Sciatica
The pain that runs from the back down the leg: what compresses the sciatic nerve and why it nearly always improves without surgery.
Una punzada eléctrica que baja de la espalda a la pierna: qué comprime al nervio ciático y por qué la mayoría de los casos mejora sin cirugía.
The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest in the body: it arises from the nerve roots of the lower back, passes through the buttock and runs down the back of the leg to the foot. When a herniated disc or wear of the spine presses on one of those roots, the nerve becomes inflamed and sciatica appears: a stabbing or electric pain along that path, sometimes with tingling or numbness.
Although the pain can be very intense, the great majority of cases improve within weeks with guided movement, physiotherapy and medical treatment, without surgery. What does call for immediate medical attention is loss of strength in the leg, difficulty controlling urine or stool, or numbness in the genital area.
