Sciatica Symptoms: Methods Of Diagnosis

Sciatica symptoms may be in the form of sharp pain, electrical shock sensations, or burning that begins in the buttock area and may extend down the back part of the leg, often going all the way to the foot. Not all such symptoms are true sciatica though, and they may be caused by different factors in different people.

True sciatica is due to irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is formed by nerves that arise in the low back and join together and then run down the back of each leg. Most cases of true sciatica are due to disc herniations in the lumbar spine.

Sciatica symptoms may also result from a condition known as piriformis syndrome. The piriformis is a muscle that extends from the sacrum at the lower end of the spine to the hip, and it can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve. The piriformis can also develop knots of contraction known as trigger points which can cause referred pain that closely mimics true sciatica (sciatic nerve irritation).

Diagnosing the cause of sciatica symptoms can be accomplished by various tests. While physical examination procedures can usually give a doctor a pretty good idea of the source of sciatica symptoms, most often, a lumbar MRI or CT scan is recommended to evaluate the status of the lumbar discs and whether they may be producing sciatic nerve irritation. In some cases, such imaging studies may be done with contrast dyes to get better visualization of the lumbar discs.

Electrodiagnostic testing is sometimes done to evaluate the condition of the sciatic nerve and its components. The most common of these tests is EMG (electromyography) and nerve conduction.

If examination and testing rules out the sciatic nerve itself as the source of symptoms, the most likely suspect becomes the piriformis muscle.

Once the source of sciatica symptoms has been diagnosed, then the appropriate treatment recommendations can be made and the chances for recovery are dramatically enhanced.

Article Source: Main Articles

Dr. George Best has been practicing in San Antonio, Texas for 15 years.. For additional information, please see his article on Sciatica Symptom Relief or visit his Sciatica website.

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