Sciatica pain and symptoms can make itself known in many different forms. The below information is excerpted from an article on Spine-Health.com, originally written by Steven G. Yeomans, DC on August, 31, 2015.

The sciatica symptoms one feels—such as nerve pain, numbness, tingling, weakness—are highly variable: they can include symptoms primarily felt in the buttock, or in the back of the thigh down to the calf, or even into the toes.

Different Types of Pain Along the Sciatic Nerve

The patient’s pain and specific sciatica symptoms can usually be traced to where the injured/irritated nerve originates in the lower back. Typical symptoms include:

  • Sciatica from L4 nerve root

Symptoms of sciatica stemming from this level, the L3-L4 level, in the lower spine may include: pain and/or numbness to the medial lower leg and foot; weakness may include the inability to bring the foot upwards (heel walk). The patient may have reduced knee-jerk reflex.

  • Sciatica from L5 nerve root

If the L4-L5 segment is affected, the patient may have weakness in extension of the big toe and potentially in the ankle (called foot drop). Symptoms of sciatica originating at this level of the lower back may include: pain and/or numbness at the top of the foot, particularly in the web between the great toe (big toe) and the second toe.

  • Sciatica from S1 nerve root

Symptoms of sciatica originating at this L5-S1 level, which is at the bottom of the spine, may include: pain and/or numbness to the lateral, or outside, of the foot; weakness that results in difficulty raising the heel off the ground or walking on the tiptoes. The patient may have reduced ankle-jerk reflex.

While the above types of symptoms are common, symptoms can vary depending on a number of factors, such as unique anatomical variances, and the degree and characteristics of the specific pathology.

Common Conditions that Lead to Sciatica

A variety of lower back conditions may lead to sciatica. Most commonly, a lumbar herniated disc will cause sciatic nerve pain. Other common disorders that cause sciatic pain include lumbar degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, or osteophytes and arthritis in the spine.

To read the full article, visit the link here: https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/types-sciatic-nerve-pain 

Get Help!

If any of what you’ve read above describes what you are feeling, allow our physicians and staff to review your case and verify if the Bonati Spine Institute can help you. Click here to discuss your condition with one of our patient advocates or call us at 855-267-0482.