Sciatica
Sciatica is a sharp, shooting pain caused by pressure or irritation on your sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down your leg.
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Your sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in your entire body, starting in your lower back and traveling all the way down each leg. When this nerve gets pinched or squeezed, it causes a specific type of pain known as sciatica.
The pain usually starts in the lower back or buttock and travels down the back of only one of your legs. It happens because something—like a bulging disc in your spine—is pushing against the nerve, sending painful signals to your brain that feel like electric shocks or burning.
Common Symptoms
- A sharp, shooting, or electric shock-like pain starting in the buttock and moving down the leg.
- A burning or tingling sensation, often called pins and needles, in the leg or foot.
- Numbness or a loss of feeling in the affected leg.
- Weakness in the muscles of the leg or foot, making it difficult to stand or walk properly.