Compression of the cervical or upper thoracic spinal cord can cause a sciatica-like pain.
Structures affected: ascending spinothalamic tracts, possibly posterior columns
The patient experiences a continuous, diffuse burning or knife-like pain in the lower back or leg that may be misinterpreted as sciatica.
The location is contralateral to the site of cord compression. It is symmetrical and non-dermatomal.
Causes:
(1) epidural metastasis
(2) thoracic kyphosis
(3) cervical spondylosis
(4) intramedullary spinal tumor
(5) spinal cord injury
(6) herniated cervical disc
A cervical block can identify the cause in cervical cord compression.
