Sciatica is a condition characterized by pain that results from an irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica pain is typically felt from the low back to behind the thigh, and radiates down past the knee. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and connects the nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord in the low back, through the buttock area, all the way to the nerve endings down in the lower limbs.

While a herniated disc is the most common cause of sciatica, any inflammation or irritation of the nerve can produce the symptoms of sciatica. These symptoms include a burning sensation, pain, numbness, or tingling that radiates from the low back, through the buttock and down the back of the thigh. Sever sciatica can make the simple act of walking painful, if not impossible altogether. Walking and bending at the waist can aggravate the symptoms of sciatica, while lying in a prone position can alleviate the symptoms.

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