What is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. It most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve.
Common Symptoms
The hallmark of sciatica is pain that radiates from your lumbar (lower) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg. You might feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially likely to follow a path from your low back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf.
- A sharp, searing, or jolting pain.
- Numbness or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot.
- A "pins-and-needles" sensation (paresthesia).
- Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or standing.