What are the causes of sciatica?

Sciatica is a very common disease, especially among middle-aged and elderly men. The pain felt by patients is also quite obvious, which can cause great harm to patients' lives when the disease occurs. Generally, the pain is particularly obvious when patients bend over. So, what are the causes of sciatica?

The cause of primary sciatica (sciatica) is unknown and is relatively rare in clinical practice.

Secondary sciatica is caused by compression or irritation of adjacent lesions and is divided into radicular and trunk sciatica, which refers to whether the compression site is on the nerve root or the nerve trunk, respectively.

Radicular sciatica (40%):

The most common lumbar disc herniation often has an acute or subacute onset due to factors such as exertion, bending over or strenuous activity. A few have chronic onset. The pain often radiates from the waist to one side of the buttocks, back of the thigh, popliteal fossa, outer side of the calf and foot, and is burning or knife-like. The pain may be aggravated by coughing or exerting force, and is worse at night.

Sciatica (25%):

The severity of onset also varies depending on the cause. If it is caused by cold or trauma, the onset is usually acute. The pain often radiates from the buttocks to the back of the thigh, the posterolateral side of the calf, and the outer side of the foot. The pain worsens with walking, movement, and traction on the sciatic nerve. The tenderness point is below the buttocks, the Lasegue sign is positive but the Kernig sign is mostly negative, and the scoliosis is mostly bent toward the affected side to reduce the traction on the sciatic nerve trunk.

Dry sciatica refers to the pain caused by stimulation or compression of the sciatic nerve trunk (the sciatic nerve segment outside the intervertebral foramen) by various lesions. It is characterized by radiating pain along the sciatic nerve trunk in the affected lower limb, especially in the distal end of the sciatic nerve. There are tender points along the course of the sciatic nerve below the buttocks. The pain is not obvious when coughing or other actions that increase abdominal pressure are performed.

Daily health care for patients with sciatica is also very important. There are many things that patients need to pay attention to at ordinary times, and they must also pay attention to rest, not overwork, and not consume too much spicy and greasy food, especially alcohol, which must not be consumed. This must be paid attention to.