Sciatica and Spine-Related Leg Pain

What is leg pain related to spine conditions?

When pain starts in the lower back and moves into the leg, it may be sciatica – a condition caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. Leg pain is common and may feel like a dull ache, sharp discomfort or pain that travels down the back of your leg.

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A diagram showing the sciatic nerve, areas of pain in the leg, and a close-up of a compressed spinal nerve.

Understanding the sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve, which starts in the lumbar spine (lower back) where five nerve roots join, is the largest nerve in the body. The nerve then travels through the hips and buttocks and down the back of each leg. The sciatic nerve branches into smaller nerves that extend into the calf, foot and toes near the knee.

Because the sciatic nerve connects the spine to the lower body, lower back issues can cause pain, numbness or tingling anywhere along the nerve’s path.

Overview

Symptoms

Symptoms of spine-related leg pain include:

Pain that begins in the lower back or buttock and travels down one leg
Numbness, tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation in the leg or foot
Weakness in the leg or difficulty moving the foot
Pain that gets worse with sitting, coughing or sneezing

Causes

Leg pain related to the spine can result from several conditions, including:

Herniated or bulging discs that place pressure on nearby nerves
Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
Degenerative disc disease, which occurs as spinal discs naturally wear down over time
Spondylolisthesis, when one vertebra shifts forward over another

Sometimes muscle strain or changes in alignment may also irritate the sciatic nerve.

Diagnosis

Our spine specialists will work to identify the cause of your leg pain by reviewing your symptoms and medical history and performing a physical examination. Imaging tests including X-rays or MRI scans may be needed to provide more detailed views of the spine and identify nerve compression.

Why treatment matters

Early evaluation and treatment is important to help prevent symptoms from worsening. Our spine specialists will work with you to first identify the source of your pain and create a treatment plan to help relieve symptoms and restore function.

Many patients are able to get relief with nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy, targeted exercises and medication to reduce pain and inflammation. If your symptoms continue or aren’t able to be addressed with nonsurgical options, your specialist may recommend advanced procedures or surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve.