CONDITION - Sciatica

Sciatica occurs when you have an irritation to the largest nerve coming from your spinal canal. This nerve is called the sciatic nerve and thus the term sciatica.

Most commonly, only the outer covering of a large nerve is affected and you may experience numbness to your buttock and the back part of your thigh. Again, sciatica does NOT travel past your knee and does not cause weakness to your thigh, leg or foot. The pain of sciatica can occur in many different forms, but usually occurs in your buttock (or the area where your back pocket is) and may travel down the back part of your thigh to your knee. It rarely travels past your knee.

The pain is normally called a throbbing annoying pain, which can become sharp and shooting with sudden movements of your back such as twisting or bending forward. The pain is sometimes relieved with lying flat on your back with your knees bent.

Sciatica can be caused by a herniated disk.