The word sciatica is used by most people suffering leg pain. Many low back pain sufferers can also suffer from sciatica. Even though the term is used frequently many other conditions can be mistaken for sciatica.

The sciatic nerve is made of several spinal nerves combining together as they exit the spine. This nerve travels down the posterior thigh and splits into 2 nerves at the knee. Pain caused by sciatic irritation most often starts in the lower back and radiates down the back of the leg and into the calf or foot. Sensations may include burning, stabbing, shooting and numbness. If the pain is high enough difficulty with movement or straightening the leg is often seen.

Having a herniated or bulging disc is the most common cause of sciatic nerve irritation. This can be caused by direct contact from the disc material or just inflammation from the disc causing chemical irritation.

Diagnosing sciatica is actually pretty straight forward. There are a series of specific tests and procedures that give a very clear picture as to whether or not true sciatica is the cause of pain. An MRI is usually ordered soon after to get an accurate picture as the reason the patient has sciatica.

Most treatments for sciatica are geared more towards symptom relief instead of actually fixing the problem. That's why I use spinal decompression in most cases for the treatment of sciatica. As you recall sciatica is usually caused by direct pressure or irritation of the sciatic nerve from the discs in the spine. Spinal decompression is the best way to deal with this as it actually heals the disc and reduces the pressure on the nerves.

Sciatica pain sufferers need to be aware of the consequences of not dealing with the actual cause of their pain. It is important to see a qualified professional to get at the root cause of your discomfort, especially if you have had sciatica before. Studies confirm that you are highly likely to experience another episode of sciatica if you only deal with the pain and not the reason behind it.