Written by Dr. Aisha Harris
Did you know back problems can lead to leg pain and numbness?
Herniated disc and spinal stenosis are common back problems that can cause back pain and discomfort, as well as numbness or shooting pain that is in the leg and sometimes the foot. This pain and numbness is due to sciatica, which is a type of nerve pain that follows the path of the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that runs from the lower back to each leg.
Sciatica pain occurs because of compression or pinching of the sciatica nerve. Sciatica can cause intermittent or continuous discomfort and pain. The intensity often depends on the severity of the of the nerve compression or irritation.
The spine is made of vertebrae that help protect the spinal cord, which has branches of nerves that help innervate organs and muscles. When there is compression or a pinching, then a nerve is not able to fully send a nerve signal out, which can cause numbness in the areas where the signal does not fully get to. Additionally, the pinching causes the nerve to be inflamed and create a shooting pain sensation down the path of the nerve.
For many, sciatica is treatable through different medications, techniques and procedures. When evaluating for sciatica, your medical doctor will do a physical exam to check your back health and leg function. Back or lumbar X-rays are helpful to get a better idea of the spine health and anatomy. Also, nerve studies can help tell what a patient’s nerve function looks like from the back to the toes. After being diagnosed with sciatica, there are home exercises that can help decrease the pressure and pinching on the sciatic nerve and can help decrease the pain and numbness. Many people will benefit from physical therapy sessions that can provide diverse exercises and modalities to help decrease the nerve compression and provide more long- term relief. There are also options for back pain injections, or even back surgeries, depending on the cause and severity of the back problem.
Everyone is different on what they need for their sciatica. While some people can stretch and relieve that pain and numbness, others need more resources and referrals to help out the discomfort. Many patients benefit from medications that can help treat the sciatica or decrease the symptoms.
Sciatica is common, but sometimes difficult to treat. It is important to be fully evaluated and discuss options for care with your medical doctor. Some people only have flares, while others have baseline chronic sciatica pain that can make it difficult to function. If you have back or leg pain it is recommended you get a medical evaluation to learn more about your options to make you more comfortable, as well as prevent future or worsening problems.
Dr. Aisha Harris, MD, is a Flint native and board-certified family medicine doctor at Harris Family Health in Flint, Michigan. Harris Family Health is a membership-based clinic that provides personalized and full primary care to adults and children. Learn more about Harris Family Health by visiting www.harrisfamilyhealth.com.
Feel free to submit health questions to Dr. Harris via theflintcouriernews@gmail.com.
