Sciatica

Pain along the course of the sciatic nerve, usually resulting from nerve root compression in lumbo-sacral spine.

Radiculopathy is the commonest cause of sciatica.

Definition: dysfunction of a nerve root: signs and symptoms may include pain, sensory disturbance, weakness. Usually caused by disc prolapse or degenerative spinal stenosis

Differential diagnoses:

• Congenital
• Arachnoiditis
• Discitis/ abscess
• Metabolic eg: B12 deficiency
• Herpes Zoster
• Spine tumour
• Hip pathology
• Vascular claudication
• Referred pain of non-spinal origin
• Injection injury from misplaced IM injection
• Pyriformis syndrome (controversial)
• Peripheral neuropathy/ entrapment of nerve