It can be annoying to find a place to put your cell phone when you’re not using it, but if you’re stowing it away in the back of your pants pocket, it may literally be a pain in the butt. In fact, this occurs so often that it’s beginning to take on a new name: “cell-phone sciatica”.
The sciatic nerve is located in the lower back and runs down through the buttocks and the legs, extending all the way to the foot. It is the longest and widest nerve in the human body. When someone experiences pain, tingling or numbness in the legs (usually one or the other, rarely both), or pain that is made worse by sitting, it can indicate a pinched sciatic nerve or what is more commonly known as sciatica.
While the term “cell-phone sciatica” is catchy and alliterative, the problem can be caused by any object in the back pocket, not just cell phones. Wallets, tool belts or holsters, if sat on routinely, can all apply pressure to the sciatic nerve and thus cause pain and potential damage to the back.
Sciatica itself is easily treatable, as it is simply the pain in the nerve, but it may be the symptom of an underlying condition. If you are suffering from sciatica, it is important to visit your doctor to determine the cause of the sciatic pain. It might be from an injury, it might be due to a herniated disc or bone spur, or it could just be that you’re sitting on something in your back pocket.
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