Sciatic Nerve.