Sciatica NYC

Sciatica Condition Information NYC – About Sciatica

One of the most important aspects of treatment at our center in downtown NYC is helping our patients understand what is happening to them and educating them on the anatomy of their pain.  Getting familiar with the parts of the body that are involved in sciatica is part of that process.

The sciatic nerve (occasionally referred to as the ischiatic nerve) is a large nerve that runs from the lower back down to the legs and feet. To be more precise, the sciatic nerve is actually a confluence of several spinal nerves exiting from the lumbar spine (lower back) and sacral spine (large, triangular spinal bone between hip bones). It provides sensation and motor function to the legs, ankles, feet, and buttocks.  It is also the longest single nerve in the human body. 

As the sciatic nerve is present in and branches out to so many places in the lower limbs and lower back, there are a number of factors that can lead to compression of the sciatic nerve roots, the main cause of the symptoms of sciatica.

One of major causes of sciatica is herniation of spinal discs in the lumbar area.  In between each of the vertebrae in our spines are spinal discs that act as cushions and shock absorbers which are composed of two main parts, the nucleus and the annulus.  The annulus is the fibrous outer layer that acts as connective tissue for the vertebrae, and the nucleus is the central part of the disc that disperses pressure on the spine.  When the annulus tears, the nucleus can be squeezed out into the spinal canal where it compresses the sciatic nerve roots causing irritation and inflammation, thus pain.

Another common cause of sciatica is Spinal Stenosis, a condition in which the spinal canal (the channel that runs down the center of the vertebrae and carries the spinal nerves) narrows, compressing the nerves within.  This is typically a result of spinal degeneration with age, but can also occur from disc herniation, osteoporosis or, in rare cases, a tumor.

Sciatica is not always necessarily related to spinal structures.  The piriformis muscle, a muscle that originates from the sacrum and attaches to the femur, can occasionally compress or irritate the sciatic nerve.  This is often due to shortening of the muscle, overuse, or abnormal physiology.  This is commonly referred to as Piriformis Syndrome.

In all cases, sciatica can cause severe pain in the lower back, buttocks, legs and/or feet.  Depending on the degree of the nerve compression, other symptoms like numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, burning, or pins and needs may accompany pain.  At our office in NYC, we help people suffering from sciatica take back control of their lives without surgery.