Almost everyone has back pain at some point. But when pain travels from the lower back through the buttock and down the back of the leg, with tingling or numbness, it is usually sciatica — pain from a compressed nerve.
Causes of sciatica
- Disc prolapse (PLID): the soft disc between spinal bones bulges and presses on a nerve — the most common cause.
- Age-related wear and spondylosis
- Narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis) — legs feel heavy and painful on walking, better on sitting
- Lifting heavy objects incorrectly, prolonged sitting, excess weight
Symptoms
- Sharp, electric pain shooting from the back down one leg
- Tingling or numbness in the leg
- Pain worse on coughing, sneezing or bending forward
- Weakness of the foot or toes
Emergency signs: loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the back passage, or rapidly worsening weakness in both legs may indicate cauda equina syndrome, which needs urgent care.
Neck pain spreading to the arm
Similarly, a cervical disc or cervical spondylosis can press on a nerve in the neck, causing pain and tingling from the neck through the shoulder into the arm.
Treatment
The good news: 80–90% of sciatica improves without surgery within weeks. Treatment includes:
- Appropriate medicines for nerve pain and inflammation
- A few days of relative rest — prolonged bed rest is harmful
- Physiotherapy and core-strengthening exercise once pain settles
- Good sitting posture and safe lifting technique
If leg weakness is worsening, pain persists despite treatment, or emergency signs are present, an MRI and a neurosurgical opinion are arranged.
Prevention
- Bend your knees, not your back, when lifting
- Get up and walk every 30–40 minutes when sitting for long periods
- Keep your weight under control and walk regularly
- Avoid very soft, sagging mattresses