Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is formed from spinal nerves exiting the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the back of both legs. Any pain or symptom experienced along this nerve is referred to as ‘sciatica’. Sciatica is not actually a diagnosis. Rather it is a symptom relating to a lower back problem. In many instances patients report NO pain in their lower back, however a good clinician will always assess the lower back to determine the root cause of your sciatic symptoms. See Back Pain for more information on causes of back pain.



Common symptoms associated with sciatica include pain in the lower back, buttock, hip and leg. It may also radiate to the foot and/or toes. Patients sometimes refer to this pain as severe, burning, stabbing or searing. In some cases sciatica may cause weakness or numbness in the leg, foot and toes and difficulty walking.