Sciatica: Symptoms, Causes and When to Seek Help

Sciatica describes leg pain caused by irritation or compression of one of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve. It is most commonly one-sided and follows a recognisable path from the lower back or buttock down into the thigh, calf and sometimes the foot.

Symptoms may include a burning, sharp or electric-shock like pain running down one leg, sometimes with pins and needles, numbness or weakness. Pain can be worse with sitting, coughing, sneezing or bending. Symptoms can vary from person to person and range from mild to severely disabling.

The most common cause is a disc bulge or prolapse in the lower back that presses on a nerve root. Other causes include age-related narrowing of the spinal canal, joint changes and, less often, other structural problems. Risk factors may include increasing age, heavy lifting, prolonged sitting, poor lifting technique and being overweight.

Medical advice is recommended when leg pain is severe, lasting more than a few weeks or affecting daily life. Seek urgent care for numbness around the groin or inner thighs, difficulty passing or controlling urine or stool, or significant weakness in the leg or foot, as these can indicate a rare but serious problem.