Sciatic Nerve
Pain
By: Elena Larios
Origin of the Sciatic Nerve
• The Sciatic ner ve is made up of 5
• The tibial nerve continues
n e r v e s i n t h e l u m b a r a n d s a c ra l
spine: L4, L5, S1, S2, S3.
down the back of the leg to
• These ner ves group together in the the heel and sole of the
front portion of the piriformis to foot.
form the Sciatic nerve that is around
2 c m i n d i a m e t e r. • The common peroneal
• T h e n e r v e t rav e l s t h r o u g h t h e s c i a t i c nerve travels around the
f o ra m e n , b e l o w t h e p i r i f o r m i s
lateral portion of the knee
muscle, between the posterior
muscles of the thighs, down towards down the lateral side of the
the knee where it splits into two leg.
creating the tibial nerve and the
common peroneal nerve.
* * A n a t o m i c a l Va r i a n t s
Causes of
Sciatica
• Sciatica is caused when the
sciatic nerve becomes
pinched. Either by a herniated
disk in the spine or by an
overgrowth of bone called a
bone spur on the ver tebrae.
• In rare cases the ner ve can
be compressed by a tumor or
damaged by diabetes.
• *can also be pinched by
piriformis. (Piriformis
syndrome)
Risk Factors
• AGE. Age related changes in the spine such as herniated disk
and bone spurs are the most common causes of sciatica.
• OBESITY. Excess body weight causing increased stressed on
the spine can contribute to spinal changes that trigger sciatica.
• OCCUPATION. A job that requires excessive heavy lifting,
twisting, driving long periods of time may play a roll in sciatica
but there’s no conclusive evidence to this link.
• PROLONG SIT TING. Sitting for long periods of time or having
a sedentary lifestyle.
• DIABETES. Diabetes increases the risk of sciatica due to the
way it changes how the body uses blood sugar, that can
increase risk of nerve damage.
Signs and Symptoms
• Pain that radiates from the • Numbness
lower back to the glutes • Tingling
down the back of the leg.
• Weakness
• Pain can vary from a mild
o I n a ff e c t e d l e g o r f o o t .
ache to a sharp burning
• Can have pain in one part
sensation.
of the leg and numbness in
• Usually only one side of
another.
the body is aff ected.
• Loss of bowel or bladder
function
TREATMENT/INTERVENTIONS
• Medications
• Steroid Injections
• Physical Therapy
• Surgery
**self care and alternative forms of
treatment
STRETCHES AND EXCERSIES
1.P i ge on Po s e (Re cl i n i n g)
B e gi n by ly i n g o n yo u r b ac k . Br i n g o n e of yo u r l e g s u p wa r d , t o a r i g h t an g le . L o c k b o t h o f you r h an d s
b e h in d yo u r t h ig h . Br i n g u p yo u r o t h e r l e g , p l ac i n g t h e a n k l e o n t o p o f t h e o p p o s it e kn e e . H ol d t h e p o s it i o n .
T h i s h e l p s s t r e t c h t h e p i r i f or mi s m u s c l e , w h ic h i s of t e n a c a u s e o f s c i at i c p ai n . S w i t c h l e g s an d r e p e a t .
2 . Kn e e to o p pos i t e s ho ul d er ( Re c l i ni n g )
B e gi n by ly i n g o n yo u r b ac k i n h o o k ly in g p o s i t i o n . B r i n g t h e aff e c t e d s i d e a n k l e u p a n d p la c e o n o p p o s i t e
k n e e c r e a t in g a fi gu r e f o u r. B r i n g aff e c t e d k n e e t o op p o s i t e s h o u ld e r a n d h o ld . Sw i t c h s i d e s an d r e p e at .
3 . Ad va n ce d P i ge on p os e
Tu r n ove r on t o a l l f o u r s , o r q u a d r u p e d an d c r o s s t h e i n j u r e d s i d e i n f r o n t o f you . T h i s i s g o in g t o b e a b i g
s t r e t c h , s o o n ly d o t h i s i f yo u a r e n o t f e e l i n g mu c h o f a s t r e t c h w i t h t h e o t h e r e xe r c is e s . On c e yo u c r o s s
yo u r l e g ove r, l e an d ow n t o war d s t h e fl o o r t o t h e o p p os i t e s h o u l d e r.
https://youtu.be /8oPHrX_oALk
REFERENCES
Sciatica.(2020, Aug 01). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2020, from
https://www.mayoclinic.org /diseases-conditions /sciatica /symptoms-
causes /syc-20377435
Steven Yeomans, D. (n.d.). Sciatic Ner ve Anatomy. Retrieved
November 05, 2020, from
https://www.spine-health.com /conditions /spine-anatomy/sciatic-ner
ve-anatomy
Ask Doctor Jo: Physical Therapy Videos and More. (n.d.). Retrieved
November 07, 2020, from http://www.askdoctor jo.com /
