Up to 10% of all cases of low back pain are associated with sciatica, a painful symptom that can make it difficult to walk and perform other ordinary activities. However, many conditions cause low back pain, making sciatica misdiagnoses rather common. To avoid delayed treatment, it’s important to see an experienced professional for an accurate diagnosis. Once you have an official diagnosis, you can focus on getting sciatica pain relief.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica isn’t a specific medical condition. It’s a symptom characterized by pain along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the base of your spine all the way to your lower calves. Sciatica is usually described as a burning pain, but it may feel like an electrical shock. Some people also experience numbness, muscle weakness or the sensation of pins and needles in the affected area. Without treatment, sciatica may even lead to incontinence, or the ability to control your bladder and/or bowels.
What Are the Most Common Sciatica Misdiagnoses?
Before you seek sciatica pain relief, you need to know that the pain you’re experiencing is caused by sciatica and not something else. Unfortunately, pain in the lower back has many potential causes, so it’s important to get assessed by an experienced specialist. What you think is sciatica may be a symptom of one of these conditions.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
The sacroiliac joint connects the spine with the pelvis. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction occurs if there is too much or too little joint movement. If the joint is hypermobile (too much movement), pain typically starts in the lower back and radiates to the groin.
Joint hypomobility (too little movement) causes pain to radiate down the leg from one side of the back. In some people, the pain travels all the way to the foot. This makes it similar to the pain caused by sciatica. SJD may also cause numbness, weakness and/or tingling.
Osteoarthritis of the Spine
Facet joints connect the small bones in your spine, making your body more flexible. Without these joints, you wouldn’t be able to bend over or perform other movements. Each facet joint has a strong connective tissue called cartilage, which absorbs shock and protects the joints from damage. Over time, this cartilage wears away, increasing friction. As a result, many older people develop osteoarthritis of the spine.
Osteoarthritis may be misdiagnosed as sciatica if it affects the facet joints in the lower back. Unlike sciatica, osteoarthritis also causes stiffness and tenderness over the affected joints.
Piriformis Syndrome
The piriformis muscle, located deep within the buttocks, helps rotate the thigh. If this muscle presses against your sciatic nerve, it can cause inflammation, resulting in pain, numbness and tingling. This is known as piriformis syndrome. Although piriformis syndrome is very similar to sciatica, it’s not exactly the same thing, so one is often confused for the other.
Mistakes in the Treatment of Sciatica
One of the biggest mistakes people make when seeking sciatica nerve pain relief is diagnosing themselves instead of seeking the opinion of a medical professional. As explained above, several conditions cause low back pain, numbness and tingling, so you shouldn’t assume that your symptoms are caused by a problem with your sciatic nerve.
Another common mistake is trying to push through the pain, especially if you don’t have an official diagnosis. Continuing to exercise or lift heavy objects can cause your condition to worsen, making it more difficult to recover. Finally, it’s a mistake to use heat to relieve the pain caused by sciatica. Heat may increase inflammation, making your symptoms worse instead of better.
Sciatica Treatment Options for Lasting Nerve Pain Relief
Occasional sciatica pain may respond to cold compresses or over-the-counter pain relievers. Ask your doctor if it’s safe to take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for this purpose. If you decide to use a cold compress, protect your skin with a thin towel. Remove the cold pack after 20 minutes — any longer and you might damage the skin.
In some cases, surgery is required for lasting sciatica pain relief. Generally, surgery is reserved for cases of sciatica that result in severe weakness or difficulty controlling the bladder or bowels. Surgery is helpful if your sciatica is the result of a herniated disc pressing against the sciatic nerve. If surgery isn’t warranted, your doctor may recommend a limited period of bed rest followed by a gradual increase in movement.
Sciatica causes pain, weakness, tingling and other symptoms, all of which can affect your ability to do your favorite activities. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer in silence. Schedule an appointment at MAPS Centers for Pain Control to get an expert diagnosis and access to effective sciatica treatments.