Back & Neck Pain Causes & Risk Factors Most Common Causes of Sciatica By Anne Asher, CPT Anne Asher, CPT Verywell Health's Facebook Verywell Health's LinkedIn Anne Asher, ACE-certified personal trainer, health coach, and orthopedic exercise specialist, is a back and neck pain expert. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 12, 2021 Medically reviewed by Oluseun Olufade, MD Medically reviewed by Oluseun Olufade, MD Verywell Health's LinkedIn Verywell Health's Twitter Oluseun Olufade, MD, is a board-certified orthopedist. He teaches as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Pain that shoots down the back of one leg....trouble walking...a numb foot....pins and needles in the thigh...”shocks” or burning pain in the lower back. These are just some of the symptoms of sciatica, one of the most common kinds of pain. Learn more about sciatica and its most common causes as well as their role in creating the pain and other symptoms that can be felt anywhere from your lower back all the way down to the soles of your feet. The Root of Sciatica Symptoms Sebastian Kaulitzski / Science Photo Library / Getty Images The sciatic nerve is the body’s longest and largest nerve. There is one on each side of the body. It controls muscle movement and sensation in the lower back, buttocks, thighs, calves, and soles of the feet. Symptoms of sciatica develop when some part of the nerve becomes irritated, compressed (or "pinched"), or inflamed. Symptoms develop depending on where and why the nerve is affected. Sciatica typically involves pain that radiates down one leg from the lower back to below the knee. But it can also cause achiness, numbness, a burning sensation, tingling, or jolts of pain anywhere along the nerve’s path. Symptoms vary in intensity from one episode to another and can range from mild to severe. Anything that affects the sciatic nerve, such as trauma or illness, can trigger symptoms of sciatica. But by far the two most common causes are: A bulging or herniated disc in the lower backSpinal stenosis Risk Factors For Sciatica Elisaveta Ivanova / Getty Images Several things can increase the risk of sciatica. These include older age and its attendant age-related changes in the spine. Excess weight increases pressure on the spine, which can compress the sciatic nerve. You could be at risk if you have a job that requires you to sit for long periods (either at a desk or behind the wheel) or if you do a lot of heavy lifting with frequent twisting and bending. If you have diabetes, you are more vulnerable. Cigarette smoking can also contribute to degenerative changes in the spine that heighten sciatica risk. Herniated Disk Getty Images A “slipped” or herniated disk is the most common cause of sciatica. Disks are shock-absorbing, round “cushions” that lie between each of the bones in the spine (the vertebrae). When the jelly-like tissue inside a disk bulges through its protective covering or pushes its way out between two vertebrae, it can put pressure on surrounding spinal nerves and trigger symptoms of sciatica. Slipped disks in the lower back usually affect the vertebrae in the lower part of the spine. This area, called the lumbar region, is in close proximity to the sciatic nerve. Spinal Stenosis Getty Images Progressive narrowing of the bony column and space between the lumbar vertebrae—a condition called spinal stenosis—can “squeeze” the sciatic nerve, triggering sciatica symptoms. The same processes that cause bony damage over time can also affect the spinal ligaments that hold vertebrae in place. These ligaments can eventually swell, leading to a smaller spinal canal and nerve impingement. Other Causes Sciepro / Getty Images Other far less common conditions can affect the sciatic nerve. These include: Traumatic injury, such as a pelvic fracture Vertebrae that are misaligned (spondylolisthesis) Excess weight or weight gain during pregnancy, which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve Cancers that compress the sciatic nerve if they spread to the spine or pelvis Cysts or abscesses on or near the spine Muscle spasm or inflammation Paget’s disease (which causes bony overgrowth) Piriformis syndrome, in which a too-tight piriformis muscle in the buttocks constricts the underlying sciatic nerve How to Sleep With Piriformis Syndrome The Prognosis is Good Boonchai Wedmakawand / Getty Images The outlook for most people with sciatica is good. Symptoms usually resolve in about a month, with or without treatment. If symptoms are especially severe, recovery can be prolonged, but the prognosis is still generally excellent. Natural Therapies for Sciatica Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cleveland Clinic. Sciatica. Updated March 25, 2020. Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, Koes B. Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. BMJ. 2019;367:l6273. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6273 National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Spinal Stenosis. Updated January 2020. By Anne Asher, CPT Anne Asher, ACE-certified personal trainer, health coach, and orthopedic exercise specialist, is a back and neck pain expert. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit