Sciatica & Trapped Nerves

Sciatica and trapped nerves are terms commonly misunderstood. Many patients we see at The Backbone Clinics come in complaining of sciatica when what they actually meant was leg pain. Sciatica is merely a symptom with many possible causes. Sciatica is inflammation/compression of the ‘Sciatic Nerve’. This presents with a particular pain pattern. The following diagram shows the distribution of the sciatic nerve and the areas its affects.

Sciatica - The Backbone Osteopathic Practice

Symptoms of Sciatica

Sharp shooting pain in the back of the leg all the way to the underneath of the big toe.
Its usually unilateral/only affects one leg.
Numbness or pins and needles along the nerve distribution.
Pain aggravated when sitting, bending, coughing or sneezing.
Weakness in the leg (it feels like your dragging your leg).
In severe cases ‘drop foot’ this is the inability to lift/flex your foot.
In severe case muscle wasting.

More About Trapped Nerves

Sciatica is one symptom and example of a trapped nerve specific to the lower back and legs. We can suffer from trapped nerves in all areas of the body. Here are a few examples of common trapped nerves and associated symptoms.

Trapped Nerves In Other Parts of The Body…

The Neck (Cervical Spine)

A nerve can be trapped in neck or upper back as a result of disc wearing, disc prolapse/slipped disc, facet joint wearing, Osteoarthritis in the spine, causing:

Pain radiating into head and arms/shoulders.
Headaches.
Tingling or pins and needles in the arm/hand.
Weakness in arm (problems lifting arm or gripping with hands).
Muscle wasting- If the problem is left unaddressed for a while, as the trapped nerve isn’t working the muscles properly, they start to waste and reduce in size.
Numbness and reduced sensation in the hands/arm.

Lower Back (Lumbar Spine)...

A nerve can be trapped in the lower back as a result of disc wearing, disc prolapse/slipped disc, facet joint wearing, Osteoarthritis in the spine causing:

Pain radiating into the legs/feet/toes
Sciatica
Tingling or pins and needles in the legs/feet
Weakness in legs (problems lifting legs or feet when walking or going up stairs)
Muscle wasting- If the problem is left unaddressed for a while, as the trapped nerve isn’t working the muscles properly, they start to waste and reduce in size
Numbness and reduced sensation in the legs/feet
Reduced bladder control and numbness when wiping self after toilet (this may occur when the trapped nerve is in the lower back or pelvis area)

Upper Limbs...

The nerve can be trapped in the arm/elbow/wrist/hand.

Examples of common conditions that cause this are: Carpal tunnel syndrome, Tennis/Golfers elbow.

Symptoms of which are:

Pain radiating down the arm and into the hands
Tingling or pins and needles in the arm/hand
Weakness in arm (problems lifting arm or gripping with hands)
Muscle wasting- If the problem is left unaddressed for a while, as the trapped nerve isn’t working the muscles properly, they start to waste and reduce in size
Numbness and reduced sensation in the hands/arm

Lower limbs (Hip, Knee, Foot)...

Examples of common conditions that cause this are: Piriformis syndrome, tarsus neuralgia, Morton’s neuroma, tib/fib nerve.

Symptoms of which are:

Pain radiating down the leg, into the feet, toes
Sciatica
Tingling or pins and needles in the legs/feet
Weakness in legs (problems lifting legs or feet when walking or going up stairs).
Muscle wasting- If the problem is left unaddressed for a while, as the trapped nerve isn’t working the muscles properly, they start to waste and reduce in size
Numbness and reduced sensation in the legs/feet

Advice

If you are experienced symptoms that you feel maybe nerve related it is important that you address them as soon as possible. Nerves take a lot longer to heal then other soft tissue structures in the body and delaying this can cause sometimes permanent, long-term damage. If you are experiencing numbness, muscle weakness, or muscle wasting then we advise you go to see your GP as soon a possible for further investigation as these all indicate that the nerve compression is serious.

To read our blog 'How to Diagnose Sciatica' please click here...