Sciatica is a common after a lifting injury, fall, or motor vehicle accident.
Sciatica refers to pain traveling down the back of your thigh and leg. Sometimes the pain is localized in the hip and butt region.
This type of pain is very common after a lifting injury, a fall, or a motor vehicle accident. It is also quite common in the athletic population. Runners and athletes in contact sports often experience sciatica.
The sciatic nerve travels from your lower back (lumbar spine)into your leg. First, it travels by the piriformis muscle. It then travels along the back of your thigh, down into your foot.
If you are younger than 50, or have a history of disc injury, this is a likely cause of your sciatica.
Disc injuries are common after trauma. Motor vehicle accidents or a large tackle for example. If you experience sciatica after a trauma or accident, it may be due to a disc injury in your lower back.
Stenosis is a narrowing of the spine. Stenosis in your lower back, often associated with aging, is a common cause of sciatica. Sciatica may occur in one, or both of your legs.
Classic signs of stenosis symptoms include:
- Worsening sciatica the further and longer you walk
- Sitting down for a few minutes alleviates your sciatica symptoms
- You can walk much further, and for a longer time if you lean forward when walking, typically on a shopping cart