what is sciatic pain
The sciatic nerve originates from the lower back's lumbar and sacral regions, travels behind the hip joints, and extends down each leg.
Its primary role involves transmitting signals between the brain and leg muscles, as well as sensory information from the legs to the brain. Symptoms such as thigh cramps, shooting pain from the buttocks down the leg, or tingling and burning sensations in the legs typically indicate sciatica.
Sciatica itself isn't a standalone condition but rather a symptom of an underlying issue. Most commonly, it results from a herniated spinal disc where the disc protrudes and compresses the sciatic nerve. Misaligned vertebrae can also contribute to sciatica. Additionally, prolonged sitting on a wallet in the back pocket can cause sciatica in men, while pregnant women may experience it due to pregnancy-related changes. Injury to the piriformis muscle, located beneath the hip and involved in hip rotation, can also impact the sciatic nerve, often seen in conditions like hip arthritis, leg length discrepancies, or slip and fall injuries.