What is sciatica?
A person with sciatica has pain, numbness, or weakness in the leg, caused by an irritated sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back and runs down the back of the leg. The sciatic nerve may become inflamed due to a back injury or from direct pressure on the sciatic nerve. Conditions that may place direct pressure on the sciatic nerve include a herniated disk, vertebral compression fracture, or osteoarthritis in the spine. Sciatica occurs in about 1 out of 100 people who have low back pain.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Symptoms of sciatica include low back pain, leg pain, difficulty walking, leg numbness, leg weakness, foot numbness, or foot weakness.

How does the doctor treat sciatica?
Treatment for sciatica may include rest, cold compresses, warm compresses, stretching exercises, physical therapy, chiropractic care, narcotic pain medications, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Treatment for severe sciatica may include injections of corticosteroid medication into the back, or surgery.