Sciatica is a layman's term for a pinched nerve that can cause pain that runs from the buttocks down the back of the leg.

The sciatic nerve is about an inch or so long in the buttocks made of multiple spinal nerves. When people commonly refer to sciatica it is not necessarily a problem of the sciatic nerve, it's a problem of the nerve when it is being pinched as it exits from the spine from a herniated disc or a bone spur.

Click here to view an animation about Sciatica.

Sciatica can now be healed through gentle, arthroscopic procedures, making traditional, massively invasive, open back surgeries unnecessary. Contact LSI to find out if you are a candidate!

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica is a form of peripheral neuropathy. It occurs when there is damage to the sciatic nerve,
located in the back of the leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg and the sole of the foot.

The usual causes are direct trauma (often due to an injection into the buttocks), prolonged external pressure on the nerve, and pressure on the nerve from nearby body structures. It can also be caused by entrapment -- pressure on the nerve where it passes through a narrow structure. The damage slows or prevents conduction of impulses through the nerve.

The sciatic nerve is commonly injured by fractures of the pelvis or other trauma to the buttocks or thigh. Prolonged sitting or lying with pressure on the buttocks may also injure it. Systemic diseases, such as diabetes, can typically damage many different nerves, including the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve may also be harmed by pressure from masses such as a tumor or abcess, or by bleeding in the pelvis.

s!A ruptured lumbar disc in the spine may cause symptoms that simulate the symptoms of sciatic nerve dysfunction.

Sciatica can also be caused by pressure on a nerve from a herniated disc (also referred to as a ruptured disc, bulging disc, slipped disk, etc.). The problem is often diagnosed as a "radiculopathy", meaning that a disc has protruded from its normal position in the vertebral column and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root), which connects with the sciatic nerve, therefore termed sciatica.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Symptoms of sciatica include sensation changes, numbness, decreased sensation, tingling, burning and pain in the buttocks, down the back of the legs, the back of the calf or the sole of the foot. Sciatica can also cause weakness in the legs, knees and feet and in severe cases can cause loss of mobility.

Treatment of Sciatica

Traditionally, only open back surgery could correct sciatica but it also may bring with it high risks and many complications. Laser Spine Institute (LSI) has a minimally invasive, outpatient surgery, laser-assisted, that can correct the causes of sciatica and leave the patient free of the painful symptoms, called a Percutaneous Arthroscopic Discectomy, a Foraminotomy or a Laminotomy. These laser spine procedures are for people with a herniated disc or bulging disc that is now pressing against a nerve causing the symptoms of sciatica. By removing or shrinking the herniated disc or bulging disc with the laser we can decompress the disc so that the spinal cord or nerve root is no longer impinged. At this point excess disc material is removed and the symptoms of sciatica generally disappear.

Once the procedure is complete, the patient (with a companion) is free to go after 1 - 2 hours of monitoring. We generally encourage patients to take a long walk the afternoon or evening of their procedure. The patient then returns the following day for a post-operative visit to get clearance from the doctor to return home

Copyright © 2007 Laser Spine Institute