Signs and symptoms
... Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You may feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it...

Causes
... Sciatica usually results from compression of a nerve root in your lower (lumbar) spine — a condition called a radiculopathy. By far the most common cause of this compression is a herniated disk ...

Risk factors
... Risk factors are health problems, lifestyle choices and inherent qualities, such as age or race, that make it more likely you''ll develop a particular condition. Major risk factors for sciatica includ...

When to seek medical advice
... Mild sciatica usually goes away given a little time and patience. Call your doctor if self-care measures fail to ease your symptoms or if your pain lasts longer than six weeks, is severe or becomes pr...

Screening and diagnosis
... To help diagnose sciatica and pinpoint which nerves, if any, are affected, your doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a thorough physical exam, paying special attention to your spine ...