Excruciating leg pain? Learn more about sciatica.

“Sciatica can be concerning and painful for some, but the good news is relief is around the corner,” says Santhosh Thomas, DO, MBA, an interventional spine specialist at Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Richard E. Jacobs Health Center.

Common causes of sciatica include a herniated disk (a disk that is pushed out of place) and lumbar spine stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal cord in the lower back).

Why sciatica develops

Do you have pain radiating down one leg, especially below the knee? How about numbness in the hip, thigh, knee or ankle? You may be experiencing a pinched sciatic nerve – commonly known as sciatica – the longest, widest nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve is made up of smaller nerves that branch out from both sides of the lower spinal cord.

These join together, then split in two to run down – and bring movement and sensation to – each hip, buttock and leg.

Compression along the nerve causes symptoms, usually on the affected side. Burning or shooting pains make walking, sitting and standing up – or even coughing and sneezing – difficult.

Sciatica usually lasts for a couple of weeks, but may persist for a couple of months or even longer.

Treating sciatica

Dr. Thomas recommends starting treatment conservatively, with physical therapy. If that does not help, spinal injections may be considered. Surgery is usually the last resort.

“Conservative care should be tried first,” recommends Dr. Thomas. “Physical therapy can help to improve body mechanics and relieve sciatica.” To make an appointment with Dr. Thomas at Avon Hospital or Richard E. Jacobs Health Center, or another Cleveland Clinic spine specialist, call 216.636.5860.