Is a Trapped Nerve Causing My Sciatica?

If you are suffering with sciatica, the nerve or nerve roots may not necessarily be trapped as such, but one thing is for certain, the Sciatic Nerve in some way, shape or form is being aggravated. The aim is to find out why it is being aggravated.

Firstly, what is Sciatica?
This term is used to describe pain which is felt anywhere from the lower back, through the buttock and down the back of the leg to the tips of the toes. Not only may pain be experienced, but signs & symptoms such as pins & needles and numbness can be felt as well.

So what is happening then?
Well, as I mentioned above, the nerve is not necessarily trapped. However, something is aggravating it enough to cause pain. This may be due to a number of reasons, for example:

1) A disc in the lower back may be protruding and placing pressure on the nerve roots which form the sciatic nerve.
2) Inflammation from the local facet joints of the lower back may be inflamed and this inflammation can aggravate the nerve roots which form the sciatic nerve.
3) Muscles, which the sciatic nerve passes either through or adjacent to, may be placing increased pressure upon the nerve, especially if they are tight.

I suppose, with regards to the 1st and 3rd bullet points above, it could be argued that the sciatic nerve, or the nerve roots which form it, are trapped and therefore pain is resulting. However, that is a little misleading, as it is unlikely that the nerve itself is trapped and cannot move.

Under these circumstances, the nerve will still be able to move, it is just that there will be increased pressure placed upon it as it does move, resulting in inflammation of the structures concerned and subsequently pain.

In the case of the 2nd bullet point, there may be no pressure upon the nerve at all, it is just that localised inflammation is now affecting the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve and therefore pain results. I often use the analogy here of hitting your thumb with a hammer. Although it is likely you would only have hit a small part of your thumb with the hammer, initially most of your thumb will be painful, regardless of whether or not it was hit!

As with any pain, the aim of treatment is to address the cause of the problem. Therefore, if it is the disc which is the problem, the aim is to reduce the disc back into its natural position. If it is inflammation from the local facet joints, the aggravating factor for the facet joints needs to be addressed, as if this is resolved, the inflammation will settle and therefore no irritation of the sciatic nerve will take place. Finally, if it is tight muscles which are causing the sciatic nerve to be painful, the muscles responsible need to be identified and gently stretched out.

The important thing to remember is that the cause of the problem must be addressed. If only the signs and symptoms are treated, you may gain temporary relief but it is likely the pain will return again at a later date.


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