Sciatica linked to our feet
Sciatica is nerve pain from an injury or irritation to your sciatic nerve. In addition to pain, it can involve tingling or numbness in your back that may also radiate down your leg.
Sciatica usually affects one side of your body and can range from a mild ache to severe pain.
You have two sciatic nerves, one on each side of your body. Each sciatic nerve runs through your hip and buttock on one side. They each go down the leg on their side of your body until they reach just below your knee. Once there, they split into other nerves that connect to parts farther down, including your lower leg, foot and toes.
Having sciatica means you can experience mild to severe pain anywhere with nerves that connect to the sciatic nerve. The symptoms can affect your lower back, hips, buttocks or legs. Some symptoms may extend as far down as your feet and toes, depending on the specific nerve(s) affected.
Types of sciatica
There are two types of sciatica. Regardless of what type you have, the effects are the same. The types are:
- True sciatica. This is any condition or injury that directly affects your sciatic nerve.
- Sciatica-like conditions. These are conditions that feel like sciatica, but happen for other reasons related to the sciatic nerve or the nerves that bundle together to form it.
Healthcare providers tend to refer to both types as just “sciatica.” The differences between them usually only matter when your healthcare provider determines how to treat it.
Causes of Sciatica
- Herniated Disc: The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated or slipped disc. Discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine and if one of them herniates, it can press on the sciatic nerve.
- Spinal Stenosis: This condition involves the narrowing of the spinal canal, leading to increased pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, including the sciatic nerve.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: With age, the discs in the spine can degenerate, losing their cushioning ability and causing irritation to the sciatic nerve.
- Spondylolisthesis: This occurs when one vertebra slips forward over another, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.
- Piriformis Syndrome: The sciatic nerve can get irritated as it passes through the piriformis muscle in the buttock.
- Trauma or Injury: Injuries to the spine or buttocks can lead to sciatic pain.
Are you suffering from any foot condition? At The Chelsea Clinic, we can help. One of our podiatrist can assist and then recommend what treatments are best to get you back on track. Podiatrist South Kensington
Schedule an appointment here or you may call us at +44 (0) 207 101 4000.
We hope you have a feetastic day!
-The Chelsea Clinic and Team
