WHAT IS SCIATICA?
Sciatica is the name given to pain that is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body running down from the lower back and pelvis, through the buttocks, all the way down both legs and ending at the feet.
HOW DOES SCIATICA OCCUR?
Sciatica can be caused by a number of reasons, such as a herniated disc (often referred to as a slipped disc), muscle or ligament damage in the lower back, inflammation of a lumbar vertebral joint and can even be caused by an irritation to the Piriformis muscle in the buttocks (Piriformis syndrome)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SCIATICA:
Sciatic pain can range from mild to severe. Pain radiates out from the lower back, travels down the back of the leg as far as the calf.
