Sciatica

Sciatica is a pain in the leg due to irritation of the sciatic nerve. The pain generally goes from the front of the thigh to the back of the calf, and may also extend upward to the hip and down to the foot. In addition to pain, there may be numbness and difficulty moving or controlling the leg.

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Although sciatica is a relatively common form of low back pain and leg pain, the true meaning of the term is often misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis for what is irritating the nerve root and causing the pain.

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Pain: According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), one should distinguish between pain and nociception. Pain is a subjective experience that accompanies nociception, but can also arise without any stimuli. It includes the emotional response. Nociception is a neurophysiologic te...

Leg: Leg has multiple meanings:...

Sciatic nerve: The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs down the lower limb. It is the longest single nerve in the body....