From the Research
Relationship between Dorsal Foot Hyperesthesia and Sciatica
- Dorsal foot hyperesthesia refers to an increased sensitivity on the dorsal (top) surface of the foot, which can be a symptom of sciatica 1.
- Sciatica is a set of symptoms caused by a herniated lumbar disc in the vast majority of cases, resulting in lower limb pain radiating below the knee and into the foot and toes 2.
- The pathophysiologic mechanisms behind sciatica are incompletely known, but compression of spinal nerve roots is correlated to both pain and neural dysfunction in a segmental distribution of that specific nerve root 1.
- Paresthesia, including tingling and numbness, is a common symptom of sciatica and can be bothersome for patients, with some considering it more bothersome than weakness 3.
Possible Causes of Dorsal Foot Hyperesthesia in Sciatica
- Compression of the sciatic nerve in its path along the piriformis muscle can produce sciatica-like symptoms, including dorsal foot hyperesthesia 4, 5.
- Uncommon anatomical relationships between the sciatic nerve and local muscles may potentiate the compressive effect, leading to symptoms such as dorsal foot hyperesthesia 5.
- Degenerated intervertebral discs can leak substances that affect the nerve root function, potentially causing dorsal foot hyperesthesia 1.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Diagnosis of sciatica mainly involves history taking and physical examination, with imaging warranted if there is evidence of an underlying pathology other than disc herniation 2.
- Conservative treatment is generally the first-line option in patients with sciatica, but the currently available evidence does not show any intervention to have clearly superior outcomes 2.