Are you suffering from sciatica that radiates down your leg, making it difficult to walk or perform daily activities?

Who does sciatica most commonly affect?

Sciatica can affect people of all ages but certain factors may increase the likelihood of experiencing sciatica. The condition most commonly affects adults between the ages of 30 and 60 years old, pregnant women, and individuals that spend a prolonged amount of time sitting or heavy lifting throughout the day.

What causes sciatica?

There are many different causes of sciatica including:

• • A herniated or prolapsed disc (commonly known as ‘slipped disc’). Vertebral discs are found between each vertebrae in your spine. Although they are made of tough fibrous tissue, some of the softer centre can prolapse. If you have a prolapsed vertebral disc, its contents can protrude and compress on the sciatic nerve, or even just cause chemical irritation to the nerve. All of these can lead to sciatica.

• • • Piriformis syndrome. The piriformis is a muscle found deep in the buttock. In around 17% of the population, the sciatic nerve runs directly through the piriformis. If the piriformis becomes tight then this can compress the sciatic nerve causing sciatic tension and sciatica.

   

  • Facet joint dysfunction. Each of the vertebrae in your spine is joined by facet joints (or zygapophyseal joints). A sudden excessive movement of the facet joint or years of constant micro trauma through poor posture or heavy lifting can lead to facet joint dysfunction. This can be a cause of radiating leg pain (sciatica).