Sciatica

Sciatica

Sciatica is a medical condition characterized by pain going down the leg from the lower back. This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Typically, symptoms are only on one side of the body. Certain causes, however, may result in pain on both sides. Lower back pain is sometimes but not always present. Depending on how it is defined, 2% to 40% of people have sciatica at some point in time. It is most common during people’s 40s and 50s, and men are more frequently affected than women.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is pain felt through the sciatic nerve, but is not an illness in and of itself – rather the symptom of an underlying condition which may be related to the spine or back. You can find more information on back pain here.