Sciatica is a term that gets misused more often than any other one I hear from patients when trying to describe their back or leg pain. Strictly speaking it refers to an irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is located at about the mid point of your buttocks. Leg and buttock pain, burning, and numbness can come from a variety of sources, and the sciatic nerve itself is very rarely the culprit.

Wiring Diagram of the Leg

The yellow stringy things in the picture above are a simplified depiction of the nerves that emanate from your spine and run all through your pelvic region and legs. These are the electrical ‘wires’ that run all the functions performed in your pelvic region and lower extremities.

The structure colored in pink for you above is the sciatic nerve. You can see how this is just one of a great many different nerves.

All of the nerves that control your pelvis and legs begin as ‘nerve roots’ that pass between your lumbar vertebrae (see area circled in red above). It is in this region where the “Battlestar Sciatica” war is actually raging. Problems with the vertebrae can irritate these nerves producing pain and numbness anywhere in the legs and pelvis (including the area of the sciatic nerve) all the way down to the tips of your toes! This, as I’m sure you know, is called ‘referred pain.’ Ever hit your elbow (funny bone) on something and feel burning in your fingers? You get the idea.

The Actual Cause of Nerve-Related Leg Pain

There are two primary causes of the nerve root irritation that give rise to a wide variety of leg problems.

• Disc protrusion (herniation)

• Spinal stenosis

Both of these are matters I have covered in detail in prior emails. I’ll post the links for you here:

On the Level

We have the proper approach to the actual cause of Battlestar Sciatica. It’s in the spine. Let us know if we can help, and as always please feel free to forward this email to folks you think it may help as well!!!

Until next time,

Blessings to you!