Sciatica Seven Causes

Here are the top seven causes of sciatic pain. Each item describes causes:

1. Lumbar spinal stenosis implies spinal canal narrowing with possible subsequent neural compression. It occurs when bones, ligaments and discs move and squash the nerves into a much smaller area. This causes pain, typically in the lower back and legs. People in late middle age and seniors are prone to this nerve damage.
   
2. Trauma: Your spine might be damaged by the sudden impulse or strain on your body from external sources. This can lead to compression in sciatic nerve which is regular sciatic symptoms. The lumbar spine region is affected by different kinds of incidents. These include various accidents or falling down when the spinal nerve roots are affected.
3. Piriformis syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or otherwise irritated by the piriformis muscle causing pain, tingling and numbness in the buttocks. It has similar to sciatica symptoms. There can be spasms in muscles which cause irritation to the sciatic nerve. This causes astringent pain and trigger off sciatica. Piriformis syndrome diagnosis is often difficult due to few validated and standardized diagnostic tests and the lack of information in X-rays and MRIs.
   
4. A spinal disc herniation. It is a medical condition affecting the spine due to various traumas. Your spine consists of vertebrae, discs and nerves. The vertebrae protect and support the spinal cord, and bear most of the weight put on your spine. The discs, also known as, intervertebral disks cushion the vertebrae and stabilize the vertebral column while allowing it to move. Intervertebral discs are composed of an annulus fibrosus and a nucleus pulposus. A slipped disc, also called a prolapsed or herniated disc, occurs when one of the discs of the spine is ruptured (splits) and the gel inside leaks out. When this bone spur is pressing against the sciatic nerve this can cause the symptoms of sciatica. Intervertebral discs start becoming more brittle, harder with age. Repeated strain on the back shows a possibility that there is a chance that the hardened discs may split or rupture.
   
5. Spondylolisthesis is the anterior or posterior displacement of a vertebra or the vertebral column in relation to the vertebrae below which causes pressure on the sciatic nerve.
   
6. Spinal tumors: A spinal tumor is an abnormal tissue growth associated with cancer. But, spinal tumors are not that often to occur. They usually develop in the lumbar region of the spine. The symptoms are the spinal nerve compression and weakening of the vertebral structure. They can also cause numbness, muscle weakness and tingling.
   
7. Sciatica may occur during pregnancy in women.

Tags: causes of sciatic pain, Lumbar spinal stenosis, Piriformis syndrome, pregnancy, spinal disc herniation, Spinal tumors, Spondylolisthesis

Category: Sciatica definition