If you’ve been diagnosed with lupus (‌systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE), you’re likely well aware that it can cause a range of symptoms affecting your whole body. So if you’re experiencing sciatica (sciatic nerve pain), you might wonder if it’s tied to lupus. Here’s what you need to know so you can work with your health care provider to determine the cause of your pain and find an effective treatment.

What Is Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Your sciatic nerves run from the lower part of your spine and down both legs. The long, thick sciatic nerve is actually made up of fibers from five nerve roots that extend from your spinal cord.

Sciatic nerve pain usually originates in the lower back or the buttock, though it can run down into the thigh and even the lower leg and the foot. Thus, low back pain, leg pain, and foot pain all could stem from the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica pain can feel like your nerve is on fire or as though you received an electric shock. You may have sensations of burning or tingling or notice that sections of your leg feel numb.

Most MyLupusTeam members who talk about sciatica report significant pain. “Now when I sit, I get horrible sciatic pain,” one member said. “It gets so severe that I can’t, literally cannot, sit still. It’s like they are dancing without me. If I don’t move, it gets so bad and so painful, I have been moved to tears!”

Another member added, “The pain is every day for me along with lupus and fibro. Sometimes it’s so bad, I end up crying, too. I can’t do anything — five minutes on my feet is horrible.”

Is Sciatica Connected to Lupus?

Sciatica may be related to lupus, but nerve pain can also be caused by a variety of other conditions and factors, including arthritis, herniated discs, tumors, and pregnancy. It may be impossible to determine just what’s behind your sciatica, but below are a few ways that lupus and sciatica might be linked.

Lupus and the Nervous System

Lupus causes inflammation throughout the body by overactivating the immune system. As a result, this autoimmune disease can involve the nervous system by affecting either the nerves or the tissue that surrounds them. Lupus often has an impact on the central nervous system, causing problems with cognition (such as thinking or memory) or headaches. However, inflammation can also occur in nerves that control soft tissues like your muscles (your peripheral nervous system), which is called peripheral neuropathy. This relatively uncommon symptom may affect up to 6 percent of people who have lupus.

When lupus affects the peripheral nerves, it can cause shooting pains like those associated with sciatica. It may cause skin sensations that could be mistaken for sciatica, like burning and tingling. The pain may also be a symptom of a lupus flare or indicate that the condition is worsening.

Managing Sciatica Nerve Pain With Lupus

Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing sciatica. You and your rheumatologist can come up with a plan to alleviate pain coming from your sciatic nerve. The treatment options described below may help relieve your pain.

Physical Therapy

If you are able to move enough to try it, physical therapy could help get rid of your sciatic pain. Physical therapists can design an exercise program to keep your spine mobile without putting pressure on your nerves. They may also be able to help you change how you move. One MyLupusTeam member noted, “Yes, I have sciatica. I have to be very careful in how I bend, walk, and pick up things. When mine acts up, I lie on the couch with a pillow between my knees.”

Some types of physical therapy may be especially effective for sciatica pain. “If you can find a physical therapist that offers aquatic therapy, it helps,” said one member.

Medication

A wide variety of medications can address sciatica pain. Some types, like corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatories, fight the swelling and inflammation. Others, like some antidepressants and anti-seizure medications, help ease nerve pain. You and your rheumatology team can work together to find out what works for you.

Steroid and Other Pain Management Injections

If your sciatica persists, you may need to visit a pain management specialist for medical advice. These doctors can find solutions that work for your body, such as injections into the inflamed joints that are putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. “Pain management is one solution,” said a MyLupusTeam member who received one type of these injections. “I’ve had an epidural done in the tailbone once. It helped for a year.”

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) works directly on the nerves in painful areas. Using a TENS unit — a small, battery-operated device connected to electrodes on the skin — can help relieve sciatic pain in some people. One MyLupusTeam member who found it effective said, “I had bilateral sciatica. My TENS unit became my best friend.” Insurance may cover all or part of the purchase of a TENS unit.

Surgical Options

If doctors can see a herniated disc or a bone spur in imaging scans, they may be able to remove it surgically to get you some relief. “The lumbar fusion will make a world of difference!” said one member who chose this option. “I had mine about 4 years ago. No pain anymore.”

However, surgical procedures tend to be the last treatment choice because spinal surgery can be painful and difficult to recover from.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyLupusTeam is the social network for people with lupus and their loved ones. On MyLupusTeam, more than 223,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with lupus.

Are you living with leg cramps caused by lupus? What strategies have you tried to get relief, and did they help? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.