Pain management health centre. Sciatica (sciatic nerve pain) - Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment. Sciatica is a common type of pain caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, going from the pelvis, through the buttocks, down the legs to the feet.
According to the Neuropathy Association, some 20 million Americans suffer from various forms of neuropathy, a potentially serious condition caused in part by blockage of small blood vessels within the nerves in the legs, with diabetes as the most common cause.
Peripheral neuropathy refers to a condition where nerves are damaged and is characterized by numbness, pain and tingling of the nerves. Neuropathy is caused by a wide variety of factors including illnesses such as diabetes, chemotherapy treatments, certain medications, vitamin deficiency, injury and infection. Around half of those suffering with neuropathy are actually diabetic.