Sciatica

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Sciatic nerve

Sciatica

Alternative Names:

Neuropathy - sciatic nerve; Sciatic nerve dysfunction
Symptoms:

Sensation changes
- Of the back of the calf or the sole of the foot
- Numbness, decreased sensation
- Tingling, burning sensation
- Pain, may be severe
- Abnormal sensations
Weakness of the knee or foot
- Difficulty walking
- Inability to move the foot (in severe cases)
- Inability to bend the knee (in severe cases)

Signs and tests:

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Sciatica might be revealed by a neuromuscular examination of the legs by a physician. There may be weakness of knee bending or foot movement, or difficulty bending the foot inward or down. Reflexes may be abnormal, with weak or absent ankle-jerk reflex. Pain down the leg can be reproduced by lifting the leg straight up off the examining table.

Tests that reveal sciatic nerve dysfunction may include:

EMG (a recording of electrical activity in muscles)
Nerve conduction tests

Tests are guided by the suspected cause of the dysfunction, as suggested by the history, symptoms, and pattern of symptom development. They may include various blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, or other tests and procedures.