Sciatica pain is caused by an irritation, inflammation, pinching or compression of a nerve in the lower back. The most common cause is a ...NowschedulingCOVID-19vaccineappointmentsforages12+ScheduleavaccineappointmentCOVID-19vaccineFAQsGoingtoaClevelandCliniclocation?NewvisitationhoursMasksarerequiredforpatientsandvisitors(evenifyou'revaccinated)Home/HealthLibrary/Disease&ConditionsSciaticaSciaticapainiscausedbyanirritation,inflammation,pinchingorcompressionofanerveinthelowerback.Themostcommoncauseisaherniatedorslippeddiskthatcausespressureonthenerveroot.Mostpeoplewithsciaticagetbetterontheirownwithtimeandself-caretreatments.Appointments&AccessContactUsOverviewSymptomsandCausesDiagnosisandTestsManagementandTreatmentPreventionOutlook/PrognosisLivingWithSciaticaOverviewSymptomsandCausesDiagnosisandTestsManagementandTreatmentPreventionOutlook/PrognosisLivingWithBackToTopOverviewTruesciaticaisaninjuryorirritationtothesciaticnerve,whichstartsinyourbuttock/glutealarea.Whatissciatica?Sciaticaisnervepainfromaninjuryorirritationtothesciaticnerve,whichoriginatesinyourbuttock/glutealarea.Thesciaticnerveisthelongestandthickest(almostfinger-width)nerveinthebody.It’sactuallymadeupoffivenerveroots:twofromthelowerbackregioncalledthelumbarspineandthreefromthefinalsectionofthespinecalledthesacrum.Thefivenerverootscometogethertoformarightandleftsciaticnerve.Oneachsideofyourbody,onesciaticnerverunsthroughyourhips,buttocksanddownaleg,endingjustbelowtheknee.Thesciaticnervethenbranchesintoothernerves,whichcontinuedownyourlegandintoyourfootandtoes.Trueinjurytothesciaticnerve“sciatica”isactuallyrare,buttheterm“sciatica”iscommonlyusedtodescribeanypainthatoriginatesinthelowerbackandradiatesdowntheleg.Whatthispainsharesincommonisaninjurytoanerve--anirritation,inflammation,pinchingorcompressionofanerveinyourlowerback.Ifyouhave“sciatica,"youexperiencemildtoseverepainanywherealongthepathofthesciaticnerve–thatis,anywherefromthelowerback,throughthehips,buttocksand/ordownyourlegs.Itcanalsocausemuscl