sciatica

Pronunciation: si-at'i-ka

Definition: Pain in the lower back and hip radiating down the back of the thigh into the leg, initially attributed to sciatic nerve dysfunction (hence the term), but now known to usually be due to herniated lumbar disk compressing a nerve root, most commonly the L5 or S1 root.

Synonym(s): sciatic neuralgia, sciatic neuritis

[see sciatic]

Further information

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© Copyright 2018 Wolters Kluwer. All Rights Reserved. Review date: Sep 19, 2016.

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