The Sciatic Nerve and How it Can Cause Back Pain

Back pain may result from a number of different causes, such as injury, illness or strain, but majority of the cases are triggered by some kind of damage to the sciatic nerve. In spite of very large number of cases that can be traced to this source, few people really know anything about the sciatic nerve — many don’t even know what it is or where it is located.

First of all, the sciatic nerve is found in the lower back region, particularly in the lumbosacral spine. With a length of about 1 inch and a diameter of ¾ of an inch including all its nerve branches, this is the longest and largest nerve in the human body. It is responsible for the motor and sensory functions of the lower extremities, in particular, the thigh, calf, knee, ankle and toes. Several nerve branches are connected from the sciatic nerve all the way to the toes.

Damaging The Sciatic Nerve

Damage to this nerve can result in inflammation and pain in the surrounding area, including the lower back region. This condition is known as sciatica. The pain is typically described as anywhere from mild and bearable to very excruciating and highly debilitating. In fact, many people who experience back pain from sciatica are unable to do even the simplest routine tasks, like walking, standing or staying at a single position for an extended period of time.

The Resulting Back Pain

To better understand why the sciatic nerve is such a common reason for back pain, it would be good to have an idea of just how extensive its nerve system actually is. Although the main nerve itself is just located in one small part of the back, its many branches travel all the way to different parts of the lower body by way of the sacrum and the sciatic foramen. Eventually, it goes off into two separate areas: the articular branch, which is in the hip region, and the muscular branch, which regulates movement in the legs and feet.

Any damage to these branches can result in inflammation, and ultimately back pain. So if you sustain injuries in the legs, buttocks, or even the ankles, and the sciatic nerve branches are affected, it is very likely that you will start feeling some kind of lower back pain soon after sustaining the injury. The good news is that there are several effective treatment methods that can be used to eliminate back pain that come from sciatic nerve damage. Some of the most recommended ones are physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation and laser surgery.