Spinal pathologies

Sciatica

Sciatica or sciatic pain is a painful syndrome caused by irritation, inflammation or compression of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve, producing pain radiating from the lumbar region to the buttocks, thigh, leg and even the foot.

It is one of the most frequent causes of radiating lower back pain and can significantly affect the patient’s mobility, functional capacity and quality of life.

Sciatic pain can present acutely or chronically and may be accompanied by sensory disturbances, muscle weakness, or functional limitation of the lower limb.

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What is the sciatic nerve?

The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the human body. It originates from several lumbar and sacral nerve roots that emerge from the spinal column and descend into the lower limb.

When one of these nerve roots becomes irritated or compressed, radicular pain known as sciatica appears.

What are the most frequent causes?

Sciatica can be caused by various pathologies of the lumbar spine and adjacent structures. Among the most frequent are:

Lumbar disc herniation
Disc protrusion
Lumbar foraminal stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Lumbar degenerative disc disease
Lumbar facet syndrome
Spondylolisthesis
Periradicular fibrosis or adhesions
Pyramidal syndrome or peripheral nerve entrapments

Sustained compression of the nerve root can lead to neural inflammation and neuropathic pain radiating along the path of the sciatic nerve.

What are the most common symptoms?

The symptoms may vary depending on the affected nerve root and the degree of neural compression.

The most common symptoms include:

Lower back pain radiating down the leg
Pain like an electric shock, burning, or stabbing
Pain that radiates down the buttock, thigh, or calf
Tingling or sensory disturbances
Muscle weakness in the lower extremity
Pain when walking, sitting, or exerting oneself
Functional limitation and difficulty walking

In the most severe cases, progressive neurological deficits or sphincter dysfunction may appear, requiring urgent medical evaluation.

Specialized diagnosis

Diagnosis requires a proper clinical, neurological, and radiological assessment to identify the nerve root responsible for the symptoms.

Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard test for assessing neural compression and degenerative changes in the lumbar spine.

Sciatica Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause of the nerve compression, the intensity of the symptoms, and the patient’s clinical course.

At VERTEBRA SpinePain & Regenerative SURGERY CENTERS we provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to sciatica through conservative, interventional and minimally invasive surgical treatments.

Among the available therapeutic options, the following stand out:

Specialized pharmacological treatment
Physiotherapy and functional rehabilitation
Postural re-education and muscle strengthening
Image-guided infiltrative treatments in the epidural cavity
Radiofrequency and neuromodulation
Minimally invasive intradiscal techniques
Ozone discolysis
Regenerative Medicine
Spinal endoscopy and minimally invasive microsurgery

The goal of treatment is to relieve nerve compression, reduce neural inflammation, and restore the patient’s functionality and quality of life.

At VERTEBRA SpinePain & Regenerative SURGERY CENTERS we have a highly specialized unit in lumbar pathology, radicular pain and image-guided spinal intervention, offering advanced and personalized treatments for the comprehensive management of sciatica and complex lower back pain.

VERTEBRA Clinic is a pioneer in the implementation and development of advanced minimally invasive techniques over the last four decades, having received international recognition.