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 (more commonly called neuropathy) is a general term for diseases that cause damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. While diabetes is a frequent cause of neuropathy, it is not the only cause. Nutritional deficiencies (B-12 and folate), chemical exposures, pressure on nerves, or medications (such as some of those used for chemotherapy or to treat AIDS) can also cause neuropathy.