Signs You Have Sciatica

Sciatica- it sounds like something your grandma may have had- it's true older people are more prone to the condition, but the young or middle-aged aren't exempt.

"I've seen sciatica in patients as young as 19. So is it more common in the older population? Absolutely. But it's not uncommon to see this symptom in 30 and 40 year olds," says Dr. Christopher Dawson, physical medicine and rehabilitation on Lee Memorial Health System's medical staff.
Difference is, young people are less familiar with the signs.

"When patients come to my office with sciatica, they describe sharp, shooting pains down the leg. They might have weakness in the muscles of the leg. They also might complain of a numbness or tingling sensation in the leg," says Dr. Dawson.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this list of sciatica's most common symptoms: feeling a persistent cramp in the leg, pain when you sit, sneeze or cough, leg weakness, numbness or pins-and-needles in the leg or a burning sensation that runs down the leg

Sciatica isn't actually a leg problem- it's a nerve issue. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, branching out from the spinal cord in the lower back, running through the legs and buttocks. When this nerve is compressed, injured or inflamed, it triggers sciatica. Once identified, there are several treatment options.

"Conservative measures are first and foremost. Those include physical therapy. Also, medical management, sometimes a course or corticosteroids by mouth and also injection therapies are of great benefit for these patients," says Dr. Dawson.

Knowing the signs, symptoms and underlying cause of your mystery leg pain, may put you on the path to relief.

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we've been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

[bobbynothin]

It's bad. When I had to sneeze, I thought my ass was going to fall off.

[Mike____]

I’m 17 and I’m dealing with sciatica nerve pain it’s really bad and pain full but ice seems to reduce the inflammation and pain

[deanryan]

Me watching this:

My lower spine: aight imma head out

[miftekharabir]

I am 23 and suffering from this condition, now a days the pain just don't go away 😞

[rashodsewell]

I haven't been diagnosed with this yet but I'm pretty sure Sciatica is what I've been experiencing since I was a teenager (I'm now 31 years old) but also experiencing it in the most recent months. My symptoms are lower back pain, leg pain (throbbing in the right leg), pain in the buttocks area and slight headaches every now and then. The pain is usually worse at night, in the morning or when the weather is changing. Other than a toothache this is the worst type of pain my body ever experienced. I'm going to a family doctor as soon as my medical is approved, please pray for me. 🙏🏾

[secretivelife]

Ever since I was unemployed for 3 months 2 months in I had sciatica... still to this day it’s one of the most uncomfortable pains in my life

[exceldivine]

Oh my god. Sciatica hurts *So* much. Hurts to: Sit to long, stand, and walk. Mine happened to present on the eclipse. And also sometimes it kind of gets pinched every once in a while.

[Maxx]

This video should be renamed "Signs you're not a spelling bee champ" Good lord.

[catecaudill]

i’ve just experienced pain like this tonight. i’m literally 15 and always have had pain in my back. i was walking to the bathroom, i was closing the door and midway i stopped and i was unable to move. i couldn’t move my left leg and began limping. it looked like i hurt my ankle. i sat down on the couch and i could not get up. i began crying due to the immense amount of pain i was in. i couldn’t even laugh without hurting myself even more. my legs are weak when i begin to walk. i’ve never had this pain before and it’s so bad. i don’t know what to do. i’ve used heat and medication and even a massage device. the massage device was the only thing that seemed to work.

[nojamstrasheu]

I was diagnosed with this last year august. It was just a normal day, was walking going to school and I felt a little numbness of my left leg and didn't care. We had a class for like 4 hours and I felt something really weird from numbness to tingling to sharp pain. I was shocked because I can no longer stand straight and its like my back was being compressed. That was the most painful thing that ever happened to me. Every morning I had to deal with excruciating pain. Small movements might trigger the worst pain and it was never easy to stand up every morning. There's no morning that I never cry. Even sitting down hurts, walking hurts, laying down hurts, everything you do just hurts. Trust me the pain is unbearable. I hade 6 months of Physical therapy and I am kinda feeling normal but I am still experiencing leg cramps every morning and sometimes my leg gets numb or tingling. Idk if this can be treated because I'm still experiencing some symptoms.

[eddiebrevet]

Started traction to relieve pain from herniated disc, sleep that way without pills. Decided to stay stretched, crutches to get around. Two months later, ten years of sciatica, gone

[smoothoperator]

Weekness?? It's spelled w e a k n e s s

[UrbanLegend]

I am 20 and have scoliosis which is causing my sciatica, was diagnosed with the scoliosis a year ago and its been getting worse as I now have sciatica which was not a issue a year ago. Visit the chiropractor every month but only provides temporary pain relief

[jenniferreed]

My uncle had Sciatica from last 5 years. He was unable to walk properly and took medicines from various hospitals but got no relief. Then he came to know about Chandigarh Ayurved Centre and took treatment from there. Now he is totally fit.

[chrishanke]

I’m 49 and a half and I fully believe I just started with this.😮😮

[anenek]

This article is so interesting! I knew some symptoms, but surprised about that much
numbness. I have Diabetes, so I
thought my numbness was from that...I had pain that is in lower back and wraps around hips into my thighs., Interesting....

[bradleysmith]

I'm 27, just found out this is causing my pain. it's almost unbearable in the am. I work construction too.

[davyhiggins]

I first got it when I was 18 and super fit, I was boxing and working as a Roadworker. I am now 32 no longer on the tools, overweight and has starting up again. I am hoping to loose a few pounds as I have stopped smoking and this will hopefully end this bout of sciatica but I have been told that it is something that will continue to flare up from time to time and there is little that can be done to cure it

[monikadokidokiLIT]

Well, my old man [also known as father] has sciatica, he's around about in his 40's, he got it in 2020.

[sylvia]

Just got diagnosed with this and been prescribed tramadol, was told pins and needles in face and hands and vertigo and ringing in ears is due to how bad it is and how strong pain is that my bodys fighting hard