What Really Causes Sciatic Nerve Pain?
Irritation or compression to the sciatic nerve occurs most commonly at either the place where the nerve root exits the spine or where the nerve bundle forms close to the piriformis muscle. Remember that there are 5 contributions to the sciatic nerve, so irritation or compression can occur at any of the 5 different levels. The most common reason for one of these 5 nerves to get pinched, especially for people between the ages of 20-65, is an injury to the intervertebral disc. • Your disc has an outer portion that is fibrous and tough (the “annular fibrosus”) and a jelly filled interior (the “nucleus pulposus”), that acts as a cushion. Sort of like a jelly donut but with a tougher outer portion. • Your discs can be injured in a number of ways to cause one of the contributing nerve roots to the sciatic nerve to become irritated or pinched, causing pain and all the grief that goes with it….. • The disc can bulge or protrude. Similar to a balloon that is squished but does not pop, theballoon
