Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down one or both legs. The most common cause of sciatica is lumbar disk herniation, which compresses or irritates one of the nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve. However, many musculoskeletal and systemic conditions can either irritate the sciatic nerve or produce symptoms that mimic sciatica, including:
Lumbar spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal canal, can compress nerve roots—often affecting both legs.
Degenerative disk disease, characterized by thinning and inflammation of lumbar…
