What is the difference between sciatica and a pinched nerve

A commonly debatable topic is whether or not lumbar spinal nerves can cause back pain. Generally, it is accepted that they can, but usually just lateral of the midline, off to the right or left side of the spine. An area called the sacral sulcus, is often painful when spinal nerves are compressed. With severe compression and inflammation of the spinal nerves however, it is generally expected that symptoms will travel distally, down the arm or leg supplied by the respective nerve affected.

Pinched spinal nerves can develop suddenly or gradually. More gradual compression usually occurs over time due to bony changes that develop with the aging process and development of bony overgrowth and bone spurs.

If the center part of the spinal canal is stenotic, or narrowed, this is called central stenosis, and if the lateral part of the spine is narrowed, where the spinal nerves are trying to exit from the sides, this is called foraminal stenosis or lateral stenosis.

Gradually developing chronic pain and functional decline coming from the pinching of spinal nerves due to bony stenosis is generally considered to be surgical diagnosis. The pinching of spinal nerves from a sudden or acute , soft disc herniation can often be treated non-surgically with avoidance of activities that cause pain, appropriate physical therapy, oral medications, and frequently x-ray guided also known as fluoroscopically guided selective nerve root blocks or epidural steroid injections at the area of irritation and inflammation.

Since the human body is generally so adaptable to changes that occur during the aging process, oftentimes compressed, or pinched, spinal nerves are identified incidentally and do not cause any symptoms at all. The sciatic nerve carries nerve signals down to the muscles and sensation signals up to the spinal cord. These signals tell your muscles to move; when these signals are disrupted, this is why you might sometimes feel weakness or buckling in the knee.

Sacroiliac SI joint dysfunction is caused by trauma or degeneration of the SI joint. The SI joint is where your iliac bone pelvis connects to the sacrum lowest part of the spine above the tailbone.

The SI joint is responsible for transferring the weight from your upper body to your pelvis and legs. Pain caused by SI joint dysfunction can be felt in the lower back or spine, buttocks, pelvis, groin, and sometimes in the legs, which makes it seem like the cause could be nerve compression in the spine.

The L5 and S1 nerves are near the SI joint and studies have shown that SI joint dysfunction can cause pain and other symptoms in the distribution of these nerves. The SI joint is separate from the sciatic or spinal nerve s ; however, the SI joint can cause sciatica-like symptoms.

Nerve compression in the spine and SI joint dysfunction are two areas that often cause pain running down the back of the leg. Both situations can be acute lasting a couple weeks and resolving on its own or chronic lasting a very long time.

People with chronic SI joint dysfunction can suffer with the pain for years before they receive the correct diagnosis and treatment. If your pain has lasted more than a couple weeks or is impacting your daily life, see a doctor right away. Your doctor will likely ask many questions, such as when the pain started, how long it lasts, and what causes it to get worse or better.

Answers to these questions will provide clues to which tests you should get first. Provocative tests help determine whether the pain is caused by the SI joint.

A diagnostic injection can help confirm diagnosis. Although the pain associated with sciatica can be severe, most cases resolve with non-operative treatments in a few weeks. People who have severe sciatica that's associated with significant leg weakness or bowel or bladder changes might be candidates for surgery.

Pain that radiates from your lower lumbar spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You might feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially likely to follow a path from your low back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf. The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating pain. Sometimes it can feel like a jolt or electric shock.

It can be worse when you cough or sneeze, and prolonged sitting can aggravate symptoms. Usually only one side of your body is affected. Some people also have numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot. You might have pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another part.

Mild sciatica usually goes away over time. Call your doctor if self-care measures fail to ease your symptoms or if your pain lasts longer than a week, is severe or becomes progressively worse.

Get immediate medical care if:. The rubbery disks that lie between the vertebrae in your spine consist of a soft center nucleus surrounded by a tougher exterior annulus. When these nerves are compressed or damaged when they get pressed between your ligaments, tissues, and bone your body can experience pain or discomfort in corresponding areas. For example, if you have a compressed nerve in your arm this can, in turn, lead to painful symptoms in your elbow, hand, wrist, and fingers.

Just as sciatica is compression in the lower back region, leading to pain in the legs and feet. This nerve compression can be a result of many other conditions involving the discs in your back.

Your vertebrae consist of 23 spinal discs: 6 located in your neck or cervical region, 12 in your thoracic or middle back region, and 5 in the lumbar or lower back region.

Since the sciatic nerve is located in your lumbar spine, injury or trauma to those 5 discs can cause a large amount of pain or discomfort. This wear and tear typically lead to your discs to become inflamed, irritated, or weak - and more specifically, leading to constriction of your sciatic nerve.

Do you think you may be suffering from sciatica pain? Some of the other symptoms besides leg discomfort include:.

Another interesting factor in diagnosing sciatica nerve pain is that your symptoms can be directly linked to which nerve is infected. Although sciatica can result in a combination of symptoms, you may be able to determine which specific lumbar vertebrae is effected. Besides the spinal conditions listed above, it can be common for pregnant women to experience sciatic nerve pain as well. As your baby grows, he or she may press on your sciatic nerve since it lies directly underneath your uterus.

In addition, the normal weight gain you experience during pregnancy can put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Experiencing other lumbar pain due to pregnancy? Many women will experience some sort of back pain problems throughout their trimesters. Luckily for you, we have many easy and great treatment remedies to ease your pain.

Applying a combination of heat and ice to an injury has been proven to help not only reduce discomfort but also speed up recovery. For sciatica pain, applying a heating pad can help relax the muscles in your back while simultaneously promoting blood flow. On the other hand, applying an ice pack can help prevent muscle spasms and diminish swelling. It even comes with one pack, making it even easier to get instant relief at home.