Know About The Different Causes Of Sciatica

There are so many people who deal with sciatica. However, all of them may not suffer from the problem due to the same reason. There are various causes of sciatica. Here are some of them.


Herniated disc
This one is perhaps the most common cause of sciatica. Here in, one of the vertebral discs protrudes out of the vertebral column. This protrusion of the disc causes compression of nerve roots that stem from the sciatic nerve. This leads to irritation and inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

Lumbar spinal stenosis
In simple words, lumbar spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back region. As a result, some portions of the sciatic nerve are compressed. This leads to inflammation and pain. Lumbar spinal stenosis often leads to severe leg pain. This leg pain could be aggravated due to walking or standing.

Spondylolisthesis
This is a disorder that pertains to the lumbar spine. In this condition, one of the vertebra slips over an adjacent vertebra. Since a vertebra is displaced from its normal position, there is bound to be pressure on the sciatic nerves. Quite often, spondylolisthesis leads to sciatic leg pain.

Pirformis syndrome
The pirformis is a small muscle near the lower back, in the hip joint. This muscle aids in rotation of the hips. The sciatic nerve runs very close to this muscle. In some cases, it may even run through it. When the pirformis muscle becomes tight due to muscle spasms, it irritates the sciatic nerve that leads to pain and inflammation.

Spinal tumors
Spinal tumors are abnormal growths that could be either cancerous or non cancerous. In some individuals, spinal tumors may be the underlying cause of sciatica. When these abnormal growths are present in the lumbar region, they could compress the sciatic nerve, which leads to sciatica. However, spinal tumors are very rare.

Physical trauma
Sudden exertion or jerk to the lumbar region could also lead to sciatica. There are several incidents or activities that could lead to the sudden compression of sciatic nerves. Any kind of injury, an accident, falling down, lifting an extremely heavy object could lead to pressure on the sciatic nerves. This can lead to sciatica.

Other factors
Apart from the abovementioned causes, there are several other factors that can contribute to the development of sciatica. Some of these include:

* Poor posture
* Excessive weight
* Lack of physical activity
* Insufficient muscle toning
* Poor bone strength

The treatment of sciatica depends upon the exact cause of the problem. Thus, it becomes extremely important to know the exact cause of the problem before you begin with the treatment.

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