When you suffer from inflammation of the sciatic nerve , the pain you feel can invest more points along this extended line.

Let’s find out the symptoms of this disorder.

Symptoms of inflammation of the sciatic nerve 

The symptoms can be very variable depending on whether there is a herniated disc and whether other pains localized in the lumbar area are added, for example.

What makes the difference is the affected nerve root and, in the case of a hernia, obviously the amount of compression that is exerted. The set of these pains is called sciatica as a whole or better called sciatica .

The main symptom is  certainly lumbar pain associated with a certain discomfort along the entire lower limb , often up to the big toe. A series of ailments such as tingling , burning sensation , painful throbbing , extreme sensitivity in the nerve root can be connected. The acute burning can also be accompanied by a needle -like pain or a constant tingling .

Sometimes there is a feeling that the knee of the affected lower limb gives way, loses strength ; usually this is connected to a noticeable reduction in the strength of the posterior leg muscles and occurs especially in the case of strong compression at the level of the second or third lumbar vertebrae. 

On the other hand, when the compression affects the roots at the level of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, it is difficult to walk on the heels and exert force on them due to the reduced capacity of the muscles that lift the tip of the foot and fingers.

If the compression is at the level of the first sacral , on the other hand, it is difficult to walk on tiptoe. 

The various types of low back pain and the therapies to treat them

Getting to know the sciatic nerve 

It must be considered that the sciatic nerve is the longest in the human body: it starts from the spinal cord, crosses the buttocks, continues all the way down to the lower part of the thighs and up to the legs.

It should be noted that the symptoms of sciatic nerve pain can also derive from more delicate conditions such as  infections , lesions or the formation of tumors in the lumbar part of the spine in the most severe cases.

Then there is the so-called piriformis syndrome , a small muscle which, going to hit the nerve, presses, irritates and inflames it.

Another risk factor for inflammation of the sciatic nerve is pregnancy due to the additional weight of the fetus; this is why it is so important that the woman continues to do even just small exercises of gentle gymnastics and breathing, so that she does not completely abandon small techniques of mobility and flexibility of the spine. 

In many cases, in addition to the diagnostic tests, the typical orthopedic examination can be used which consists in following the straight leg lifting test : in summary, the person is made to lie on his back with both legs straight, he is asked to lift the leg. affected leg at a 45 ° angle, keeping it straight.

If the doctor, by doing foot strike tests and asking to maintain the pain position, traces the patient to pain in the lower back or thigh, it is probably sciatica.

How to cure the sciatic nerve when it is inflamed?