The glute minimus muscle is the deepest of the gluteal muscles and is located on the outer hip. This condition is known as piriformis syndrome and it more of a muscle issue than a nerve issue. If that muscle gets tight or inflamed it can press on the sciatic nerve and cause pain, tingling, and numbness down the back of the leg. The piriformis muscle is located right above the sciatic nerve in most people. Janet Travell identified trigger point patterns in the piriformis and gluteus minimus muscles that can mimic sciatic pain.
This can mimic the sciatica pain felt down the leg from spinal nerve root compression but it not due to spinal compression or nerve inflammation. Muscles that surround the sciatic nerve can press on it when they are tightĪnother reason that the sciatic nerve can be compressed is due to tight muscles around it that press on it. There is increased pressure and a realignment of the hips that can create sciatic pain When the spinal canal narrows it can cause nerve compressionĬauses misalignment of the spine and can impact nerves Reduces cushioning between spinal vertebrae which causes pain and nerve compression
Lumbar disc problems - degeneration, herniation Read more below to learn what causes sciatica pain, and how acupuncture can relieve sciatica symptoms naturally. This nerve pathway explains why people can experience numbness and tingling all the way down the leg when they have sciatica. The tibial nerve travels through the posterior lower leg, and the peroneal nerve travels down the lateral part of the lower leg. It goes through the pelvis, then down to the knee, where it branches out into the tibial and peroneal nerves. The sciatic nerve originates in the low back at spinal nerve levels from L4 to S3. Symptoms associated with sciatica are low back pain, numbness or tingling down the leg as far as the foot, and weakness of the affected areas. It is commonly caused by nerve root compression at various levels in the spine or inflammation in the the sciatic nerve itself. Sciatica is compression of the sciatic nerve which results in pain radiating down the back or side of the leg.