Sciatica pain

The sciatic nerve is a nerve that runs from the spine into the leg. This nerve is formed by six nerve roots - five of which are located in the lumbar spine. The nerve cord to the sciatic nerve is formed from these nerve roots.

If one of these nerve roots is inflamed, this is referred to as sciatica or sciatic pain. The inflammation causes pain that radiates down the nerve cord into the leg.

Causes of sciatica pain

The most common cause of inflammation of the nerve root and therefore of sciatic pain is a slipped disc. In the case of a slipped disc, the core of the disc protrudes, comes into contact with a nerve root and causes painful inflammation.

However, any other type of inflammation of the nerve itself can also be the cause of sciatica, for example due to Lyme disease (tick bite).

Diagnosis of sciatica - do I now also have a slipped disc?

Due to the radiating pain, the back specialists can already localize exactly which nerve root of the sciatic nerve is inflamed based on the affected area - radiating into the front of the thigh, back of the thigh, foot, outer edge of the foot or towards the big toe.

If a herniated disc is the cause of the sciatica pain, the specialists can use the inflamed nerve root to determine at what level the herniated disc is located.

Treatment: Does sciatic pain always need to be treated?

In most cases, sciatica pain is treated simply because it is very painful. The inflammation in the nerve is one of the worst types of pain.

Initially, the inflammation is resolved using conservative measures such as injection therapy. Experienced doctors inject as close as possible to the herniated disc in order to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Preparations containing combinations of anaesthetics, cortisone preparations and homeopathic remedies are used for this purpose - all with the aim of relieving the inflammation so that the nerve recovers and the pain is relieved.