3 Unexpected Sciatica Symptoms

If you’re experiencing troublesome symptoms and aren’t sure what’s to blame, you might be sharing some of the less common symptoms of sciatica. Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in your body, is irritated or compressed, causing pain and discomfort in your daily life. 

At Integrated Spine and Pain Services, we know how difficult living with sciatica can be. Our years of experience helping patients in Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia, give us the experience needed to diagnose and treat different types of spinal pain, allowing you to get long-term relief. 

Stephanie Clop, MD, and our team want you to be aware of uncommon symptoms to get the treatment you need. We’ve put together this guide to provide information on general sciatica and three symptoms you may not be aware of, so keep reading to find out more. 

What exactly is sciatica?

The sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in your body, starts in your lower back and branches down through your hips, buttocks, and legs. When people refer to sciatica, they mean the pain you feel whenever this big nerve is irritated or compressed. 

The most common underlying cause of sciatica is a herniated disc pinching the nerve. Other possible causes of sciatica include pregnancy, arthritis and other forms of joint trouble, tumors or cysts, bone spurs, swollen muscles or tissue, and infection.

You probably already know the two most common signs of sciatica—sharp pain in your leg and numbness, tingling, or burning in the leg. 

A sharp pain running from the back of your buttocks into one of your legs is the most common sign of sciatica, feeling like an electric shock shooting down your leg. While the intense pain may come and go, you may always feel a deep ache or soreness in the affected leg. 

Sensations of numbness, tingling, or burning can come with the irritation or compression of a nerve anywhere in your body. With sciatica, you might feel these sensations running down your buttocks and legs or a “pins-and-needles” feeling.

What signs of sciatica might I not expect?

Though sharp pain and uncomfortable sensations are the most common sciatica symptoms, they are not the only ones. These three unexpected symptoms may surprise you, but they are essential to watch if you suffer from sciatica. 

1. Worsening symptoms after sitting 

If you notice pain or other symptoms that feel worse after sitting for long periods or lying down, this may be caused by sciatica. Our upper body weight rests on our lower back when we sit, increasing compression in and on our spinal discs and columns. This increases the pressure against the sciatic nerve. The same can happen after being on your feet for long periods.

2. Weaker muscles 

When sciatica affects one leg, this results in weaker muscles than the other. This weakness can affect your gain and even lead to referred pain in other areas. This symptom is usually noticed more often by very active people or runners rather than sedentary people. 

3. Balance and mobility loss

Sciatica can make it difficult to move your leg or foot due to the pain caused by the condition. This creates issues with balance and mobility. If you have extensive sciatic compression, you may find walking challenging. Since sciatica makes it hard to stand with your weight distributed evenly on both legs, your chances of falling or losing your balance are increased. 

How is sciatica treated?

Receiving an accurate diagnosis is the first step in treating sciatica. Other conditions can cause similar symptoms, so thorough evaluations and diagnostic testing from a medical professional like Dr. Clop is the only way to be sure of sciatica. 

After sciatica is diagnosed, Dr. Clop personalizes a treatment plan for your specific needs and symptoms. These treatments alleviate your pain and address the underlying problem causing your sciatica. Some of the treatments may include:

• Activity modification
• Physical therapy
• Stretching exercises
• Transforaminal epidural steroid injections
• Selective nerve root blocks
• Spinal cord stimulator trial

If you think you’re suffering from sciatica, don’t hesitate to come in for a consultation with our care team! Call us to schedule an appointment at the Integrated Spine and Pain Services location in Northern Virginia nearest you.