Introduction

"Sciatica" can be a confusing term. While it is a relatively common medical term used for nerve irritation within the low back, sciatic pain is not always from the sciatic nerve per se. So-called sciatica stems from the back and radiates down the leg, often with associated numbness, tingling, and weakness.

The term sciatica is used interchangeably with other terms that mean nearly the same things. Sciatica is derived from the sciatic nerve, the large nerve that runs under the muscles of the buttock and back of the thigh. The sciatic nerve is comprised of nerves that originate in the lower (lumbar and sacral) spine. Radiculopathy is a more descriptive term that applies to discomfort experienced in the area supplied by a single nerve from a particular level of the spine. Others use the term radiculitis, which also implies that the pain is in the distribution of a nerve from the spine. The suffix "-itis" emphasizes the inflammation that occurs in the involved nerve. Pinched nerve is a commonly used lay term that reflects the most common cause of sciatica, a herniated disc compressing the nerve. Because it is the most common cause of sciatica, herniated disc is often used interchangeably with sciatica as well.

Men and women are equally affected, but at different ages. Men most often experience sciatica in their 40s while women are usually aged 50-60.