What is "sciatica"

Ischiadic \Is`chi*ad"ic\ ([i^]s`k[i^]*[a^]d"[i^]k), a. [L. ischiadicus, Gr. 'ischiadoko`s, fr. 'ischi`on the hip joint, hip or loin. Cf. Sciatic.] (Anat.) Ischial. [R.]

Ischiadic passion or Ischiadic disease (Med.), a rheumatic or neuralgic affection of some part about the hip joint; -- called also sciatica.

late 14c., from Medieval Latin sciatica, in sciatica passio "sciatic disease," fem. of sciaticus "sciatic," corruption of Latin ischiadicus "of pain in the hip," from Greek iskhiadikos, from iskhias (genitive iskhiados) "pain in the hips," from iskhion "hip joint."

n. (context pathology neurology English) neuralgia of the sciatic nerve characterised by pain radiating down through the buttocks and the back of the thigh.

n. neuralgia along the sciatic nerve

Sciatica is a medical condition of pain going down the leg from the lower back. This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Typically, symptoms are only on one side of the body. Certain causes, however, may result in pain on both sides. Lower back pain is sometimes but not always present. Weakness or numbness may occur in various parts of the leg and foot.

About 90% of the time sciatica is due to a spinal disc herniation pressing on one of the lumbar or sacral nerve roots. Other problems that may result in sciatica include spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, pelvic tumors, and compression by a baby's head during pregnancy. The straight-leg-raising test is often helpful in diagnosis. The test is positive if, when the leg is raised while a person is lying on their back, pain shoots below the knee. In most cases medical imaging is not needed. Exceptions to this are when bowel or bladder function is affected, there is significant loss of feeling or weakness, symptoms are long standing, or there is a concern of a tumor or infection. Conditions that may present similarly are diseases of the hip and early herpes zoster before the rash appears.

Treatment initially is typically with pain medications. It is generally recommended that people continue with activities to the best of their abilities. Often all that is required is time and in about 90% of people the problem goes away in less than six weeks. If the pain is severe and lasts for more than six weeks then surgery may be an option. While surgery often speeds pain improvement, long term benefits are unclear. Surgery may be required if complications occur such as bowel or bladder problems. Many treatments, including steroids, gabapentin, acupuncture, heat or ice, and spinal manipulation, have poor evidence for their use.

Depending on how it is defined, 2% to 40% of people have sciatica at some point in time. It is most common during people's 40s and 50s, and men are more frequently affected than women. The condition has been known since ancient times. The first known use of the word sciatica dates from 1451.