Your sciatic nerve is the main nerve supplying your leg. This large nerve leaves your spinal cord in your lower back and passes between the bones (vertebrae) of your spine. Pinching (compression) of the nerve where it passes between the spinal vertebrae is the usual cause of sciatica. Compression is … Read More
Low back pain is extremely common and affects most people at some point in their lifetime. Estimates show that up to 36 percent of us will suffer from a new or recurrent episode of low back pain in a given year. Much of it originates in the lumbar area. If … Read More
A pinched nerve is a nerve under abnormal pressure—a compressed nerve. The pressure can come from adjacent bones or soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, or cartilage. When that happens, the brain sends a signal that causes pain, weakness, or a numb feeling. But what are the most common … Read More
From head to toe, nerve damage can affect any part of the body. The condition is surprisingly prevalent—20 million people in the U.S. alone. Half of all people with diabetes have some form of nerve damage, according to the American Diabetes Association, and diabetic neuropathy is just one of more … Read More
Chronic pain—a condition that exists when pain lasts three months or more—affects 25 to 30 percent of Americans. It is more common in older adults, men, and Caucasians. It is not life-threatening, but if not treated it can lead to permanent nerve damage. Different Than Acute Pain Acute pain might … Read More
“My sciatica is acting up.” This commonly uttered statement refers to pain that starts in the lower back and radiates down the leg. It’s mostly annoying, but it can be debilitating, making effective sciatica pain management an important pursuit. Sciatica isn't so much a diagnosis as it is a group … Read More
The sciatic nerve is the biggest single nerve in the body, and has many sections that branch out through the lower spine area and down your legs. If any part of the sciatic nerve is squeezed or pinched, the result of this compression is searing pain in your lower back … Read More
It may begin like a small niggling ache in your buttock. You think perhaps you bumped it and it’s just a little bruise. Then, a shooting pain extends down the back of your leg and into your toes, causing a pinpricking numbness. Sitting is painful. Walking is worse. You limp, … Read More
Sciatic pain can be intermittent or be constant to the extent that it immobilizes you—but although it may be tempting to see bed rest as the perfect form of sciatica relief, this can actually worsen the problem, since lack of physical activity weakens the muscles that support the spine. Medical … Read More
