Ciático

Ciático refers to the sciatic nerve, the longest and thickest nerve in the human body. It originates in the lower back and runs down through the buttocks and into the legs. This nerve is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the legs to the brain and motor commands from the brain to the leg muscles.

The term "ciático" is also commonly used to describe sciatica, a condition characterized by pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve. This pain typically begins in the lower back or buttock and can extend down the back of the thigh and into the foot. Sciatica can manifest as a sharp, shooting pain, a burning sensation, or numbness and tingling.

Common causes of sciatica include a herniated disc, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, or piriformis syndrome, where the piriformis muscle in the buttock irritates the sciatic nerve. While the pain can be intense, sciatica is often treatable with conservative measures such as rest, physical therapy, pain medication, and stretching exercises. In some cases, medical intervention like injections or surgery may be necessary.