Sciatic Nerve and Leg Pain

I'm a runner, and lately I've been experiencing pain radiating down the back of my leg. It hurts worse when I sit or climb stairs. What is causing this?

Dr. Frank M. Phillips:

It sounds as though you're experiencing pain from irritation of your sciatic nerve, which is often caused by a spinal disc injury. Patients with this injury often complain of pain in the buttocks or legs, which is made worse by sitting, climbing stairs, performing squats, or standing erect.

It may seem strange that a back injury could be the cause of leg pain, but it's not uncommon. That's because the sciatic nerve (the longest nerve in the body) starts in the lower back and runs all the way down the back of each leg. Another misconception is that a sudden twisting motion or injury is always the cause of a disc injury. Conversely, most discs weaken due to repetitive stress (from running, for example) and the final result is often a herniated disc.

Treatment Options:

If you're an active athlete, you should cease the activity that is causing your sciatica. If you don't notice significant short term improvement through conservative treatment options, make sure that you see an orthopaedic physician for an evaluation.

After a thorough physical evaluation, your orthopaedic physician will likely order diagnostic tests to determine whether or not you have a herniated disc. In most cases, herniated discs can be treated without surgery, however in nonresponsive cases outpatient microdiscectomy (to remove the portion of the disc that is irritating the nerve root) may be required.

For more information about Dr. Phillips and the Sports Medicine physicians of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, call 877 MD BONES or contact us through this Web site.

This information is not intended as a substitute for the professional advice of your physician, nor to be a complete description of every aspect of a condition, nor a complete list of possible side effects of any medication. Decisions concerning your treatment should be based on your own health care provider's evaluation of your personal health history and current condition. Consult your physician before following any of the suggestions on this Web site. All articles on this Web site represent the personal opinions of the individual authors and should not be construed as official policy of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.