How can you tell if you have Sciatica? Check out 2 easy tests to tell if you have Sciatica at home

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How can you tell if you have sciatica? Check out 2 easy tests to tell if you have Sciatica at home so you can decide if you should see a doctor or a physical therapist. Sciatica is a very common condition that often causes low back and leg pain extending often to foot and toes typically on one side the lower extremities. The use of the word Sciatica was first described by Hippocrates and many felt the time the pain origninated from the hip and not the lower lumbar spine. Also the name sciatica is found to originate from the Greek "ishcios" meaning hip. Later the ideas about the origins moved from the hip to thinking the lumbar disc being the source of Sciatica pain was discovered later the 1930's.

The symptoms of sciatica are all too common and pain can be pain felt in the lower back extending back into one or both of the lower extremities. Most cases of sciatica abolish in greater %90 of the population typically in 6-8 weeks with the passage of time and modiffication of activities of daily living. Often patients will describe shooting, numbness, weakness,and tingling in one and sometimes both of the lower extremities. The nerve roots most commonly affected are the L4, L5 and S1 nerve roots. The nerve roots provide nerve supply for sensory, motor and pain fibers in the lower extremities.

In many cases a lumbar disc bulge or herniation is to blame for sciatica but stenosis, bone spurs, piriformis syndrome, pregnancy and inflammation can cause problems for the sciatic nerve which all can cause a pinching of the sciatic nerve. The nerve has a retrograde and antegrade flow to and from the spinal cord. If the nerve is injured it can suffer from various types of perpheral nerve injury described in these 3 types: Neuropraxia, Axonotmesis or Neurotmesis. In the cases of Neuropraxia prognosis is good and in cases of the Neurotmesis in these cases the nerve can be damaged and certain symptoms persist and can cause permanent damage resulting in muscle loss, permanent altered sensation. Several factors can influence this recovery from whether it was a repetitive nerve injury, single trauma causing direct pressure or streching.

In certain cases patients should seek immediate help if they have a alternation of bowel and bladder symptoms, progressive weakness, gait abnormalities, severe balance problems, fever saddle anesthesia or signs of infection or relatively constant severe pain especially at night. If you have any of these symptoms seek help immediately from a physician.

Conservative treatment is recommended for 6-8 weeks. Most clinicians will recommend to stay active, limit sitting to not more than 20 minutes at time, avoid smoking, and gradual return of activities as you can tolerate. Expect mild pain but nothing that causes you to stop your progress more than 2 days.

If you are unsure if you have sciatica the following two tests are quick and easy to see if it present.

The first is the Straight Leg Raise Test. You need a partner to help you with this test. The person being tested has to be on their back. The examiner then lifts the leg by the ankle with the knee straight and at about 30 degrees off the table if you experience the same symptoms you are complaining about it will be a positive test. Once the symptoms start if they are increased by pasively moving the foot into dorsiflexion or towards the shin it confirms the test.

Second is the Slump test that is performed in sitting. Once the person slumps he actively extends the knee then passively to get full extension. At this time flexion of the neck forward causes the symptoms of sciatica to be reproduced and neck extension or looking up reduces the pain. This test was founded once a patient reported pain only getting into a low sports car reproducing their pain.

Both tests should reproduce the symptoms or description of pain they are having. Often times these tests can elicit other symptoms that are uncomfortable and painful but not the ones they are concerened about. If this is the case it is a negative test.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning a small commission, If you click the link and buy something, comes to me at no cost to you! #ad #affiliatelink

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I have had sciatica for 2 years. I got all of the instructions, gadgets and gizmo's. They didn't help much. Even Bob and Brad failed me.
Then...
I started taking a hot 104F - 45 minute - tub bath soak -- every night, about 1 hour before bed. Now I sleep like a dead person for 7-8 hours. The sciatica never wakes me up now. And the dreams that I am having now are amazing. I have high praise for the hot bath nightly soak while I listen to an audiobook.

Tom-Travels
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It's really helpful that you point out that with the straight leg test it's the "same kind of pain" the patient is calling sciatica.

Becki
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My mom just recently started having sciatica pain, I hope everything turns out okay.

PokeMaster
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I feel the pain just watching these straight leg tests 😖

donharris
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Very good. I am experiencing it. It’s a awful feeling. I really want to get better. Sitting is the worst thing.

tarsisvanbrussel
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I’m so tied of dealing with this pain lumber 5. It’s been bout 10 years now dealing with it.

LilWay
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Thanks alot for your explaining us sciatic and how to cure the pain of sciatic pain, thank you so much indeed.

makahilmead
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I just want to say, I think your explanations are great!

Mike-Snoducky
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Very helpful! I just got a crazy pain during my hot yoga class in "standing head to knee pose" that I've never gotten before. I've always been fit, exercised and done this yoga for 10 years. Did the "slump test" and I guess this just turned 52-year-old needs to start adapting. Thanks for the tips on keeping up exercise but limiting sitting to 30 min or so. I'm going to keep up ice today, ibuprofen, and move to heat. Hopefully I'll be one of those "temporary" cases!🌺🙏❤

atadlish
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Thanks for assisting in My Battlestar Sciatica as I call it

ShawntreezyBreezy
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I went to my doctor today letting her know I'm having chronic mid-lower back pain and that the other day I literally felt a shock from my ankle up through my left leg while also sometimes I sit on the toilet and my private area starts going numb. I'm scared. But now my neck is hurting. And she literally did absolutely nothing for me. I already have scoliosis and first time being pregnant

alexusleeann
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Thank you alot for explaiining us how to take care of Sciatica pain Thank you somuch indeed

beatricelundgren
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I've been diagnosed with this in the L4 L5 I've had the EMG test I have pinch nerve on both sides. The surgeon told me that he could do surgery but wouldn't help. Don't know what he meant by that surgeon wouldn't explain.

rondolan
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Thanks for the video,
The problem with my right leg: pain, tingling, numness starts not so much when I'm sitting but especially when driving.
Your explanation and suggested remedy will be highly appreciated.

nature
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Excellent and well explained. I have had intermittent periods of Sciatica from 18 to my current 70 years of age. Sleeping lying down on the affected side has become worse these past few years even though I am active for my age. Any tips please? Many thanks. Henry

harrybrannigan
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When I do the second test I feel strong strech in entire leg but not pain. No pain in back also. But while sitting and standing I feel tingling in outside of calf and some times in entire leg.

bharatsainikurukshetra
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Have my dr appointment tomorrow finally after waiting 3 weeks, I was working as a maintenance technician at my last job Climbing ladders Carrying Heavy shims over 100bls Across the Plant It started As a painful cramp under my Thigh When it hits I can’t even continue I’d be mid Climbing up a ladder and it hit Well Long story short I never got help by that job They just fired me the day after I slipped on ice during work re injuring my Hip

itstinyverdugo
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The pain is like nothing on earth when it kicks in, and no one can touch you or help you, the problem is in the UK, by the time you get a doctor's appointment it gets better, I think in the future I will need some of my discs fusing, a major op I know

sen
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What can you do if you have sciatica for weak legs

michellestroupe
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I’m a football player and since May this year I’ve been having this lower back pain and sometimes I feel pain down my left leg a sharp shocking pain I went to the doctor and I was told I’ve got early lumbar spondylosis but I’m assuming this is different because the symptoms are more of sciatica than lumbar maybe he made a mistake with his examination please can y’all help me differentiate between sciatica and early lumbar spondylosis??

I’m confused and thanks for the video it was great watching it

BhadBwoiRalph