Sciatica is defined as a set of symptoms including pain felt along the path of the sciatic nerve. It may be caused by compression/irritation of one of the five nerve roots that give rise to the sciatic nerve, or that of the nerve itself. Pain can be felt in the lower back, buttocks, or the leg and foot. Pain is sometimes severe. Other symptoms include, anesthesia, parasthesia, muscle weakness, and difficulty of motion. It is important to note that sciatica is a set of symptoms, not a diagnosis for what is irritating the nerve.
The incidence of sciatica varies from study to study, with figures ranging from between 1-10%. However, it has been shown that males are more likely to have these symptoms. In a study done in the 1980’s in Finland, 5.1% of males and 3.7% of females aged over 30 had lumbar disk disease, a common cause of sciatica.
Claudication is defined as pain and/or cramping in the lower leg due to inadequate blood supply to the muscles. The pain usually causes the patient to limp (claudication derives from the latin ‘claudicare’, meaning ‘to limp’). The pain is normally felt with exertion, but in severe cases, is felt at rest as well.
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