Posted on: 2025-05-09
Sciatica vs. Pinched Nerve: What’s the Difference?
It was to be a fun Saturday. You were getting ready to toss the football around with your kids, who were waiting for you outside on the lawn. Just as you bent to tie your shoes, that burning, shooting pain struck again, stabbing your shoulder or shooting down your leg. Now you are stuck thinking, is this a pinched nerve or sciatica?
Nerve pain, whether from sciatica or a pinched nerve, can be very painful. It is extremely important to grasp the distinction between them both to make sure that the treatment you opt for hits the right mark. Let’s break down the difference between sciatica and a pinched nerve for you to understand what your body has been trying to tell you.
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Sciatica VS Pinched Nerve
Sciatica and pinched nerves both result in unbearable pain, but they are different. Wondering how so? Read on to learn more about the difference between sciatica and pinched nerve.
If you’re already dealing with radiating pain and want quick relief, don’t wait; book your consultation with our specialists today and find out what’s really causing your pain.
What Is Sciatica And Sciatic Nerve Pain?
Sciatica results from a certain type of pinched nerve that affects the sciatic nerve, running from the lower back and down to each leg. This condition causes pain accompanied by muscle weakness, tingling, and numbness.
Causes Of Sciatica
Over 80% of our patients experience visible pain reduction within weeks of starting our regenerative therapy. If your pain is due to sciatica, it can arise due to a bunch of factors, such as:
- Injury or Trauma
- Herniated Discs
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Spinal Stenosis
Sciatica VS Pinched Nerve
As herniated discs and spinal stenosis are causes that can aggravate sciatica, we highly recommend you seek herniated disc treatment or spinal stenosis treatment by visiting Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen in Freehold. We deliver personalized and minimally invasive treatment plans to every patient for effective and immediate results.
Symptoms Of Sciatica
Apart from the pain radiating from your lower back through the buttock and down the leg, there are various other symptoms that can be telltale signs of sciatica, including:
- Electric-shock-like sensation or sharp, burning pain
- Tingling or numbness in the toes, foot, or leg
- Trouble lifting or moving the leg due to muscle weakness
- Pain worsens with movement
- Typically, sciatica only affects one side of the body
- It can also hinder bladder and bowel control, leading to incontinence.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, don’t wait for them to worsen; schedule your evaluation today. Early diagnosis can save you from long-term nerve damage.
What Is A Pinched Sciatic Nerve?
A pinched nerve happens when the surrounding tissues, such as muscles, cartilage, bones, or tendons, exert pressure on a nerve. This can disturb the nerve’s function, causing tingling, pain, weakness, or numbness. Pinched nerves can occur in different parts of the body, including the back, neck, and even wrists.
Causes Of Pinched Nerves
This painful condition can arise due to a bunch of factors, including:
- Arthritis
- Injury
- Obesity
- Repetitive motions
At Jersey JSR, we specialize in diagnosing exactly where your nerve compression begins, so you get a solution that fits your unique condition, not a generic fix. Get started today with a personalized assessment.
Symptoms Of A Pinched Nerve
As discussed above, sciatica is a type of pinched nerve, so there is no such difference between sciatica and pinched nerve symptoms. You must seek professional health care for them both. However, the former pain can be felt radiating through the lower back to straight down the leg. Whereas the former pain can arise in any part of the body, followed by these symptoms:
- Burning, sharp pain shoots from the neck or back into the arms or legs
- Tingling sensation felt in hands, fingers, feet, or toes
- Numbness in an area affected by the nerve
- Radiating pain follows the nerve path
- Pain worsens with movements
- Muscle weakness
Unsure which one you’re experiencing? Our experts can help you tell the difference through advanced diagnostics and same-day evaluations. Book your appointment here.
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Is A Pinched Nerve The Same As Sciatica?
No, both conditions are different. We have established that sciatica is a sort of pinched nerve. However, not every pinched nerve is sciatica. Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve pinches. On the contrary, pinched nerves can occur anywhere throughout the body and are not restricted to the spine.
Nerves are present all over your body, and any nerve can become compressed or pinched. You might experience symptoms that we discussed in your legs or arms. Whether or not you have sciatica or a pinched nerve, getting a proper diagnosis is essential.
The longer a pinched nerve occurs, the higher the risk of developing permanent damage. Early detection and immediate treatment often mean the difference between rapid relief and the need for surgery. Don’t wait until your pain becomes chronic. Book your same-day consultation at Jersey Joint, Spine & Regen, New Jersey’s trusted center for nerve pain treatment.
Help Is Just Round The Corner
At Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen, we are well aware that dealing with sciatica pain or a pinched nerve can be frustrating, especially if you have been suffering from the symptoms for some time. We treat every patient with the highest amount of respect and dedication to uncover any underlying cause of pain.
We also determine the best treatment plan to help you get rid of your pain in a short span of time. Our board-certified specialists use regenerative medicine, PRP therapy, and minimally invasive procedures to ensure you get back on your feet faster, with no long recoveries, no unnecessary surgeries.
Living with pain means missing life
With JerseyJSR, you find the right pain management in NJ, guided by specialists, and finally live without limits.