My grandma used to complain of back pain that went down her leg. She always called it sciatica. I’m only 12 years old but I seem to have the same problem. I’m very active in sports and it’s really a problem sometimes. Is this a hereditary problem? Is there anything that can be done?

Back and leg pain are rare in children but there have been cases reported among young athletes. The pain down your leg is a sign that a nerve is being pinched or compressed somewhere in the low back area. Leg pain of this type is sometimes referred to as sciatica because it’s the sciatic nerve in the leg that is getting irritated.

In medical terms, nerve impingement is called radiculopathy. Radiulopathy is not an inherited condition. Anything that presses on the spinal nerve or causes irritation of the nerve can cause radiculopathy. It could be a cyst, tumor, disc problem, or even a bone spur. Bone spurs are more common in older adults associated with arthritic changes of the spine. But a fracture in the spine can also develop a bone callus or osteophyte as part of the healing response that can press against the nerve causing irritation and leg pain.

The best plan is to bring this to your parents’ attention. If the symptoms don’t go away after a short period of time (two or three weeks at most), then a medical evaluation may be needed. The doctor will ask you some questions and perform some clinical tests to check your posture, strength, and reflexes. It may be necessary to take an X-ray or order more advanced images such as CT scans or MRIs.

When diagnosed early, treatment is often simple with rest, sometimes a back brace, and possibly some specific exercises. It all depends on the underlying cause of the problem.