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Sciatica
An often-debilitating irritation of the sciatic nerve -- the longest and widest nerve in the body -- sciatica is characterized by pain stretching from the lower end of the spinal cord down the back to the leg to the knee. It's typically caused by a herniated disk, which pushes on a lumbar or sacral nerve root.
SEEK HELP FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
* Chronic pain in one leg or buttock
* Pain that increases while sitting
* Sharp pain that makes standing or walking difficult
* Intense pain when anything even brushes the outside of the leg
* Tingling in the foot or toes
TREATMENT
For acute sciatica, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen are helpful. Activities like slow walking and easy stretching will also help, as will hot or cold compresses. For chronic sciatica, physical therapy and painkillers may be required. In the worst cases, surgery may be needed -- either a laminectomy, which reduces nerve pressure by widening the spine, or a lumbar diskectomy, the partial or complete removal of a slipped disk.
* A ruptured spinal disk can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, which runs along the base of the spine, causing severe, stabbing pain.